My push for handmade.

Apples to Apples Crayon Roll by Cottage on the Coast. You can find this on Etsy.

Today is the start of many toy sales around Australia. You know the kind - no deposit layby till Christmas Eve, big discounts on whatever trend in children's brands is happening now. Every year I get caught up in the rush and desperation for a bargain. Every year I layby probably far too many toys for my two children. Most importantly though, every year I think I'm doing The Right Thing - my children will be tickled pink with their new, shiny, plastic, expensive toys when they unwrap them (I imagine the joy on their little faces!), not to mention the excitement over the myriad of accessories that accompany their new favourite thing (that will invariably drop to the bottom of the toy box quicker than New Year's Eve rolls around). And so I leave the department store with a lighter wallet, exhausted from crowd-battling and with a thumping headache brought about by rapid decision-making BUT absolutely sure my children will have a magical Christmas morning, one they'll remember for years to come.

But, do you know what happens every week before Christmas? I have to return to the department store where I spent so much time selecting perfect presents only to have to claim a refund on most of them as soon as I collect them from layby! Why? Because in the 6 months between the July sales and Christmas morning my gorgeous ratbags have changed their minds about what is cool and fun of course!

Not this year.

This little black duck is leaving the department store sales alone and looking for gifts that will entertain fickle children for longer than the shiny, plastic, branded toys. I'm going to do my best to buy at least half of my children's stocking contents from craftspeople. Not only will I be doing my family a favour but I'll also be supporting handmade which is very important to me.

So here is the point of this long entry (the first bit was just a bit of a rant really :) )- If we all look to handmade when we look for gifts we would be supporting so many people! Online you could try heading to madeit or Etsy or visit a market where local arty types are sharing their precious things, lovely toys, beautiful clothes, baby goodies, art, pottery, sculpture, food, produce, flowers, plants, there's far too much out there to list. Think of the great community we'd be building and don't forget to compliment the stall/store/site owner if you like what you see. It's all the encouragement we need.