February 2010
54 posts
teal and gold's salt shaker and pepper mill →
Hand-turned on their lathe in Canada, Teal and Gold’s minimalist wooden salt shaker and adjustable pepper mill ($95) is warm, utilitarian, and could find a happy home in just about any kitchen or dining room. A fantastic new home gift.
kit paulson's handblown glasswear →
There’s something so elegant and special about a delicate glass decanter; it’s the opposite of utilitarian, a complete and total luxury item. Add in matching glass cups and it’s a family heirloom in the making (if the kids can keep their sticky hands to themselves). Kit Paulson’s handblown decanter and cup sets ($68) are not only elegant and special, but boldly,...
veronica vartic's leather feather belts →
I already have more jewelry than Cleopatra (not nicer, just more), so I’m always on the lookout for new and unusual accessories. Enter Veronica Vartic’s Leather Feather Belts ($30). Available in a range of colors, it’s a great mid-point between primitive and modern, and can easily jazz up an otherwise simple (dare I say plain?) outfit. And her bags are great, too.
junah bird's birdy pillows →
Yes, I like animal silhouettes. Birds are particularly fetching. And it’s high time that brown really got props for being the kick-a$$ color that it is; is goes with EVERYTHING. Ergo, Junah Bird’s Brown Birdy Applique Pillows ($20) are a slam dunk. What’s not to love?
atelier oker's tea strainer →
With organic curves and a playful pierced design, Atelier OKER’s ceramic tea strainer ($35) fits and sits neatly atop a mug, making tea an evermore ceremonial experience. A fantastic gift for yourself or the tea lover we all know…
goodmorningmidnight's colorblocked dresses →
Who’d have imagined so many different combinations of gray and white colorblocked dresses? Mod patterns and silhouettes with an updated sensibility, GoodMorningMidnight’s garments are irresistibly chic - casual and formal all at once. Everywoman’s uniform.
sksullivan667's auto lamps →
The chandelier I posted a while ago got such rave reviews, I feel certain everyone’s going to go crazy over SkSullivan667’s Aut0matic series lamps ($200), made from recycled transmission parts. The shapes themselves are so industrially beautiful, and when you turn them on…mood lighting. Ingenious.
persea's zippered shoe clips →
In the same vein as yesterday (can you tell I’m tired of my shoes?), I got really excited about Persea’s shoe clips, particularly the bright blue zippered flowers ($12). Shoe clips remind me of trying on women’s pumps a child; I was always kicking off my sneakers to admire my feet in ladies’ samples, and in the 80’s, shoe clips were de rigeur. Since then,...
merryBe's upcycled spats →
Winter boots get so boring by the time February rolls around - which is annoying because there are only the dregs of this season left in the shops, and sandals are on displays already. But fret not, my friends - MerryBe’s spats ($49.50) are the perfect make-over for your tired or boring (but comfortable) shoes or boots. Featuring smart herringbones, plaids and sundry suit fabrics with a...
morgan madison's art glass plates →
I know, I know, I’ve been on a housewares kick lately, and I had fully intended to find some men’s jewelry or something for you to break the cycle. But once I saw Morgan Madison’s stunning art glass plates ($65), I couldn’t help myself. I think you can see what I mean.
joy love mojo's wax geode votive holders →
I used to be a big tea light fan; when I shared an apartment with my girlfriends, I’d light 8 or 10 of them at a time in the living room, and it made the space look festive and beautiful (despite our careless hodge-podge of furniture). Sadly, now that I have a living room I can enjoy with the lights on, it rarely occurs to me to break out the tea lights, but JoyLoveMojo’s...
lucky pixie's floral pillows →
Lucky Pixie designs their own stunning fabrics, then turns them into tea towels and pillows. This colorful beauty ($20) looks like a Rorschach kaleidoscope full of flowers.
cozart studio's ceramic sculptures →
A little red is in order for my post-Valentine’s day posting; CozArt Studio is showcasing interesting and attractive ceramic sculptures; the juxtaposition of crimson and black reminds me of gorgeous Japanese laquer boxes ($30).
