Made By Hand - Oakland

Made By Hand (303 S. Craig Street, 412.681.8346), another lovely shop with beautiful gift ideas, also doesn't have a website. Such a shame! This shop is a miniature version of one of my favorite ever gift galleries, The Silver Ribbon, in Pembroke, Massachusetts. Both shops carry only US made handcrafted items. I love to buy items from other countries, but I know it is very hard for shop owners to ascertain the products are made by people who are fairly treated, so it is best to leave that kind of selling to professionals like Ten Thousand Villages.

I didn't buy anything at Made By Hand, but there was a moose ornament I would love to go back and get when I am employed. I am beginning to think the best way to shop is without any money because one doesn't make impulse purchases. Perhaps even when I am employed, I will leave my card at home before venturing out on a local shopping trip.

Watermelon Blues - Oakland

It's surprising that Watermelon Blues (311 S. Craig Street, 412.681.8451) doesn't have a website. This small shop, tucked into the corner of a nice building that houses other shops and eateries, is crowded with all sorts of cards, gift items, craft supplies and usual food treats. It would be wonderful to see a page with recently added items, gift ideas, and perhaps even happenings in Oakland.

Anyway, there is a small selection of rubberstamps, and they are wonderfully quirky and arty. I am so tired of the cutesy look. I was thrilled to find a rubberstamp to use on the back of my Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) and the company that makes the stamp, Catslife Press, also has a great line of journey stamps that I want, as soon as I am employed again....please let it be soon.