Etsy's Handmade Blog
Buying Handmade for Twins
Story by tinaseamonster
Published on July 22, 2008 in Spotlight 		Photo by tinaseamonster

Finding out that you are carrying twins can be one of life's biggest shocks. I remember watching my husband nearly fall down when those two little beans appeared on the murky sonogram screen. It was the one moment in my life when the fear and joy were completely overwhelming. Once the shock passed, I decided very quickly that I would not be an old school twin parent. No rhyming names and definitely no identical matching outfits. Many modern parents of twins are choosing this path for their little clones, picking complete individuality over symmetry. When Rachel and Anya were born, we silently cringed every time we opened gifts of matching pink dresses. We are determined to make our kids feel as special as possible, while still acknowledging the fact that they are identical twins.

With my girls approaching three years old, I have found that I am more comfortable raising them this way, but it is often hard to make sure everything is completely fair. How do I make sure things are equal, but not identical? If one kid is wearing an awesome handmade dress one day, the other one has to have something comparable. If one kid gets a rad stuffed eye ball (like the ones in the photo above, made by Spooky Daddy), the other kid better get one, too! But they better be different enough so that they don't get mixed up!

That's why buying handmade for twins is ideal. It is likely that you will not find any two identical items in most Etsy shops, but you WILL find items similar enough to keep everyone happy! Below, I've picked some awesome matching, but not identical items for young twins.


In my house, if one kid gets a cute critter shirt from Circles and Squares, there better be an even cuter one in the envelope.


This Giant Custom Ball Set by Handmade Pretties is perfect because the items are personalized, so I will never hear, "That is mine!"


Being a twin means that you will always have a playmate. So handmade items that allow my kids to tell each other stories are really rad. We love these hand puppets from shabbypinecottage.


Sets of plush are also fun and affordable. The girls really like this set of pink Glum Ninja Twins by plushplex.


For special events when I know people will expect us to dress the girls alike, I buy outfits that are similar, but not identical. This way I don't get the "Why don't you dress them alike?" question all day. Sometimes to do this, I will buy a dress in a size larger so that it is longer. We did this with two dresses from Courtney Courtney earlier this year. Since her dresses are made from recycled t-shirts, you will never find two that are alike!


The girls love to see twins depicted in our house, so I collect things like this awesome twin cat necklace by Sara Hogren.


And Anya has her eye on this awesome print by artandghosts.


And to make my kids feel incredibly special, I always check out PerfectChildren for a one of a kind friend. We just picked up Nebula for one of our girls and the other one is checking the shop weekly to find someone that she loves enough to adopt.

Buying handmade for your twins can help them feel less like clones and that is awesome! No one will ever have to wear an "I'm the Evil Twin" t-shirt again!

Tina Seamonster blogs her life and craft at www.ilikeseamonsters.com.

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Tags children, Handmade Kids, shopping, tinaseamonster, twins
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32 comments     Login to add your own!

July 22, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. LittlePies

Tina... you rock.
And you have adorable twins.... and awesome finds.

July 22, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. neverenoughhours

Great article and great finds. I have identical twin girls too and we too try to find them things that are different, but kind of matching.

July 22, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. tinaseamonster

neverenoughhours! your shop is so colorful and cute!

July 22, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. Junienone

Great finds - I LOVE courtneycourtney!

July 22, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. etsyBABY

♥

July 22, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. TwinMommy

Such a nice read! As a mother of 3 1/2 year old twin boys I love watching thier little individual personalities emerge as they are getting old enough to pick out thier own favorite handmade things!

July 22, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. RaeGun

super fun article. It does seem like more and more multiples are around these days I love your picks.

July 22, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. sweetestpea

Tina - great picks! And, I second LittlePies... Rachel and Anya are adorable. How wonderful that you are so careful to be equal but not identical. :)

The finds are also great for parents with more than one child even if they aren't twins!

July 22, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. pogoshop

What precious pictures! You're so right, Tina. Etsy is the perfect place to shop for children. Where else could you find all these unique & adorable items?

July 22, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. tinaseamonster

oh, pogoshop! we just went to your shop and my girls are arguing about which guy they will get!

July 22, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. SalmonStreetStudio

Tina, you and your family seem really cool and down to earth. Love the idea of the collection of interesting, different depictions of twins... (only 1 kid here but still...)
So much Etsy, so little time...

