11/16/07

Etsy Celebration!


So, today I sold my 100th item in my Etsy store and felt the urge to celebrate in a small but meaningful way over here. The Etsy community is kind of an affirmation on my lifestyle right now. It has made it possible to showcase handmade items and show the value of putting something together that started in your mind. I love it.

I found this site today from SouleMama's blog and had to share.
Buy Handmade is all about buying or making handmade goods for the holidays! I am so happy that this is even possible. I actually sent my dad this link because he is pretty sure handmade gifts are okay to give until you're about eight. You can guess who won't be getting something handmade this year!

Except for the few purchases we made on iTunes and Amazon.com for family members, my gift list is handmade. Thanks to a motivated husband, we've almost purchased all of our gifts ahead of schedule. This not only saves the panic of last minute shopping but allows us to make wise purchases in order to keep expenses in check. The rest of our gifts are in my mind and just waiting for a few spare hours to be put together. And really, these are the gifts I will take great satisfaction in making because they are for people I love.



So, leave a comment and tell me whats on your Christmas Giving list. I've got three BamPop stamps ready for a home. I'll pick a winner on Saturday night and announce it sometime Sunday. Happy 100th Etsy Purchase Day!

53 comments:

cara harjes said...

we are cashing in our points on herb's credit card to give some sort of "over the top" gifts to my mom and sis. the points are there and we don't want them to go to waste, so we are excited to spend them by giving really crazy fun gifts to our family! (oh, and, well, our gift to each other is the nintendo wii . . . with our left over points!)

congrats on your 100th purchase, miss thing! so proud of you!

(by the way . . . i am launching my own little etsy shop on december 1st!!!!)

Kristin said...

Im all about books every Christmas =) I love giving my loved ones books. I like to give people a chance to learn something new and reading a book is a great "time off" from everything...

The thing i will make with my hands this year is bookmarks.. goes well with the books =)

Happy 100th!

/Kristin, Sweden

Funky Finds said...

Congrats on 100 items sold. That is fabulous!!! Your creations ROCK! I have taken the pledge to buy handmade this Christmas, too. The craziest thing on my list so far is a mustache card for my dad. He has a very dry sense of humor, and a mustache. This will baffle him, but crack me up. Totally worth it! :)
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7399163

Amy R. said...

My dad and I are making a Princess and the Pea doll/mattress/bed/pea Set for my daughter and my niece. They will get a Book to go with it so they can play while someone reads to them. :)

Everyone else is getting handmade coupons for dinner/lunch with us sometime after the holidays. This was a hit with them two years ago. Gives them a chance to see us since we don't get around to their houses as often as we should.

lisa*marie*derenne said...

congrats rachel! i also prefer to give handmade gifts than purchasing something everyone has/will have. I plan on making my mom a set of log cabin pillows for their entertainment area since she has been so supportive, encouraging and helpful of my new love for quilting (inspired by you!) she was the one person who was just as excited as i was after my 1st etsy sale...what a great feeling :)

www.theloveliestbloom.etsy.com

Anonymous said...

on my christmas giving list, this : http://boutiquelesfleurs.typepad.com:80/les_fleurs_la_boutique/2007/11/mug-shinzi-ka-1.html

i don't know for who... i'll see !!!
and many book !
and for my two boy fisher price vitnage toys, i loooooooove and jules too !
for my lover an alliance (he lose it 1 month after our wedding day : greattttttt !)

bye
have a nice week end,

emma

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your success in finding your 'place to be' in Etsy. I have so many ideas fr my own but I can't seem to narrow down the list :P I can't wait for the LoveBirds... totally adorable.
My sis is getting a large acrylic earring stand as she has a lovely collection but they're stored away in old boxes. Now she'll be able to put them proudly on display. I'm making all my friends little handbag organisers, watch my etsy. Christmas is going to be so much fun... I support HANDMADE!!!

Charin Adams said...

