Did you hear the news? The unemployment rate is at an all-time high here in the U.S. and the outlook is pretty grim. But there is a silver lining to this story. According to some experts, there’s a big jump in small business start-ups. That means a lot of people are using their own creativity to make a living. In the spirit of this, I wanted to give some props to people in one of the hardest hit areas of the country–Southern California, where in some parts unemployment is as high as 30%. It’s reassuring to know that there are so many industrious people crafting, building, designing, and making their way through this challenging economy. As my Grandmother always said, they’re “Making lemonade out of lemons.”

White Serenade is a perfect example of making the best of things–she creates spectacular designs from discarded paper and metal. Who would have thought folded paper could be so beautiful? The paper wreaths are so elegant, you can hang them on your wall for the holidays–or all of the time!

Tango Cat Gems is another example of making something completely unexpected out of the simplest of things–jewelry wire. She sculpts these delicate designs using fineweaving techniques. Her work is a reflection of the quality and craftsmanship you can only get when something is made by hand.

The Radokri shop has lots of accessories for weddings, or just when you want to be especially sparkly. Natalija Krimerman opened her online store in 2009 with her husband, and they spend many weekends looking for supplies at estate sales and flea markets. This sweet little feather flower is a great reminder that making and selling your own unique creations is the perfect way to “bloom where you’re planted.”