by Julie Uyeno-Pidot

Created on: January 28, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

Etsy is a terrific shopping site that features handmade goodies from artisans all over the world. Both more personal and aesthetically pleasing than eBay, the site has experienced tremendous growth since its inception in June of 2005. In fact, Etsy has expanded so much in the past year and half that its creators were forced to implement a second version of the site, which premiered a few months ago. Now shoppers can browse by color, geographical location, and when the item was listed, amongst other choices. However, for the first-time visitor, the huge array of goods can seem overwhelming. Here are some of the best sites, broken down by category, for you to start with:

1. A Little Something for the Ladies
Florspace (http://florspace.etsy.com) features a collection of adorable purses, clutches, and minis (small zippered pouches that have room enough for just the essentials: keys, cash, credit card, driver's license, and lip balm). Each piece is lovingly handmade by the ultra-friendly proprietress, who has an excellent eye for pretty fabrics and sweet embellishments.

2. And Let's Not Forget the Guys
The delightfully snarky folks at Tiny Meat (http://tinymeat.etsy.com) create stylish accessories for guys (and girls, too, but there's definitely a masculine feel to many of their products) of all ages. Their wallets, iPod cases, and passport holders are made from durable clear vinyl stitched over cool (and often hilarious) vintage-inspired graphics, some of which are collaborations with other artists.

3. Decorating the DIY Home
Supastarr (http://supastarr.etsy.com) is a hip screen printing shop which specializes in using clean, simple, yet unusual graphics to adorn everyday objects, such as pillows, placemats, and table runners. Their designs manage to walk the fine line between trendy and classic, making them perfect for any homeowner (or renter) with a sense of humor.

4. Keeping in Touch the Old School Way
In these high-tech times, handwritten correspondence may seem like a thing of the past. But who wouldn't want to get a piece of mail that isn't a bill? The owner-operator of the aptly named Beautiful Project (http://thebeautifulproject.etsy.com) understands this and thus has created a line of greeting cards and stationery that's as funny as it is gorgeous.

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