How Etsy Invaded My Life
Originally published at Lane Ellen. You can comment here or there.
If I were to choose words that I wanted to be defined as, I’d probably choose: elegant, sophisticated, disciplined, daring and alluring.
Unfortunately, I meet none of those expectations. The closest I can get is: occasionally tailored, friendly, paradoxical, safe, and nerdy - which is some people’s definition of “alluring.”
I’ve spent many years trying to be the previous adjectives. During that time, I met some people who get closer to those words than I do, one of whom taught me how “custom-made/designed” and “Each piece is unique” was coveted. I agreed - “No two alike!” was something I wanted for myself.
But “folksy” hand-made stuff by local people didn’t fit into that. “Folksy” is what I defined “home-made” and DIY as, despite the fact that I was making my own costuming for years - some more well-done than others. So when people talked about Etsy, I was uninterested. I mean, really uninterested. I can only handle so many woolen dolls with buttons for eyes, thankyouverymuch. I don’t need more crap in my life.
I still appreciated that style of stuff, though. That people were able and willing to make things with their own hands. And I was already doing quasi-odd things like wearing knee highs with hearts and skulls. I appreciated the cute, the small, the unique. But I didn’t define myself as someone who would have stuff like that.
I tried: Milwaukee is actually a great place for handmade items. We have a regular event called Art vs. Craft, and I went to it once. There was some stuff I liked, but mostly, I was thinking, “I could make that.” It didn’t occur to me that I could say the same thing about stuff in the department store.
I think, however, something happened on the way to the forum. I THINK it began with this guy. I mean, creative facial hair is as home-made as it gets.
I think the seeds were sown at this place in 2007 when I went for the first time. This place redefines, “Hand made” into something ultimately geeky.
Then in February, I moved into an apartment with stencils in the hallway. Seriously, I knew it was over for me when I realized that that was a MAJOR draw for me that it had hand painted things in the hallway, and when I was aghast at the landlord suggesting that it should be removed. I still can’t decide if I took that apartment because it was the better of the two I was looking at, or if it was to save the stencils. It doesn’t matter because it became the coziest home I’ve ever known.
From there, it was a downhill battle. I bought a winter hat in the height of summer that was handknitted in rather rough wool by some octogenarian at a small festival in the neighborhood. It is a carrot hat! I was overcome with the cuteness.
I also lived in Bay View - an even better place to find things handmade, repurposed, and generally earth, pocketbook, and soul-friendly. A place open up there called Paper Boat, showcasing handmade things from all over. Initially, I was uncertain, but then I went in and found art that was the type I wanted to hang on my walls - something real, something beautiful and accessible. From cards to t-shirts, I liked a lot of things. But I didn’t have the cash to spend.
Then, in my visit to Portland’s Saturday Market, I came across this bag from Appetite. I’d been looking for my own “messenger bag” - something that was well designed, but not too trendy, not something that was made in China, but something that had some thought put into it, very custom and original. The moment I saw this bag, I knew it was the one. Something about the juxtaposition of the coarse linen/wooly fabric and the elaborate jacquard decoration fit perfectly. It was also lined nicely, held a lot, and didn’t hurt to wear.
Then I met Claire at a bellydance even (TribO!) and noticed she was making these fabulous pants. I immediately loved them and thought I should have some - and then I noted she was on Etsy. Why hadn’t it occurred to me that Etsy might be the perfect place for the bellydance artist to sell their wares? I hand make costuming all the time - but piece by piece, instead of a line of things. Etsy is perfect for that.
Now I have my own Etsy account, and while I’m not selling stuff, I’m constantly looking at what’s out there - and I’m amazed! I look at blogs like Etsy Wedding, and scroll through Etsy for items that dancers might be interested in. Perhaps an Etsy Dance blog would be something people would appreciate - finding and posting nifty costume pieces from etsy…
Etsy has now become my default place to look for something interesting and new - why buy something off ebay that anyone could get when you can get something more original off Etsy?