Pick Six: My Etsy Favorites

I adore Etsy.  The marketplace for makers, vintage sellers, and collectors is one of my favorite places to find unique items.  I’ve purchased jewelry, leather goods, pieces for my home, and hats for horse races.

Etsy is like an amazing Easter Egg hunt.  Unfortunately, the site can be overwhelming if you don’t know how to navigate it.  The Everygirl published their shopping secrets the other day, but I tend to stumble aimlessly through the site until I find something good.  It’s not efficient, but it does work.  Here are the six Etsy finds that may find their way into my shopping cart.

My house really holds smells, something about the ventilation, so I keep scented candles in my office, bedroom, and dining area.  While I adore the Jonathan Adler matchstrikers (so cheeky), they’re too rich for my blood.  Instead, I stock these Frankie and Claude matchstick jars with an etched striker on the bottom (I love a multi-tasker).  She sells matches in several colors.  They make an excellent hostess gift or party favor.

Kelly Wearstler is a big deal in some fashion circles.  This pillow is made of one of her signature fabrics by DEKOWE.  From custom made to ready-to-ship, the shop has a great selection of pillows in several price ranges.  This navy dalmatian print also caught my eye.  

Several years ago, my friend Alex told me that she was going to start a paper goods company called Chez Gagne.  Add in some letterpress classes, a lot of hustle, and the support of her new husband, and she now has a thriving business making cards, mugs, office supplies, and her most popular item, wine tags.

The ‘Consider Yourself Served’ tag above was a gift to me when I entered law school, but she has so many funny ones to choose from.  Her ‘breakup card’ is especially popular.  I’m also partial to her ‘relationship timeline’ cards for anniversaries.

Willful Goods makes the most wonder paint-dipped bowls and serving pieces.  These wood salad bowls would make a great gift.  For a cheap thrill, their wooden mini-bowls are the perfect way to store keys or office trinkets.  I discovered this shop a few months ago, and in the interim they’ve launched their own housewares site, which is filled with even more fabulous, colorful wares.

Moroccan-inspired goods have really exploded in popularity.  This blanket from The Souks is simple and elegant with just a hint of whimsy.  The shop also has the more ornate Handira wedding blankets.  They’re both lovely, but the clean lines of the black stripe is right up my alley.

Most of the professional women I know are always hunting for the perfect leather goods–business card holders, iPad cases, leather notebook covers.  You know, the stylish essentials you can never find when you need them.  This Socraftleather padfolio gives you pockets for trinkets, business cards and case, while providing both a spot for an iPad and a notebook.  I also love this sleek Mil-Spec leather padfolio from SLWatelier.

Looking for something a bit more feminine?  Try LillyBelleLondon’s sleek tablet sleeves or these leather bound notebooks from Alaise Stationery.