Comments on: Black Friday — In or Out?

By: A. L. Venable

A. L. Venable — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:38:08 +0000

@Cynthia - Here's the Crafty Wonderland site. They typically hold an event the second Sunday of the month at the Doug Fir, save for their big holiday event, which has 125 vendors signed up.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:01:42 +0000

A.L. – thanks for the mention re: Crafty Wonderland! Will be searching for info online.

And MizD – when my kids were small and we were super poor, I used to hit the 50% off sale at Value Village. I’d buy things that could be re-purposed into gifts. An old wooden gameboard sanded down and turned into a handpainted checker board; a doll hutch turned into a jewelry box; sweaters turned into hats, scarves and mittens, etc. Teacups turned into candles; canning jars used for layered cookie, brownie and soup mixes…

Once my finances improved a bit, we still continued giving each other at least one handmade gift each year. It’s become a family tradition. And for my extended family, some of whom are dedicated consumerists, handmade gifts are the only ones they’ve gotten from us. My nieces and nephews still talk about their gifts – and my kids who are now 18 and 20 still have the majority of things that I made for them. Some of those things are now 15 years old, lol!

Holiday blessings to all of you!

By: MizD

MizD — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:20:51 +0000

I love the idea of Choose Local week, and would love to support it… if the coupon books are readily available as they’re supposed to be. I just stopped by New Seasons (on Division) and not only did they not have the books, but the person at the Solutions Desk (where the books are supposed to be kept) didn’t seem to know what I was talking about. Sad.

I grew up in a family that was all about local/handmade crafted gifts, but married into a family that’s the opposite. I tried adding homemade to the mix at their house one year and got blasted for it. This year, I’m working on a strategy to avoid the consumer-crazy in-laws altogether.

By: Talea

Talea — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:19:29 +0000

I never do the day after Thanksgiving thing, but I do remember a Christmas in the late 70s when the economy was tanking. The stores kept dropping their prices every day during December, trying to get shoppers to part with their money. I had a decent job, was single, didn’t spend much money on rent and had some bucks to spend. I ended up buying my mom nine gifts (all substantial pieces of clothing and jewelry) for something like $150 total. I was getting $50 sweaters for 10 bucks. It was insane.

My mom had been a single mom for the previous 10 years or so and had struggled with making ends meet for two younger kids. She never bought anything for herself. But she loved Christmas and usually went overboard with gifts.

Well, when faced with over a dozen gifts for HER, she burst into tears. She said she had never gotten that many gifts at one time in her life.

Now, obviously Christmas is not about the number of gifts you get but it was a pleasure to see her so easily pleased for an amount that seemed — even then — not outlandish. And I couldn’t have done it without the great deals that year.

By: Betsy Richter

Betsy Richter — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:46:32 +0000

To those upset ’cause they bought stuff like bread or groceries – I don’t think that’s the issue, is it? I know I was thinking about it as a ‘go bezerk buying stuff for the Christmas holidays’ occasion.

(I know others look at it as a change to save money buying what they’d normally already buy, but I’m betting retailers will be coughing up tons of discounts this holiday season to lure you out of your cash…)

By: dieselboi

dieselboi — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:06:55 +0000

Well, we’re guilty. We bought some bread for post t-day sandwiches and then some flour and sugar for “left-over veggie meat pie” that will be made tomorrow.

oh, and some beers!

By: Kathleen McDade

Kathleen McDade — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:55:50 +0000

You might have heard somewhere that I did not shop. Thanks for posting the Choose Local link — I knew there was probably something like that going on, but didn’t have the info.

By: heather w

heather w — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:35:32 +0000

Buy Nothing Day all the way!

By: A. L. Venable

A. L. Venable — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:33:24 +0000

I’ve never done the before the crack of dawn shopping outings post-Thanksgiving and don’t intend to ever do them.

Whether it’s music, chocolates, handbags or other items, most of the gifts my friends and family will receive from me will be from local artists/artisans. I’ll probably have most of my items bought before mid-December, but I’m definitely looking forward to Crafty Wonderland’s Holiday Sale at the Convention Center on 12/14 for some last-minute items. (I always forget someone regardless of having an organized list.)

By: Bridget Pilloud

Bridget Pilloud — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:06:52 +0000

Everything I buy this year, except for my kid’s legos is going to be local and handmade. We are lucky to live in Portland with so many artists and artisans!