St. Paddy's Day: Wear Green from Etsy!

Handpicked on Etsy

Saint Patrick's Day is March 17th, a festival originally associated with the color blue. In the 17th Century, the shamrock, which was supposedly employed by Saint Patrick as a teaching tool to explain the Holy Trinity, was adopted as the symbol of the holiday, and shamrock-green became the iconic color. What began in the middle ages as a religious holiday honouring St. Paddy, evolved into a day of feast and gradually became a day of revelry, parades, beer drinking and, throughout the Irish diaspora, a salute to Celtic roots and culture. In modern day America, our custom is to wear the touch of green or suffer the penalty of getting pinched. Inspired by the "wearing of the green" tradition, today I searched on Etsy for adornments in this hue, and found these accessories in a variety of media that would be wonderful additions to a wardrobe and will always come in handy for Saint Patrick's Day. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $12.00 to $228.00

From top left to bottom right, today's featured artisans include: twoknit, gurlygirl, KnotOriginal, JurgitaMi, Bijouxdart, cocon, amityjoy, galit

Valentine's Day: Gifts for Men from Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy
Valentines Day is coming so today I searched for manly creations offered by Etsy sellers. Tickle his fancy and touch his heart with something extra special, either vintage or handmade from Etsy. No regard for price today, but tomorrow I will showcase an array of original and fabulous dude-worthy creations priced under $50.00 with shipping. Today's selections are priced from $9.99 to $350.00. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings.
From left to right, today's featured sellers include: Jonquil, tofunkytown, Lorayn09, hammeronsteel , cooperswoodstudio, EternallyLinked

Gift Season: Window Shopping on Etsy

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Holiday gift shopping moves into high gear this year on November 27th. Shoppers will flock to malls and retail centers seeking the perfect gift for all on their list. Maneuvering through crowds hunting for unique items or bargains may have charm for some, but if you're like me, it can be a frustrating process that can lead to panic as the holiday draws near. Browsing through Etsy listings today makes it clear there is no easier or better marketplace to find fabulous gifts in all price ranges. Whether you seek extravagant edibles, keepsakes or wearables for those on your list, you will find truly special delights to put under the tree this season on Etsy's search pages. In my virtual window-shopping stroll this morning, these were just few creations that piqued my interest for people on my list. Click on the pictures to look more closely at these Etsy listings. Prices range from $12.00 to $68.00.
From top left to bottom right, today's featured artisans include: saraschalliol, mudpuppy, sugarcookiecouture, lottahelleberg, lemonbird, persimmonjewelry, ModernEraDesign, flyingpignc, jdotdesigns, GlazedOver, Beadz2Pleaz, MarciG

Buffet Worthy Bowls on Etsy

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Holiday entertaining and potluck collaborations require serving bowls, and these are few found on Etsy this morning that appeal to me not just for autumn festivities but for all seasons. Made of earthy substance, hand formed and artistically glazed clay bowls possess the organic, rustic quality that I associate with Thanksgiving. Today's selections reflect some of Etsy's wonderful artisanal talent, each bowl stating its case for ebullience, whimsy or elegance. All are display worthy as well as food-safe and functional. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $14.00 to $145.00.

From top left to bottom right, today's featured artists include: clearmountaincraft, KimberlyPottery, askpottery, utilemud, GlazedOver, brookhousepottery, madhatterceramics, georgiesmom

Casseroles: Festive Handcrafted Cookware on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy

Holiday season in America goes into full gear with Thanksgiving, our day for celebrating nature's bounty with family and close friends. My favorite style for the table and buffet is what I call "rustic-elegance," and I love an eclectic mix of serving pieces bringing in elements of warmth, comfort, autumnal motifs, harvest, and earthiness. Keeping these themes in mind, today I searched Etsy for handcrafted cookware that goes from oven to table, with the criterion that the pot comes with a lid. To my mind, these examples of hand-thrown pottery fit the Thanksgiving mood, and function perfectly to keep those comfort foods warm through the leisurely feast. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $38.00 to $120.00.

From top left to bottom right, today's featured artists include: johnnypotter, Hodakapottery, kaharrison2, OneClayBead, dkpottery, winkinglizardpottery, baumanstoneware, winkinglizardpottery