 |
|
|
Story by
EternalSunshine
Published on November 26, 2008 in Spotlight |
Photo by |
Alicia Kachmar aka EternalSunshine is a freelance writer, crafter, baker and sometimes pool-hustler. She has lived in Brooklyn for four years and contributes to BrooklynBased.net. We invited her to highlight some handcrafty talent from the "County of Kings" in this installment of our Shop Local series.
"In Brooklyn, it was as though you were in your own little bubble. You were all part of one big, but very close family...." Although this was uttered many years ago by a pitcher for the Dodgers, I think it still rings true today for many Brooklynites, and definitely for those who consider themselves part of the local DIY scene. We inhabit a rapidly developing part of New York City, and while some are wary of the changes, the creativity and number of artists living and working in all parts of Brooklyn is downright impressive, inspiring and exhilarating.
LoucheLab - Ned and Aya in front of a Brooklyn mural at the corner of Bedford and North 3rd right by the best place for bagels in Williamsburg! (psst! Check out the Handmade Wedding video Etsy made with them. Their love story crossed international borders!)
katecusack - In the midst of her supplies.
Naokosstoop - Prospect Park, her "second workplace during summer."
sweetestpea (now zooguu) - Jen, far left in pic, watching election results in Red Hook with some other Etsy folks.
luckyduckletterpress - Patrick in his printing studio near the Gowanus Canal.
fernfiddlehead - Cathy in Prospect Park with her dog.
kateblack - In her old apartment in Williamsburg.
EpochBeads - Tracie with her crafting supplies stacked to the ceiling.
VigilanteLabs - Lianna working on her patterns in Brooklyn.
My Etsy shop was born 2 years ago right here in Brooklyn, and even though it's a virtual shopping experience, it isn't without a personal touch — many of my buyers tell me cute stories and inside jokes about their purchases. My favorite came from someone just a few neighborhoods over from me, truly a "Shop Local" story: she bought one of my smiling crochet s'mores for her 4-year old son, who was overjoyed at the sight of the plush and promptly named it "Fred." 
They took Fred out to the Promenade, a beautiful walkway in Brooklyn with a view of the Manhattan skyline, because he wanted "to show Fred the Empire State Building." Imagine this small child, facing the glistening lights of New York skyscrapers, holding up the soft s'more in his hands! When she told me this story, I felt so happy to be part of this "little bubble." Even though I will meet very few of my customers, we are "all part of one big, but very close family."
whimsyandspice - Jenna on the Promenade with Mark, the pastry chef part of their duo.
TeeShirtGnome - Ezra, at Fulton Ferry Park.
Please let Etsy's blog know about your favorite local Etsy artists. Pitch your town, state, country or region and let us know which sellers will fill their holiday-shopper-neighbors with glee (we're talking catalog-quality photos, 100% feedback, and top-notch items at a variety of price points); include a screenshot of your Poster Sketched picks and a link to a pretty photo of yourself in your neighborhood. Tell us why you love where you live and why these sellers are distinctive. We can't wait to hear from you!
Shop Local Posts | Gift Ideas | Shop Local in Your Area | {NewNew} York Team
| Tags | Brooklyn, Brooklynbased blog, EternalSunshine, holidays, New York, NY, Shop Local, Shopping |
|---|
66 comments Login to add your own!
yaelfran
oh my god, I love these series!!!!!!!
naokosstop, cute print!!!!!!
Wulandari
Woww woww love this articlee!! good to see some artists. everything in here are so niceee...!!
The Macbook envelope is so cool!
littleredbear
Ohhh another great great article!!
Love the MACBOOK ENVELOPE!!!
dogties
Lambert
BondGirl
myzoetrope
HomemadeZen
Arctida
lyncarey
ELIMATE
fernfiddlehead
nat1489
I live in Brooklyn too! Carroll Gardens Baby! I should have been in this article.
