Guest Curator: Shop Local With Diane Vadino

dianevadino

Story by dianevadino

Published on Nov 25, 2009 in Shop

Photo by cristinapires

diane_tiny.jpgDiane Vadino is a novelist, blogger, and printmaker. She is only 62 credits from completing an undergraduate degree in conceptual art. Her novel, Smart Girls Like Me, was printed in one language and in one country but earned an A- from Entertainment Weekly, and her author’s edition of it, with handmade covers, is available in her Etsy shop. She writes frequently about shopping around the world for magazines including Budget Travel and NYLON — in which she named Etsy as the “E” in the A to Z best things about America. 

As a travel writer, I’m on the road almost constantly — I’m writing this column in a web cafe in Nepal, at the tail end of a seven-hour cross-country ride on a bus that bounced so hard the seats actually came loose. Bringing home unique, handmade pieces of art and design — and writing about them on my blog, Bunnyshop — are some of my favorite things about traveling, and I use Etsy’s Shop Local feature constantly — whether to find cool designers when I’m away from home, or when I’m back in New York, hoping to buy (or write about) unique work from far away. 

 

Bambina Vessels

I flipped when I saw these “Bambina vessels”— I love them, they’re so gorgeous and delicate — by New Zealand designer Zekiah Heath (who goes by Popkraft on Etsy) at a small ceramics shop near Auckland, while doing a piece on NZ for NYLON. $26.

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Rhino Pastel Ndebele

This rhino is so adorable — the perfect souvenir from Johannesburg. By giggletree, $25.

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Taira Polka Dot necklace D

I love everything at the Homako shop, but this polka-dot necklace might be my favorite. Weirdly enough, I found her when I was looking for pieces from Japan — she’s since moved to L.A., but I think they’re just as good an aesthetic fit with southern California. Love them, love them. $27.

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The Royal Tenenbaums poster

There’s no shortage of amazing printed work in London, but these film posters by Claudia Varosio are some of the best I’ve seen. I love how she’s able to distill each one down to a key image and the right colors and font. $16.90.

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Pure Noe Valley Honey – 16 oz, June 2009

I went to art school in San Francisco, so I know there’s an unbelievable number of incredible makers-of-things there — including all sorts of homemade foods and drinks. I love that these honeys were made right in the middle of the city, in Noe Valley. By PollenPrincesses, $19.99.

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Small Porcelain Container

Shop Local is also an awesome way to find vintage pieces from around the world without leaving home — like this Chinese box from Singapore, now available from The Orientalist’s shop. Most amazingly: free shipping to anywhere in the world! $50.

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Set of Pasta Bowls

I found these plates when I was writing about Etsy for NYLON and really wanted to include a designer from Brooklyn, my hometown. I was crazy about these hand-painted (yet dishwasher safe — always a bonus, even if I will be 100 years old before I have a dishwasher) plates from Michelle Antonisse. $65.

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Grace Backpack – Leather in Antique Brown and Brass

Ditto these pieces from Moxie and Oliver — I was looking for a designer based in the Northwest, and Seattle was the first city I searched. This is basically the most gorgeous leather bag I’ve ever seen — and completely handmade. $750.

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Reindeer, 7 x 8 Fine Art Print

I once had to do a story on independent designers in Los Angeles and somehow came across this amazing photo of a reindeer (which I thought was a moose for basically forever). Sharon Montrose has a collection of other awesome photos of real animals — including a goat, a sheep, and a pony. Ridiculously excellent. $25.

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WaXxe in Blushing Soft Pink – Luxurious Plush Leather Hobo

I’ve been looking for a shop based in Thailand — it’s my next stop after Nepal — and randomly it turned out that my sister, who co-writes Bunnyshop, featured ZhenUN, which just moved there, last week. My favorite is this soft pink bag with a hobo-ish shape. By zhenunleathers, $159.

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Handmade limited edition vintage 1960s fabric dress custom size

I’ve been working on a piece on street fashion in Stockholm, so I decided it was time to get some for myself. I love everything about this dress, which is made from 1960s vintage fabric. Plus: amazing print. Plus: adorable sleeves. Plus: pockets! By cristinapires, $150.

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Philadelphia’s ill

I’ve been scouring Etsy for something to get my sister, who lives in Philadelphia, for Christmas. This “ill” necklace from Sharif — based on the Phillies’ logo — is a definite finalist. It won’t heal a heart broken in game six of the World Series, but at least it’s something fun to wear come opening day in April. $20.

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