Locally Made Scarf by Sharon's Sassy Accessories

Recently I visited a local art and craft fair in search of locally made gifts for Christmas. 

On my first go around I spotted this scarf made with ribbon,yarn, beads and talked myself into buying it for my niece. I liked the scarf and jumped at the idea. It was created by Sharon's Sassy Accessories Unique Scarves & Jewelry Custom Made.  I believe she said she had a shop on Etsy.

When it came time to pack this gift for my 15 year old niece I got concerned that it might be a bit mature for her taste.  I immediately texted my 19 year old niece and asked her opinion. She agreed.

So it was my lucky day I got to keep this Christmas present for myself. Guess deep down when I bought it I was thinking of myself.

Stocking Stuffer Idea from Missouri/Kansas

My husband and I were shopping a local gift shop in town and a display caught my eye.  It basically said microwavable popcorn pops off the cob.  I was intrigued here is a picture.

I couldn't put it down. I spoke to the owner and asked how much popcorn did that one ear pop? She assures me that it is enough for two and that it is good.  Well I added it to my purchases and plan to pop it soon. I think it will be a great topic of conversation so it will make a great stocking stuffer.

Best of all it is Kansas Grown and comes from the Sunflower Food Company from Riverside, MO.

I'll give the review of the corn once I have a movie night!!

All USA Clothing A Michigan Based Company

Today in the Detroit Free Press I stumbled across a company All USA Clothing based here in Michigan that is truly combining the entruepreuneuial spirit with the desire to purchase more products Made in the USA.  They started out in their home as a part time business and now they have 6 employees and an office.

They work with 38 factories including Carhartt and Union and I believe it said they had 800 items available. 

I immediately went in search of my American Made Winter Coat that I have officially been looking for now for over a year.  My heart quickened with excitemen of finally reaching my goal.  They did have a coat but it was not as heavy as I am looking for at the present. I'll be checking back on a regular basis to see if anything is added to inventory.

Way to go!!

Walmart Cutting Board Made in the USA!!

Made a trip to Walmart this weekend in search of a new NSF certified cutting board. Finding something MADE IN THE USA in Walmart is harder and harder to find so I did  not expect to locate a cutting board.  The first NSF cutting board was a pack of 3 or 4 different sizes a quick flip showed Made in China. I looked at my husband and shrugged my shoulders.  Well he didn't want the variety pack so he reached down to the shelf with the large boards and low and behold when we flipped that Mainstay Cutting Board it had those 9 letters we try to look for MADE IN THE USA.

A WalMart success story!!

Pendleton Woolen Mills

Just got the new Lands' End Catalog and began my usual search for something Made in the USA.  Today it wasn't clothes or accessories it was a warm wool blanket by Pendleton Woolen Mills.

These blankets are 100% virgin wool that according to the catalog and web is machine washable.

Rugby Striped Wool Blanket

 I have a brother in law that loves his Pendleton Shirts and swears by their quality. I can only assume that the same quality applies to these blankets.

Belts MADE IN USA - Duluth Trading Co.

This has gotten to be a habit with me, I get a new catalog and I search for MADE IN THE USA items.  Yesterday the catalog of choice was Duluth Trading Co.  Now I don't claim that the items I write about are all the Made in the USA items in the catalog.  They meet two criteria 1. The are made in the USA 2. I like it.  Just because I write about them doesn't mean I have bought them. Unfortunately I only work part time so budget does not allow purchase of everything I like.

Leather Belts are my item of choice today.

American Made Area Rug

I received my LL Bean Home Catalog this week. Thumbing through the pages I stumbled across a braided rug that really caught my eye. Why? Well from the day I moved into our home I had told my husband I wanted a braided rug for my kitchen and this one is made in the USA.

The Bean's Chenille Braided Rug (rectangular) is exactly what I had in mind.  It is a bit pricey for my budget but I have not found one like this anywhere else that is MADE IN THE USA!!  So I am starting to put a bit away each paycheck.

Unfortunately I am not a tech savvy blogger and can't seem to get an image to show you.

Silver Forest Jewelry Handcrafted in the USA

The picture does not do these earrings justice.  How lucky I was to find earrings I love that they were handcrafted in the USA!!  As they say it isn't just jewelry it is ART!!

According to Silver Forest's website they have been in business for 30 years and started selling at craft shows. For those who set up those weekend booths across American showcasing their ideas and designs this is a story for you.

My only question is there a retailer in Michigan that sales Silver Forest? I bought these in Florida.

ORVIS Dress Made in the USA

Yesterday my boss asked me to have her removed from the ORVIS catalog list.  ORVIS don't be mad it you just aren't her style.  Like any good  employee I decided to take the catalog home and take a look at it because it is more my style!!

I have made it a habit to look at descriptions to see if it says imported or USA.  When I saw this Three Quarter-sleeved crossover dress I fell in love. What made it even better it was a made in the USA item according to the ORVIS description.  Unfortunately it isn't in the budget for purchase today, but I thought I could share.



