The Republican value system is abusive. It favors spiritual hardship for the Middle Class over quality of life. It is simply wrong and tries to exploit religious fervor to achieve 'complacency.'
Supply and Demand - the more quality craft items available the more affordable they are. Need hand towels? Where are you going to buy them and from whom and for what 'reasonable price' with what guarantee of quality and safety?
Nice. Can you purchase one a week? I can. In less than a full 'fiscal quarter' I'll have enough for ten years by crafts-persons in the USA. Home grown quality, home grown economy.
Heath
http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/homeware/store/index.cfm?catID=41
The 'culture' of high end collections of antiques or contemporary household belongings is not an extravagance. My family is Middle Class. We work for a living. But, when it comes to gift giving we seek 'quality' items and 'invest' in 'nice' items. We give expensive gifts of electronics, too. But, when people have most everything they want at my mother's age, it is the comfort of her surroundings that is most important.
The placemats I mentioned have been in her possession for over 15 years and look like new. They were a holiday gift from me a long time ago.
I received Amelia Earhart luggage for a graduation gift. It lasted me a long time. I still have the hard shell travel case. Granted it shows wear and I don't carry it on planes anymore, but, it is the quality of the items that are purchased that make life 'nice.'
It is those values that will drive the 'Art Culture' and seeking 'originals' to hang on the walls instead of cheap copies or owning number 557 out of 10,000 that has no real value. All those items we purchase for each other and sometimes for ourselves, their longevity saves money in the long view.
We aren't extravagant, we contemplate, plan and execute when we shop. Clear thinking. Clear ideas and 'time' with a plan in mind. We aren't trendy people, we are steadfast.
Follow?
Think about it. Local artists, displaying in local shows and galleries, makes for a day of shopping that is 'thrilling' and not burdensome. Quality, not efficiency. Appreciation, not Box Stores.
It is a lot of fun.
