Etsy Leader, Author at Etsy Manchester

Christmas Markets Around Manchester 2022

Thanks to our teamie Sea, from Corrine Creations, we now have a searchable list of markets featuring our fellow EtsyMCR members

As we are unable to run our successful annual festive event at People’s HIstory Museum this year, we are promoting individual markets that our teamies are involved in. Check out our list here: EtsyMCR Members Markets 2022

Featured Maker: Diane Chester

This week’s featured maker is ‘doodle artist‘ Diane Chester from Hey Yeti.

Hey Yeti, which is best known for BIG cards, illustrations and prints which are all illustrated and designed by Diane Chester, a native of Salford. She is so passionate about the environment and her products are all sustainably sourced and recyclable. After spending many years working in an office in Manchester as an insurance underwriter, a few years back Diane made a giant leap from the corporate world to being self-employed to pursue her passion of drawing, painting and making things. The biggest hurdle was self-belief.

“I am passionate about what I do,’ she says, ‘but working by myself and having confidence in the decisions I make, marketing and all the ‘are my products good enough’ moments were a huge learning curve for me with plenty of ‘I’ve got this’ chanting and endless Pinterest quotes pinned to my mood board!”
Diane Chester

Her designs have evolved for sure … getting to know what appeals to her customers and not being afraid of trying new designs or being upset or too hard on herself when things don’t go so right. Diane likes the idea of her customers being pleased with their purchase and the recipients of her cards feeling that have received something unique and special that can’t be purchased off the shelf in a supermarket …. or more special to receive then a Facebook post. After all a social media post can’t be displayed or kept in a box of treasured memories.

You can see more of Diane’s work or order one of her bespoke designs from her Etsy shop Hey Yeti

Featured Makers: Helen Gazard

Here at Etsy Manchester, we want to celebrate the creativity, passion and individuality of our makers and encourage the public to recognise and support genuine, local makers and their diverse businesses.

In Part 2 of our new series of featured makers, we’re focusing on Helen Gazard from Sparrow Road Handmade.

Sparrow Road Handmade

Helen runs Sparrow Road Handmade from her home in Salford, and makes a range of reusable eco-friendly products. Her interest in reusable products began just after her first son was born. Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of waste generated by one baby, she decided to give cloth nappies a go and fell in love with reusable products. With an existing passion for sewing and a varied fabric stash she decided to set up her shop selling reusable baby wipes, and now sells a range including nursing pads, cutlery pouches, kitchen towels and more! The aim of Sparrow Road is to make it easy and fun to all do our bit to look after our planet.

Check out Helen’s Etsy shop
www.sparrowroadhandmade.etsy.com

Featured Maker: Milla Tolonen

Here at Etsy Manchester, we want to celebrate the creativity, passion and individuality of our makers and encourage the public to recognise and support genuine, local makers and their diverse businesses.

Our first featured maker in this series is Milla Tolonen and her business Milla-Time.

Milla-Time

In her own words, she describes Milla-Time as, “Milla-Time is a collection of handmade, colourful and quirky home and fashion accessories with a retro twist. Basically all things that I like and I hope that others will too. I’m heavily inspired by vintage, 80s being my favourite era, and my Nordic roots”

If you love colourful and fun then check out Milla’s shop www.etsy.com/shop/MillaTimeX

or follow her on Facebook @Milla-time and on Instagram @Milla-Time

#etsymcr #whybuyboring #etsymcrmakers #supportlocal

^{added by Kat Pearson 5th July 2021}

Etsy Manchester’s Christmas Market Goes Virtual for 2020!

This Christmas, spend some time with the EtsyMCR Team and get to know us all a bit better, whilst getting your festive shopping fix from the comfort of your sofa!

On Saturday 27th November you can shop from loads of lovely makers taking part in our Online Christmas Market. Most of the action will be on our Facebook page, but you can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter to see what we’re getting up to!

You can also get a head start on your Christmas shopping (or making your own Wishlist!) by taking a peek right now at our EtsyMCR Makers Directory.

If you’re an EtsyMCR Maker and you want to get involved, all the information is up in our Members Group on Facebook. You’ve got until this Sunday 15th November to apply so get your skates on! If you’re not already a member of the Team, you can apply to join us – you just need to be a Greater Manchester-based Etsy seller.

Luxe Christmas Gifts

Baiba Auria of Egoiste Gallery chooses her favourite luxury Christmas gifts to help you really spoil your loved ones!

