What do you like?

Do you buy handmade items? Do you have a preference for them?

If so, what do you look for when buying handmade? Do you want things that have been locally harvested and woven or remind you of childhood? Do you look for clothing or more artistic things?

If not, what turns you off about handmade items? Do you think it's cheap if it doesn't have a brand name label? Is it too personal for you?

I'd love to hear your responses.

100% cotton dish cloths

I've recently added the 100% cotton dish cloths to my Etsy store. They're crocheted in a way that will give you a little extra scrubbing power, while soft enough to keep from scratching your stove top and counters.

I'll be adding some "Swiffer" alternative pads this week and a larger selection of dish cloths, so be sure to check back in.

There are hundreds of other ideas running around in my head, such as bath scrunchies and reusable grocery bags. Let me know if you're looking for something in particular and I'll see what I can come up with!

Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goods

You may have noticed that I was absent from my blogs for a few days. (If not, I still love you anyway!) I took a break last week to get my Etsy store up and going. It's called La Vida Dulce and there is a box on the right hand side of the screen where you can preview my current offerings.


I discovered Etsy completely by accident. I've had an e-Bay Store for years and was searching for another selling venue, when I happened upon Etsy. They're very similar as to how listings are posted, although their fees are substantially different and Etsy is oriented almost entirely toward handmade items and support for those crafty people.


Etsy is also a "Buy-It-Now" community. There is no auction and waiting period. If you want it, you buy it. There is the familiar feedback and store set up, but the listings all look very similar. There apparently is no use of HTML, which keeps the listings from being overly gaudy or sensational.


Of course, I'll still have my e-Bay store, as I sell books there. Did I tell you that I'm a book worm from way back? It's true. And I love to learn! When I was piecing together my sons' curriculum for homeschool this year I went so far overboard I almost touched the bottom of the ocean! Embarrassing but true. Hence the textbook selection. I would never need all of those books on hand and I'm not planning on starting a library anytime soon, so off to e-Bay we went!


I will be selling a variety of items on Etsy, made in between projects for the Prayer Shawl Ministry. The first of which is listed now - a Pink and Black boucle shrug. Perfect for spring!





Thanks to my lovely friend, Lauren, for being my model!

Coming soon:

Cotton household goods - wash or dish cloths, reusable dusting cloths for floor and above!