If you're a first-time buyer, we’re here to help you bring unique, handmade pieces into your home at affordable prices. Whether you're looking to invest, start collecting, or buy online, here are some tips to discover emerging artists who create exclusive, handcrafted objects that reflect their creative vision.
In today’s world, where everything is reproducible, replicable, and easily imitated, and where technology allows us to multiply, expand, and copy anything, craftsmanship can become our guiding compass. In the past, crafts provided us with tools and useful objects to make our daily lives more efficient. Today, they offer us authenticity, beauty, and a sense of calm, reconnecting us with our own humanity. Incorporating contemporary craft into our lives, surrounding ourselves with unique pieces that make our environment more human, can be a path to well-being, emotional balance, and a more personalized home. Each handmade piece can transform your home into a space that truly speaks about who you are.
Why Buy Craft?
Like many important life decisions, buying handmade goods is about quality over quantity—both in terms of material and meaning. Handmade objects carry a story, written by the mind and heart of the artisan. The choices they make—material selection, techniques, details, and colors—reflect their own life, mood, and intention. This emotional value is the first reason to buy a handmade piece: its unique, inimitable nature.
But there are more reasons. Craftsmanship has its own timeline. The materials and processes used have been honed over centuries, passed down from generation to generation, resulting in pieces of high quality and durability. These unique objects grow richer with time. Buying handmade crafts is not only a personal decision but a great economic one as well.
In a recent survey conducted across several European countries, craft buyers shared their reasons for choosing handmade products. Beyond appreciating the ancient techniques and unique objects, they spoke of a special connection with the makers and materials. A key factor for many was the desire to support local artists and promote a more sustainable economy—one that makes us all more human and respectful of the environment.
Handcrafted goods are sustainable by nature. By choosing quality over quantity, you're making an investment not just in an object but in a sustainable way of living. Handmade pieces have both material and intangible value, and by buying them, you support the planet through responsible consumption and sustainable production.
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Three Tips for Beginners
If you're convinced about why to buy craft, the next step is figuring out how to start building your collection. Here are three tips to help you bring handmade objects into your life:
1. Start with Small, Affordable Pieces:
There is a wide range of prices for handmade items. You don’t have to spend a lot to begin. Buy slowly, starting with items you can easily incorporate into your daily life, like a handmade ceramic mug or a vase.
2. Consider the Purpose and Space:
Think about whether you need a functional or decorative piece—or both. Then consider the available space in your home. Each object needs room to shine. Take into account its dimensions and those of your home, and think about where it will fit best.
3. Make a Wishlist:
Keep a list of items you'd like to add to your home and think about where they would go. This will allow you to make more mindful and responsible purchases. You'll understand what you're buying, how it's made, and who made it—enhancing your appreciation of each object's emotional and intangible value.
Tips for Adding New Pieces
Follow your taste: Forget trends and incorporate the pieces you truly love into your home. Handmade objects are built to last, so choose works that speak to you and that you want to live with for the long term.
Don’t be afraid to mix styles: While creating a harmonious environment is important, don’t feel restricted. Sometimes, a bold, one-of-a-kind piece can have a surprising effect on a space. Experiment by changing the placement of your favorite objects from time to time.
Get inspired, but make your own style: Your eye will improve with practice. Look, compare, and investigate what others are doing. But remember to create your own unique space that tells your story.
Expand Your Collection
If you've moved from being a novice buyer to a true lover of handmade pieces like us and are ready to take the next step toward becoming a collector, here are some tips:
Invest in Larger Pieces: The line between contemporary craft and art is often blurred. Many artists use traditional techniques to express their creativity, and their craft-based works are true art pieces, on par with more classic mediums like painting or sculpture. Explore works that truly resonate with you and learn about the artists behind them to deepen your connection to their art.
Establish a Theme or Style: As you collect more pieces, you may naturally develop a theme or style that aligns with your personal taste. If it’s not clear yet, take your time and add pieces that feel coherent with your life and space. Over time, a balance will emerge.
Visit Craft Fairs and Exhibitions: By now, your eyes likely know what you value most, but don’t stop enriching your vision by visiting craft fairs, galleries, and art exhibitions. This will deepen your understanding and help grow your collection.
Ready to Start Your Collection?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re ready to purchase your first handmade piece or to turn the handmade objects you already own into the foundation of your contemporary craft collection. At VOA, we invite you to explore the work of our talented artists and discover a wide selection of unique handmade pieces, from ceramics to glass and natural fibers.
If you’re looking to buy contemporary handmade crafts online, VOA offers a curated collection of small, affordable items, as well as exclusive ceramic sculptures from emerging artists. Explore our Artists section and meet all the creators we work with!