An Etsy Giveaway Extravaganza!

This is not a sponsored post.

Etsy is a recent discovery for me, and I just can’t get enough of it. It’s like suddenly finding a new ice cream section in the neighborhood grocery store, full of thousands of new Ben and Jerry’s flavors, and trying to decide which one I want to taste first.

What is Etsy exactly? Here is an explanation from Etsy’s press page:

Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. We built it for those consumers conscious of the true value of handmade goods and their creators, as well as to give all independent artists the technology and information they need to make a living, making things. Our intention is to offer viable alternatives to mass-produced objects in the world marketplace, and to encourage consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases.

The connection between producer and consumer has been lost. We created Etsy to help them reconnect, and swing the pendulum back to a time when we bought our bread from the baker, food from the grocer, and shoes from the cobbler.

Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about how little we know about what we’re buying, where it came from, and what quantities of lead and date rape drugs we’ve been ingesting. When you buy from an Etsy shop, you know exactly what you’re getting and who you’re supporting, and it feels really good to know that there is still a way to have some control over the flow of our economy.

It simply isn’t possible to see all of Etsy. There are thousands of stores in dozens of categories, and they’re constantly changing as sellers explore new techniques and find new ways to express themselves. I barely scraped the surface and found some great stuff, and some wonderful people. Some of these wonderful people have put together special offers just for my readers, and prizes too! I’ve put these in bold to make it easier on my fellow ADD sufferers. ;)


Holly, an illustrator and designer, makes vinyl decals that make it easy to beautify (or cute-ify!) any space, and are especially nice for us apartment dwellers who aren’t allowed to paint.

Vinyl Wall Art decals let you change the look of your room as much as you like. Bedrooms, Kitchens, Living Rooms and Offices can all look like a new room in just a few minutes.Vinyl Wall Art is designed to last for years. It can be applied and removed without damaging the paint so you can try as many looks as you want, whenever you like.


Mamadama Designs can help you dress up your travel tissue packets, your cell phone, MP3 player, and even your cup of coffee. The cup cuddlers are my favorite, imagine how many cardboard sleeves you could save if you used one of these, and how cool you’d look doing it!

All of my items have been personally designed and created with care and quality materials. Then they have been tested for durability and functionality by myself and others. Sewn items are double stitched with reinforced stress points. I use natural and organic materials where possible, especially in bedding. You'll find that fabric cases, carriers, bags and totes are not only pretty and fun, but soft and light to carry and offer wonderful, soft protection for your things. All items are made in a smoke free environment with new, high quality materials specifically stated (I recycle vintage fabric or denims from time to time).

If you enter “Memarie Free Gift” in the notes box, you will receive a free gift with any purchase at Mamadama Designs.


My Secret Garden sells luxurious bath and body products. They look good enough to eat, and probably are!

I've been on an amazing journey making soaps and bath & body treats for many years. My products do not contain any petroleum, detergents, or mineral oils. I use lots of real Natural ingredients such as honey, oats, Shea butter, home grown peppermint, essential oils, and teas in the making of my soaps. I also use only the highest quality fragrance oils. I like to consider most of my items as 95% or more natural and I have others that are 100% natural. I list the ingredients of all of my items in the listing so that you know what you're getting. And when in doubt, just ask. I love getting and answering questions. All items are tested before offering them to my clients. I hope you enjoy my artful blend of body goodies!

Scentiments by Sandra offers amazing poured candles. I love delicate painted teacups, and this is a wonderful way to display them.

I create scented soy candles in vintage china, pottery and glass containers. Each candle is a singular creation! I use 100% natural soy wax, a biodegradable renewable resource, and complex fragrance oils, used to the maximum for superior scent throw. My enterprise was born out of a love for vintage china, so each candle is designed to create a harmony between the piece, scent and color. I have a wide range of styles so there's something for everyone!

Blackberry Bath Works has fragrances, lavish moisturizers, and my favorite, lip balm. I’m going to order the Warm Pumpkin Crunch!

Blackberry Bath & Body was created to satisfy the craving of moisture fanatics & fragrance aficionados everywhere. We want your skin to smell delicious and look radiant. We want your lips to feel plump and look juicy. We want our products to make you feel absolutely fabulous!

