This past week I accidentally rekindled my love affair with Etsy.com while searching for vintage inspired handmade dresses.
If you’re not aware of Etsy.com, and mind you I am not associated with the site at all beyond the fact that I keep spending too much money on it, it is a great online marketplace for artisans and craftspeople of any ilk. You can find handmade objects, reclaimed items, supplies and more. It’s a great place to support small businesses and creators, and an even better place to visit if you’re lacking inspiration and need a little eye-candy boost!
Today I stumbled across their advanced search options and found out that I can search for LOCAL entries! I found several local artisans that I was already aware of, but the best part was finding new ones that are new to me! (Okay, there were also a great deal of other items that were kind of terrifyingly lame.)
I found my favorite local soap company, Cellar Door, with many of their amusingly labeled soaps for sale.
There are antique store listings, jewelry makers, clothing designers, knitters, potters, and even a few people who sell fabric locally! It’s like an exciting trip to an art fair, without having to brave the crowds or the heat! I can’t believe how much I’ve missed on that goes on around me!
I intend to work my way through the local Etsy listings this afternoon just to see what is available to me. In heat like today’s here in Michigan, there’s just not much else I can do with myself!
Do you have a preferred method to locate local items? Does it entail leaving the house? LOL!
Yay, Etsy! I love the local search function, as well. I recently picked up some labels on Etsy from a gal down in Oakridge that i use on my Fiber Friends, that i also sell on Etsy. I also love that Etsy is affordable. I have e-commerce websites, but love that i can post a few thises and thats on Etsy without having to design a whole web page!