Yay! Congrats on the 100th sale! :)

One gift that I am giving this year is a little tutu for my best friend Magan's daughter....Magan I met in a ballet class when we were both around 8 years old and we have been closer than some sisters ever since :)

So I'm hoping that her little one and my Katie will have that kind of friendship and maybe share a ballet class or two.

Kim Campbell said...

Embroidered dish towels and a handmade purse, so far!

latisha said...

Congrats on your 100th etsy sale! I can't wait to get my little lovebirds hung up on my pink Christmas tree in my scrap room. Right now I'm working on wooden cookbooks of favorite family recipes for the ladies in my family this Christmas, And a few mini-scrapbooks for my little cousins.

Kelly Oribine said...

Happy 100th purchase day!

I too have taken the handmade pledge. I'm making some personalized handmade stationary for both of my sister-in-laws. I'm also making homemade cranberry sauce with pretty labels for all of our friends and acquaintances.
And a little christmas dress for my wee one.

melissa w said...

It is not handmade but how about recycled? We purchased my mom a used (2004) Mac from the Unniversity my husband works for. The Unniversity gets new computers and my mom gets an upgrade!

Congrats on 100!!!!

Unknown said...

One thing I REALLY try is to not super-impose my ideas for a gift. I learned fairly early that people don't always give a gift for you, they give to make themselves feel better....so now I really try to get to know my 'givee' and get something I know will totally bless them. Takes more thought, but definitely worth it!!
Hey and Congrats on your 100th - we really need to stop and praise ourselves for our accomplishments (especially mum's coz we rarely get any praise!)

luv bindi

Sandy said...

Congratulations on your 100th sale!

debbiec said...

omg. i think your dad and my family are related!!!!!
i still have all their shopping to do, blah...and i still get to finish making the fleecey blankets/throws i am making for all my brothers...in their favorite team colors!
congrats on your 100th sale!

Katie said...

Congrats on 100 items - here's to the next 100! I haven't really made a list although I noticed I'm out of pre-paid itunes so perhaps I'll start my list with that.

Vanessa said...

way to go--your gifts will be cherished!
i am making knitted dishclothes for my mom, I just picked up knitting again after stopping as a young teen..so i joined a class and got the hang of it and now I am whipping up those dishclothes!
my mom loves them-and i will be thrilled!

Sherri said...

Love the link to soulemama!
As for gifts, our family just buys for the kids and their spouses.

Candice P.J. said...

Yay for # 100!!!

My family gives each other wish lists, so everyone gets what they want - but this year in honor of all things handmade, I will be attaching handmade felt ornaments on everyone's presents! (Like they do at the Hello Kitty Store!) Hopefully this will become a tradition that will last for years and years!

Cathy De Los Santos said...

Congratulations on reaching a 100 purchases on etsy, I only hope that one day I'll meet that same number.

I've already started buying gifts, but I always make stuff for my family as well. Usually mini books, and I'm thinking of making a picture cube for my faher. Maybe he could take it to work and show off his first grandaughter.

jamiedonne said...

I am hoping to make some art for my family to remember my grandpa who just recently passed away quite suddenly. i am torn between a few etsy purchases for some purchases i still haven't made yet. i'm having the most trouble trying to decide what to make/get my boyfriend this year!

congrats on your 100th purchase!

Michelle said...

Congrats on your 100th order. I also plan ahead and try to get the majority of my Christmas shopping done early. Since I work in a year round Christmas store I'm always looking for gifts. I'm planning to buy a few pairs of fun slippers and make a few necklaces for gifts. I'm done with everything else.

Carla said...

Yay! congratulations on your 100th item!!

Ok, so I like to give all my lovede ones a handmade paintings, since I love painting and they seem to love my paintings, too :] Oh and who says handmade until you are 8? People should apprecicate the love and hard work put into these things. Personally, I feel special when I get something handmade, so YaY for handmade!

