Sweet Treats from Small Makers & Vintage Sellers
Get in, we're going down an Etsy rabbit hole!
When I think about the things I buy, use, and wear, I think a lot about what the money I spend supports. I strongly believe that we vote with our wallets, so I try my best to be smart about this. It is a balance of convenience (sometimes I need convenience more than anything else), supporting business practices I believe in, and affordability/budget with buying from small businesses. I am a work in progress here - so much room for improvement, but, I’m trying.
When I shop for myself, my husband, my kids, friends and family, and my home, I think a lot about the brands I’m supporting with my shopping. I love to discover new brands, and I enjoy searching for and finding unique things to wear/use/gift.
I’ve been an Etsy girl for a long time. I love searching for home things, unique hardware, fixtures, crafts, kids items, etc. I’ve sourced my wedding save-the-dates, home hardware, a light for a bathroom remodel, unique toys for my kids, holiday-specific craft kits, jewelry, theme parties (can’t forget those!) and art (to name a few!) on Etsy.
I could easily spend hours bopping from piece to piece and shop to shop through the eye-candy feast that is this online marketplace! One thing that is exceptionally wonderful about Etsy is that it will lead you down a rabbit hole, if you want one. Part of this is because of the sheer variety of items, vendors, permutations of similar items and pieces, but part of this is also because of how the website is set up to help you continuously discover new things - maybe things very much like what you are looking for, and sometimes things you didn’t know you wanted to look at for hours.
So, how do you rabbit-hole?
One of the best features of Etsy is that when you find an item, and scroll down past reviews and rating of the shop, and the widget with more items from the shop, Etsy shows you a “You May Also Like,” section, where they feature items similar to the piece you’re browsing. This, my friends, this, is where the magic happens, and this is where the rabbit hole starts.
By related item after related item, you can deep dive for hours. You can also see saved collections from Etsy users featuring the item you’re browsing, which is another feature that is incredible & full of gems (especially amazing, IMO if you’re searching for anything for your home!) Honestly, I don’t know why other online boutiques are not using this same strategy (actually, I know Zara does this - I buy some clothes for my girls on Zara, and my who strategy for navigating the Zara website for kids is to scroll new arrivals, find one thing I like, and then follow the “You may also like” prompt to find anything else I’m shopping for for them).
Another random thing that Etsy does to support the rabbit hole (but I’m low key obsessed with) is to open every item you click in a new tab. You’ll never lose track of a find, no constantly remembering to right-click, forgetting, and frantically going back to find your original search while also trying to open the PDP of a treasure that caught your eye.
While I am no expert at shopping for vintage clothes (especially not online) (more on this below & hoping to get better at this in the future!), I love to scour the depths of the internet on the hunt for a specific item - especially jewelry. When many people turn to Amazon for inexpensive alternatives to designer items, I ALWAYS hit up Etsy. You do need to do some due diligence, read reviews, poke around, and, things are usually not cheap, but you can often find highly reasonable prices that don’t carry the margin of a widely recognized designer brand.
So, today, I’m showing you some of the rabbit holes that I’ve followed to find great items - everything from jewelry, to coats, to towel hooks and more. Grab your cocktail (or your coffee), and let’s dive in. And then, leave a comment with your favorite etsy finds & shops so I can keep exploring!!!
Jewelry - One of the first types of pieces I’ve ever dived into on Etsy is jewelry. The costume selection is incredible, but there are also fine jewelers who will create anything you could possibly imagine, as well as
Colorful beaded necklace - I don’t know what it is about summertime, but it makes me want to have a colorful stack of necklaces. And Etsy has so many options. I’ve ordered two (will highlight the ones I’ve gone with below). I love the different beaded shapes on this one! This is great too, but a higher investment.
Amazonite Necklace - I’ve shared this etsy creator’s pieces several times, I’m obsessed with the shop. I got something very similar to this for Mother’s Day (and I’ve been wearing it basically daily!). I also love this and this (especially if you love red!)
Abacus Necklace - If you’re looking for something with a bigger bead, I love this (it’s on my way to me). It really reminds me of a necklace Sezane offers.
Southern James Co Eros Necklace - I love this green beaded necklace, especially with the option to wear the heart charm! This store has an incredible selection - I also love this multicolor necklace.
