The nightmare!!.... before christmas

So just a quick first post we are 'Crafted' we consist of 4 design students at University of Ulster and it is our aim to battle the consumerist Christmas that has become and to strip it all back down to enjoying the season!!  We are currently organising an event to take place in December where we will be setting out to help the good people of Belfast to have an alternative Christmas to the mad consumer driven one that is already upon us.

 Why?
It happens every year the end of October the fake blood and monkey nut shells have barley been cleaned up from old hallows eve before the tinsel and selections boxes have graced the shelves of the seasonal isles of our local supermarkets.

And thus begins the chaotic avalanche of Christmas adverts reminding us to buy early and buy lots!. And we get the usual " it seems to start earlier every year" and for me it does I work for a certain large supermarket chain, whom in September started the radio ad instore "I know its too early to start talking about Christmas but..." and continued to talk about Christmas throughout September.

But this tradition I discovered through some research can be blamed on the war! It seems presents for the troops had to be purchased early in order for them to be shipped over in time and merchants saw this as an opportunity to remind people to buy earlier and earlier and along the years this tradition has been upheld to this very day.

So we don’t think it’s really fair all this pressure to buy and spend and consume at Christmas to quote a smart man "A debt is for life not just for Christmas"
So we want to educate people on ways to celebrate Christmas in a more enjoyable and valuable way this blog will be updated with our suggestions, and what we are currently working on, events in the area etc to get into the Christmas spirit!!

Thats all for now but i will be back, with some of our festive suggestions very soon!!