I am Baiba Auria, and I am a portrait artist and an independent gallery co-owner, where me and my team look after a family of 17 artists practicing all kinds of art forms – from felting and sculpture to drawing and fine art. We are very active on Etsy alongside our own website and it has brought us many clients who have become regulars. Through the Etsy Manchester team I have gotten to know many incredibly talented makers and it is my pleasure to curate this years luxury gift list.

So here goes:

An elegant silk hair tie for your or a loved ones winter wedding. It can be customised too, making it a very precious keepsake. Available from Six Stories.

Complementing the above, you can’t go wrong choosing this delicate and beautifully balanced piece by SaskiasSassyStore. Beautiful gemstones and silver – great for any age. Unleash your inner mermaid 🙂

A keepsake should be irreplaceable and personal and this modern nod to Victoriana certainly delivers – real pressed flowers in a glass frame, small enough to display anywhere. Created by Flora and Fauna by Kitty.

These you might want to gift just so you can “share”… Award winning handmade Christmas chocolate selection, just beautifully crafted by Eponine Chocolate.

Ceramics make such a beautiful and useful gift and Nicola Briggs Ceramics have caught my attention – beautifully gentle pastel blues with a contrasting platinum rim this bowl is a stunning achievement. She also makes ceramic art and jewellery.

Onto my specialist subject now – art (mind you, you might say chocolate is also one :)). House Under The Moon print by Moonlit Press is a fantastic addition to a modern interior, gold and grey are highly complementary colours and the subject is both sweet and beautifully eerie.

Last but not least, a gift for that someone who has EVERYTHING – a Limited Edition from our Egoiste Gallery “Pink Punk” Marilyn by the internationally recognised Pure Evil. His trademark black teardrop has made it across the world.

Hope you enjoyed this selection and have a fabulous Christmas!
Baiba.

Christmas Gifts for the Gals

Let’s take a peek at Doodlesworth’s top picks of Christmas gifts for the girls in your life!

Hello, I’m Helen and my shop is Doodlesworth. I make illustrated cards, prints, badges and tote bags. I like to draw things to make myself laugh, I’m a bit of a geek and I love cats, which is all reflected in my work.

This list is titled Gifts for Gals, but a lot of my choices aren’t exclusively for women; they are just things that I like, and a good excuse to show off some of the brilliant things you can buy from Etsy Manchester members.

**CeruleanWitch** has a lot of great gifts for any witchy ladies. This Cthulhu Bubble Bath/Shower Gel potion bubble bath is my favourite, as it has been decorated with a deep sea monster. I also love that it’s made from 100 percent natural essential oils, natural colourings, and Natural Organic Castile soap.

**Flyttamouse** has lots of lovely wooden brooches, pendants and signs. This Fly Agaric Toadstool Wooden Brooch was my favourite. The detail is burned in with a pyrography machine, with hand painted colour.

**SparrowRoadHandmade** has lots of eco-friendly reusable gifts. The skull pattern is my favourite for these reusable Bamboo Make Up Remover Pads, but they have lots of other great designs to suit all tastes.

**Emily Lisbeth Jewellery** has lots of elegant silver jewellery to suit all price ranges. I’ve chosen these silver snowflake studs as they are nice and Christmassy.

**The Magpie’s Daughter** also has lots of unique jewellery with a vintage and antique feel, including these golden hoop drop earrings with deep red gem stones. Her product photos are so lovely too!

**Norseman Furniture** have a lot of very innovative designs, like this copper pipe wine glass caddy, you can carry a wine (or prosecco!) bottle and two glasses easily at once with one hand, which is handy for anyone like me who struggles with carrying a few things at once! It also looks great on display too.

It’s always good to get a really nice calendar for Xmas, and this A3 one from **JivePrints** is great for design lovers with their bright colours and bold shapes.

For art lovers **LocalHotelParking** has lots of unique, quite surreal and often funny hand cut collage art prints, including this ladies meeting called ‘The Announcement’.

Finally, pop over to my shop **Doodlesworth** for this cat tote bag which could make a good gift for any cat ladies out there!

Honestly, I could carry on much longer, there are so many talented makers out there in Manchester. Next time you are on Etsy, why not search for etsymcr? You won’t be disappointed!

Christmas Gifts – Stocking Stuffers

EtsyMCR teamie Lindy shares some of her favourite Stocking Stuffer ideas!

Hi, I’m Lindy, the potter behind Black Dog Pottery. I love to play with clay and my studio is in South Manchester. ‘Tis the season for giving and choosing that perfect gift for those stockings hung with care – I’ve chosen a few of my favourites!

Etsy is the perfect place to find handmade stocking stuffers. These fun and quirky gifts are a few of the things you can find on Etsy. Our Etsy Manchester crew have some truly amazing pieces.

