...I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to buy a gift anywhere except Etsy. Okay, let me modify that. If you buy it from someone who's made it locally, it might better than Etsy. If you make it yourself, it's definitely better than Etsy. Otherwise, why shop anywhere else??
This isn't just a shameless plug (since, for the record, I do have an Etsy shop). It's just a plug to buy handmade. Have you ever spent any quality time over at Etsy? You wouldn't believe the talent. It humbles me. Here, for instance, is something I snagged recently for the sheer loveliness of it:
It's a perfectly wonderful little owl brooch carved out of cherry wood and decorated with india ink. For $15.00. Good grief. The only problem with Etsy is that stuff tends to be too cheap for what you get. The time and care that went into making this brooch touched me to the core. Hand-made by the good folks at brightcolorart, who definitely deserve a wider audience.
And since I'm a sucker for good woodworking, I also discovered another Etsy gem recently: these gorgeous cutting boards from Sullivan's Showcase:
This one is now sitting proudly on my kitchen counter. 1-1/4" thick, solid cherry end-grain, it cost $35 and will last forever. It was made by a real person, and it makes me smile on a daily basis. Priceless.
Okay, so people aren't making a fortune on Etsy. I'm certainly not. But it represents a movement--a do-it-yourself movement--that gives my life meaning and gives me hope for the future, regardless of the economy.
Oh, and by the way, I don't know either of these vendors. I just stumbled onto their wares and was mesmerized by the quality of their work. How rare is that?
Recent Comments