okay, i am an etsy junkie. i’ve actually started getting all of my gifts from etsy, whether it be vintage or handmade. i buy handmade and vintage for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is to promote smaller businesses and stop putting money in the hands of large corporations. oh, you saw me at target last week? target doesn’t count, yo. that would be like saying i’ve decided to stop breathing air, okay? anyway, i buy handmade and vintage to help my etsy friends, and to further my eco-conscious practices. vintage clothing means no new resources were wasted in the making of the product, and i like that. and vintage stuff is cu-ute! i mean, have you SEEN gemma bird and miss james from bleubird vintage???? yeah, vintage stuff is amazing, especially great retro clothes (i know what you’re thinking, james is about the most beautiful woman alive, and gemma is so cute she could be a gap baby model. but vintage isn’t just for the stunningly gorgeous and thin. i wear it, so that just proves my point).

so i’ve gotten quite a few requests for my favorite etsy stores, and i’m going to give you some of that list today. i’ve had nothing but great experiences with EVERY seller i’ve ever dealt with on etsy, but i only have so much time to write. in fact, ezra is losing his mind as i type this, probably because i’m sitting eight feet away form him and papa is holding him, not me. now, i’m nursing ezra on my lap while typing up this post. good thing i love this little man more than my own life. i’ve decided to make this a weekly thing, so next monday, i’ll feature more of my favorite stores (don’t hold me to that, i’m known to be flaky with my blog).

1. yoginix – heart to heart, useful art

these magnets are so cute! and they’re so well-made, with a lot of care going into the construction. becky, the owner, has lots of different sets of themed magnets. she’s got the cutest set with owls on them, and she even has a set of “dexter” magnets! um, that kicks ace! not only does her store have adorable magnets, but she also carries other cute knick-knacks for the home. becky is such a kind soul, and she loves making these for people to adore. she surprised me with a set that had pictures of the boys on them, and it made me cry. she has such a good heart, and that’s why i patronize her store. i’d buy dirt from her if she sold it.

2. Rosemary’s Cuppa

this is my dear friend abra’s store. i found abra through her blog, got to know her better through IG, and now i think that she might be the most adorable human on earth. she has two beautiful daughters, and i swoon over them on a daily basis. please go read her blog, better than cupcakes, because it is oh-so-wonderful. anyway, she makes beautiful skirts for little girls that will make you want to either a.) be five again, or b.) have a little girl if you don’t already. she’s so kind, and so very well-spoken, and she’s also got great style. her two girls have some stellar style as well, no doubt handed down from their wonderful mama. not only does she have skirts for sweet little ladies, she has vintage duds for us older little ladies (that makes us sound older, not younger, and shorter, so remind me not to use that phrase again).

3. ilivetocreate jewelry and cards

okay, so this jewelry? you’re going to want all of it. literally. Michelle has adorable cards, too. but i’m partial to her sweet vintage necklaces. she has a pair of aqua filigree earrings in the store right now that are calling.my.name. i met this sweet lady on instagram, and she is just about as sweet as they come. once i saw her jewelry, i was just blown away. sweet as pie AND amazingly creative and crafty? she’s like a unicorn disguised as a person. michelle is one of those people you want to call your friend.

4. city light photography

diana, the owner of city light, also has an amazing blog, our city lights, which you need to check out. in her store, you’ll find notecards and postcards adorned with the beautiful pictures she takes. and when i say they’re beautiful, i mean it. they have this vintage feel to them (think i like vintage or something?), and they also always have a unique perspective. i love how they all kind of have a mellow vibe to them. oh, and diana has the coolest glasses i’ve ever seen. her husband writes for mcsweeney’s, too (never read it? you are soooo missing out).

5. nan lawson illustration

nan lawson draws the most amazing pictures i’ve ever seen. she draws people and things, and they’re always quirky and whimsical. i’ve been eyeing this picture she has of richie and margot from “the royal tennenbaums” for months, and i don’t think i can wait any longer: i’m totally buying it. she has another one called springtime girl that i adore, and one called hipster kiss that is too adorable for words. i could go on and on about how many great illustrations she has for sale, but you truly need to see nan’s art for yourself. but don’t blame me when you buy 14 different prints because they’re so amazing. for more information, go to nanlawson dot com.

alright, i made it through a whole post without having to stop, save it, and then just delete it because it took too long to get back to! victory is MINE! or at least it is tonight. go check out these etsy peeps, m’kay? they are way cooler than i’ll ever be, and they would love your business. and who doesn’t love a handmade gift? maybe paris hilton, but she’s a douche.