<p>Flew home on Monday on a Boeing plane.
Found the Lodge brand cast iron griddle on my doorstep. Cheap and great quality!
Kitchen remodel with locally made cabinets instead of the Chinese version. While I feel good about the manufacture, the local painting crew who finished them didn’t do as good a job as a factory finish would have been…sigh.</p>
<p>I have been reading this blog and found it pretty inspiring (though a bit extreme). We have found a direct source for poultry (killed while ya wait) and another place that butchers meat. I am lucky to live in Ca where I can get good produce year round . </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ayearwithoutgroceries.blogspot.com%5B/url%5D”>www.ayearwithoutgroceries.blogspot.com</a></p>
<p>Eons ago, DD and her teammates went on an exchange trip to China. They were supposed to bring small tokens of appreciation for their Chinese hosts. I was probably the only mom who turned every local store upside down looking for small items that said “made in the USA” vs “made in China”. I succeded in finding US-made stickers, pencils, pens, small toys and (that was easy!) candy in our Target without going broke, but it took me forever!!! The other parents did not even think about looking for US-made gifts.</p>
<p>After that shopping nightmare, I started paying way more attention to where the products I was buying were made. I buy a lot of European made clothing and shoes (Europe needs our support, too), all on sales, through Yoox or discount stores, but I keep an eye for counterfeits. I do not pay a whole lot because I do not chase the current trends. My clothes are eiher classic pieces such as pencil skirts or they are lagging a year or two behind the latest fads. :)</p>
<p>BunsenBurner, thank you for the link to Munro Shoes. I have a difficult time finding shoes that I like and that fit, and I see a few pairs there that look promising. Even better, they sell them in Canada! :)</p>
<p>Took me a minute to find this site again…another good one that lists manufacturers by category, so it’s easier to find what you’re looking for:</p>
<p>[Made</a> in the USA Products Directory](<a href=“http://americansworking.com/]Made”>http://americansworking.com/)</p>
<p>I totally forgot… My new clothes steamer, Jiffy 2000! The brand was recommmended to me by several SAs from different clothing stores.</p>
<p>North American Product: Paul Stuart suits. Made in Canada. Not inexpensive or even reasonable, but excellent.</p>
<p>My 2012 Volkswagen Passat now made in Chattanooga TN</p>
<p>I like that rustic coffee table. Too bad I’ve got one I love just as much!</p>
<p>Thomas Moser makes beautiful furniture out of American wood: [Solid</a> Wood Furniture Crafted by Hand to Last a Lifetime : Thos. Moser](<a href=“http://www.thosmoser.com/]Solid”>http://www.thosmoser.com/)</p>
<p>Re: [Made</a> in the USA Products Directory](<a href=“http://americansworking.com/]Made”>http://americansworking.com/)</p>
<p>They do not seem to be very complete, as a few minutes of looking found some obvious omissions.</p>
<p>Sorry to report that most (by a large margin) of Quoizel lighting is made in China.
I can recommend Melissa lighting out of Dallas TX. They make all of their outdoor light fixtures here, with just a few casting component parts coming from Europe.
It is wonderful to find craftsman here producing beautiful quality products at good prices.</p>
<p>I may be inspired to do an only made in the USA Christmas! Challenging, but satisfying!</p>
<p>That is interesting ilovedcollege. I bought Quoizel lighting for 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, foyer, family room and breakfast nook and every single piece was made in the USA. This was 3 years ago, I hope their manufacturing has not changed significantly since then.</p>
<p>Alclad cookware. Made in America and a great product.</p>
<p>partial list:</p>
<p>[STICKLEY</a> - Collector Quality Furniture Since 1900](<a href=“http://www.stickley.com/]STICKLEY”>http://www.stickley.com/)</p>
<p>[Eldred</a> Wheeler American antique reproduction hutches, chests, beds, dining, highboys, lowboys, mirrors, tables, cupboards](<a href=“http://www.eldredwheeler.com/]Eldred”>http://www.eldredwheeler.com/)</p>
<p>[Alex</a> Pifer’s The Seraph](<a href=“http://www.theseraph.com/]Alex”>http://www.theseraph.com/)</p>
<p>[Period</a> Lighting Fixtures Handmade Reproductions](<a href=“http://periodlighting.com/]Period”>http://periodlighting.com/)</p>
<p>[J.F</a>. PeGan On-Line](<a href=“http://jfpegan.com/]J.F”>http://jfpegan.com/)</p>
<p>[Country</a> Curtains®: Curtains, Valances, Curtain Rods & Drapes](<a href=“Country Curtains - Window Curtain Panels | Vermont Country Store”>http://www.countrycurtains.com/)</p>
<p>[Old</a> Village Paint](<a href=“http://www.old-village.com/]Old”>http://www.old-village.com/)</p>
