just giving

I enjoy giving people gifts. I think that is a good thing. My husband quotes something like, the worst evil is a perverted good. The next month of shopping frenzy has become that in my mind. It is so sad to me because it uglies something so beautiful as giving gifts to the people we love. I don't want to participate in the holiday materialism. I also don't want to not give my family and friends gifts. My mother-in-law would not understand if I chose not to buy her anything out of principle this year. I have to buy her something. Plus, I love looking through toy catalogs for presents to send my nephews. In my efforts to make my gifts special, I have accumulated a compilation of retailers and information that may help others stuck in a similar quandary. This is a collection of fair trade and otherwise worthwhile shops from my favorites list. I thought I'd share it with you in order to: 1. maybe save you some time in mall traffic 2. support good retailers 3. show you some neat stuff and 4. help you spread the practice of fair trade buying to whomever you give gifts. I know there are many more and other local shops that are good to support. This is just a start.

(click 'full post' to read the rest...)
fair trade stuff
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/
www.agreatergift.org
http://www.novica.com/
http://irc.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=brKNIXNMF&b=6862
http://store.gxonlinestore.org/index.html
http://www.heartbeatscatalog.org/
https://www.womensbeanproject.com/
http://catgen.com/ifat/EN/
http://www.garudainternational.com/
http://www.onevillage.org/
www.fairindigo.com
http://www.womenforwomen.org/bazaar.htm
http://www.globalcrafts.org/
http://www.worldofgood.com/catalog/index.php
http://www.taraluna.com/
http://www.fairtradequilts.com/
https://www.leagueofartisans.org/shop/index.php
http://www.groundsforchange.com/
http://www.mercadoglobal.org
http://store.tilonia.com/index.html
http://www.oxfamshop.org.au/shop/
http://www.unicefusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=gtITK4OVG&b=42535
http://www.handcraftingjustice.org
http://www.catgen.com/wsdp/EN/100001.html
www.apdkbombolulu.com/EN
www.africanhome.co.za
www.getethical.com
http://www.nativities.com/index.asp
www.one-world-is-enough.net
http://www.shilpanganindia.org/index.html
http://www.artisanatsel.com/boutique/liste_rayons.cfm


local
www.justcreations.org
www.kaht.net/


gifts for others
http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/
www.heifer.org

for more info and links
http://www.shared-interest.com/
www.ifat.org
http://www.transfairusa.org
www.crsfairtrade.org
http://www.coopamerica.org/
http://www.thriftyplanet.com

baby
http://www.katequinnorganics.com/
http://www.allnaturalbaby.com/
www.bamboosa.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=90883

other stuff (organic, recycled, or just nifty)
https://www.ethicalwares.com/
www.mattany.com
http://www.shop-pod.com/info.html
http://www.farmaesthetics.com/
www.qcollection.com
http://www.loomstate.org/
http://www.branchhome.com/
http://kstudiohome.com/
http://www.tsdesigns.com/
http://www.jansdotter.com/
http://www.ecomall.com
http://www.gaiam.com
http://www.femailcreations.com
http://www.etsy.com/
http://www.globalgirlfriend.com/