What is Etsy?

I've had so many people ask me this question over the last year. I have to admit, until I started selling at craft fairs and buying specialty supplies, I had no clue what ETSY was either! What I have found, though, is an entire underground crafting scene that EVERYONE should hear about!
The one word that I can use to acquaint you with what etsy is all about would have to be "HANDMADE". Etsy is a an online marketplace for crafters to sell all their handmade goods. The exception to that rule is if you are selling vintage items or crafting supplies. Etsy (which rhymes with Betsy) is a booming business that started out as just a few friends who wanted an avenue to sell their handmade furniture to what is now a multi-million dollar company. The uniquenss of etsy is in the way that it is set up. You can search items by categories such as Needlecraft, Books and Zines, Plants and Edibles, and even GEEKERY!
Since becoming a crafter, I have obviously begun to realize the importance of "Buying Local". It is what keeps small business owners open and running and is especially important in giving us unique and individual style. Etsy is an amazing opporutunity for us to buy things that are "Made in the USA" and also give a stay at home mom or other amazing talent a way to showcase their work and make money too. It's almost like a flea market from the comfort of your own home!
I encourage everyone to join in the ETSY phenom. It truly is a local artist's dream come true (especially for THIS stay-at-home mom)!