Handmade: What Does It Mean To You?

Handmade. To me, it’s a powerful word.

Growing up I lived in a family where the unique was treasured and the handmade was cherished. My mom was (and still is) an avid artist with a knack for creating one-of-a-kind pieces. She fashioned hand-crafted porcelain platters for the holidays, constructed creative costumes for Halloween, and was always providing artwork to our school for displays.

And she was a baker. I was with her while she mastered the art of bread making. I was the honorary tester of her pumpkin and apple pies. I spent countless hours watching her make something extraordinary from nothing…

What handmade means to me is love – and the memories that come with it. It’s the moments that I shared with my mom while she crafted. It’s the memories associated with those special items – like knowing that my mom’s handmade platter has joined me every Thanksgiving. It’s the idea that nobody else in the world has that same exact piece of artwork. And, most importantly, it’s the thought that someone took time to make something beautiful using their own hands.

When I think of all of the items in our home, the ones that I would consider my most treasured pieces are ones that were crafted by someone’s hands.

So my question to you is … what does “handmade” mean to you?

– Erica

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