Who knows my hubby might be looking and decide to surprise me!!!

Commit to the Mitt

Twisted Rooster is a restaurant in our local town. When we moved back to Michigan we ran across this new to us dining establishment. Recently I noticed on the back of the wait staff's t-shirts it said "Commit to the Mitt".

According to Twister Rooster's website this means their menu is inspired by locally grown products and changes based on season. They even offer a wide variety of M.I.M. (made in Michigan) beers.

Although my husband and I have tried to limit our restaurant dining, but we make an effort to visit Twister Rooster a couple times a month in support of a Michigan company using Michigan products.

Froggie Went a Shoppin

Okay I just had to title my post with the name of the store. I think it is so cute, long, but cute.

My husband recently celebrated a birthday. My parents had heard how his office had not been decorated so while eating at the Bell Buckle Cafe in Bell Buckle, Tennessee they went shopping in some of the local stores.

Here at Froggie Went a Shoppin Antiques & Other Good Stuff they found this handmade plaque about attitude. I don't think they were even thinking made in the USA when they bought it, but after I looked at the back of the plaque we were all excited.

Electric Toothbrush

Dentist told the hubby to buy an electric toothbrush. About to begin my search for one Made in the USA, wish me luck!!

Dentist did say she didn't think it mattered if he bought a cheap one or expensive one.

2/28/2012- Well at Meijer the Oral B, Crest, Sonicare were all made in China. If I don't find one by Friday guess we will be buying one of these choices.

Buyer Be Aware

My husband and I were doing our Saturday errands and ran into a local antique and craft store. We love to walk around and look at not only the antiques but all the craft booths.

Around the corner we strolled and I found a booth with paper products and lovely cards. I thought these cards were hand made and we set out to buy the two birthday cards that we needed to get in the mail. As we searched I spouted off how good it was for our dollars to be going to a local artisian. With a know it all attitude I expounded how this was how we could make small buying decisions that could build to really help the economy.

So as we rounded the corner to pay and I happened to turn over the cards and much to my amazed eyes what did I see, Made in China. We looked at one another and laughed. Since I know I can go to my local Hallmark store and have a large selection of Made in USA cards we turned around returned the cards to the rack.

Moral of the story don't always assume by the type of store or flea market or booth that something is handmade or made in the USA.

Some might argue that we still would have put dollars back into a local store and vender's pocket and in some cases I would agree. But when I know I can find a product that in reality I liked better Made in the USA that is the option I plan to exercise. It is how a choose to spend my dollars.

Cash Mobs, A Cool Idea

Cash Mobs, a group of people who meet on a designated date and time at a local small business. I heard about these a couple of months ago, first on ABC Nightly news in passing and then again on yahoo.

It seems like "movement" is a word used a lot these days. This "movement" even has its own blog , with rules and organization information as well as postings about cash mobs scheduled.

Some of these businesses have been in business for generations and are struggling against bigger competition that can purchase in mega quantities and can buy expensive advertising. At first I think of small towns with these local businesses, but as I visit different cities I realize that they are full of small homegrown businesses that need support too. According to this article on MSN

"A shift in your spending of just 10 percent has the power to create hundreds of jobs and add millions of dollars to Rhode Island's economy," Roberts says in a promotion produced by her office."

This of course relates to only one state but my common sense says it has to be similiar in all states.

Take a look at your shopping list this week and see if there are items you can purchase from a small locally own businesses and take the first step.

Gift Buying while on Vacation

A few years ago I had a Glass Butter Dish on my Christmas list. My wonderful sister purchased one for me, a white one. No more than 30days after opening the gift my husband opened the refrigerator and broke it. I can't say for sure but my guess is it was not made in the USA.

This year my sister was able to replace the broken butter dish with a beautiful unique one of a kind piece purchased while she was on vacation in Asheville, NC. She visited the Appalachian Craft Center . It was so unexpected, not only the thought that she remembered the broken one from years past, but also that she found one that was made in the USA by the hands of a local artist.

I guess my lesson from this is so often we look at the gift lists for Christmas, Anniversary, Birthday and say oh she wants a butter dish lets run to the Big Box Store, because it is easier. My sister thought ahead and as she enjoyed her vacation she supported a local artist. THANKS SIS

Habersham Candle Company Wax Pottery

I am afraid that this picture doesn't do the wax pottery bowl from Habersham Candle Company justice. I have actually purchased three of these in the last 30 days and if my little local gift shop is able to get more in I will probably make this my 2012gift of the year for all those who I purchase Birthday gifts.

They have a huge array of fragrances in gorgeous colors with different arrangements of flowers, leaves, twigs and a butterfly or two within the wax.

Best of all they are made in the USA, Georgia to be exact!!

The Ice Dozer

One of my most unusual Made in the USA Christmas Gifts was the "Ice Dozer" from my mom.

I am not sure what state they are manufactured but here is a bit about the history of the company.

There has not been any measurable snow or ice since Christmas here in the mitten, but I will give a review once I use it.