Articles/Blog

Welcome to the Gift Hut article and blog page, in this section you will find some articles, that have been written by Nicole Maschwitz. Nicole supply's and writes her articles for newspaper enzines and many article directories. These articles will give you and insight into the world of Gift Hut. We hope you enjoy. Please feel to visit my blog and make any suggestions or comments visit my blog at http://wwwgifthutcom.blogspot.com/

Handmade in the Modern Age

While there is no doubt that our modern industrial world has added to the richness and diversity of our lives, it could be argued that we have lost an essential understanding of the value of making something with our own hands and we have lost our connection to mother earth.

The industrial age kicked into full gear in the latter half of the 1800's, within just a few years of the end of the American Civil War. Before the start of the industrial age, nearly all products were assembled by hand and made by craftsmen who enjoyed creating the value that they were making available to others.

But with the rise in industrialization, every product once made by hand took on a level of manufacturing, so much so that today,
most products bought and sold today on the world market do not have a single human hand touch the product prior to distribution.

In a world of compressed wood products and staples, it is hard to achieve the beauty of handmade wood furniture. In our world of
assembly line glass products, it is hard to gain an appreciation for hand blown glass products. In our modern age of vinyl products, it is hard to experience handmade purses. With the development of plastics, we lost handmade luggage and outdoor furniture.

All around us, our world is changing, and not always for the better.

In the 1970's, there was a full-service gas station at nearly every major intersection. Full-service has since been replaced with self-service, so much so that one can hardly find a full-service station anywhere.

Handmade toys have been replaced with plastic and metal toys manufactured on assembly lines. Wood and plastic designs, made as
cheaply as the manufacturers can make them, have replaced handmade items.

We have replaced all that was beautiful and handcrafted, with products made by cold and uncaring machines. Modern living has
transformed the products we put into our homes, from works of fine art to efficient and inexpensive products that we have been
trained to throw away when the products break.

In this new era, it sometimes seems as if the only things we have left to cherish is each other. Of course, we will always cherish
each other, but our grandmothers had handmade quilts and beautifully manufactured furniture. Our grandpas had boots or
shoes that were made by hand and taken to the leather shop when it was time to replace the soles on their shoes. Our grandparents
even had mechanical watches that were valuable enough to carry to the watchmaker, when the watch stopped working.

Yes, those days are gone.

Before WWII, Christmas was chock full of gifts that were made by the hands of the giver. After WWII, technology began to stamp
itself fully into our everyday lives and Christmas was transformed into a "buying experience" rather than a "making
experience".

When was the last time that you received a handmade quilt as a gift? When was the last time your kids made you something for
Christmas? When was it when someone last made you a display piece to showcase in your home?

While I do know that few people in the industrialized nations make anything by hand anymore - an exception being the Rolls
Royce and Ferrari automobiles - there are many people who live in South America, Africa, and Eastern Asia who still appreciate the
value of making products by hand.

With the global saturation of the Internet, we find ourselves in a unique position that most people have not been able to
experience in nearly one hundred years. As global retail corporations continue to shop for cheap, mass-produced goods to
sell their customers, their customers have the ability to go online and find inexpensive, handmade goods that they may prefer
over the mass-produced equivalents.

Many Internet retailers have searched far-and-wide to bring handmade products to their customers. Products that are made by
hand, by real people in Africa and Eastern Asia can be found on many online retail websites.

In my world, that is a beautiful concept. It is wonderful to be able to go to a website and buy a product that is made by a real
human, using his or her own hands to craft the product with love, care and commitment.

I love the fact that I can go online to buy handmade, but the thing that is most interesting is that one can frequently get
handmade products from other areas of the world for far less money than an American, a European or Australian can get the same
kind of machined products for from his or her local brick-and-mortar retail outlet.

If you are like me, and you like handmade products, then it will be worth your time to search the Internet to see what products
you can acquire to bring good craftsmanship and mother earth back into your modern life.

Author Nicole Maschwitz for Gift Hut

Unique Gifts Are They a Thing of the Past

Lets face it times have changed long gone are the days of knitting and crocheting. Lets admit it now with the introduction of computers & X box the next generation is more interested in helping Scratch from ice age rather than doing embroidery. In addition, with mass production of goods from China and other countries unique is becoming more rare.

Well I have made it my personal quest to find Unique.
Let me start by saying that on a trip to Africa, I most definitely found it. The African tribal people would undoubtedly have to be some of the most talented people in the world. There Bead work Wire work sculptures are truly amazing. Yes you heard right!

These talented artisans from the Ndebele and Zulu tribes express themselves through this very art form. Dating back they used the bead work mostly for costume jewelry or ceremonial occasions, using organic materials but now with the introduction of glass beads through overseas visitors, there artistry has turned to something with a more modern and creative twist.

