Getsy to Etsy
Congratulations to Brenda, the winner in our Savor soap drawing. Thanks to everyone who entered. If you are an Etsy seller or know of a great Etsy shop, please let me know at CarliATPresentprofessor.com. Thanks again!
Etsy (rhymes with “Betsy”) is, in their own words, “an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade.”
What can you find on Etsy? Soap, candy, jewelry, woodwork, t-shirts, purses, quilts, sweaters, candles, ceramics, pottery, calendars, music, quilts, pet beds, toys, purses, cuff links, and so much more.
You’ll also find a community of artists who, as a whole, care about their customers and their products. Think about it: At a big box store, you can buy an item made in a factory by someone who will never use it, shipped across an ocean to a store selling 90,000 other doohickies, and sold to you by a disinterested cashier who has no vested interest in whether or not you buy it. And that’s not to say that an afternoon at Target isn’t totally enjoyable. But there’s a special kind of connection when you’re in direct contact with the person who crafted the item you’re using. Etsy has made the Internet the world’s largest neighborhood craft fair, sans the deep fried Oreo stand.
Shopping on Etsy is a delight. You can search through traditional categories, such as “doll” or “scarf,” or see what other users have chosen as their favorites. You can also see what’s available locally and what items sold most recently from among Etsy’s 100,000 + shops.
I’ll be writing regular posts about my ETSY finds, both because of the unique selection of gifts available through the site, and because I think it’s important to support individual artists.
To start, I’d like to recommend Savor. Savor is the creation of Lisa, a computer tech and soapstress in Northern Cal who’s managed to fuse her love of cooking and her mastery of glycerin to create some really fabulous soap products. Like so many Etsy members’ products, Lisa’s soaps are free of harsh detergents and alcohol.
Lisa’s créme frâiche ($11) is a jar of creamy whipped bath soap available in delicious varieties such as Marshmallow Fudge and Amaretto Honey Oatmeal.
Her traditional bar soap ($4.50-$6.50) does not disappoint. My current favorite is “My Boyfriend’s T-shirt” which has a fresh, comforting smell. “Punk,” Lisa’s take on pumpkin pie, is spicy and sweet and perfect for autumn.
Flat-rate shipping for up to 8 bars is $5, so you can stock up and always have a quick gift handy.
And for those of you patient enough to read this far, a giveaway! Leave a comment below to be entered to win a bar of soap of your choice from Savor. And stay tuned to Present Professor for more Etsy profiles. Happy shopping, people.
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Sounds like a wonderful idea to get the word out about Etsy!!
15 October 2008 at 8:11 am