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

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day is June 20th. Looking for some gift ideas for Dad? T.E.S.T. can help. Right here in Toronto, you can get a thoughtful handmade and vintage gifts, including this DAD Banner Screenprinted Card by genevievejodouin

We've got great gifts for young, new, Dads, older, experienced Dads & Dads of all sorts.
The BEER COZIE -Number 1 Dad - Beige and Gray by knitrovert is perfect Father's Day gift.





Fine art, like the Original Fine Art Painting - The Train by artbyarlenebabad is always a great gift.


Dad might love an original Fine Art acrylic landscape painting titled Golden Tributary by Gwen Duda GwensArtDreamscape



Is Dad into architecture and design? Consider the Toronto Building Cocktail Napkins by avrillorei




The Original Block Print - Flyover by magprint has the sculptural look of elevated highways, flyovers and overpasses.



Or how about the Distillery and Roots fine art print by ezhillin?





There's Facade 1 Morges - Fine Art Print 5x7 by jpet too.





What could be more 'Father's Day' than a tie? How about a Vintage Christian Dior Tie--Numbered 18 of 24 from dervish



For the science or history nerd, there's Louis Pasteur - Linocut,1st Edition by minouette




Maybe Dad is young, hip with surrealist tendencies? Try cyclopsandowl's Intermission - PRINT



For the cowboy Dad there's Vintage Calgary Theme Belt Buckle from HibouAccessories




How about the
Blue and Black- Fused Glass Belt Buckle by urbanfusions?




The green specks cuff links - FREE shipping sale by shannellesmith are a twist on a traditional Father's Day favorite.



Check out the Vintage Bike Ad Woodburned Box by SixthAndElm





For the bookworm, or photography collector, there's
Stacked and Sorted - 8x10 matted print by tanjatiziana

TESTy People & Places

There's a huge variety of amazing handmade goods to be found on Etsy made right here in Toronto. This week we bring you goods about people and places

Consider this Rosette Sorbet by cocoboudoir.

Indulge your nostalgia for the Toronto-which-was with this water colour of Sam the Record Man by ezhilin



This print of a multimedia piece evokes both the library and the Librarians Limited Edition Fine Art Print by GirlCanCreate



This Courting with Flowers Brooch by HibouAccessories is about people from another time.




To the Sacred Heart of Paris Fine Art Print 8 x 10 by jpet is one of the many places his photos can take you.




Traces of people are illustrated in Fingerprint - linocut greeting cards - set of two by kiwipunchdesigns




In this shop it's all about the little fashionable people - Blythe dolls that is. SALE - Cotton shift dress for Blythe by kltrocks



Keep mother and baby warm this winter with
Now in Polar Fleece Sling-o-Jacket Size M,L Babywearing AND Maternity and Nursing Wear - Ultimate Fall Winter Garment For Mama and Baby by LiliesOValley

The ECO WRISTLET - Blessings by LMcreations will remind you of home.





Scents can bring you places, like
Smells Like A Day At The Beach Lotion by mythicalmatters




Local pirates should check out the Toronto Pirate Hat by robotnista





The photography here will take you all sorts of places, including this evocative print of the streetcar graveyard Blowing in the Wind... - 8x8 Resin-Coated Metallic Print by tanjatiziana

We've even got favorite imaginary people with Dr. Ross from E.R. in Resuscitate me, Mr Clooney by
TheGirlinYellow



Maybe he could revive the Vivisected Man - White on Black by TorchedStudio ?




Disguise your people with Mustache Handkerchiefs - Pop Of Color - Set of 4 by avrilloreti




Go downtown wearing your new downtown cowl - tube scarf by knitrovert