Shop Cyberlocal At These Chicago Etsy Shops
By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 26, 2012 7:20PM
It's Cyber Monday, and while the big internet companies are raking in the dough, you can still buy local from small vendors and still give in to the urge to surf and spend. We combed through Etsy to collect some choice finds for Chicagophiles and crafters. If this list doesn't inspire you, Andersonville Galleria has a directory of Chicago shops. Have an Etsy shop? Add it in the comments. If you're the old-fashioned type and prefer to shop in person, check out Unwrap Chicago's guide to eating, drinking and buying local — even as local as staying in your own ward.
- Chi-Town Clothing offers t-shirts, many of which would be entertaining for Chicago sports fans. One features "Rose Before Hoes," and another lists White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson's "Hawkisms." Probably our favorite is the item pictured above playing on the famous Michael Jordan quote: "You always miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
- Chicago Candle makes hand-poured soy candles in up-cycled wine bottles. They offer seasonal scents like Peppermint Patty Martini, but they mostly specialize in alcohol-related scents like Kentucky Bourbon or Sangria.
- One In The Hand sells cloth coffee sleeves that not only keep you from singeing your palm on your Starbucks, but also benefits The Emergency Fund, which provides immediate financial assistance to help low income Chicago area individuals and families through a crisis or transition.
- Rhymes With Twee prints up Christmas cards featuring Chicago scenery, which she calls Chillycago cards featuring red star "snowflakes," which are actually the stars from the Chicago flag.
- Mommy Said Sew is another Chicago-based creator, who creates baby clothes and the new classic infinity scarves. Want to make your own children's clothes? She also sells sewing patterns.
- Jetsam And Juniper is a Chicago-based seller of found items from vintage postcards to strangely beautiful pieces of rusty metal. We recommend checking out the selection of "Curious Books," especially the antique cookbooks.
- Circa Ceramics is a Chicago-based maker of plates, bowls, mugs and other ceramic items. This isn't your usual Fiestaware. It's more like "Put a skull on it" than "Put a bird on it."
- Holy Cow Canvas is a great spot to find gifts for Cubs fans with its collection of Wrigley Art. Or, you can have them print your own photo onto a canvas.
- Chicago Girl Vintage collects and makes jewelry, and her shop is chockfull of interesting items like this vintage Pabst Blue Ribbon factory worker shirt and these roulette wheel cufflinks.
- The Sky Scratcher offers a cat scratcher shaped like the Sears Tower for the architecture-loving feline in your life.
- Pinholay offers small black and white pinhole photographs, mounted and ready to display on 2" x 3.25" wood blocks. Creator Emily Long describes the pinhole proces as "one that is so simple, basic and unadulterated - no batteries, no zoom, no lens and certainly no editing." She says it turns ordinary subjects into "something mysterious, complex and beautiful."