What's Your Favorite Made in America Product?

Don't  miss  this  opportunity  to  tell  MSNBC  about  the  fine  handmade  in  America  art products that  you  make,  sell  or  exhibit.  The  question  has  been  posed  as  part  of  MSNBC's  coverage  this week  about  the  confusion  of  rules  and  laws  governing  and defining  what is  made  in  America. 

You'll  find  the  stories  by  MSNBC  Senior  Producer  John  W.  Schoen  here,  and  the  comment  box  asking  for  your  opinion here.   Here  is  a  quick  excerpt  from  Schoen's  opening  article: 

"Today,  an  “American”  car  sold  in  Chicago  may  have  rolled  off  an  assembly  line  in  Tennessee  with  parts   made  in  a  dozen  different  countries.  Last  year, some  60  percent  of  the  value  of  goods  sold  in  the  U.S.  was  imported.  That's  up  from  14  percent  in  1980  and  8  percent  in  1960,  based  on  the  government's  gross  domestic  product  data. So  what  does  it  mean  to  be  Made  in America?"

 

Comments

[Martha Baerreis]

We are a family of American Designer/Craftsmen. Since 1972, we have made beautiful things in wood.. now our grown children are artisans as well.. working in glass, photography, music etc..

Over time, we have found that the traditional markets for artisans (art shows, galleries, art markets) have become inundated with items which (while wonderful and beautiful) were/are actually handmade by artisans from other countries and sold by jobbers. (who frequently exploit those artisans, and misrepresent the work as their own - another whole story)

Our access to market has been drastically reduced, and many of us live on the edge of society - often at the edge of poverty.

There is very little hope for emerging artisans to have access to market in America.

We sell online - we sell on ebay, etsy, amazon and our own web site - and we create many beautiful hair accessories for women (and some men) around the world. One at a time - shipped through the mail.

There are MANY like us in America - and I believe the craftsmen of America, like the Craftsmen who first set up the guilds in the 1500's hold the core of manufacturing LOST in America today.

martha baerreis
designs by baerreis

[sell gold rings]

Those are indeed beautifully made.