Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Winter Items - Gift for Female Friends, Family, or Yourself!





Santa Tooth Brooch Pin
It's never too early to start your Christmas and holiday shopping!  This year I have a variety of ladies gloves, ear warmers, scarves and jewelry available on my eBay page and in my Bonanza shop!  All of my prices are well below retail - shop smart and save!


V. Fraas Houndstooth Scarf
Degrees by 180's Argyle Earwarmers





Degrees by 180's Aqua Ear Warmers
Isotoner Stretch Gloves
Simply Vera Wang Bracelet Earring Set


V. Fraas Scarf & Mitten Set

Monday, October 17, 2011

Made in the U.S.A.

Looking for yarn Made in the U.S.A.???  I'm always looking myself for deals on yarns made here at home, and I love being able to offer these products to my customers!  I've been selling quite a bit of USA-born products lately, and I think it's important for us all to buy domestic when we can!  Not only will it help our economy, but it could mean job security for our fellow citizens across the country.

Right now my U.S.- made stock is starting to run low, but I currently have Red Heart Sport Yarns...some Lion Brand yarns...and Sugar 'n Cream as well as Peaches & Creme cotton yarns.  (Granted these cotton yarns I carry are made in Canada, but are made from cotton grown in the U.S., so that's partially beneficial to America...)




Sugar 'n Cream "Love"
Sugar 'n Cream "Over the Rainbow"




TLC Essentials "Butter"
I've been aware for quite some time now about the need to buy U.S. products, and especially to avoid buying from companies that produce in countries that have terrible working conditions and that take jobs away from American workers.  My problem is that while I've been conscious of all of this, it wasn't always first and foremost in my mind during that moment that I make the purchase, and without thinking about it, I'd see a great deal on bags of yarn, I'd buy them up, and then realize later that I just bought something made in China.  These days, though, I make a conscious effort to try to choose more items from the U.S., Canada, Italy, and a few other select countries.


Red Heart Sport Yarn - Cherry Red, White


Unfortunately, so many Americans right now are in a tough position financially.  And when places like China and Turkey are offering yarns to crocheters and knitters at unbelievable low costs, it's tough to make economical sense of spending 3 or 4 times more on yarn made elsewhere.  People have families to feed, educations to pay for, medical expenses to cover.  It's HARD to resist those incredibly low prices.  But even if we can't do it all the time, we can start by being aware of it and avoiding it when possible.

I'm able to sell my selection of American-made yarns at lower costs because I shop deals and I buy in bulk.  Then I break up the large quantities I purchase into listings of 1 - 4 skeins of yarn and sell them for very little profit, and with low shipping costs.  Right now, my U.S. yarns are not a real money-maker for me, but I want them to have a constant presence in my shops...and I would love one day for them to make up the bulk of my selection.

Here's a list of the shops I currently have American-made yarns available in now...