Oh well, still I encourage you to check out my shop:
shellieartist
Great job and all the photos are so wonderful to see. I love the one of the etsy group watching the election results!
whimsyandspice
Yay Brooklyn!
btw, please note that Mark isn't named in the caption, but he is indeed in the photo behind me. He is the baker.
springflowerchild
I'm orginally a manhattan, but I loved this story. Wish I could move to brooklyn. I've always heard that it's like living in a huge neighboorhood.
fauves
rkdsign88
kimmchi
christinececelia
Cute stuff! The little crochet clemintines are so sweet- I love them! ;)
littleloveblue
nice to see some of my fellow brooklynites!! yay brooklyn!
kingfishercrafts
miraartz
IcingOnTheCupcake
liliajewelry
xtinavox
littlesharkpress
very cool!!!! check us out - we're in Greenpoint, Brooklyn!!!
Sinta
Great article ^_^ I love the pics of crafters in their environment. Nice items too ^^
desirapesta
hey hey! I was in that photo with sweetest pea in red hook! I love my red hook and my etsy friend studiomates!
MichelleStudio
Nice article. We love Brooklyn, but don't forget to check out your neighbors in New Jersey.
JosiesBeadedJewelry
I lived in Park Slope from 2000 - 2002 (right across the street from the Old School House). It's great to see your pictures and the folks featured in your article. It brings back great memories of a truly unique area that is full of great artists! God bless and stay warm!
makepienotwar
reiter8
nfall2rt
1920
naokosstoop
knittingguru
I've been a Brooklynite for most of my adult life (Carroll Gardens/Red Hook). In addition to my adult store KnittingGuru, I also have a baby knitwear store BurryBabies. It's great to see how many of us live and work in this great borough.
obsidiankitten
I live in Glendale, Queens and this made me grin from ear to ear.
I think I would take Fred on the Staten Island Ferry.
raisinlike
I love this series!
Our Isreal Team would love to make such an article too, please contact me if you are interested! We have many wonderful artists.
Vanessa
Brooklyn represent! raisinlike, we have an Israeli post coming up soon!
CubistLiterature
sweetestpea
sakidesigns
EternalSunshine
obsidiankitten, your comment just made me grin from ear to ear! :)
sweetshorn
MattysDolls
ThePeachTree
Agh! this was fantastic!! I just may be able to pick some of you out of the crowded Brooklyn streets now :)
oldworldprimitives
So many fun new shops to check out in this post! I have a Brooklynite co-worker to thank for first turning me on to Etsy.
BeadsInTheBelfry
luckyduckletterpress
Wow! Great article and great selection! Thanks for including me!
aisle3studio
phydeaux
Yummmm. Whimsyandspice.... I love this series, may I have some more please?
SASessories
when you live in NY, you get tons of wonderful 'local' artists to choose from! i'd love to make a really long visit (or short move ;) there someyear!!!
softmelody
TeeShirtGnome
junkprints
trishacluck
can't forget resurface.etsy.com (a favorite of mine ) All of her items are Brooklyn born and named for areas and streets of BKLYN too ..
Great stuff there
greensprings0
HelloCrafty
LoucheLab
Brooklyn Rocks!!!
Really, it's my favorite place in the world and i'm proud to call it home.
vyphuisdesigns
jlaricheva
Hi Brooklyn peeps,
don't forget about Loup Scarves http://www.loupscarves.com and on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=...
Loup is in Williamsburg as well. You can find us online and at Brooklynski as well off Graham Ave.
Yulia
krisblues
So many talented people. I'm so glad to get to know you. Thank you for sharing.
handbags8
joannetracydesigns
Brooklyn's got a huge art community! Check out the newnew street team for lots more Brooklyn artists: http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/
pinkshowercurtain
Previous Page
Looking forward to it!
by thevicagirl
on Seller How-To: Get I...
Lovely post, filled with so many beautiful gift ideas!
by sewlola
on Etsy Finds: Wanderin...
Well done! Running your own business is so much more ...
by PreciousMeshes
on Quit Your Day Job: D...
as always, i've been introduced to all sorts of wonderful ...
by elizabethwrenvintage
on Etsy Finds: Wanderin...
LOVE the aqua nest, reminds me of coral.
by birdie1
on Etsy Finds: Wanderin...
cool picks. I really like the Dresser and the dish!
by nowonder
on Etsy Finds: Wanderin...
beautiful - inspiring! thanks michelle!!
by bylynnkrestel
on Etsy Finds: Wanderin...