Etsy's Handmade Blog
Gift Ideas: Shop Local Massachusetts with ReclaimedToYou
Story by ReclaimedToYou
Published on December 2, 2008 in Spotlight 		Photo by

John Swan

Shop Local this holiday season and support independent craftspeople. It's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint!  We're going around the world here on Etsy's blog, so let us know where our next stop should be in the comments below. This post is straight from Boston, MA courtesy of Etsian Jessica, aka ReclaimedToYou. That's her, pictured above, knitting in one of her favorite neighborhood coffee shops/organic food store, City Feed. She has great taste and has curated a collection of items with their corresponding Massachusetts sellers featured below.

I am proud to say that I live in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, MA. It's an area full of artists, writers, and performers of all kinds. Jamaica Plain, referred to as JP,  is home to delights such as the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, and a whole host of wonderful local shops, restaurants, cafes, historic buildings, and lovely parks. I feel so lucky to have found this warm community where my husband and I can walk to do many of our regular errands, exchanging greetings with folks we know from the community all along the way. On Sundays I gather with a knitting group at a pub called Doyle's where I have learned to cable a scarf and knit mittens. JP is populated with people of all ages, backgrounds, faiths, nationalities, and lifestyles, and that's why it's such a dynamic and vibrant place to live. There's always something happening like the Day of the Dead festival, the JP World's Fair, the Lantern Parade, the JP Open Studios, block parties, and frisbee games. The Etsy team, Boston Handmade even gets into the act with an annual series of JP Artisan Fairs in the spring and summer. In fact, Boston Handmade has had such success with group shows in JP and all over Boston that we are opening a brick-and-mortar gallery in Downtown Crossing just for this holiday season. The gallery will be all Etsy and all handmade, and is opening on November 28th, just in time for holiday shopping. If you're in Boston between Thanksgiving and New Year's, stop by the gallery to say 'hi,' and while you're at it, be sure to grab a chocolate chip cookie from Blue Frog Bakery, it's the yummiest!


ElizabethBrennick  


Beth on her street in Seekonk, Ma. with one of her cats Baby and her two kids Abby and Noah.
 


Kiki Fluhr aka allthenumbers


kiki.JPG

"This is a picture taken by my husband at Avalon Beach, which is just around the corner from my house. I have a deep love of the ocean and I don't think I would feel right living far away from it. It gives me a great sense of calm, and a certain groundedness that I have yet to find anywhere else.  During moments of panic I try to imagine myself here, sitting on the seawall, and hearing the continuous lap of the waves. The sound is like a deep breath, like a sigh of relief, and like coming home."

 

DeShawnMarie


"I love the fact that Boston is surrounded by nature and that I can gather inspiration for my creations in short walks around town or along the coast.  The photo you see here is a walk along the coast that inspired my By the Sea soap."

 

Karissa of kissandtellcards


"The picture was taken just north of Boston, or as the locals say, 'on the North Shore.'"

Don't forget to let us know about your favorite local Etsy artists. Pitch your town, state, country or region; include a screenshot of your Poster Sketched picks and a link to a pretty photo of yourself in your neighborhood. We can't wait to hear from you!

You can find folks in your area by using Etsy's Shop Local site feature. Find out more about how Shop Local works. Make sure to update your geo info in your public profile!

Shop Local Posts | Gift Ideas | Shop Local in Your Area | BostonHandmadeTeam Items

Tags Blue Frog Bakery, Boston, Boston Handmade, brick-and-mortar gallery, City Feed, Downtown Crossing, Etsy Team, holidays, Jamaica Plain, JP Worlds Fair, knitting, Massachusetts, ReclaimedToYou, Shop Local, shopping
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69 comments     Login to add your own!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. HomemadeZen

wonderful article. Boston is a beatiful place!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. nat1489

I love these items, cute cute cute!

all i can say is.....

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. dogties

Amazing items, great photos, & a fun article.
Thanks for sharing!
We love to see what the Etsy World looks like out there.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. knitstyle

Great article! Love the shop allthenumbers!

Come down to Cape Cod & the Islands (Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket) next!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. beachhouseblues

Great Idea!
I'll be visiting lots of local Etsy shops today.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. Whatsupyoursleeve

Woo Hoo love living in Mass. Going to Bahston to pahk the cah.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. SeaFindDesigns

Go Boston!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. JustFeltHungry

Lovely makeup bag by muchachak!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. CountingBunnies

Great article. I live in Massachusetts and love New England

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. christinececelia

Great article! I wish I could live by the water- that picture was amazing with all the boats!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. thefiligreegarden

Good luck on the new shop to my fellow Mass. Etsyians!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. shellieartist

I love these articles. Great job everyone and so nice to see some folks in the New England area!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. petalandpink

I agree with allthenumbers about living near the water. Despite hating our winters, I could never move from Masssachusetts!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. baublegarden

Makes me want to drive up to Boston for the Weekend. Loving the sand dollar starfish dishes and the all the numbers cards.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. bookdesigngirl

Jessica and Etsy you have made my day! Love the JP area and am already planning a day with the hubby to hit those spots you've recommended. Have also marked a fave from all of the store. Thank you!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. juliebcreative

Shop Local Rhode Island!!!!!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. juliebcreative

with the Arts In RI Street team!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. juliebcreative

we consider boston our sister city

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. fernfiddlehead

I love the shop local series. Nice stuff. Is it just me or are the very-bottom shop names being cut off???

