Please support handmade.

November 09, 2010

I got an email from Mahar Dry goods last week with very sad news. They are closing their doors after 5 wonderful years in business.  And I am very, very depressed.

Mahar Dry Goods was one of the first online shops that actually got me excited about opening my ETSY shop. Robert has stocked exclusively handmade, unique, modern yet vintage children’s goods. It always made me so happy to go browse through his shop, and just this year, Mahar Dry Goods picked up some of our family trees and paper dolls. But, as I very well know, keeping a shop up is a lot of work. It looks all clean and neat on the screen, but there are a lot of things that go into the business of keeping up a business. Especially when you are a one-person start-up.  And so I am so sad to see Robert’s shop close it’s doors. It makes me think of all the handmade-make-it-happen-with-your-boot-straps-businesses out there, and all the love and heart that goes into starting something like this. There are rough times for sure! And though I am shocked and very sad to see his shop close down, I also know that it makes me want to support handmade even more.  So many of us are making it happen with little or no outside help, and yet have wonderful, amazing, inspired products that need to be out there.

So, I have to mention at least a positive that is happening with all this: Mahar Dry Goods will be open through the holiday season, and with the closeout, there is plenty, plenty on sale that you’ll want to get your hands on for Christmas.

So, this is my “support handmade” cheer. Go check out his shop. Do shop handmade this season. Do click on my sponsor column to the right. Go and browse ETSY before hitting the mall. Think of how you can be supporting a young mother who wants to stay at home with her children, and  so opened a shop selling personalized paper dolls. Shop handmade, please.   Right now, I am wearing a cowl from Tickled Pink Knits, and it makes me so happy to be wearing something I know someone made with their own hands…and that I’m helping them keep their love of knitting alive. So, are you shopping handmade this Season? I am.

I’m  getting off my soap box now. But I’m off to Christmas shop here.

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8 Comments for this entry

  • 1
    Julie says:

    i’m so sad about Mahar – the paper doll house is what turned me on to etsy! I LOVE handmade! and have actually already purchased two Christmas items from etsy shops this season and plan to buy more!

  • 2
    Teaka says:

    Not that long ago I heard about that site. That truly is unfortunate that they are closing down.

  • 3

    Awe, I love Mahar and actually haven’t been there for a while. I’ll have to go and check out what they are offering. Thanks so much for the kind mention and link to my shop.

  • 4
    artfulife says:

    So sad :( I love that store.

  • 5

    Believe it or not, seeing your shop and getting my first order from you has totally inspired me to shop handmade this year as much as possible.

    So, you are doing good :)

  • 6
    Brittany J says:

    So sad but I feel the same way…lets keep handmade alive! Maybe I’m partial cause I’m a young single mom trying to work from home too. I’m going to check out his site ASAP!

  • 7
    Heather says:

    Oh no! This is so sad to hear. I am trying my hardest to shop handmade this year. I appreciate each sale I make at my etsy shop so much because it helps me stay home with my little boys. I like to pass on that love whenever I can. Thanks for the great post. (And I LOVE Tickled Pink Knits – one of my very favorite etsy shops!)

  • 8
    Robert Mahar says:

    A million ‘thank yous’ for the lovely post, kind farewell and warm support! I’m so appreciative and hope you’ll continue to visit me at JuniorSociety.com.

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