July 22, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. spookydaddy

wow such awesome stuffed eyes! hehe
i'm glad the girls still love em!!
thanks for featuring me! :-D

July 22, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. tinaseamonster

SalmonStreetStudio has a great procupine shirt! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

July 22, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. angelasheartwork

This was an awesome article! No twins in the family, yet... but I keep praying! LOL

July 22, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. HarmonyWear

I love this article, so many great finds! Love the eyeball ball, the ninja twins, the critter shirts....

July 22, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. lizroca

As a mom of twins, I appreciated this article, especially the separate-but-equal theme. It's so hard sometimes!

July 22, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. westbyron

I secretly hoped for twins myself :) I love making special jewelry for moms of twins.

July 22, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. cheekychicas

Tina, you rock! Thanks for picking my apple and pear skirt as a related item to your article. :)

July 22, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. mamaziel

awww TINA! yay! I've missed you.

July 22, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. DuplicateDaughters

When we were younger, our mother dressed us in our own colors, even though the outfits were the same. I enjoy looking back at the photos and seeing us dressed alike. I think it's a ridiculous thing to do when your children aren't twins, but as an identical twin myself we enjoyed it. To this day, we'll walk out of our rooms and we'll have put something similar on.

As for the whole making sure things are even thing, that goes away when twins get older. It starts getting annoying when relatives won't buy your sister something because they can't find something for you...or they get you the same thing because they still think you both collect the same thing.

July 22, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. tinaseamonster

nice to hear your experiences DuplicateDaughters! Funny that you still will put something similar on! Sometimes I worry that I am "breaking" the twin bond a bit by "forcing" them to be different. But really from the minute they were born, they were so so different, the fact that they are twins sometimes surprises me. Will be interested to see if they end up more similar as adults or perhaps more different.

Also interested to know if my push for difference makes their relationship different.

I do know that I can't stand to see them alike, it totally stresses me out and feels false, so I guess I only have a little more time to be in charge of it, so I better take it!

Being a parent of twins is a constant adventure (as is being a parent of anyone, really!).

July 22, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. thegracefullily

a variety of finds!
great ideas for twins- thanks!!!

July 22, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. BundleBaby

what beautiful twins! I would say that you are blessed beyond measure. :)

July 22, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. jellibat

i have a niece and nephew who are twins (3 and a half
they both have completely different personalities as most twins do

they love to have similar/ same things as well as thier own unique different things.

and yes its usefull for all kids if they are close in age even if they arent twins.

July 23, 2008 at 1:04 a.m. SisterToSister

Totally understand! My identical twin girls will be 3 next month! :)

July 23, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. PillowMonsters

They are SOOOOOOOO cute.

July 23, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. YuraPockylover

Adorable twins! I hate being dressed same as my identical twin because we often got mixed up so I guess you are doing the right thing for your twins ^^ Dressing alike but not identical is sweet ^^

July 23, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. DandielionsDream

Hi Tina,
My growing up an identical triplet expierence is similar to DuplicateDaughters.Same outfits etc.. My mom made our clothes. I am now 43. My sisters and I never thought we looked like each other, even when we were dressed alike. When we weren't dressed a like I still would be asked: Which one are you? For me it is nature verses nuture. We really did have a lot of similar likes and dislikes.
I have identical twins myself. There personalities were different right from the start with some similarities. We use to call them the opposite twins. I was happy to dress them in the same outfits different colors which were given to us by their grandma. I could go on & on...Enjoy them they grow so fast! My twins will be 12 soon Yikes!

July 23, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. DandielionsDream

Hey funny Twin Posts!

Aug. 12, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. jodieflowers

What a cute article! I make things for twins too! Peace and Etsy love!

April 24, 2009 at 10:15 p.m. TIPS4TOTS

Hi Tina,
Your girls are adorable! I love how you show their individuality! I always wanted twins, but God had other plans. Seeing your Precious girls, makes me wish my three girls were little again. All grown up and Mommy really misses this stage. God Bless and enjoy them, they grow up way to fast!

God Bless,
Cathy/Tips4tots

April 25, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. CurlyGirlCrafts

Tina,

Rest assure your daughters will be individuals and find their own paths in thier lives. As a twin I have always thought of myself as an individual but extremely fortunate to have a twin sister that I share so much in common with. I am blessed to have someone who knows and understands me as well as she does. I will say we do often show up at a place wearing earily similar outfits without planning it ahead of time.

Tracy aka curly girl

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