Carla :]

Sunnymommie said...

congrats on your 100th items sold!

I will make quilt blanket for my mom from our old clothes , when we were little girls. That my mom save for long time ...Cant wait to finish them and give to her!

Candi said...

its all about handmade this year! i am even involving my five year old daughter in the gift making for our relatives. she has drawn pictures which we have traced onto muslin and she is embroidering them. i will be making tote bags, aprons and some other projects which we will sew her embroidery onto. she is excited and i am so excited because they are so unique, so cute and will be a wonderful memory to look back on when she is older!

Holly said...

Yay for you! How exciting. :0) My family thinks along the same lines as your dad. So, as you can imagine, they won't be getting any handmade goodness. All of my friends' gifts will be handmade, though. And, I'm almost done with all of my shopping...going to finish up the last of my shopping today at the craft fair. I'm planning on buying my husband a digital camcorder. We usually don't buy gifts for one another because we have so much family to buy for, and the kids...there isn't money left over for us. So, it feels nice to be ale to get him something special this year.

cydders said...

Congrats on the 100th sale! you RAWK!
LOve it!

i will be stitching some kitchen towels for gifts this year. I got some great patterns from *sublime stitching* i'm so excited!

also i always make some *scrap/paper/painting* project for my family. they always appreciate that.

Happy holidays!

Cydne Palmer

Anonymous said...

Hello from Quebec, Canada,

Congrats on your 100th purchase, this is fantastic ! For Christmas, I'll give handmade things and I'll cook for the people I love.

Bye,

Anonymous said...

congrats!!
**********************************
on my christmasgivinglist:
a magazine subscription for my sister
a little red tractor for my son
some rubberstamps for my other sister
and something with love for my DH.
that´s it so far.

dora
*******************************

Anonymous said...

Hey! Congrats on your 100th!!! that's a big accomplishment! For Christmas this year, my friends and I are giving eachother stockings we make, filled with little trinkets and handmade things. I'm so excited to continue this tradition we started last year!!!

Rose Ann said...

Congratulations on your 100th Sale, You are Awesome!

I recently found all you ladies on etsy and am so excited to get back to the basics of sewing. My first project will be to hand stitch my kids names on vintage fabric ornaments. They get one ornament every year, so this years is handmade for sure!

Next is a quilt, although i am having a hard finding vintage fabrics....ugh, the hunt is fun ~;o)

Thank you for doing this drawing for the stamp...Good Luck Everyone! Happy Holidays ♥

Rosie in OHIO

Mom of 3 Boys said...

Clark Color calendars, a crafted calendar for husband's mom, 'rocks' that really are chocolate....I live in the 'Granite' State of NH.....

Congrats on 100 items!

Rach said...

...I LOVE THAT YOU HANDMAKE YOUR GIFTS....EVERYTHING YOU MAKEIS ALL SO BEAUTIFUL...my mum makes loads of preserves and chutneys and gives us these gorgeous baskets of yuumy eats....they keep us going all year and we LOVE them as do her friends....we have a family baking day every christmas where we make bags of cookies we all decorate to give all my childrens friends and we hang bags on the christmas tree to for visitors to take home with them all december...its so much fum this year my neice 10 mths gets to help with my children 2ys, 3yys and 5 ys...We can't wait...thank you for all the inspiration on all your blogs and all you guests too....ooooh this year we are adding fuge and homemade cards to give out on chritmas day to all the extended fam....take care Rach xxxnz

Silje Røe Hagland said...

Congrats on your 100 items sold!!
So cool :)

Im inspired and im gonna open an etsy shop too:)
This year Im painting, and sewing totes and bags for Christmas presents :)

Hope you are having a fun weekend!
<3

Unknown said...

congratulations on selling your 100th item! yay!

I like giving handmade gifts to my closest friends and family the best. It always means the most to those people too because I feel like it shows them how much you care about them! Making something definitely takes more time than just picking something up at the store. :)

Brianne said...

hmm.. are we supposed to plan this far ahead?

