Where to Find Handmade Products? (Plus A WINNER!)

Hooray & Congrats to ksizemore@ - the WINNER of our 1st Giveaway - ksizemore you have won a digital card of your choice!  Please reply to the e-mail sent to you in order to get the ball rolling on receiving your giveaway prize!  (winning number selected by www.random.org)

WATCH FOR A REVIEW POST ABOUT MAILBOX BLISS COMING 

UP ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3RD!

If you are new to buying handmade...or even just exploring handmade, you may be wondering where you can even begin the venture of buying handmade.  No longer is buying handmade relegated to church basement craft shows.  It has gone high class and high tech!


ETSY
You may have heard of Etsy before - this is probably the most widely recognized online collection of web stores for handmade artisans.  Click HERE to go to Etsy and begin to browse online stores - or utilize the search function to look for specific items.  The rules of Etsy are that in order for an item to be sold online, it must be handmade directly by the seller, be art supplies OR be vintage items that are at least 20 years old or more.


ARTFIRE
Artfire is an equally popular and growing consortium of handmade vendors available online.  Artfire is very similar to Etsy in its focus on handmade products.  Categories for sales on Artfire include: handmade, art, vintage, media & craft supplies.  Click HERE to go to Artfire and explore!

Since beginning Gonna Want This-Handmade! I've learned about several other online venues for buying and selling handmade products.  I am not as familiar with them yet, but they seem to be some more great resources for both buyers and sellers of handmade!  They include:


CRAFTSTER
Craftster is an artisan showcase website that has been around since 2003.  Here is how Craftster describes themselves: "Craftster is an online community where people share hip, off-beat, crafty diy (do it yourself) projects. The term "Craftster" means "crafty hipster" and is also meant to be an homage to the pioneer peer-to-peer sites Napster and Friendster.  Craftster is the largest online community for what is now commonly known as "indie crafts." ("Indie" stands for independent as in indie music, indie art, indie film, etc.) Craftster is regarded by many as one of the cornerstones of the recent renaissance in crafting known as the "indie craft movement."  Click HERE to go to Craftster's Online Store.  However this appears to be more of an informative website for handmade vendors than a shopping venue.  I do love the tutorials and suggested DIY projects for crafty wannabes like me (I'm thinking "Make It Myself Monday"!).

INDIEPUBLIC
A social networking site for indie ("independent") artists, vendors, bloggers, etc.  There is a marketplace link and tons of advertisements that can take you to indie vendor websites.  However Indie Public is more Facebook  style networking than a exclusive shopping venue.  Definitely worth checking out - and if you sign up, look up Gonna Want This-Handmade! 

I SHOP INDIE
I Shop Indie is an online consortium of indie designers, artists and vendors desiring to promote their shops and products.  The site seems pretty easily navigable, and will take interested buyers to the direct websites of the featured indie vendors. 

DON'T FORGET!

Click HERE to enter the Baby Peas & Bees "Baby in a Basket" Giveaway!  (Ends at 11:00 PM CST TONIGHT!)

Click HERE to enter the O2 Designs "Beaded Origami Earrings" Giveaway (Ends at 11:00 PM CST on 12/2/09)

Click HERE to enter the TToz Designs "Baby Loungewear Set" Giveaway (Ends at 11:00 PM CST on 12/3/09)