Traditionally over the years, the tribal women were renowned for there ceremonial costumes and for there basket weaving, put the two together and they started creating the most beautiful designs.

Today Africa is experiencing a revolution. Numbers of talented artisans, are making these steel wire sculptures and then beading them with bright bold colors. The bead work is complex and difficult, in the past women dominated this incredible art, however now the items are readily made and sold to tourists, both males and females alike now do the bead work.

Due to Africa's high unemployment rate, its common practice for the women in the villages to sit and bead. Traders from each village collectively sell there work at nearby markets and street stalls. It is an everyday occurrence to see these talented artisans sitting on the pavement constructing and beading the most amazing creations. The task requires a steady hand and lots of patience. Each design is unique and charismatic; no two pieces are the same. The types of designs they create vary, you can find wall art such as spider webs and butterflies not to mention animal sculptures, motorbikes & beaded bottles, the array of products and designs is certainly endless.

Africa is an amazing place, with extraordinary people. Their bead work is first class. An age old tradition with creative new designs to suit the modern world. This truly is exceptional artisanship.

Author Nicole Maschwitz for Gift Hut

Standing Out From The Crowd Without Being Ostentatious

We girls are always on the lookout to find new ways to stand out in a crowd. When we go to a party, a business function, or even out on a date, we are looking for ways that we can make ourselves distinct and different from every other woman in the room. We want people to pay attention to us, and to seek us out as someone they will want to spend their time.

When we are at a party, we want people to notice us and to pay attention to us. When we are at a business function, we want our bosses and co workers to take notice of our finer traits, including our style and fashion sense. When we are on a date, we want our date to see us in a different and brighter light than the women he has met before us.

Many of us have learned that alcohol is not a necessity for us to stand out in a room and get noticed. In fact, we can draw much more favorable attention with the clothes we wear and the accessories we use when we go out.

Don't Be Ostentatious

Most of us know women who are caught up in having the most expensive accessories in the room. For them, it is not just a matter of having distinctive apparel. No, for them, it is a matter of being able to claim more spending power than you or me. Of course, most of us know that spending power does not make you a more attractive person.

Few women who live outside of the major cities of the world, New York City, Paris, London, and Melbourne, Australia, and women who work outside of the entertainment industry, would seriously consider the purchase of a dress from Armani or Versace. We would likely never indulge $2500 on a Gucci purse or a designer dress, although we might spend a healthy amount of money to buy a beautiful wedding dress that we will keep forever after all, we will only get married for the first time, once.

Stand Out With Style

The good news is that there are more ways to stand out in a room than to outspend everyone in the room.

Even an interesting set of earrings, a bracelet or a necklace can attract people quickly to our side to view the beauty or distinctiveness of our jewellery. Of course, it is not even necessary to indulge in gold or diamond jewellery to attract attention from others.

In fact, with the development of the global Internet marketplace, it has become much more easy to buy jewellery from other parts of the world, frequently for prices less than the cost of a cheap gold strand. For example, one could buy a necklace or choker with African styling or even Malaysian styling, for under $100. Despite the seemingly low cost, a piece of jewellery from another part of the world might just attract more attention and conversation than a Gucci purse or a diamond-studded earring set.

Speaking of Gucci, one could even pick up a handmade handbag with African, Mediterranean, Japanese, or Southwest Native American styling that attracts every eye in the room. Why spend $2500 on a handbag, when you could attract even more attention with a handbag that could be purchased for under $100?

The Frugal Shopper

If you are frugal in your shopping, that does not have to mean that you have to be the girl in the corner to whom no one is paying any attention. In fact, being frugal does not mean that you have to be plain or boring either.

Being a frugal shopper simply means that you have the ability to make your money go further, without giving up on having the things that make our lives fun and interesting.

Most women have households to run and children to support. Most of us have had the necessity to be frugal with our money from time-to-time, for the sake of keeping our households running smoothly. As such, many of us have learned that demonstrating style and beauty does not have to be expensive. In fact, many of us have learned that the trick to making our money go further can be summed up in one simple sentence, don't be afraid to shop around.

Author Nicole Maschwitz for Gift Hut

Recycled Products Make Unique Gifts

Recycling has been around for some time, but these days a greater number of people are taking a more serious approach to their recycling. With all the talk of global warming and greenhouse emissions, people are starting to think about how they can minimize the effects of these conditions on the environment. The greatest help has come from raising awareness, through the education of our primary school students', with environmental sustainability and recycling being hot topics taught in our classrooms.

This education is happening all around the world; on my trip to Africa, I was pleased to find evidence of this in Swaziland. Swaziland is located in southern Africa, and is one of the smallest countries on the African continent. There, help from a company is paying dividends. Efforts are being made by the company, and citizens, to recycle through creating products. In turn, this helps residents earn an income for the local community.

