Made in America Christmas

Hi guys - welcome to the fourth and final installment of the Made in America Christmas Series.  I've really enjoyed searching out US manufactured products.  I think I will continue to periodically post about products made in the USA that I really like.

{ You can see my previous posts here:  week 1, week 2, week 3 }

Also, head on over to my sister's blog, A Little Ditty to see her Made in America Christmas post this week.

A few weeks ago I came across a company called Hickoree's Hard Goods.  They offer lots of made in the USA products.  Click here to see all their USA products.



I would love to have Santa bring me this Heritage Leather Co. Bag.  I love the simplicity of it.

Also from Hickoree's, this awesome Collectors Set of Crayola Crayons.

The set includes a tin with 64 crayons and 8 retired colors.  Fun!



I know Crayolas are for kids, but I wouldn't mind these for myself!

Did you know that the Slinky is still made in the USA?  Yay Slinky!  Hickoree's offers this Collectors Edition which comes in packaging designed in the 1940s.  Pretty cool.

If you want to check out all the products Hickoree's offers from the USA, go right here.

Next up, Anchor Hocking. You've probably heard me talk about them before on the blog - they are a favorite of mine for their simple and functional glassware.  Most of their products are made in the USA.  I also really like that Anchor Hocking products are inexpensive, and readily available.  Target has a great selection.

Here are just a few of my favorites...

I have a few of these Heritage Hill Jars in my craft room.  The one gallon size is only $11.99.  You can use these jars in just about any room of your house.

Another favorite, the Apothecary Jars.  The medium size is only $4.99!

OK, this 44 oz. water pitcher is $5.99!  It would make a pretty vase too, don't you think?

I think every kitchen could use a set of these glass mixing bowls.  Another great value at $19.99.

Right now you can save 30% of your order at the Anchor Hocking Online Store by entering "endofyear" in your shopping cart.

Stop by A Little Ditty to see my sister's made in the USA pick this week.  She promises that she is participating this week - last week she had to skip because she had a crazy week at work!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Made in America Christmas: Bauer Pottery

The Christmas Countdown is on!  Ten days.  Wow.  Is it just me, or was this one of the fastest years ever?  Honestly, I don't know where the time went.

My sister and I have teamed up for a weekly series every Thursday until Christmas.  We are featuring a few of our favorite made in American products.

For today's made in America pick, I am featuring Bauer Pottery.

Here is a little bit about Bauer Pottery { taken from their website }

"Starting in Louisville, Kentucky, and then flourishing in Los Angeles, California, J. A. Bauer Pottery Company created simple, yet beautiful stoneware from the late 1880s to the early 1960s. With lines ranging from redware flowerpots to brilliantly colored dinnerware, Bauer Pottery was a staple in American homes for many decades.  Inspired by the weather and lifestyles of Southern California, Bauer Pottery created many different lines for the home and garden.  Bauer introduced new, richly colored styles after the Depression which met with overwhelming success. It wasn't long before all the major pottery companies in the United States began to follow with their own interpretations of Bauer's vision.  Today, the work of J.A. Bauer has been reintroduced by a ceramics studio in Los Angeles, located just minutes from the original plant. The new Bauer line, Bauer 2000, is being produced using original pieces as models, with an emphasis on items originally manufactured by Bauer in the 1930s and 40s."

Bauer manufactures a few different lines:  Bauer 2000 pottery styled after Bauer vintage American pottery, Russel Wright's American Modern® line of dinnerware and gardenware under the Home by SunsetTM banner.

You may have heard of Russell Wright before.  He was an iconic American industrial designer who designed several lines of dinnerware.  He believed in easy, informal living and influenced the way Americans lived in the mid 20th century.

{ American Modern Creamer }

I love the creamer.  My Mom actually has a vintage one.  You can often find vintage Russell Wright pieces at antique sales and vintage shops.  Click here to see the entire line of Russell Wright's American Pottery line.

{ Bauer Classic Style Mixing Bowls }

I think these nested mixing bowls are beautiful.  The bright colors are so fun.  They would make a great addition to any kitchen, don't you think?

