Shop Local this holiday season and support independent craftspeople. It's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint!   This post comes from Jezze of Cape Town, South Africa.

That's me, in the photo above, trying to look composed in a howling wind and late afternoon sun. The wind is something we don’t tell tourists about… I’m outside the old Bijou cinema, near my house in Observatory, Cape Town. The cinema lost its roof to a fire sometime in the 1970s, and now houses a blacksmith forge and studios. Some of the inside walls still leave soot on your clothes!

Etsy isn't very big in South Africa yet, but we are growing fast. Part of the reason we're still small is that relatively few people in South Africa have access to the internet — only something like 12% of the population, I read recently. Shipping costs from here can be high, and we can't use Paypal to receive money in South Africa. But all of these local Etsy sellers have managed to work around this, and have great products. We've also recently formed the Etsy South Africa Team to promote Etsy locally. Our Flickr page is here.

bellazoo: "Pietermaritzburg is often referred to as Sleepy Hollow, '...the place still continues under the sway of some witching power, that holds a spell over the minds of the good people, causing them to walk in a continual reverie. They are given to all kinds of marvelous beliefs; are subject to trances and visions, and frequently see strange sights, and hear music and voices in the air.' -The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving."

Christyannebestwick: "I love living in Durban because it is a city with so much character! It has such a mix of different cultures, arts and people and its diversity is what makes it so rich to me. My art is often influenced by my environment, and Durban offers beautiful areas to nurture one's creative soul. Some of my favourites are the beach, the Botanical Gardens, and walking along the road-side shops in my neighbourhood where I can browse through second hand books, antiques and local arts and crafts, and stop at delightful coffee shops and restaurants."

Dizzydezign: "This photo is taken from the cliff path in Hermanus, which is the best land-based whale watching spot in the world! Every year around about August, the whales come to calf right in the bay behind me. They stay until about January and are very easily spotted from the cliff path. It really is a wonderful sight and people come from all around the world to see these magnificent creatures. I love living in Hermanus because it has mountains, sea and beautiful fresh air!"

Ebbenflo: "A photo from a shoot we did of my clothes with me modeling down by the Liesbeek river which is very close to my house in Cape Town. I often walk my young hound there, and in spite of all the litter, the river and trees are really beautiful.  I like all the migratory birds that come to rest there. Some of them even mate there too so you get to see the babies grow up before they move on."

FreshlyFound: "I live in Gillitts, Durban in the province of KwaZuluNatal in South Africa. We live on a large flat topped mountain.  The sea is about 35 kms [22 miles] away and Gillitts is bordered by farm land and horse riding country. The long main road through our suburb is lined with London Plane Trees.  I so enjoy the different seasons with these trees – the Autumn leaves in our garden, the bare boned Winter branches, the exciting green signs of Spring and lush Summer thickness."

MayBeMe: "This photo was taken at Dalebrook Tidal Pool in Kalk Bay, Cape Town. The flat where I live is just across the road. Kalk Bay is well loved for its traditional fishing harbour (one of the smallest in the country), its antique stores, beachside restaurants and coffee shops. I am endlessly inspired by the humbly styled architecture, the rockpools, the railway line, the cobbled streets, the peeling paint... ah, Iove it!"

Whitewall: "The fascinating thing about Durban is the mix of cultures here. It is the home of the Zulu and also has the largest Indian population outside India. One often bumps into Zulu people from rural areas that have come to town to shop in the Indian trading area wearing their traditional clothes. Sometimes it is like taking an overseas trip half a mile away..."

Scootah: "I live in Kalk Bay, Cape Town. This winter I watched whales breech from my balcony and heard them calling to each other at night! Sometimes we see dolphins jumping across the bay as well as naval boats and submarines from the Simonstown navy. The thing I love best of all is floating in Dalebrook tidal pool and watching the waves break on the wall. I feel like I'm in the middle of the ocean, but safe. It's one of the loveliest place to be!!!"

SheepskinSlippers: "The photo was taken outside Olympia Café in Kalk Bay, Cape Town  — my favorite place for breakfast and just down the road and round the corner from where I live. I think the best thing about living in the south of Cape Town is that you don't get caught up in the hype of the town (if you can really call anything in Cape Town a hype). We also have the most amazing restaurants,  cafes and art galleries around the area. I think one of the hidden gems is the little tidal pools and beaches around the coast where you can sneak off for a quick dip..."

thewren: "This picture is of me on the beach in Fish Hoek, where I live. It is the most fantastic beach to go for a paddle, to walk the dogs or just take a stroll. The little secret is that the men in the boat in the background row out like they have for over 100 years and drop a net and pull it in (by hand!). During the summer they catch Yellowtail and you can buy fish from them and take it home for the most delicious braai (barbecue) ever!"

A huge thanks goes out to Jezze for sharing such talented Etsians with us!

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