Shop Local and Handmade…Shop Etsy!

This time of year I find myself rushing around looking for all those perfect gifts for loved ones. I usually head to a couple craft bazaars, shop catalogs, and hit the mall, but this year I’m also searching on etsy!

Etsy.com is such a fun place to shop for handmade and vintage items and the coolest part is that you can search locally for artisans in your area.  You’ll feel good about supporting a local artist as well as helping simulate the local economy. Since I live in Salem Oregon, here are some featured artists and their crafty work.

Also let me know where your favorite place to shop for holiday gifts in Salem Oregon! I always love a good shopping tip. My friend Kim calls shopping…. “retail therapy”!

I recently bought these vintage labels from TinkersShop’s shop . The labels are old medicine labels with the stick still on the back.  I’m planning on using some of these for mixed media collages as well as adorning brown sack wrapped gifts.

Lovely twigs & honey original holiday headband by www.myrakim.etsy.com .  Isn’t this amazing! Paired with the right cocktail dress at a holiday party…simply stunning!

Check out these very hip stacking mustache mugs at plates at  UptownAvenue.etsy.com .  Don’t you think Santa would like sipping his milk from one of these mugs?