My little guy tyson is getting a train table and trains... and the rest of his bedroom set from ikea. The sweet blue set (mammut). I would have made them but I'm just not THAT crafty!

Dana said...

congrats on 100 sales! I'm doing some scrapbook pages for family gifts this year. They mean more than anything that I could buy in the store.

Annette D said...

This year I am giving love and support to my family for Christmas. My dad passed away in June so my Mom is getting extra hugs and kisses and my sister lost her 22 year job yesterday (she's only 43), so I will be giving her encouragement and lots of love to move on to new things. These will be my Christmas gifts.

Cate said...

Can I just tell you that I'm completely impressed that you're almost done your Christmas shopping? And the fact that you've planned it out so well is great! I know that I want to make a few things, I'm just not sure what yet. Probably mostly mini books/albums. Maybe a lap quilt or two. I guess I see lots of late nights in the next month. *S*

Cheryl said...

Congrats on your 100th sale!!! I'm probably going to make a bunch of minibooks and a lot of gift card holders using stamps.

Bibi said...

Congrats!! Wishing you lots more sales!!

I've made a few blanket and burp coth sets for the babies in the family. I'm making wallets & purses for all the girls in the family. As for the guys.... I'm stumped. I have NO idea. Guys like to eat a lot, right? Maybe, I'll make them a snack gift basket.

Angela said...

congrats for your etsy shop!! I´m still waiting a Brazil Etsy ,LOL ...well, in my giving list of this year, I really want to sew a lot of things, let´s see if I´ll have time , LOL!!

Sharie said...

Congrats on such a successful Etsy shop!

Ashley Peak said...

Ah, have you ever heard of spoon bracelets? They are two ends of antique spoons bent into a bracelet - with a crystal bead put inbetween. They're gorgeous and pretty easy to make if you have the right tools, and inexpensive. Antique spoons can be found in thrift stores for fifty cents a piece! Check out www.justspoonin.com! All my lady friends will be getting one this year, but shhh don't tell! Great job on Etsy; it's quite the accomplishment! ♥ ashley

alittlebitofscrap said...

Congrats Rachel on selling your 100th item. I too love to give homemade goods for Christmas. You inspired me to blog about the center-pieces my mil & i give out.

Loved the RVA kit this time (as always!) Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Kara said...

i am making aprons for the ladies in our family. i got the cutest pattern, and some awesome fabric!

happy 100th sale!! that is awesome.

Nicole said...

Hope I'm not too late!! :)

Creating and supporting handmade art isn't just a movement, it is a lifestyle. It's so cool that so many people come out now and are supportive of such amazing work. It's about time!!! :) Congrats, Rachel!!!

Anonymous said...

Great job on 100 sales!

My son's babysitter and teachers are all getting handknit (by me) mittens for the holidays. They're made out of yummy Manos del Uruguay yarn!

Bridget said...

My family loves receiving handmade gifts. One year I was pretty broke, so I made decorated journals from composition books for my little cousins. They loved them! Sometimes I think homemade gifts go over better than the store bought ones.

Stephanie Lynn said...

this year i am giving family handmade cards... card prices are ridiculous, so it'll be a nice relief for them not to buy from the store, not to mention that i love creating them. congrats on the etsy success!

peaknits said...

I am planning to knit goodies for my family including a Zissou Hat with the DVD of Life Aquatic for my kooky brother-in-law.

Congrats on your awesome sales at etsy!

Anonymous said...

Oh my!! On my list is to make Holiday recipe books.. I hope to get started soon.

*danielle* said...

I am always thinking of things in my mind to make and give. I LOVE making things and giving them! So this year, I recruited my little girl :) We are going to make scarves for all the ladies in our family. I can't wait for those few extra hours to get started, and I know Kaci can't wait either. I think she likes to craft as much as I do! :) Have an amazing day Rachel!