 { Monterey Pitcher }

Here's the description of the Monterey Pitcher from the website: 

"Fifty-four ounces of lemonade, Bloody Marys, water, margaritas, iced tea, Long Island iced tea, orange juice…I could go on all day. Stands seven and a half inches tall."

With a description like that, how can you not love this pitcher!  Comes in lots of beautiful colors too.

{ Cake Stand }

The classic lines of the cake stand means it will never go out of style.  I love it!  It is also available in several more colors.

{ Swirl Pots }

Bauer Pottery & Sunset Magazine teamed up to produce a line of beautiful gardenware.  Click here to see the entire Sunset Collection.

{ Biltmore Pot } and { Garden Orbs }

Bauer didn't forget about Fido - they have an entire collection devoted to pets.  Check out the food & water bowls here.

Like color?  Bauer's 2000 line is offered in the colors shown below.  So pretty.  Of course, my favorites are Parrot Green, Chartreuse, and Lime Green. 

What do you think?  Do you like Bauer Pottery?  They offer many more beautiful pieces.  Head on over to their website to see their entire product line.  You can purchase directly from the website or check out this list by state of stores that sell Bauer.  If Christmas wasn't so close, I think I would add a few Bauer pottery pieces to my list!

See the other Made in America Christmas posts here and here.

And don't forget to visit A Little Ditty to see my sister's made in America picks this week.  I don't think her post will be up until sometime tomorrow.

{ all photos taken from the Bauer Pottery website }

Made in America Christmas: For the Kids

Thanks for the comments on last weeks Made in America post.  I'm glad there are others who feel the same as I do about supporting American companies when we can!

If you missed last week's post, my sister and I are sharing our favorite made in America products every Thursday until Christmas.  Visit A Little Ditty to see my sister's made in America finds.

Also, I received a comment last week from a reader wondering if I knew of any American made Christmas garland.  I searched all over the web and can not find anything.  Do you guys know of any?  My only suggestion would be using fresh greens.  I wish I would have been able to find one for you!

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For today's edition, I have a few fun picks for kids.  Wouldn't you rather buy toys made here in the USA than from China?  I know I would.

First up, Uncle Goose.  Uncle Goose makes the most beautiful, wood block sets.

{ Classic ABC Blocks }

Here are a few of my favorites:

{ Uppercase/Lowercase ABC Blocks }

{ Nursery Rhyme 28 Block Set }

{ Presidential Blocks }

{ Classic ABC Blocks with Pull Wagon }

There are many, many more sets on the Uncle Goose website.  For the Michiganders out there - Uncle Goose blocks are made in Grand Rapids! 

You will find a store locater on their website or you can buy directly from Uncle Goose online.  Anthropologie loves Uncle Goose blocks - they sell them online.

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I am really happy I came across Green Toys.  Their toys are adorable and I love them even more knowing they are made in the USA!

Here's a little about Green Toys { taken from their website }:

"We believe the world would be a much better place if everyone said “please” and “thank you", cell phones didn’t ring during movies, and all toys were fun, safe, and made from environmentally friendly materials. Since it’s probably no use holding our breath for those first two, we’re concentrating on the toys.

Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet."

Click here to read more about Green Toys Green story and their commitment to the environment.

How cute is this pizza set?  It is nominated for the 2012 Toy of the Year Award.

{ Pizza Parlor }

{ Stacking Cups }

{ Tugboat }

{ Tool Set }

I really like the packaging Green Toys uses and the store behind it. 

"Green Toys environmental mission even extends to our packaging. We strive to minimize packaging, and all of our boxes use as little material as possible. All Green Toys products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. So, not only are they earth-friendly and ready for your recycling bin, they are really easy to open for those little fingers just itching to get at the toys!!"

Brilliant!

You can purchase Green Toys directly from their website by clicking here or see their website for a list of retailers.