<p>[Luzianne</a> Iced Tea](<a href=“http://www.luzianne.com/]Luzianne”>http://www.luzianne.com/)</p>
<p>[Tony</a> Chachere’s Famous Creole Cuisine - Home of the world famous Original Creole Seasoning](<a href=“http://www.tonychachere.com/]Tony”>http://www.tonychachere.com/)</p>
<p>[Aunt</a> Sallys Pralines](<a href=“http://www.auntsallys.com/]Aunt”>http://www.auntsallys.com/)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.heaven-hill.com/brands-bourbon.html[/url]”>http://www.heaven-hill.com/brands-bourbon.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://abita.com/[/url]”>http://abita.com/</a></p>
<p>[Seagrove</a> Area Potters Association NC - Official website of SAPA and Seagrove area pottery shops, stores, galleries, and studios around Moore, Montgomery, and Randolph Counties in North Carolina.](<a href=“http://www.discoverseagrove.com/]Seagrove”>http://www.discoverseagrove.com/)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.silvergorham.com/[/url]”>http://www.silvergorham.com/</a></p>
<p>[The</a> Homer Laughlin China Co.](<a href=“http://www.hlchina.com/index.htm]The”>http://www.hlchina.com/index.htm)</p>
<p>[Ivey</a> Abitz | Fine vintage inspired clothing made in the USA](<a href=“http://iveyabitz.com/]Ivey”>http://iveyabitz.com/)</p>
<p>[Krista</a> Larson Designs](<a href=“http://www.kristalarson.com/]Krista”>http://www.kristalarson.com/)</p>
<p>[Cynthia</a> Ashby - Collections](<a href=“http://www.cynthiaashby.com/]Cynthia”>http://www.cynthiaashby.com/)</p>
<p>[Blue</a> Fish Clothing | Wearable art clothes from an organic womens boutique](<a href=“Blue Fish | Unique, Layered Looks to Love”>Blue Fish | Unique, Layered Looks to Love)</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://cydwoq.com/]CYDWOQ[/url”>http://cydwoq.com/]CYDWOQ[/url</a>]</p>
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<p>If you have enough time and energy and like the look, it is possible to find decent American antiques at auction. It is possible to get pieces for less than benchmade or most furniture shops and imho they will hold their value as well as anything in this economy. Your grandchildren may make money on them :)</p>
<p>[Antiques</a> and the Arts Online](<a href=“http://antiquesandthearts.com/]Antiques”>http://antiquesandthearts.com/)</p>
<p>For more American made furniture, [Amana</a> Furniture :: Personally crafted furniture and clocks from Amana, Howard Miller, Jonathans, and other local craftsmen!](<a href=“http://www.amanafurniture.com%5DAmana”>http://www.amanafurniture.com) They do everything from planting the walnut tree to delivering it to your door. And have been since 1855 right here in Iowa. (Some of those walnuts they plant come off the tree in my front yard.)</p>
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<p>Yes, those types of directories are obviously voluntary and not all mfg participate. I likre that particular one because it identifies products/lines that are 100% made in America, including the raw materials. I’m sure there are government registries of US manufacturers but I, for one, don’t care to wade through all of the industrial goods to find products I want. I wish there was a single source directory for consumers, organized by category, but haven’t found one yet.</p>
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<p>alh, I would agree but would recommend dealing with a reputable antique dealer rather than an auction house. You’re likely to get a better price and a confirmation of quality, often with provenance of the piece. The antique world has not been immune to the economic situation in the country so it’s actually an opportune time to be in the market for antiques as business at the shows has been down. I have several family members in the business and, as a frequent customer myself, I can attest to the beautiful pieces you can get at excellent prices.</p>
<p>alwaysamom: There are so many advantages to working with a dealer. A major one is being able to take something out on approval and be sure it works. For those with more money than time it also makes a lot of sense. You can tell a dealer what you want and usually they can eventually find it for you. To buy at auction it is best to have enough knowledge to know something isn’t a modern fake. I support Dealers and auctions 
Both are frequently mom & pop operations. And multi-generational.</p>
<p>I am not usually buying at the high end international auction houses.
So it definitely is buyer beware. But I think you get a sense of different auctions’ reputations and when they have been in business a long time, they sometimes want to protect their name. imho</p>
<p>My DH wants to explore antiques but I’ve been hesitant. It seems like a big learning curve to figure out your way in antiques. You would not suggest antique upholstered furniture, would you?</p>