Snake Eye Enhancer - Something that is on my wishlist, and I am saving
Mixed Rolo Chain - I have this necklace and love it - both the clasp and the chain are so special! It’s such a fun layering piece. I opted for the gold-plated version because I wasn’t ready to invest in solid gold, but this jeweler also has a fine jewelry line!
Home Decor is what got me on Etsy originally - this is where I go first anytime I am looking for special accessories for our home, as well as larger things like furniture, rugs, and lighting!
Brass Hooks - I went on a major search for the perfect hooks for my kids’ bathroom when we did a project on it last year. Truly, I think I looked at every brass hook. Landed on these ones, which makes me laugh now, but I considering more satorial and whimsical options, and Etsy has the best selection for that - like these, these, and these!!!
Wall Sconce - I love this brand. We have this fixture, in bronze, over the sink in my kids’ bathroom!
Pleated Lampshade - I love to buy simple and inexpensive lamps and swap out the shade for something more special and interesting. This is a great shop for that. This is beautiful! The shape of this is super cool.
How incredible is this wicker side table (and reasonably priced!
I could probably do a full post on art I’ve discovered on etsy (I can already tell this is going to have to have a part 2 because I’ve only shared finds from the first 5 or so pages of my over 50 (!!!!, yikes, signs of an actual problem) PAGES of Etsy hearts. I’m really into this sardine art. This print is so cool.
Clothing- I will admit that I have not gone deep on clothing treasures on Etsy - I’ve just dipped my toes in. Who else should I be following/reading to see more tips on this? I want to shop more secondhand & vintage clothing but my body has changed SO MUCH in the past 5 years (having 3 kids will do that do you!), that I’ve a) never known my measurements, and b) never dare to buy anything I couldn’t return! Now that I’m a year (!!!!) postpartum, I’m thinking about trying to get better at this - try new things and take more risks and wear more fun clothes and all that! I SO admire
& the absolute treasures she finds & wears (PS, Amanda, if you’re reading, you should offer a masterclass, and also host vintage shopping trips - just sayin’!!)Indian Patchwork Jacket - earlier this spring I got my daughter a super cute quilted jacket from Zara, and it immediately sent me into a tailspin of wanting a coat of my own. Obviously, Etsy was where I searched. I have this jacket (lots more options in terms of patterns/colors from the shop), as well as this one (I sized up to a XL in both based on size chart + comments). Very excited to see how these turn out. I’m picturing them as such a fun topper for simple jeans and tees, as well as over shift dresses for cool summer evenings. Love this color as well, and this one too!
Custom Embroidered Kids Sweatshirt - so sweet!
Accessories:
Rhinestone iPhone Case - If you are looking for a special iPhone case (I think these make great fun gifts, or stocking stuffers), Etsy is the place. How incredible is this one!
Green Crochet Bag - The perfect item to wear for any event you have in the warmer weather!
Beautiful and practical storage baskets (I love this color).
Linen Photo Album - Finding something beautiful to keep family photos is, is HARD! How beautiful is this. I need to summon the energy and motivation to go through all our photos and do some album creation, and then I’ll be ordering this.
Beautiful Customizable Stationery
I am always on the hunt for interesting and unique Christmas tree ornaments - I love to give ones that remind me of people as gifts, and every year I collect a few for our family that represent special memories or moments from the year we’ve had. I love Craftspring for felted ornaments (kid-friendly without screaming kid ornament!) - thinking about this little gardening book as we’re trying to focus on our garden this summer! This is to-die-for for an animal lover or aspiring farmer in your life!
Tabletop / Dining
Incredible & reasonably priced block-print napkins and tablecloths. Love these napkins too.
Phew! My wishlist is bumping (how many lamps is too many lamps, just wondering?). And, honestly, have barely scratched the surface (in large, part, I confess, due to the fact that I went down several rabbit holes of my own while putting together the items I would feature today. So, we’ll have a part 2 (and more, I’m sure). But, I need to know — what am I missing - what shops should I know about? What other pieces should I be shopping for? Who are the Etsy experts that I should be stalking??
You can browse all the pieces (pictured and not pictured) in this post here.
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All products highlighted are chosen by me, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated!
Ahhh I spend HOURS scooping out Etsy and love supporting small brands on the platform! Looks like we have some similar jackets bookmarked 🥰🥰