Top Posts for 2014

Thanks for another great year for The American-Made Guide to Life. This marks my 301st post.

I made a somewhat unconscious decision to post less this year, yet my posts are still true to my goal of writing about the quality things I find and love that are made in America. Although, I know some would like me to post more, I've been having a busy (and successful) year with my paid work and that has been rewarding as well. I think finding that right balance of writing and just doing are always difficult for me. I would love to be able to write more about everything I have and find, but there's just not enough time to be able to do it the way that I would want.

Regardless, thanks for all the kind feedback and steadfast support. I have enjoyed all the personal (virtual and real) connections that this blog has helped me make, the journalistic outlet that blogging has given me, and the reaffirmation that supporting my local craftspeople and makers is making a difference in my community. I hope that the new year brings even more development into American manufacturing, that the support expands, and people continue to see the positive impact of having local production of goods and services. I wish for a 2015 with prosperity, peace, and good health.

On that note, the top five posts for 2014 are:

Things To Do Before the End of the Year

Call this a to-do list for the year's end. Things to do before New Year's Day, that is the end of tomorrow:

American-Made Things Loved This Month

A pair of jeans, a pop-up market, a Cabernet, wool socks, legwarmers over leggings, a tote bag, two shirts, oranges, and a leather protector spray. Here are more than a few American-made things that I'm loving this month:

American-Made Christmas

 

Merry Christmas!

Spotted on the Christmas Tree

 

Made in the USA Gift Guides 2014

This year, I embarked on the great task of creating some gift guides that really indicated things that I would like to give or receive.  I made them as gender-neutral as possible. In each, as well, I tried to feature at least one locally-made, made-in-NYC, or made-in-New-York-State product. I hope you enjoyed these lists of gift ideas that I created.

Just in case you need a little extra help getting that last-minute holiday shopping done, I've got a gigantic roundup of some other American-Made gift guides. In my list of other gift guides, I've tried to focus on locally-made as well. Happy Holidays!

American-Made Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah.

American-Made Friday Links

Here's what's happening recently in news about the Made in America Movement: the entertainment industry is alive and well in NYC, wage theft in U.S. garment manufacturing, the Hollywood starlet launching her own made-in-NYC clothing line, Chinese companies getting in on American-made, the 9/11 Museum selling patriotic goods made in Asia, falling wages for American factory workers, made in Brooklyn market, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act (H.R. 4795), buying made-in-USA for the holidays, the newsman behind a Made-in-Maine brand, the damage of outsourcing to China, 3M's investment in American manufacturing, the Pope's advice to holiday shoppers, and more.

Here are 20 articles and videos you need to see if you haven't already:

American-Made Gifts for Holiday Traditions

Here are five American-made gifts for some memorable holiday traditions:

Tailored by Tradlands

 
Today's post is another from my friend, Xochil. She's got a killer fashion sense and is deeply committed to American clothing manufacturing, especially in her hometown of Chicago. She has some great insight as an insider in the fashion industry and will likely be contributing every now and then. 

I recently wrote about tailored shirts for men, but what about for women? Sure, finding any old button-up shirt is pretty easy, but finding one that fits really well and doesn’t have the dreaded “boob gap” (even without a large bust), is much harder. I can’t remember exactly how I found out about them originally, either through a #ff on Twitter or Instagram, but either way, I’m so happy to have found Tradlands!

American-Made Gifts for a Standard Poodle

Here are five American-made gifts for the standard poodle (or other big dog) in your life: