This is a glass “ikebana” choker/necklace/pin that is available from Tara Glass Art Studio.  The necklace features fine suede with sterling clasps and is adjustable.    It is approximately 16-17 inches long.  There is a pin bail on the back. The glass “ikebana” all vary in size, but usually are from 1 inch to 1.5 inches or so.  There are no two alike.  The piece is delivered in a black faux suede jewelry pouch so that it will not become chipped.   If you are interested in purchasing, please contact donnabranch@taraglassart.com  The ikebana is $35.

This is so easy!  All you have to do is go to Donna Branch Glass Studio Blog  and start a conversation with each other on the blog about buying handmade and taking the Handmade Pledge.  You do this by leaving your comments on the blog and bringing others to the blog to take part in the conversation.  You can send me examples of your own cool handmade items to donnabranch@taraglassart.com and I will post them as a conversation starter.  You could even post sources of  where others could find cool handmade items.  The person that serves as the biggest conversation starter on my blog, and brings other people into the conversation about the subject of buying handmade, sustainable lifestyle, slow design and taking the Handmade Pledge will receive one of my limited edition ornaments.  You can bring other people into the conversation by sharing my blog link and mentioning where you posted or forwarded my link.  I will be checking in on the blog at least once a day and taking part in the conversation.  This idea came to me as an offshoot of the Studio Workshop that will take place December 5 at the studio. 

Each time someone makes a thoughtful comment, (not one word, please), their name will be entered into the “hat”.  The contest will end December 18 at midnight and announcement of the winner will be December 19.  Those who entered will have to check the blog for the winning announcement and the winner will be ask to email their physical address to me so that the ornament can be shipped to them, so be sure to bookmark the blog page now or subscribe to the feed. This is a straightforward competition and all decisions regarding the winner will be final.  

The purpose of this competition is to engage the community conversation about buying handmade and doing our small part to change buying habits.  I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say! 

How can you change your buying habits and what products do you find to be the most compelling?  Go to the blog and tell us  now.

Come to the studio and make it!! 

 I will be announcing dates for upcoming workshops in the next few days.  There will be great ideas for those who give gifts and don’t want to spend crazy amounts of money.  Besides, you will be giving  handmade sustainable gifts.  

Do you think you can handle all of the times you will hear ”Wow, you made that??!!!”  

Please take part in the discussion on the blog to tell us what kind of class you would like and return to the blog in a  few days for the details, we are working those out now.

If you read the last post, I discussed buying handmade and taking the handmade pledge………and wrote about how to make the change to buy handmade, which is probably the hardest part….breaking the habit, and that usually takes about 21 days to do. 

Here are THREE SIMPLE ways you can make the change:

1. Find a calendaring system with a task list that works for you–this may be a paper calendar
2. Enter all regular gift-giving occasions, with alerts if it is electronic, that will queue into you reminder system
3. Start NOW to research handmade items that you would like to give, go ahead and buy a few and keep them on hand!  You could check with your local art association

Two more suggestions are when you start seeing this on your calendar, it will alert you to be on the lookout for a gift that is handmade or from a  local vendor that carries handmade items or is a chef that creates his/her dishes from locally grown ingredients.  The key is to have a visual reminder in front of you everyday. 

If the occassion is for a very special person to you, make arrangements to check out the items a couple of weeks ahead of time so that if the gift that you had in mind will not work at that time, you have time to select another special gift.  And always, don’t forget, you can give the gift of a class or a workshop–it doesn’t have to be with an artist.  The workshop, could be on anything!

Challenge yourself to tie into the economy that supports handmade items and a sustainable lifestyle, AND TAKE THE HANDMADE PLEDGE HERE    

If anyone has more suggestions on how to implement the handmade pledge, I would love to hear your suggestions on the blog.