While there is no doubt that our modern industrial world has added to the richness and diversity of our lives, it could be argued that we have lost an essential understanding of the value of making something with our own hands and we have lost our connection to mother earth.

In the latter half of the 1800's the industrial age was in a level of efficiency. Within just a few years of the end of the American Cival war. Before the start of the Industrial age, almost all merchandise was assembled by hand, by skilled workers who enjoyed making goods available to others.

Then came the rise in industrialization, every item that was once made by a craftsman took on a degree of manufacturing. So much was this, that nearly all goods sold around the world today, would not have a single human being touch the product prior to it being distributed.

Our Manufacturing world now consists of compressed wood and staples, its now almost impossible to achieve the beauty of handmade wood furniture. Our Assembly lines carry so many glass products, it's hard to see and appreciate Handblown glass. Not to mention Vinyl and plastic. To find Handmade purses and luggage is almost non existant.

Our world around us is changing, and this is not for the better.

In the 1970's, there was a full-service gas station at nearly every major intersection. Full-service has since been replaced with self-service, so much so that one can hardly find a full-service station anywhere.

Good old fashioned handcrafted toys, have been replaced with plastic, manufacturers assembly lines are full of metal and plastic toys. These are all made as cheaply as can be.

Unfortunatley we have replaced beautiful handcrafted pieces, with items made by uncaring assembly machines. Modern living has undergone total change, the product we put in our home, from artwork to efficient and inexpensive items that we now just throw away and replace.

In tody's day in age, it sometimes seems as if the only things to cherish is each other. Once upon a time our grandmas would have handmade quilts, that were handed down through the generations. Our grandads boots would have been made by the shoe maker. Alterations and repairs would have been carried out often on those one pair of shoes.

Yes, those days are gone.

Before WWII, Christmas was chock full of gifts that were made by the hands of the giver. After WWII, technology began to stamp itself fully into our everyday lives and Christmas was transformed into a "buying experience" rather than a "making experience".

Think back when was the last time you recieved something Handmade. When did you last recieve hand baked cookies, or a handmade quilt.

I do know that there is a minority in the industrialized nations that still do make goods by hand. But they are few and far between. However there are many who live in Africa and India and even Asia who still appreciate, handcrafting goods.

With the Internet available in satuaration, we find ourselves able to experience what most people have not been able to experience in a very long time. Customers have the ability to go online and find in expensive handcrafted goods, that they may prefer to over mass produced items.

Many retailers especially on the internet, search far and wide to bring handcrafted products to their customers. Products that have been made in Africa or Asia that can be forund online.

In my world handmade is a beautiful concept. It is fantastic to be able to search on the internet to find products that have been made with the love and commitment of a real person in real time.

I love going online to buy handmade. You know the thing is you can usually buy these beautiful handcrafted products for less money, than you can buy for the same kind of mass produced products.

If you like handmade products like me, then you should have a go at searching online. Not only can you acquire some really great products but you are bringing craftsmanship back into our modern world.