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I have a new "addiction", and that is ETSY....I have recently discovered it for clothes for my daugher, who is 4 going on 5.
I LOVE IT!
Let me say: I used to frequent 3 local children's boutiques, where I could get high quality boutique clothes...I do admit I often, but not always, bought sale merchandise. All 3 of those boutiques have closed recently. (Economy maybe? Maybe too many of us buying only sale items?)
I also have bought a lot of Gymboree, but lately I find it too expensive (jeans for a 4 year old for $40??), unless there is a great sale. Even then, I am not thrilled with the designs lately...too many animals!...or the colors (not a big fan of orange and acid green and neither is my daughter)...AND the quality has gone down.
So, enter ETSY, where I can find almost any design under the sun, there is a huge range of prices, and the pieces can be custom fitted to my daughter. Plus it is unique!
Every girl around here wears Gymboree; I am so happy to have my daughter look different.
Is there anything on Etsy you have fallen in love with?
I agree. For quality, especially handmade items, etsy is probably the best. I've bought quite a lot there over the last 5 years. I like items made by the sellers: hand-turned vases; handmade greeting cards; wine cork trivets and corkboards as well as canvas artwork and anything made of clay, wood or granite.
I've bought lovely handmade 3-D clay planters from one seller. One of my favorite purchases was three painted cat rocks in 2006. Another favorite purchase was a magnetic board with test-tube spice jars. I have it on the wall next to my oven and never tire of marveling at its beauty and functionality. And I've also bought antique cameo jewelry and some very nice leather purses.
Edited to add, after reading Mary Ann's post, that I love the handmade aprons too. They dont make me want to cook, but they do make me want to buy them as gifts for my cooking friends.
I also "feel good" buying on Etsy, knowing my hard-earned dollars are going to a made in America work from home Mom (sometimes) instead of a big corporate entity. (As corny as that sounds).
For kids clothes, you can get them on eBay new with tags for about 1/2 price of new.
I started buying kids clothes on Ebay about 7 years ago.
I will only buy NWTs because I have been burned too many times on "like new" clothes that I wouldn't even send to Goodwill.
It is true that I have gotten some very good deals over the years. However, those good deals are getting fewer and farther between.
Ebay is being "ruined", in some ways, by all the professional sellers who buy all the size 5 dresses from Gymboree (for example) when they go on sale and turn around to sell them almost at full price.
I sell on Ebay sometimes too. It is very time consuming, however.
I do still buy things for my children on Ebay; it is just harder to find a good "deal".
I do better for my daughter buying ahead for the next year when the season clearance sales are going on. Or on sites like Kelly's Kids, I can get last year's fall clothes at 30% off or more. Lands End also has very good clearance prices.
I love to dress up my daughter, but I have to do it all on a budget.
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