While there is no doubt that our modern industrial world has added to the richness and diversity of our lives, it could be argued that we have lost an essential understanding of the value of making something with our own hands and we have lost our connection to mother earth.
The industrial age kicked into full gear in the latter half of the 1800's, within just a few years of the end of the American Civil War. Before the start of the industrial age, nearly all products were assembled by hand and made by craftsmen who enjoyed creating the value that they were making available to others.
But with the rise in industrialization, every product once made by hand took on a level of manufacturing, so much so that today,most products bought and sold today on the world market do not have a single human hand touch the product prior to distribution.
Our Manufacturing world now consists of compressed wood and staples, its now almost impossible to achieve the beauty of handmade wood furniture. Our Assembly lines carry so many glass products, it's hard to see and appreciate Handblown glass. Not to mention Vinyl and plastic. To find Handmade purses and luggage is almost non existant.
Our world around us is changing, and this is not for the better.
Remember the 1970's it wasnt that along ago that we could go to a full-service gas staion, they were everyhere. Not now self service, has taken it's place so much so that you probably would be hard presssed to find a full-service station anyhere.
Handmade toys have been replaced with plastic and metal toys manufactured on assembly lines. Wood and plastic designs, made as cheaply as the manufacturers can make them, have replaced handmade items.
Unfortunatley we have replaced beautiful handcrafted pieces, with items made by uncaring assembly machines. Modern living has undergone total change, the product we put in our home, from artwork to efficient and inexpensive items that we now just throw away and replace.
In this new era, it sometimes seems as if the only things we have left to cherish is each other. Of course, we will always cherish each other, but our grandmothers had handmade quilts and beautifully manufactured furniture. Our grandpas had boots or shoes that were made by hand and taken to the leather shop when it was time to replace the soles on their shoes. Our grandparents even had mechanical watches that were valuable enough to carry to the watchmaker, when the watch stopped working.
But where are those days now. There gone.
In times before WWII, Christmas was full of gifts that were hand crafted by the hands of the giver. But then after WWII had finished technology began to show its face into our lives. Christmas then started to become about buying rather than giving.
When was the last time that you received a handmade quilt as a gift? When was the last time your kids made you something for Christmas? When was it when someone last made you a display piece to showcase in your home?
While I know very few industrialized nations make anything by hand anymore. There are still very many nations who believe in making product by hand. Take the African nations for example there beadwork skills are second to none. Asia and India also still handcraft many of there goods.
With the Internet available in satuaration, we find ourselves able to experience what most people have not been able to experience in a very long time. Customers have the ability to go online and find in expensive handcrafted goods, that they may prefer to over mass produced items.
Many Internet retailers have searched far-and-wide to bring handmade products to their customers. Products that are made by hand, by real people in Africa and Eastern Asia can be found on many online retail websites.
In my world handmade is a beautiful concept. It is fantastic to be able to search on the internet to find products that have been made with the love and commitment of a real person in real time.
I love going online to buy handmade. You know the thing is you can usually buy these beautiful handcrafted products for less money, than you can buy for the same kind of mass produced products.
Wouldn't it be great to see mother earth back in your modern life. Why not try and find some handmade products online, the products you can acquire are endless.
The industrial age kicked into full gear in the latter half of the 1800's, within just a few years of the end of the American Civil War. Before the start of the industrial age, nearly all products were assembled by hand and made by craftsmen who enjoyed creating the value that they were making available to others.
But with the rise in industrialization, every product once made by hand took on a level of manufacturing, so much so that today,most products bought and sold today on the world market do not have a single human hand touch the product prior to distribution.
Our Manufacturing world now consists of compressed wood and staples, its now almost impossible to achieve the beauty of handmade wood furniture. Our Assembly lines carry so many glass products, it's hard to see and appreciate Handblown glass. Not to mention Vinyl and plastic. To find Handmade purses and luggage is almost non existant.
Our world around us is changing, and this is not for the better.
Remember the 1970's it wasnt that along ago that we could go to a full-service gas staion, they were everyhere. Not now self service, has taken it's place so much so that you probably would be hard presssed to find a full-service station anyhere.
Handmade toys have been replaced with plastic and metal toys manufactured on assembly lines. Wood and plastic designs, made as cheaply as the manufacturers can make them, have replaced handmade items.
Unfortunatley we have replaced beautiful handcrafted pieces, with items made by uncaring assembly machines. Modern living has undergone total change, the product we put in our home, from artwork to efficient and inexpensive items that we now just throw away and replace.
In this new era, it sometimes seems as if the only things we have left to cherish is each other. Of course, we will always cherish each other, but our grandmothers had handmade quilts and beautifully manufactured furniture. Our grandpas had boots or shoes that were made by hand and taken to the leather shop when it was time to replace the soles on their shoes. Our grandparents even had mechanical watches that were valuable enough to carry to the watchmaker, when the watch stopped working.
But where are those days now. There gone.
In times before WWII, Christmas was full of gifts that were hand crafted by the hands of the giver. But then after WWII had finished technology began to show its face into our lives. Christmas then started to become about buying rather than giving.
When was the last time that you received a handmade quilt as a gift? When was the last time your kids made you something for Christmas? When was it when someone last made you a display piece to showcase in your home?
While I know very few industrialized nations make anything by hand anymore. There are still very many nations who believe in making product by hand. Take the African nations for example there beadwork skills are second to none. Asia and India also still handcraft many of there goods.
With the Internet available in satuaration, we find ourselves able to experience what most people have not been able to experience in a very long time. Customers have the ability to go online and find in expensive handcrafted goods, that they may prefer to over mass produced items.
Many Internet retailers have searched far-and-wide to bring handmade products to their customers. Products that are made by hand, by real people in Africa and Eastern Asia can be found on many online retail websites.
In my world handmade is a beautiful concept. It is fantastic to be able to search on the internet to find products that have been made with the love and commitment of a real person in real time.
I love going online to buy handmade. You know the thing is you can usually buy these beautiful handcrafted products for less money, than you can buy for the same kind of mass produced products.
Wouldn't it be great to see mother earth back in your modern life. Why not try and find some handmade products online, the products you can acquire are endless.
About the Author:
Nicole Maschwitz writes about handmade items and design. When you are in the market to shop for Great Gift Ideas, handmade jewellery, Fashion handbags, unique gifts or decorative homewares, please visit Gift Hut and browse their selection of handmade items from around the world at: http://www.gifthut.com.au
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