Rant #1 - I'm not sure how my thought process went here, but enjoy

Click pictures to go to shops.

I swear I'm going to be better at making this a real blog! I'm really trying this time! Anyway, onto the rant...

A lot of small internet business who deal in DIY clothing, jewelry, and other accessories often don't like to share their sources. And it makes sense. Why make something yourself, try to make money off of it, and then tell your customers where to get the supplies and do it themselves?

There are those who, like me, would gladly by something off a small independent label or artist before going to a chain store and buying something thousands of other people have (though many people only buy independent things out of laziness and easy access via the internet). Indie (fuck I hate that word) items just have so much more character, more feeling put into them. They're also so much more personal, as they are usually unique so you can be sure that you and only you have them.

I'm just going to interrupt myself here and let those of you who don't already know become aware that this started as me featuring a supply shop and then realizing how dumb that was.

The internet has made so many more amazing things accessible, and allowed so many people to do what they love successfully around the world. Sure, it's creating globalization as well, but look at all the brilliance that's come from that!

Stopping that thought there because that's a whole different rant.

The details that are put into these things are outstanding, as well as the attention to quality (which is becoming increasingly more expensive in regular stores). I'm glad to have purchased many of these things, and am planning my own Snitch necklace (click the other Snitch necklace for the shop - Jennie does amazing work!) from one of these shops. There are a large amount of poor quality materials available for far cheaper, but even a good shop down on money can make it into something amazing and long lasting.

Even if you don't have money to buy things from these shops (be they independantly hosted, on Etsy, or otherwise), just look through them at least. Please! Follow their work, watch them grow. Then once you can afford it, buy something! Support them so they can continue to grow!

Or maybe you just browse to get inspired, that's fine too! It's incredibly common for one's work to be inspired by that of another, and there's nothing wrong with it. Of course, that's all dependant on how you interpret that inspiration. Don't just rip off someone else's idea. It's not fair to the artist or yourself, and it's just plain rude. Despite common saying, imitation is not flattery. It's theft, plain and simple. If you like something that someone has done, and you want to attempt it, then by all means! Just don't sell a reproduction as if it's from your own imagination. And if you think yourself an artist, DO NOT DO THAT TO YOURSELF! You have to maintain your own identity, especially in the creative world, or you'll just get lost among the countless discredited fakes that no one even tries to remember, let alone respect.

Returning to where this rant began, don't be that asshole who asks an independant artisan where they get their supplies, or an artist how they do their work. If they want to share, they will. These people have probably gone to great lengths to procure the best quality materials possible or acquired amazing skills through years of practice to make their vision a reality, and then decided to share it with whoever chooses to honour them buy purchasing it. Unless you've done so yourself, you have know idea the sense of accomplishment and pride you get when someone buys something you've personally spent time developing. And please, let them see pictures of you with what you've bought! That wonderful feeling multiplies exponentially when you see how happy your creation has made someone.

The point I'm trying to make here: BUY INDEPENDANT! You may have to search hard for something you really like, but I promise it's worth it when you find something spectacular!

Sorry for all the ramblings and sidealongs in parentheses, but expect this in future rants.