Every Handcraft Tells a Story...

In last months Oprah magazine there was an article titled, "The World's Fair". It was an article discussing the importance of handmade/handcrafted items and how they have become such a big trend. The importance of handmade/handcrafted items for women in third world countries is to put their children through school and to provide for their families. Handcrafting is a lifestyle. While most of us look at buying handcrafted things for the uniqueness and the fact that not everyone in the world has the same thing, what you don't think about is you are helping families survive. Weather its a hand knitted scarf or a hand woven tote bag wouldn't you rather be able to say "This is a one of kind" rather than "Oh I got it at [enter chain store name here.]." Now I am not saying shopping at a department or chain store is bad. Not at all. But we are all a custom to going out and buying something simply because its there rather than thinking about where it came from or who you are helping in buying that particular item. Sparkling UP! is trying to help artists survive and make a name for themselves while staying true to themselves as artists. By supporting Sparkling UP! you are supporting a cause. A cause to keep the world spin in art and uniqueness.