Locals Rescue the Last-Minute Shopper!

What do you do if you still need thoughtful, handmade gifts, but you need to have them before the 25th? Or do you have a horror of crowds and nightmares about entering a mall in late December? Well, Toronto Etsians can save you! You can still buy on-line, and get local, handmade goods - especially those which are small enough to fit in the letter post. In fact, within Canada, Canada Post suggests regular mail should reach its destination in mailed by December 16 (for anything outside our province), by the 17th for within the province, and up until the 20th for Local Delivery. So today, we bring you the T.E.S.T. gift guide for small -in terms of size, but big in terms of thought and impact - gifts.

Here we have papergoods, cards, art and other local handmade goodies small enough to arrive by letter post!

Check out the Star Storm by magprint above!


A wee watercolour: Snail original watercolour painting by DinosDiedOfBoredom







A cat-lover's holiday card: Winter Holiday Card by Bebbers









Get a Modern Holiday Greeting - Customized Digital Photo File - (TRE1) by FostenDesigns








Get great natural history gift tags with the Flora & Fauna Furry Animals - Handmade Gift Tags/Labels Set of 6 with ribbon by 70popes






Original photo art: The Secret Garden - Photo Print on Antique Book Page by missquitecontrary








For the tree: Screenprinted Wooden Ornament- squirrel with strawberries by genevievejodouin








You Rock blank greeting card by Zippster









Get the Peace Love and Joy Holiday Personalized Card Set by VintagePaperParade








Three photos: Eiffel Tower Trio, 5x7 fine art prints by jpet









Calendars make great gifts and this one serves double-duty: 2011 Calendar Tea Towel by avrilloretti








Little Bird (has a lot to say) 8x8 Print by zomb









For the gardner: Organic Red Pear Cherry Tomato seeds by cubits









ACEO Gwen Duda Fine Art giclee print reproduction of an original oil painting 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 Pears Still life Direct from Artist







Get festive with Fabric Bunting, Banner, Upcycled Vintage Fabrics, Vibrant Hues, Handmade by Knotted Nest







Bird Wreath Greeting Card by SoRad









2011 Fine Art Calendar 5x7 by tgilmartin

Hallowe'en TESTy Treats

Are you ready? Hallowe'en is around the corner. Be prepared for the little candy-seeking zombies to come knocking at your door with the Zombie Defense League (1.25 inch button pack) by zomb


Send Hallowe'en greetings with a Happy Hallowe'en postcard by Zippster





Invite your friends to your Hallowe'en party with Trick or Treat Halloween Cards by VintagePaperParade




Let the scent set the scene for your haunted house with Smells Like A Funeral Home Spray - Hallowe'en by mythicalmatters




Keep the kids reading and crafting after their sugar high with Kids Hallowe'en Bookmark Crafting Kits by papersweetsca




Face your fears, then wear the Award for Bravery - Arachnophobia by slashpile





Decorate with art fit for Hallowe'en with the The Bat Linocut by minouette





Dolls celebrate Hallowe'en too and need a Miniature felt pumpkin patch by kltrocks





Dress the dog for Hallowe'en with the Spooky Squares collar - Size XLby peachykeenpets





Get your zombie decor fix with Zombie Hand Embroidered by Keep Up The Imagination





Wear these Skeleton and Cobweb Hallowe'en Earrings - Rattle My Bones by jackdawpilate (on sale now!)




Elvis-impersonating alien from outer space, need I say more? Read the Alien Elvis in Toronto Scifi Indie Graphic Novel. by ezhillin




Wear a Spooky Owl. A fused glass pendant necklace. by ellecools






Celebrate Latin American holiday Day of the Dead Dia de los Muertos with the Sugar skull pin by carolineillustrates




Wear your treats with Candy Apple and Cany Corn Necklace by candychic





Channel your inner space alien with this Bookmark - Commence The Dance Hence by cyclopsandowl





The littlest ones can get in on the Hallowe'en fun with Pumpkin Baby Flat by BiKay





Once the little trick-o-treaters have gone to bed, the grown-ups can have some fun. Get Hallowe'en Treats for your Lover - Set of 4 cards by thegirlinyellow

I like my bike

Bikes are a great (environmentally friendly) way to get around the city in spring, summer and fall in Toronto. Love you bicycle? Celebrate your bike with some great, handmade, T.E.S.T.y items, like Bicycle on Blue. A fused glass pendant necklace by ellecools




Go retro with the
Pennyfarthing bicycle pinback button by Zippster




Get customizable bike digital photo art with the psyched to bike ( 12 x 18 print ) by anotherangle





Bikes and coffee - what's not to love? Dark Horse Espresso Bar Mounted Resin Photography 14 x 11
by lurearts




Wear your bike pride with the Bicycle Button (1.25 inch) by zomb

T.E.S.T. items for Earth Day

April 22nd is Earth Day. According to EarthDay Canada, "More than 6 million Canadians join 1 billion people in over 170 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity." Follow the link to find events across Canada.

Etsy is part of a larger handmade movement in society. People are reclaiming the right to have handmade objects with meaning, and work with their hands. A great way to tread more lightly on our Earth is to avoid mass consumerism. When I buy things, I try to buy responsibly, locally and handmade. Buying vintage goods is another great option; re-use and re-interpret what is already there, to get something both unique and with less environmental impact.

Check out some of the great local Toronto etsians have on offer. Start with the recycle pinback button by zippster and follow that by perusing some of the amazing up-cylced items on offer.

Cocoboudoir has up-cycled a vintage find to make her one of a kind Ensoleille dress.




Coverstories re-imagined an old book cover to make the Large Vintage Book Journal 'All About Animals and Their Young'



Using found acorn caps, and stone customcrafter created her Acorn Earrings.




The unique scrappy circles brooch-black currant charlotte by dervish is made with 100% linen scraps and vintage buttons!



Using vintage supplies and materials foundlingsvintage made la dame jolie bicycle blouse -- available in S/M.




hdunstan encorporated vintage elements to make the Not that Kind of Gal one-of-a-kind necklace




HibouAccesories quiky designs combine different antique and vintage metal components in the The Cowgirl - Mix Metal Bracelet.



A vintage tie is reborn in the vintage inspired hair piece - upcycled and reconstructed tie by tweek




LittleDenim up-cycles denim to make her Girls' Lightning Screenprint Upcycled Denim Dress - 9 Months