Is the Sky Actually Falling?

Is it just me or is the sky actually falling?

I think a rather large chunk fell on my front yard yesterday, but I'm not quite sure.

Heads are rolling to the left and right of me and I'm starting to think wearing a thick turtleneck on a daily basis is a very good plan.

There are some pretty scary rumors being whispered around my industry and they've got everyone feeling more than a little queasy.

Here's the thing...I think there's opportunity here. I believe that folks still want to give gifts and have nice things and make their homes beautiful, but they've gotten so used to the disposable, cheap, mass marketed crap they've been buying they've forgotten that they actually can do it themselves. Yes, it takes time and effort and no it's not totally free, but it's an affordable alternative to buying ready made. Sometimes all it takes is a can of spray paint and a little imagination.

A big box retailer in my industry just released their third quarter sales report and it confirms my suspicions. Folks aren't buying the ready made stuff or the big ticket items, but the basic arts and crafts supplies are selling. Why? Well let me tell you why...

We can't sell 1000 pieces of cheap mass produced crap right now to every Jane, Jill and Mary. She doesn't really need more knick-knacks or paddywacks or gee-gaws. We can't get her to buy into an expensive machine that needs expensive accessories. BUT...we can sell her a few select pieces of 'not crap' that she can easily combine with stuff she already has around the house and make something fabulous. I think companies have relied on the mass marketing/mass consumption culture of more, more, more and that has meant less focus on better. It's a lazy way to do business. We've been selling them thneeds, but let's face it folks, a thneed is not something that all people need.

What do they really need? They need things that are durable, beautiful, multi-purpose, easy to use and affordable. They need simple, inexpensive and clever solutions to home decor, accessories and giftables. Okay what they really need is air, food, water and shelter...but even so there will always be a desire for beauty and we can show them how to attain that with relative ease.

Yes, I'm being redundantly redundant. I'm telling you this again because I need to keep repeating it for myself. I'm spending my days thinking really deeply about how to survive. I'm thinking about my industry, my job security, the recession, the lay offs, the companies going under, the teetering towers of big box chains, the panic we're all feeling and I'm saying to myself...STOP! BREATHE! REFOCUS!

That and now that my kitchen is getting an affordable make-over courtesy of some vivid orange and lime green paint, I'm saying to myself, "I need new curtains and since I can't afford them I'm going to find some interesting fabric and sew them myself galdangy." If I'm saying that, you can bet your sweet bippy I'm not the only one.

The time has come for the craft industry to shift gears and show the masses the power of DIY! Stop 'selling' them and start educating, empowering and inspiring them.

I now return you to your daily slog. Slog on.

xoxo
Madge

Of gloomy days and sunny paint colors...

Monday, monday...can't trust that day...

It's another gloomy arse day in Amish country and I'm feeling it. You know that wet, gloomy sort of cold that gets right into your marrow? It's been like that off and on for weeks. I'm putting in a request for some warmth and sunshine stat, but in the meantime I'm trying to embrace the bare, spindly branches hovering outside of my windows and the damp, muckity chill that fills the air. Even my animals are hiding out.

So it's a good thing my hubby decided to paint and I chose such vibrant, sunny colors. It's making it feel just a little less abysmal and that's something upon which to hang my jaunty beret. If you'd like to see the colors and you haven't been to my other blog yet...click here! I'm still selecting a yellow and I don't have pics for those, but it's looking like Lemon Curd is going to win even though my hubby is slightly afraid of it. Lemon Twist is too...pale and Soft Duckling was too electric. Lemon Curd is vibrant and alive and a great way to enter our home, as if you're walking into sunshine...which is particularly appealing this time of year!

Man is this woman ever going to stop talking about paint colors...on both of her blogs?!

Sheesh.

It's come to this...I have nothing to talk about except for paint colors and the weather. Quel domage! I must away before I put myself to sleep!

xoxo
Madge