When I look at the “made in…” tags and labels in my home, I discover that my nest is filled with objects made by people all over the world. I didn’t buy the items because of where they were made. When gifted the items, I didn’t ask “where was it made”, I simply accepted the gift. Yet, this week I find my curiosity peaked as I explore the global representations and peoples in my home.
Here’s what I discovered.
- India – long-lasting dish towels, washcloths, bath towels.
- Pakistan – some clothing.
- Israel – a plastic storage bin that I would never have guessed came from Israel.
- China – dishes, serving dishes, toys, books printed in China and more.
- America – artworks and objects from friends dating as far back as college print-making class and my own ceramics class, clothing, cotton linens, ice skates, and more.
- Canada – artwork hanging on the wall, pewter magnets on the refrigerator.
- Thailand – textiles.
- Mexico – home décor tiles, metal décor items, Christmas ornaments.
- Greece – an owl and Athena sit in my china-hutch reminding me of a trip to Greece, and to use intelligence wisely.
- Holland – a ceramic blue and white “wooden” shoe are in the china-hutch too.
- And I haven’t uncovered every “made in” tag or label yet. The exploration continues.
This adventure of discovering where things you have in your home have been made can amuse you – and your family members! Make it a treasure hunt. Turn it into a Bingo game. Craft a “only one item in our house is from _____” bonus question.
When we fill our homes with objects we enjoy, use, or share with others, we are collecting a global assortment of handmade and machine-made (people operated the machines) items. Take a look around you, the world is already in your home!
Where were the things in your home made?
Photo note: This is a public art, larger than life sculpture at the Boise Parks teaching center in the Boise Foothills. Joy is all around us!
Nesting is about the objects and experiences that create a sense of home. Without home, it is difficult to maintain health, find joy, or to be productive. Enjoy the Nesting series of blogs on your search for and creation of a deep sense of home. –Jana
Jana Kemp