Vegan is the new black, and a badge to let Nana know you’re off the turkey might be what you’re looking for. £1.50, Doodlesworth

The festive season is a time to have a tipple or three and these funky coasters are the perfect combination of retro kitsch. £10.00, Kitsch Republic

Nicer than what you’ll get in your Christmas cracker- this cute little cloud key ring is sure to brighten your day. £8.00, The Moonlit Press

A different twist on the Christmas satsuma – these orange earrings will surely be a talking point during lunch! £10.00, YellowThreadd

It is candle season and one of my match strikers makes a perfect gift when paired with a candle. These hand-poured vegan candles smell divine – pop one in the stocking and enjoy! The spiced apple candle will surely put you in the festive mood. £14.00, The Wilton Street Craft Co.

This gorgeous necklace will bring of bit of celestial intervention – might just be needed with all the family around! £14.00, SaskiasSassyStore

Christmas Gifts for the Guys

Need help finding the perfect Christmas present for the fellas in your life? Read on for some top gift inspo!

Curated by Christmas enthusiast and concrete homeware maker, Akaibi from PinkVine, here’s 10 awesome gift ideas for the men on your Christmas shopping list…

We’re all doing our best to cut down on single use items, so why not gift this functional and totally badass tote, that will surely never be forgotten!? The high quality surrealist print on this bag is from an original hand cut collage by **LocalHotelParking** and is also available as a print, if the man in your life would rather keep their art on the walls.

Perfect for the style-conscious bohemian is this grounding and strengthening necklace with texture for days! If your man prefers a little more colour, **Bohemian Drifters** has you covered with gorgeous natural beaded necklaces in shades of grey, turquoise and even wood.

For that one man on your list who’s out by the side of a lake more than he’s at home, bring some of that passion indoors. This embellished giclée print is from an original Jan Vallance painting and comes ready to display. If you love the style but fishing isn’t the vibe, **The Art Boat** has plenty of other outdoor scenes and animals to choose from.

Just because it’s Christmas, doesn’t mean you need to run for the staple box-sets from a chain store. These gorgeous soap bars will keep your main man smelling gorgeous, with tropical fruit notes that will wash away any negativity and get him ready to take on the day. Want even more positive vibes? **The Crystal Soapery** also offer soap bars containing real crystals for an extra keepsake.

Shopping for someone you love to Facetime? Or perhaps someone who is always cooking the latest recipe they found online? This modern yet charming phone stand by **Norseman Furniture** could be the perfect gift to remedy all those awkward attempts at balancing their handset. Top tip: They also sell one for tablets!

Do you know someone who deserves something truly one of a kind? These seaglass cufflinks look so different in all lights and will catch people’s eyes on every outing but will never be truly replicated. If you’re shopping for someone who’d like something more pared back, check out some of the silver cufflinks in **Emily Lisbeth**’s store.

Drawing out the beauty in the mundane is this sparse black and white print from **Helena Lee Studios**. This one is perfect for the man who is proud of where he comes from but won’t be found blaring Oasis out on the daily! If you’re buying for more of a country mouse, check out the range of botanical prints instead.

Perfect for a new freelancer or the guy whose desk is eternally cluttered, this set has a handy tray along with three clips perfect for photos, to-do lists or expenses receipts. If he’s got that covered, check out **PinkVine**’s coaster sets, perfect for G&Ts, beers and brews.

What’s better than a brand new leather wallet that will age beautifully with you? This eye-catching and clean lined red leather wallet by **Blind Leather** has a beautifully simple and yet thought out design. You can also choose between yellow and black thread to suit the recipient’s style. Red not his colour? Blind Leather has a great range of shades (and styles) in their shop from pale tans, through to rich greens.

For the ideas man who loves to jot things down, this felt –covered notebook comes with two handmade notebook inserts with varying papers for all kinds of concepts – and comes with a pencil too. If they’re more of a digital guy, why not go for a **Jonesy Inc.** hand stitched scarf instead?

Etsy Made Local 2019

Read on to find out more about Etsy Manchester’s FOURTH Etsy Made Local weekend, returning to the fantastic People’s History Museum…

EtsyMCR are so excited to launch Etsy Made Local: Manchester 2019!

Over one amazing weekend, you’ll be able to browse over forty stalls of handmade goodness at People’s History Museum this November.

Get your Christmas shopping done in one go, and support local small businesses by buying handmade.

To keep up to date with the event and find out about the amazing EtsyMCR Makers we’ve got on board for the weekend, start by popping over to our Facebook page and letting us know you’re coming! We’ll post regular updates on there so you can start working on your Christmas shopping list.