HappyDashery resells interesting vintage finds. I was taken aback when I first saw her shop, because she was featuring a set of canisters that looked exactly like a set my grandmother had. It’s a fun place to visit.

A good friend of mine has a successful Etsy shop and that got me curious. Since I'm not much of a crafter,I didn't think Etsy was the place for me, but when I saw there was a vintage category, I heard my calling. I'm a bit of a collector, I always have an eye out for fun retro things (vintage Pyrex is my most recent obsession). Setting up The HappyDashery and sharing my vintage treasures has been so much fun and is a great way of making sure I don't end up collecting too much for myself. You might call it the "making sure I don't end up getting divorced" plan.

One of you will win this great Sporty Smurf cup! Just visit her store, and tell me in your comment which vintage treasure you like best, and you’ll be entered to win.

Northwind does quite a variety of things: knitting, sewing, beading, even web design. She custom-made this strawberry hat for my daughter.

northwind.etsy.com was started back in Aug. 2006. I used to sell my knitting and jewelry on another major auction site, but as their site grew, so did their rates, and I became frustrated. I couldn't offer my products at reasonable prices and cover all the fees. A friend suggested Etsy. I was delighted! Not only is Etsy dedicated to homemade, handmade creative items but they are inexpensive to work with, allowing crafters like myself to pass savings on to buyers. I've met many wonderful people, bought incredible products, and expanded my craft business through Etsy.

You can win an item from Northwind’s shop! Just go browse her site, then list three items you like in your comment. The winner will receive one of the items on their list!

Paola makes adorable, unique felted hair accessories for little girls.

Hello everybody!!! I am so happy because this is the first time my shop has been featured on a blog other than mine. I am so honored to be at MemarieLane's. It is a very helpful and fun blog. I have always been a crafter for as long as I can remember. My first big project was when I was 12 years old. I learnt to knit at that time and I finished a sweater that everybody gave compliments about. From that point on, I have tried out all that need creative and hand work: scrapbooks, knitting, cooking and keep counting. My daughters were the inspiration to start with the felt hair clips. Both of them have long hair and I thought it would look great if I could make some felted flowers. That’s the way all started. Then as I was reading one of my favorite blogs, I found a link to Etsy. From that moment I fell in love. I could not believe all the talent I found in it. And that is what I like about Etsy, to be among those incredible talented people. Thank you for your interest in my story and designs.

One of you will win a $10 gift certificate to Paola’s store! Visit her shop, choose an item you like, and tell me about it in your comment.

Chickpea Designs sells custom photocard designs. You just add your photo and print them out. Her designs are much nicer than the templates available by the usual big box suspects, and are only $12-$15!

I found Etsy a few months ago through other blogs I enjoy perusing. I immediately thought it seemed like such a cool place, but a bit over my head - I didn't think of myself as that creatively gifted with my hands. Still, I had been mulling over the thought of starting my own business from home, yet was feeling overwhelmed by the thought of dealing with payments, website upkeep, and general online store management. So it really was only a few weeks ago that I had my "aha" moment - I could sell on Etsy, that website I keep running into through other people's blogs. I read up on how to open a store there, and it sounded like exactly what I needed. An avenue through which I could sell my digital designs.

I started doing graphic design quite some time ago - I actually could trace it back to my early high school days, when I really learned about eye-catching layout and design through being the editor of the school paper. My father was/is a film editor and worked from home, so I was also surrounded by media and digital work, and learned how to use the computer on a Mac from the beginning. Throughout college and beyond, I'd do graphic design as a side business - brochures, wedding invitations, the occasional small business need. It wasn't until I was pregnant with our first child about five years later, in 2004, that I did graphic design full-time from home. I quit focusing on that to be a mommy, but I've recently found how much I crave that creative outlet I once had. So in re-launching my graphic design business, this time exclusively doing photocards and through Etsy, I'm excited to devote my time at home and in providing high-quality yet affordable photocards for families.

One of you will win a custom photocard design from Chickpea Designs! Just visit her store and tell me in your comment which design is your favorite. Value $15.

And of course there’s Zuda Gay, who I simply can’t say enough good things about. Her work is so beautiful and creative, she could easily sell it for a lot more, but she keeps it affordable. She just loves to do what she does.

If you have an Etsy shop yourself or have one to recommend, please tell us about it!

Winners will be randomly drawn and announced Friday morning, November 23.