Things to Check Out IV (Etsy)

This week's Thing is a website called Etsy.  I had Etsy described to me once as Amazon for the hand-crafted soul.  Check out this cool journal, for example.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51825422/10-12-x-7-12-leather-vintage-look?ref=cat1_gallery_8

It's made by an Etsy user called crearting and ships all the way from Latvia.

There's also an option to shop local.  Here are a few Chicago-based shops on Etsy:

Teal Monkey EarFlap Hat

from LeafLee

Vintage Sterling Silver 3 Rolling Rings

by ueberkunst

Vintage copper cookie cutters, witch, scotties, lion and more

by Sunny Day Vintage

(extra exciting is that these cookie cutters are only $10)

Etsy's search options aren't just hand-crafted there are also filters for "vintage" and "supplies," just in case you were planning on making your own jewels.  So, while I don't think I have the budget to shop Etsy a lot, I will definitely add it to the gifts-for-a-friend list.

Things to Check Out III (A crafty earring holder)

This week's thing to check out is a craft project of my own invention.  I found myself in possession of many pairs of earrings and nothing but a box to put them in.  This caused them to get all tangled up.  Worse yet, I often was unable to find the 2nd earring of a pair.  So finding myself armed with an extra shoebox and some pipe cleaners left over from Christmas, this little craft was born.

Yes, those are Beatles-themed buttons on the bottom.

Simpy take a shoebox and poke holes in the sides across from one another with sharp scissors.

I would recommend off-setting the holes so that you can put more pipe cleaners in.

Then push the pipe cleaners through the holes and twist up the ends.  The fuzzy pipe cleaners keep the earrings from sliding or falling off.  Easy, right?

Granted, I also recently received a real jewelry holder from a friend.  And while it's lovely...

A little treasure from World Market

...I think I'll delegate it to my larger pieces.