5 Etsy shops I adore

Ah, Lovelies! It's a wild and woolly night in old Hobart Town after a freezing day. There's snow halfway down Mount Wellington - winter has well and truly arrived here. I'm tucked away in *my room of my own*, catching up on the reading for my two e-courses. I'm finding them both utterly enthralling and stimulating. Right now, I'm doing my homework for Blogging Your Way 2.0. This week Holly has challenged us to try out a couple of different post ideas. I thought I'd write a 'list post' as I never do. Let's give it a whirl!

I adore Etsy. It is a veritable treasure trove of gorgeous and eclectic finds, all waiting to be discovered. For those unfamiliar with it, Etsy is an international online marketplace for 'crafters, artists and collectors to sell their handmade creations, vintage goods and crafting supplies', according to its FAQ page.  

I have bought a wide variety of items there, from washi tape to screen-printed teatowels and Japanese embroidery books to customised wall prints. All have been reasonably priced (especially recently when the $AUD has been at parity or better with the $USD), fabulously packaged and beautifully made. 

Here are 5 of my favourite Etsy shops. Click on the links to go directly to the items on Etsy.

1.      The Wheatfield

Katie Daisy is a supremely talented illustrator from Oregon in the US. Her Etsy profile says "I'm inspired by vegetables, herbs, animals, weather, astronomy, trees, and so much more. When I'm not making art, you can find me canoeing down a river, hiking through the woods, or camping on top of a mountain".

I love her pretty, whimsical and inspiring prints. I have this one hanging in *my room of my own*. I adore it.

Land of ampersand

I really relate to this one.

Love what you do

And this one makes me smile (although I'd ask her to spell it 'favourite' ☺).

Bird chirping weather

2.      Castle on the Hill

Jess Purser in Woking, UK is the delightful talent behind these gorgeous prints. She's a self-taught artist who is "inspired by stories – peoples’ stories and thoughts, what made them, where they came from".

Paris, 1955

This print beams down at me from my bookshelf. It never fails to raise a smile.

Paris, 1956 - Dita Dances, Club St Germain, St Germain

Neither does this one - it's one of my favourite treasures.

Pride and Prejudice

And how about this one for all the Jane Austen fans?

3.      Kerri Shipp 

Talented Kerri is a fellow Planetarian (round of applause, everyone!). She describes herself as "an artist and designer who loves to create unique artwork for every home. I work in watercolour and acrylic and recently had my prints featured in none other than Martha Stewart Living magazine - a dream come true!".

Ginger jar in indigo

This little beauty graces our home.

Ombre in denim

 I have designs on this ethereal print. *Sigh*.

Sea fern in French blue

And this beauty is also on my wishlist. 

4.      Little Happy Things

This Japanese graphic designer lives in New York in the US. She stocks "a collection of Japanese washi masking tapes, cute stationery, arts and crafts, all kinds of my new finds of little things that make me happy from my hometown".

Doily lace pattern foam stamp set

These divine doily stamps make my heart sing. I relish using them. They are so intricate and delicate and a cinch to both use and clean.

Washi masking tapes turquoise polka dots and stripes 

These beauties belong in my treasured washi tape stash.

Hand-screened Chiyogami/Yuzen paper

Some of this paper is also on my wishlist. Isn't it pretty? I'd like to make some kusudama with it. 

5.      Julia Dineen

Julia is a well-respected, and award-winning graphic, designer from my hometown of Hobart, Australia. She has a delightful sense of humour and fabulous eye for colour and design. Here's the one she customised for me which includes some of our favourite Hobart haunts (I've obscured our address which is the pixies' highlight of the list!).

In the suburbs

Here are some of her other prints for sale. 

To do list

I find this one both cheery and whimsical.

Utopia

So, what do you think, my friends? Do any of these beauties catch your eyes? Do you use Etsy? Maybe you have some favourite Etsy shops you'd like to share. Please leap in and tell us - let's have some fun!

PS For my fellow BYW2.0 classmates, you can find more of the class's homework posts on the BYW2.0 Facebook page.