I'll admit I can be a little OCD sometimes. A few weeks back I saw a link from an old friend's MySpace page to a site where she was selling her art. She called it her "etsy gallery". Little did I know that in following that unassuming link I would begin a love affair... with a website.
According to the site itself etsy.com is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade. Oh, and they have a mission statement:
"Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade."
Brilliant! I can't even begin to describe how addicted to this site I am. So far I've scored four pieces of handmade wall art (I'm still deciding where to hang all of them!) Here's just a peak at what has inspired my obsession.
- My first purchase was from an artist named Leanne Graeff from my old stomping grounds in Bucks County, PA. The piece is called "The House Across the Street" and it's a lino print. I'd like to think that I was attracted to the piece because it reminds me of home but I also liked the creative use of color and the innocence of the depiction. Upon request, the artist will even create a custom print of your own house from a submitted photo. What a great keepsake!
- The second one is entitled "La mer" and is a print by the French artist, labokoff. She's a Parisian photographer who uses a technique called "through the viewfinder" where a digital photo is taken through the lens of another camera. I was drawn to this piece because of the serenity it evokes with its depiction of a handful of small white sails dotting the azure horizon.
- The third is a watercolor by a Spanish artist, uluka. It's a sweet, nostalgic piece that depicts a tufted green Victorian-style sofa. It's appropriately entitled "vintage sofa" and I was attracted to it because of the curvaceous lines and the sofa and the elegantly simple nature of piece.
- The last was something altogether different but absolutely stunning. It's a hand-sewn tribute to Hans Wenger's Wishbone Chair. The artist, Natalie, is an art teacher from the twin cities area of Minnesota. I thought it was so simple and yet unexpected... I just had to have it.
No doubt I'll continue to find many more irresistible objets d'art on this delectable site so stay tuned. In the meantime, don't waste any time in checking it out for yourself. Who knows? You might just discover the next Picasso... or perhaps your own newest obsession.
I like the art work. Especially "The House Across the Street". It has a simple (but nice) feel to it.
Cheers,
p.s. Your "Floored" post would be a great addition to the before and after we run each weekend.
Posted by: Ethan@OneProjectCloser | April 22, 2008 at 09:14 AM
No way! I am OBSESSED with Etsy! It's incredibly dangerous...I can browse it for hours. I've been buying pretty much all my jewelry there for the past year or so and just bought my first piece of original art work (which if we ever get around to hanging it will be the second thing we've managed to put on our walls)a few weeks ago. It's a custom metal painting by EarthArt
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7768560
Posted by: Cheryl | April 22, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Stumbled across your blog in my search for "green subway tile." I love your kitchen remodel! It is almost exactly what I have in mind for our own. You should post some recent photos. (Hint, hint.)
Also, love the lino. It would be fun to have one done of my house once our renovation is complete!
Oh -- my husband is from Bucks County, too. I have spent many holidays back in Langhorne!
Good luck on your renovation...
Posted by: Amy | July 10, 2008 at 01:43 PM
ha. this blog is so deliciously Sacha... I find it really amusing that I can almost hear your voice narrating the posts as I read. Congrats on the wedding. Blessings to you both!
Posted by: Curt | October 09, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Cool! I like the protrait of the house! I might get one done for mine. Great post.
Posted by: TWB | November 16, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Cool! I like the protrait of the house! I might get one done for mine. Great post.
Posted by: TWB | November 16, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Would you consider publishing an article about home foundation repair written by an expert in the field. It wouldn't be a sales pitch, it would be informative and nothing else. I have a feeling that you get a lot of these requests, but please consider it.
Thanks,
Vedran
Posted by: Vedo | May 12, 2009 at 03:42 PM
It's perfect that people are able to get the mortgage loans and this opens up new opportunities.
Posted by: OconnorKrista32 | March 11, 2010 at 08:20 AM