On Etsy, there’s a person behind every incredible piece—all handmade, handpicked, and designed with you in mind.
It can be hard to sum up what makes shopping on Etsy so special, but if pressed, we like to think we could do it in two words: the people. The small business owners spread out in big studios and small home workshops all across the world, painstakingly pouring their creativity into the incredible pieces they create and curate, and sharing those pieces with the rest of us, their lucky buyers. You know them as the wildly talented Etsy seller community, but today we’re excited to introduce you to a few by name, and celebrate the human touches that make their meticulously thrown ceramics, expertly shaped glassware, and hand-formed jewelry (just to name a few!) so beautifully unique. Scroll on to meet Mary, Chad, Juliana, and more, and get ready to fall in love with their original finds—each handmade, handpicked, and designed for you.
Shaped by Mary
For Mary Lee, the ceramist behind Mammoth & Minnow, inspiration can crop up everywhere from nature to ancient mythology. Her spectacular designs—which include sculptural vases, speckled clay mugs, and more—are characterized by their natural tones and organic forms, and since each piece is shaped by Mary’s own hands, no two are exactly the same. “Each of them retains the unique touches and experiences that vary from piece to piece, capturing a specific time and place,” she says.
SHOP: Handmade ceramic vase from Mammoth & Minnow, $325
Crafted by Juliana
When jewelry designer Juliana Pache sits down to create a new pair of head-turning statement earrings, she’s setting out to realize something she already sees in her mind’s eye. “It’s so rewarding to be able to make the visions in my head come to life,” says the maker behind Pache Studio. “When I’m creating something, I feel both expansive and humbled.”
SHOP: Aquarian jug earrings from Pache Studio, $34
Vintage Handpicked by Jesus & Gabe
If you’re looking for color, pattern, texture, or print, you’re guaranteed to find it in the joyful collection of vintage and reworked gender-inclusive attire expertly curated by dynamite team Jesus and Gabe Herrera-Hanson of The Vintage Jesus. With a mission to carry forward precious Mexican handcraft traditions, the slow-fashion proponents pride themselves on helping style-savvy buyers connect with the one-of-a-kind designs destined to be theirs. “My favorite thing about our work is getting to know the customer,” says Jesus.
SHOP: Tiered sleeveless dress from The Vintage Jesus, $155
Handmade by Chad
“Keeping commerce human means making products that can only be made by hand,” says glassblowing artist Chad Davis. From his workshop, where he eschews the use of molds, Chad expertly forms the Catskill Glassworks collection of mixing glasses, bowls, and more, deftly turning molten liquid into stunning solid designs. “[It’s about] capturing a moment with my hands that can only be achieved through collaboration with the material, and responding to the needs of the medium in that moment,” he explains.
SHOP: Cocktail mixing glass from Catskill Glassworks, $85
Built by Kwadwo and Faith
For husband-and-wife team Kwadwo and Faith Som-Pimpong of Crafted Glory, building furniture is about more than just creating beautiful, functional designs—it’s also about sharing and celebrating their cultural heritage. “We call it Ghanaian and Scandinavian–inspired furniture because I love Scandinavian design and Ghana is where my family is from,” explains Kwadwo, whose hand-hewn tables and walnut benches have earned a loyal following. “I want people to know that Ghanian artistry is full of life.”
SHOP: Live edge end table from Crafted Glory, $1,500
Designed by Dejvi & Paulien
“The world is a better place if we all share our passions with as many people as possible,” says Paulien De Clercq, one half of the talented team behind digital wall art shop thirdfloorprints. For her and her boyfriend Dejvi Vandeveire, that means creating original, affordable prints bursting with color and bold typography that are designed for buyers to easily download, print out, and hang in their homes in a matter of minutes. “Our favorite thing about digital art is that it’s more accessible,” says Dejvi.
SHOP: Retro wall art print from thirdfloorprints, $9
Carved by Jieun
Anyone with a sentimental piece of jewelry can attest that sometimes it’s the smallest things that hold the biggest meanings—and no one knows this better than jewelry designer Jieun Reiner. “If you wear something every day, it really becomes a part of you in a way,” says the creative powerhouse behind Almanac for June. Jieun takes the responsibility seriously, and each of her hand-carved designs—from her popular poppy hair clip to her limited-edition tulip and snake earrings—is conceived and created with deep consideration. “I really care about craftsmanship,” she says.
SHOP: Tulip and snake dangle earrings from Almanac For June, $245
Vintage by Halima
Vintage pro Halima Garrett credits her "thrill of the thrift" to her grandmother, who owned a thrift shop that Halima would often visit as a kid growing up in the nineties. Today, Halima runs a similar shop of her own, Threads of Habit, where she sources vibrant vintage finds (many of which also originate from the nineties!) and reworks pre-loved pieces she knows have more life yet to live. “Keeping commerce human means that there's a story within the piece,” she says. “It means that these garments are at least in their second life.”
SHOP: '70s striped dress from Threads of Habit, $79
Stitched by Jessica
“My favorite thing about embroidery is being able to take an everyday item or garment and make it totally unique,” says Jessica Penley, owner of hand-embroidered clothing and accessories shop, Letter Party. Whether you’re in the market for a super-soft cashmere sweater stitched with a custom phrase or a sweet hair bow for your kiddo boasting their initials, Jessica’s line promises something truly special for everyone—including beginner-friendly DIY kits for those looking to flex their own creative muscles.
SHOP: Custom yarn embroidered sweatshirt from Letter Party, $75
Handmade by Wyeth
When it comes to effortlessly blending form and function, Whimsy By Wyeth ceramist Wyeth Milne is something of an expert. “I consider my pieces to be functional art,” she explains of her handcrafted collection of stoneware bowls, mugs, and more. “I want people to have a hard time deciding whether they want to eat from my work or display it. Ultimately, I hope that they choose to do both.”
SHOP: Handmade ceramic vase from Whimsy By Wyeth, $58
Built by Tiffany
It takes a special someone to walk past an active construction site, take in the discarded materials, and see a world brimming with beautiful potential—and that someone is furniture maker Tiffany Gomez of Gomez Design Studio. “Sustainability is at the very core of what I do,” says Tiffany, who crafts each of her custom pieces from salvaged wood plucked from the scrap pile. “Keeping commerce human means continuing to make my pieces by hand using materials personally sourced from my local community.”
SHOP: Reclaimed wood side table top from Gomez Design Studio, $800
In their own words
Click play to hear more from some of the real people behind the pieces you love most.
* Offer subject to change by sellers. See individual shops for terms and up-to-date pricing.
