Weddingbee Blog

Not as much as I love Mr. Cinnamon Buns, but a lot!

I joined Etsy on September 6th, 2005. Etsy was founded in June of 2005, the same month Mr Cinnamon Buns and I started dating, so I’ve known them for about the same amount of time.

I’ve always been a crafty person, thanks to my mum who ran a craft business from our basement while I was growing up. I even got to have my own table at the town’s annual Christmas Craft Fair that mum organized every year! So, when I first heard about this website that was “an eBay for crafters,” I jumped on it. I have far too many pages of favourite items, and 23 (!!) pages of favourite shops. You can see my interests change as you look through them: there was the jewellery phase, the ‘I want a frilly apron’ phase, the yarn phase, the spinning fibre phase, and now…The Wedding Phase. (NOTE: Etsy, if you’re listening, how about a way to categorize favourites? Groups of favourites?)

It’s great fun going through some of my old favourites and finding things for the wedding. Way back on page 5 of my favourites (from May 16, 2008) I had these ties:

Victorian Gears Ties from toybreaker on Etsy

Cinnamon Buns doesn’t wear ties, but I favourited it with the thought that if a tie-worthy occasion ever came up, these would be awesome. Oh, I forgot to mention the steampunk phase of my Etsy-relationship. If you think those gear ties are as awesome as I do, check out BionicUnicorn. Here’s a sample of her work…I’ll wait while you drool.

Awesomeness from BionicUnicorn

Sadly, such a piece would overwhelm my dress, so I don’t get to make that purchase. I’m sure I’ll find an appropriate event sometime, though!

Now before you start to think that I spend my entire paycheque on Etsy, I haven’t made too many purchases even though I’ve been a member for over 5 years. In those 5 years I’ve made 54 purchases, which I think is pretty respectable. It averages out to one a month, but I definitely purchase in clumps. And, unless it is a large item, I usually purchase a couple items from a shop, to save on postage. The most I’ve ever bought from one person is 6 lovely different twill tapes from LillaLotta.

If I’m looking for something, I will check out Etsy first 9 times out of 10. I love buying from other crafters/makers/artists because I know how much work goes in to the little things, and I love owning things that people have made with their own two hands. Calendar for the fridge? Cover for the KitchenAid? Yarn to knit with? Go-to purse? Clothes I love to wear? All from Etsy.

I do also have to admit that Etsy gives me ideas. I sometimes see things and think, “I could do that!” At craft fairs, it’s a dreaded phrase. At least sellers can’t hear me say it when I’m sitting at my desk at work home. Etsy is just a giant treasure-trove of inspiration for me, and I am so happy it is around.

I think that a lot of what I don’t make myself for the wedding will come from Etsy, so everything stays within the realm of handmade. I just find that so much more fun than mass-produced big box stuff. I tell everyone I can about Etsy because I want to share the love!

What’s your #1 favourite thing on Etsy right now? Do you also have a mammoth number of favourites?