millamella's illustrated melamine plates →
I heart melamine plates in general. And all the more when they have clever illustrated animals on them. It’s like the grown-up version of your favorite childhood dishes. MILLAMELLA has a wide variety in bold colors and striking designs, and the giraffes - head available separately ($15 each) - take the cake.
myrakel's printed bottle vases →
I want these. Moreover, I want to live in the room that they were photographed in. Etsy newcomer Myrakel specializes in vividly colored, thought-provoking photographs, but also features a few extras on the side, including this gorgeous set of 4 painted and printed bottle vases ($25). If I wasn’t afraid of ending up on Hoarders, I’d have bought them already.
David Chou Design's Back Vest Overlay Jacket →
On the phone with my brother yesterday, I was giddily describing the new kimono cardigan I bought on Etsy (shout-out to MsWood!). He agreed it was amazing, and then wondered where all the cool Etsy menswear was hiding, notwithstanding t-shirts and hoodies. So in honor of Andy, I scouted out DavidChouDSN’s sleek men’s Back Vest Overlay Jacket (ON SALE $275). I think it would look...
tiderdesign resin scissor necklace →
Last night, my treasury hit Etsy’s front page: the holy grail of handmade advertising, featuring my tiderdesign resin scissor necklace. Sadly, I didn’t see it happen. But I did see the significant uptick in site visits. Nice.
hreynolds9's hillside lamp →
As a fan of Antiques Roadshow, I often wonder what I would bring if they showed up in Jersey City. Better yet, what I could buy in today’s Ikea/Crate & Barrel world that would still be solid, timeless and classy in 2 or 3 generations. Inspired by the silhouettes and styles of Frank Lloyd Wright, hreynolds9’s artisanal wood and glass lamps ($379) are a strong contender.
yevgenia's handpainted tagine →
Just stumbled across one of the more beautiful, organic - and functional! - ceramic pieces I’ve seen on Etsy to date. Yevegnia’s original paintings on ceramics, including this Moroccan tagine ($75) transform these blank white canvases into art in the most ingenious way. Lovely.
wawaheads' teddy hat →
Quick! Before winter is over, turn a child you love into a real live stuffed animal with Wawaheads’ crocheted teddy hat ($40). Made of natural llama fibers which are considered much more hypoallergenic than sheep’s wool, they’re lightweight, warm and indisputably adorable.
juliani's crocheted neckwarmers →
Though luxurious woven neckwarmers abound on Etsy these days, it’s hard to pick just one that stands out among the crowd. Fortunately, I stumbled upon newcomer JuliAni, whose multicolored crocheted version ($45) is both affordable and incredibly unusual, in those earth tones we all love, guaranteed to go with everything!
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modern milieu pendant chandelier →
Modern Milieu’s Pendant Chandelier ($250) can be hung in almost any configuration, making it the perfect custom item to fit those oddly-shaped or tiny city apartments. And of course, it also has that fabulous minimalist, industrial je ne sais quoi…
bug & megs' city coasters →
As an artist, I’ve come to appreciate the power of a strong silhouette, the way a few lines and curves can almost magically represent something much larger and more complex. Bug & Megs’ City Coasters ($28) are perfect examples of this; functional, minimalist and sophisticated art for your coffee table.
uptomuch's stainless steel ring →
One of Etsy’s new Edinburgh designers, Up To Much, has indeed been up to much these days, cranking out beautifully architectural 3 dimensional stainless steel rings ($28). Steel is incredibly hard, will wear better (and obviously tarnish less) than sterling, and these rings have that naturally rugged look that jewelers work so hard to achieve. I’m a huge fan.
red stitch design's hand-sewn owls →
Honestly. I weaned myself off stuffed animals in middle school, after my double bed was so full of them, I slept on the very edge and kept falling out at night. Enough was enough, they all went to Goodwill and I finally got a good night’s sleep. Until I came across Red Stitch Design’s adorable collection of stuffed owls ($28)! They’ve got swallow-able parts like real button...