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I was really happy to learn that about 60% of Little Tykes toys are still made in the US. Yay Little Tykes!  They have a section on their website just for their toys made in the USA.  Click here to see the list.

One of the toys made in the USA is one I'm sure we are all familiar with.  The Cozy Coupe!

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I love these next items.  They are from a company called Camden Rose.   Here's a little bit about them { taken form the Camden Rose website }

"Camden Rose is a collective voice of designers, artists, teachers, musicians, craftspeople and parents who chose to bring about a better future for our children. We design and manufacture simple, elegant and unique wooden and textile toys. Green natural materials and USA and Fair Trade manufacturing highlight our “leave no footprint” philosophy"

A small portion of their products are made in Peru through Fair Trade and those items are clearly stated on the website.

How adorable is this knit play food?

 { Knitted Corn, Carrot, Tomato & Onion Set }

{ Knitted Strawberries, Grapes & Pear Set }

Camden Rose has many other products, including wooden baby toys, play kitchens, and dolls.  You can find where to buy their products here.

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Lastly, here are a few products from American Plastic Toys.  They have proudly manufactured plastic toys in the USA since 1962!

Here's a little about them { from their website }:

"American Plastic Toys has proudly manufactured safe toys in United States since 1962. We currently operate a total of three facilities in Michigan and Mississippi. Our product line includes over 125 different items ranging from a simple sand pail to a play kitchen set.

We assemble 100% of the toys in our product line in the United States. Most of the components in our products are molded in our plants or purchased from US companies. Less than four percent of our toy value content is imported from the Far East. The majority of this small percentage consists of sound components and fasteners. Toys with imported components only represent 25% of our entire product line. None of these components are painted."

{ Deluxe Runabout Wagon }

 

{ Sweet Petite Trike }

 

{ Turbo Cycle }

 

Those are my picks this week.  Do you have anything you would add to the list?  I would love to hear what your favorite made in America products are.

 

{ Make sure to head over to A Little Ditty to see my sister's picks. }

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On another note, I want to say thanks to Beverly of A Serene Life For Me.  This week Beverly freatured me on her blog.  Thank you Beverly for your kind words about me & 33 Shades of Green!  Beverly has exquisite taste and her blog is full of beautiful things.  If you have a moment, head over and visit her!

Remembering: September 11th, 10 Year Anniversary

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It's one of those days that none of us who were old enough to remember will ever forget.  It's a day that will be forever scarred in our memory.

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On September 11th, 2001, I was 24 and I was on the other side of the state in meetings at an elementary school we were remodeling.  I remember the principal of the school coming into the conference room and telling us what was happening, but I remember her seeming somewhat nonchalant about the whole thing.  There wasn't a TV in the room so I wasn't able to see any of the coverage.  I remember being upset about having to continue the meetings - I wanted to know what was going on.

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That night I was staying in a hotel.  I had a friend who lives somewhat close to where I was staying, and thankfully he came to stay with me.  That is a night I would not have wanted to be alone.

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What I remember most about the days and weeks following that awful day is the way our country came together.  It didn't matter if you were a Republican or Democrat - we all stood together for our country.  We were all in it together.

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On the one year anniversary, I again had to travel to the other side of the state for work.  I was listening to the radio who was broadcasting a special on the anniversary.  At 8:46 AM, the moment that the first plane hit, I passed a man on the expressway who had pulled over and was standing along side the road waving a huge American flag.  It's something I will never forget.  It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.

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I took all these photos yesterday at a memorial called the "West Michigan Healing Field".  There is a flag representing every person who lost their life that day - 3200 flags.

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Each flag has a tag with a name and information about those who died.  There are flags without tags, representing those who have not yet been identified.

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Reading the names attached to the flags was a moving experience.

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Each flag is available for sale, with the proceeds benefiting first responder charities.  If you are interested in purchasing a flag, or to learn more about the healing field, click here.

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I hope we never forget September 11th, or the patriotism that we felt afterwards.

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"A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

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America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

. Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America — with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could."
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- President George W. Bush; Address to the Nation, September 11, 2001