Shop local during the recession

As I was driving home, I heard a story on MPR about how some predict that Wal-mart and Costco are going to do well this Christmas because of the recession. That ticked me off. I will continue to buy from local artists or businesses so that what tiny fraction of the wealth I have to spread around goes to people who live here or make things here.

Coming up after Thanksgiving is the No Coast Craft '08 Craft-0-Rama, Friday Dec 5 and Sat Dec 6, 9-5, at the Midtown Global Market. On Sat. at 2 there will be a team competition called the Craft-a-thon! There will be four-person teams and their challenge will be to take the material given them and "upcycle" them into something on the spot. I may have to go just for that. It's free to browse, and of course there are all the yummy things one can eat at the market, especially the sweet and savory pastries at The Salty Tart.

The Craft-o-Rama vendors are listed here. I like these tote bags made from recycled vinyl billboards at Drive-By Bags, especially a yellow one. One of the artists who will be featured is Amy Rice. I love her work and I'm seriously thinking of buying something, although the big pieces really aren't in my budget; I'm hoping she has some smaller prints at the event. We saw a show of hers at Cafe Barbette and fell in love with her stenciled paintings on wood and metal.