Discussion: Focus on Etsy, or All Handmade?

Hello everyone!

I have gotten increasingly serious over the last few weeks about my effort to really turn this into something, and because the mission of Go Etsy is to support the handmade movement, I have been thinking:

Is limiting myself to "Etsy" a bad thing?

Etsy is not the only handmade source - though definitely the biggest now - and I also want to encourage people to buy locally, which would include advertising crafts fairs.

Thoughts and comments are badly wanted and needed!!

Thank you,
Juliana Philippa

Treasury: Young at Heart

See this Treasury on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

First Row

SoFino - Felted Soap Makes a Perfect Gift

artis - Because ART IS everything ...

Xocolatl Chocolates - chocolate confections and baked goods

old new again - shabby chic, wood shelf, wooden wall letter, key hook

Second Row

Baymut - felted scarves, brooches, slippers, necklaces, and more!

Dough a Deer - dough babies, dough daddies, doughbars, doughdippers

Petit and Cute Design - crocheted little creatures and goodies for every age!

kipi - affordable (original) art to spice up your space

Third Row

Satin & Birch - Handmade Natural Gift Soap Roses Hearts & Angel Wings

cornflower blue studio - Unique & Creative Embroidery, Knitting, Crochet, Art

aliette - Original Artwork, Prints & Art Jewelry

pretty lovelies - colorful beads, flower cabochons, jewelry findings

Fourth Row

I Felt It Too - one-of-a-kind, unique handcrafted fabric brooches

LBCpaper - Handmade Paper Decor, Garlands, Greeting Cards, Goods

Christine2011 - colorful and nature-themed cards and prints

Bed Buggs boutique - BedBuggs Boutique Cute and Unique Handmade Gifts!

Crazy Cool Finds Series, no1

Here are some crazy cool finds that I thought were just way too neat not to share when I saw them. Love them all - hope you do too!!

NOTE: Clicking on the photo will take you to the item listing.

    

Left: Spring: The "4 seasons" line ($59)

Right: A unique, colorful, folded-paper bowl ($43)

RutisRoots (Haifa, Israel)

    

Vintage Upcycled Suitcase Pet Beds ($79, $59)

AtomicAttic (Siletz, OR, USA)

Pillow Salt Pepper Shakers ($42)

Creativewithclay (Federal Way, Tacoma, Seattle, WA, USA)

* * Have bought from this seller - FANTASTIC!!!! * *

    

OOAK Knit Patchwork Upcycled Repurposed Dream Coat Sweater Dresses ($430-$600)

EnlightenedPlatypus (Denver, CO, USA)

Assorted Fruit Pi Soaps ($5)

rosaleendhu

    

1939 Fully Restored L.C. Smith Corona Standard

Colored Glass Keys Typewriter w/ Case (SOLD)

joevintage (Glendale, CA, USA)

Impatient Fine Print - 4x6 ($12)

JulienDenoyer (Madrid, Spain)

chesterfiled sofa patchwork ($3,000)

namedesignstudio (Istanbul, Turkey)

    

Original 3D Embroidery Hoop Art (SOLD)

saysthetree (Chester County, Philadelphia, PA, USA)

Alphabet from Sea Stones ($28)

MamaTita (Russia, Latvia)

    

Left: Hollow Secret Safe Book (Goldsmith's Poems Victorian Era Petite Book) ($45)

Right: Hollow Book Flask Safe Frederick Forsyth Day of the Jackal (Flask Included) ($60)

SecretSafeBooks (Chicago, IL, USA)

    

Bohemian Jacket (£227 GBP / ~$379.92 USD)

nattyboho (Suffolk, UK)

April - Eco Friendly Wedding Dress - Made to Order ($995)

threadhead (Knoxville, TN, USA)

    

Hillhock - Domestic Pig Couch & Sculpture ($950)

PaviaBurroughs (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

Perelandra ($10,000)

TheFaerieMarket (Michigan, USA)

All images from this post taken from the respective Etsy Shops

Treasury: Pretty in White

See this Treasury on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

First Row
Romantic Threads - Bridal, Medieval, Marie Antoinette, Victorian & Vintage Reproductions
eden's wake - Handmade Clutches, Bags, and Accessories
Photography by Lori H. - Beautiful Fine Art Photography by Lori H.
Fiber Art by frenchfelt - Felt and Textile

Second Row
MayaLee Photography - Dreams & Memories
Studio Snowpuppe (nellianna) - HandMade Foldable LampShades, Fabric / Paper
Lisa Wine Studios - Vintage inspired home decor & more
Handcrafted Obsessions (Waterrose) - Hand Embroidery Textile Artist

Third Row
NzL bags
dear golden (DearGoldenVintage) - vintage clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry & accessories
LBCpaper - Handmade Paper Decor, Garlands, Greeting Cards, Goods
Bijoux by Meg - handcrafted jewelry & custom designs (feature and review to come!)