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. CapeCard

Send a friend a Christmas or Chanukah Cod from Cape Cod

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ElizabethBrennick

I love my Boston and my girls of Boston Handmade. Thanks Etsy!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. Earmark

Massachusetts here too! WOOHOO!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. Knight27

Coooool! Great article!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. papermenagerie

All of you wonderful people from Massachusetts (and my former team Boston Handmade) are making me homesick. Miss ya!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. saranorris

I used to live in Boston and I absolutely love it there! I miss it so much! Great job guys!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. lemondropstudio

I love the dog leash rack - awesome! Great article!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. muchachak

Nice pics girls :)

(Katy)

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. seaglassthings

It's the best team to a part of - great article Jess!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. britishcreamtea

Liverpool...European Capital of Culture 2008 ;D

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. cozycottagecreations

Yeah Boston!!! Great feature - thank you, Etsy! I love being a part of this highly creative and supportive crowd! And that's a great photo of you, Jess - it's so great seeing you slide across the Front Page!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. CRSisters

Wonderful article and I, too, love Boston and surrounding towns.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. hamptonbeads

Great! Now I miss living in Boston. :D Wonderful piece.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. allthenumbers

Wohoo! Love you Jessica and all the Boston Handmade members!
xo

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. Nikifashion

Lovely picturs!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. PaisleyChainsaw

Great to see people in Boston Massachusetts, I am in the tiny Boston of United Kingdom. :-)
Great feature!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. EJPcreations

spring blossoms print is beautiful!!!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. yaelfran

Boston... wow... I've been there, visiting KNOTS, it is just wonderful!!!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. Diffraction

Come visit me in Chicago!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. sweetestpea

Way to go, Boston!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. candicenkatiesart

my daughters live in boston and I go as often as I can.
I miss them!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. Whimbrella

Awesome story. Boston etsyers are TERRIFIC!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. nfall2rt

I love this series!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. amyburhoe

Yay Boston Handmade!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. mopsical

Shop local RI! =)

Dec. 2, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. JansBitsnPieces

Hey! I live on the North Shore too and I "think" I recognize one or two of those backgrounds! Great article! Encouraging in this economic period.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. BlueTerracotta

Great article! I lived in Mass for six years and it's a wonderful place, even with the harsh winters!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. brookepickering

Thank you etsy, thank you Jess.I'm so proud to be a new Boston Handmade member, it's so energizing to be surrounded by such creativity!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. JanesFolkArt

Come up further to the town of Groveland, too far to be in the Boston Handmade unfortunately. Our winters harsh? Oh my goodness, I love them, sunshine on snow.Put Groveland in your local search.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. MaJentaDesigns

Great article, go Boston Handmade! :) I cant wait to visit the store!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. tangerined

I think we need a shop local worcester, ma... not just the coast! :)

I have to say that city feed in JP does have the most AMAZING SANDWICHES EVER though. I'll go pretty far out of my way to get the farmer's lunch.

Dec. 2, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. littlewishes

I had the pleasure of visiting Boston Handmade's brick & mortar gallery this weekend and it is AWESOME! Great job Jess & Boston Handmade!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. OriginalsbyLauren

Great to see photos of etsy members! Good luck in your B&M

Dec. 2, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. katieskreations

GO SOX and Pats!! Gotta love Boston...born and raised! :) Great piece, thanks for sharing!!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. dragonhouseofyuen

great article and yes, that dog leash rack is fantastic!

Perhaps you might consider an Edinburgh/Glasgow Scotland shop local?

I am taking part in an Ushigokoro exhibition http://dragonhouseofyuen.blogspot.com/ in Glasgow just now, until the 23rd and I have met 2 wonderful etsians also exhibiting, thecuriousswift and askingfortrouble!

Dec. 2, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. edessedesigns

Yaay MASS!!

Dec. 3, 2008 at 12:14 a.m. BluCille

That hand blown glass is a neat item.

Dec. 3, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. BabbidgePatch

Beautiful items!

Dec. 3, 2008 at 4:55 a.m. littleredbear

nice nice nice!
bella rosa winter hat so adorable!

Dec. 3, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. Rose442

Boston is a great place to shop!Now that I have a GPS it's easier than ever!Such a variety of items!

Dec. 3, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. eliwill

congrats to hand me downs, she has great stuff.

Dec. 3, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. Squeedles

I'm on the South Shore!
:)

Dec. 3, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. walkonthemoon

And take a trip just a little North to Lowell, MA to the Western Ave. Open Studios the first 2 weekends in Dec to see great Etsy sellers: MadeinLowell, BrickMillStudios, TheIntuitiveGarden, ArtbyVerde and me walkonthemoon!! and MANY more!!! WAS is open 12-5pm...see u there!

Dec. 3, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. theeye

what a cute smiley pic :)

Dec. 3, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. PoPkO

Hello! Shop local in WESTERN MASS too!
Thanks for highlighting the super state of Massachusetts
http://popko.etsy.com

Dec. 3, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. glorygifts

I used to live there and it is a great part of the country! So much diversity and much to do! Great article and photos!:)
Best wishes to all of you in Massachusetts for many holiday sales!

Dec. 4, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. DalenaVintage

such a great idea for a series! can't wait to see some texas :)

Dec. 7, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. jamieshelman

Here, here! Don't forget about the Vineyard, only a short ferry hop away...

Dec. 19, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. JesseMosher

MASSACHUSETTS born and raised !

Feb. 7, 2009 at 11:35 a.m. learntoknit

Such a fantastic idea, i just love this knitting world, i did'nt realise just how many knitsters there are out there!
www.learnto-knit.com

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