What excited me most is that recycled glass is used to make the gift items produced by the company, and children and others in the region are paid to collect glass bottles used in making them. Clean up days are organized by this company utilizing children from nearby schools, in return the schools receive sponsorship, or products, from the company to help sustain themselves. These efforts help encourage awareness about recycling, and do something very positive for the environment in general.

Once the glass is collected, it is crushed and melted down in a large gas-fired furnace. Artisans blow the glass into shapes to make the attractive products. They use a combination of hand, and mouth blown techniques to create the individual designs. The artists create many products, which all have a very African theme.

Their designs include glass animal figurines and sculptures. These gorgeous African animals: elephants, hippos, and giraffes, come in all sizes, from very small to quite large. The artists also make intriguing bottle stoppers, vases, and glasses. Each item is unique and has its own individual character; no two items are the same.

People are always in search of that unique gift, something that stands out from the rest, something that has a story behind it. Knowing that the products being manufactured are helping feed and support communities in Africa, the company is also trying to instill environmental awareness in the people of these remote communities. This needs to be recognized and encouraged.

Our world would be a better place if more companies took an interest in environmental awareness.

Author Nicole Maschwitz for Gift Hut

Unique Gifts for Christmas

Its that time of year again. The first hint of Christmas appears in the department stores, they start by bringing out there Christmas trees, or by hanging tinsel and decorations through out the stores.

Its not that time already, you hear people say.

Slowly but surely the buzz amongst the shoppers becomes apparent. And why not Christmas brings so much joy to people. Not only the joy of celebrating Christs birthday, but the joy of giving and receiving of gifts.

There is nothing better, than to see the face of a loved one light up, at the joy of receiving a gift. It brings immense pleasure not only to the receiver but to the purchaser. Yes the giver has out done
themselves again with the thought of yet another great gift, but most importantly they have made someone they love very happy.

Although Christmas brings about a lot of joy, there can also be a lot of despair. The worry and despair about what to buy. The worry about the crowds of people at the shopping centre's.

Todays modern technology and online shopping, has probably helped, ease the burden with time restrictions, and crowds at shopping centres. Internet shopping allows you to shop 24 hours a day and in the ease of your home or work place.

But what do I buy this is always the question. Usually we are all looking for something thats unique, something that we know the other person hasnt already got. We want a gift that is outside the norm, so to speak. But, What.

In my personal experience, you cant go passed, handcrafted products. Look for something that has been, made by hand. Products that have been made using recycled materials. Gifts that have been given that personal touch. Gifts that have been made by someone real, not a production line.

Craft markets are a great place to source handcrafted gifts, If unable to get to a craft market or stall try searching online. The worldwide web is a wonderful tool. Try searching words like unique gifts, handcrafted, handmade, hand blown, recycled, the list is endless.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day the old saying still rings true. It is not about what you buy its the thought that counts. The thought about the one you love, the thought about what they would like. The thought about Christmas and what it really means.

Author Nicole Maschwitz for Gift Hut

Tips and Suggestions for Choosing the Right Gifts

When it comes to choosing the right gift for someone, be it for a birthday or for Christmas. Knowing a bit about the persons personality can really help in buying the appropriate gift. Firstly ask yourself some questions. What do they like? What are there hobbies? Is it near Christmas? Are they going on holidays?

Once you have asked yourself these questions then you need to look at what you can buy. I have always found handmade, handcrafted gifts special. They usually are unique and have been made by a person rather than a production line.

Using the World Wide Web, can be useful in helping you find that unique gift, searching on specific keywords related to your friends or loved ones hobbies or needs. For example if they like glass key in words like hand blown glass, glass animals. Recycled glass, glass art. Or perhaps you just might like to try searching for words like handmade, handcrafted or unique. You will be surprised at some of the ideas that you come up with. Using the web for searches on key words to help you find your gift is not only useful its saves time.

It also gives you the option to search further and wider; many handcrafted gifts are made overseas in places like India or Africa. Buying from overseas may mean that the gifts you find will not be readily available, in your country of origin. Thus making the gift you purchase more unique.

Perhaps the person you are buying for likes flowers. Rather than being obvious and buying a bunch of fresh flowers, perhaps you can by something with a flower on it. A picture or painting would be thoughtful. Perhaps you could buy some coasters with flowers on them, or a necklace with a flower on it.

Maybe the person you are buying for likes beads, maybe you can buy a handmade bag with lovely beading on it. Or maybe some decorative home ware that has been beaded or has beads on it.

Whatever the gift, it really pays to think about the person your buying for. Thinking about the person, unlocks clues to there likes and dislikes, the harder you think and search the more likely you are to come up with something fabulous and unique.

The recipient will be evermore appreciative that you have taken the time to think about the gift you have bought for them.

Happy shopping.

Author Nicole Maschwitz for Gift Hut