Fourth Row
magnesina - Fine Art Photography on Etsy
pi'lo (pilosale) - p i l o s a l e
cypress ink - Southern Pressed
the haunted hollow tree - original wall art decor, paintings and pyrography

Welcome to Heartsy ... and Today's Deals!

Today: Bath & Body, Jewelry, Cookies, Photography, Paper Goods

Once you go Heartsy, you'll never go back! Have you heard of Heartsy.me? If not, be prepared to fall in love and spend much more money on Etsy (while justifying it by telling yourself that you're saving a lot)!

Heartsy uses the same principal as Groupon, LivingSocial, and Deals for Deeds - except it's all for Etsy. Each day, there are several Heartsy deals, each with a different Etsy Shop and offering store credit that saves over 50% (usually 55-70%). It is unbelievable and once you start, you won't stop, lol. Enjoy today's deals (they expire at end of the day!) ...

Ophelia's Apothecary
$14 for $35 Online Store Credit - Save 60% - Deal has been extended: 14 hours left
"Ophelia's Apothecary is a two person team of oil blending fury. We are proud parents of 3 mini-doxies and have a fabulous soap-making studio about a mile away from our house. We believe in using good-for-you ingredients and create our bath and beauty products in small batches to ensure fabulously fresh products from our studio straight to your door."
v Bought it! Review to come ...

    

    

Petite Paperie
$11 for $30 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - Deal has been extended: 14 hours left
"Hi, I am Jennifer the owner of Petite Paperie. I have always enjoyed vintage images and paper products and those two passions inspired Petite Paperie, a store specializing in vintage inspired stationery and papercraft. It is so fun to see all the beautiful crafts made from the digital downloads offered in my shop and it always puts a smile on my face knowing that the stationery I create is used to send special messages to your family and friends."
v Am debating ... have bought so many recently though!

    

    

Scrumptulicious
$14 for $30 Online Store Credit - Save 54% - 14 hours left
"Kristen Timmers' business Scrumptulicious was born out of necessity. In order to make ends meet after her husband was diagnosed with a life-threatening kidney disease, Kristen began pursuing her passion in baking and created a line of organic cookies which are made using only the finest, local, organic, fair-trade, and seasonal ingredients. The cookies are handcrafted, in small batches, and made to order. Timmers' philosophy is to keep it simple, keep it sustainable, and bake it with love."
v Bought it! My Mom and I couldn't resist - review to come ...

    

    

Ballyhoo Jewelry
$18 for $55 Online Store Credit - Save 68% - 14 hours left
"Hi, I'm Amy and run this little gig here at Ballyhoo. I have many inspirations: juxtaposing sweet and evil, tattoo images, Steampunk, horror and romantic/Victorian styles. I live in the D.C. metro area and love the East Coast. I hope you enjoy my designs!"
v Have to look through, but have already bought SO many jewelry Heartsy deals recently ...

    

    

Sweet Sally's Soaps
$9 for $25 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - 14 hours left
"Hi, my name is Sarah from Sweet Sally's Soaps. I create beautiful amazing smelling soaps from organic oils. I have always loved to cook and have had an intense interest in herbs and essential oils, so soap making, just seemed a natural progression. From the start, my goal was to produce skin care products that not only smelled wonderful and looked beautiful, but they also must be made from the best skin loving, nourishing ingredients available."
v Haven't looked through the Shop yet, but my resistance threshold is pretty low, lol, so ...

    

    

dreams & visions
$18 for $50 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - 14 hours left
"Hi, I'm Tricia McKellar, artist & photographer. My dreamy photographs are inspired by the Southern landscape & a sense of wanderlust. I combine modern photography with digital painting to evoke an emotion or memory within the viewer."

    

    

All images from Heartsy.me, which were all submitted by the respective Etsy Shops