Buy Handmade and?

Of course, as crafters, many of us strive to buy handmade whenever possible. (If we don't make it ourselves, of course!) But what about buying local? If you have something handmade you want to purchase, do you go out of your way to source a local artisan to produce it? Here are two examples of Lincoln Handmade buying local and being greatly rewarded by using our local talent!
First up is this awesome laptop bag made by pursesbyashley, a wonderful bag creator and fabric artist!


Next up is this beautiful toddler dress and knit shrug fashioned by the talented Crafterella:

She did such a fantastic job and it was great to be able to work with someone in person as opposed to having to do it all on the internet.

What have you bought handmade and local? Tell us about it below!