Handmade For the Holidays

Fabric handmade by Pippi Joe.  Shooting bag custom-made by Tracy Joy.

One of the great things about the holiday season is that I get to partake of one of my favorite guilty pleasures--without the usual amount of guilt.  I'm not referring to mere shopping (which I'm not really fond of).  I'm talking about shopping on Etsy.  I could probably spend every moment of my natural waking life browsing through all the amazing Etsy artists and never get bored.  For me, the appeal is not just the seemingly endless supply of beautiful handmade items or the idea of supporting the DIY ethos.  What really gets me excited is the ever-increasing number of people creating and sharing their art and handiwork.  I take this as a sign of hope for the future of humanity.

I've often marveled at the multi-faceted talent beyond photography that abounds amongst our Shutter Sisters community. Whether it's wordsmithing, or whipping up whimsy, or brewing beauty that's functional (or not), or making music, it's impossible NOT to be inspired when you're surrounded by so much creativity. I dare say that keeping such company lends itself to embarking on artistic endeavors you've never attempted before. And again, I take this as a sign of hope for the future of humanity

For today's giveaway, Tracy Joy--mom/wife/photographer/entrepreneur/bag-designer-extraordinaire--is offering up a Kristine Shooting and/or Diaper Bag in the winner's choice of color and flap design.  Tracy's bags are made with interchangeable flaps so you can change the design without changing the entire bag.  Perfect for the budget-minded accesorizer!  Be sure to comment on this post to be entered in the drawing.

Congratulations to Wayfaring Wanderer for being the winner of the Superhero Joy necklace. Sweet stuff!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Edited to add: Please note that this giveaway is for a shooting bag (lightly padded for easy access to gear while on a shoot without a heavy bag).  Tracy Joy's fully padded camera bag is the Reese bag.

Also, Tracy is offering a discount to the Shutter Sisters community through December 31st.  Get 10% off your entire purchase by using the code SHUTTER.  With free shipping to U.S. addresses for December, it's a good deal!

Comments

[Chris]

LOVE that bag! Love your post, too! There are so many multi-talented people in this Shutter Sister community and I think that's awesome!

[Carol]

love those Tracy Joy bags and etsy!

[Sherry]

Wishing I could make more of my gifts and hopeful of the handmade ones I'll receive.

[sammie]

I so love it in Gothic burg

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

Say what!?!?! I won........AWESOME!

I love the bird pattern on that bag, then again, who doesn't love birds on a wire!

[Melanie]

What a gorgeous bag! Thanks for the opportunity to win it. :)

[Julie Alvarez]

Yay for this post supporting handmade supporting handmade supporting handmade. And CELEBRATING the hope that comes with it. I am all into this now. I changed my whole way of thinking about life in the last years, maybe since my girl was born. I see much clearer now, about the earth and taking care of it, the politics, the social matters (always concerned about them, but I am more involved now), and that includes me making my art at home and sending it to the world. And also buying handmade, and making crafty meetings and networks.
I believe in change. I am a childish idealist also. Completely. But still believe in it.
Let's make it.
PS: that bag is beyond cuteness, I think.

[Leah G]

I've been oogling over these bags for months. I would love to win one.

[Shell]

Such a lovely design!

[Ann]

What a great bag! I've been looking for something like that for awhile now.

[Wanda]

Beautiful, indeed!

I love this site.

[mama-pan]

What a great idea--interchangeable flaps. Congrats to all the Etsy artists!!

[Anita]

Love Etsy...love this bag. It is exactly what I have been looking for!

[stacelet]

What a lovely bag - and I agree, the creativity I see inspires more in me, and the handmade creative gifts are a large portion of my holiday browsing this year...

[Tracie]

I'm an etsy fanatic too. I cannot believe all of the beautiful and creative things people make!

[jag]

Wow! I just got lost in our Sisters' creativity... amazing. They make it seem so do-able. :-) Thanks for giving them all this much-deserved shout-out!!
jag xox

[Suzanne]

The camera bag is beautiful....

[Jill]

beautiful bag! it is inspiring to see what people can do with their hands!

[glittersmama]

The bag is cute enough to use as a purse!

[Joanna Kostrzewa]

My camera would definitely feel comfortable in such beautiful bag! *^v^*

[Sue Carter]

I would love to win a Tracy Joy camera bag! They are so beautiful.

[katie anaya]

oooo...beautiful!

[margie]

i can't sing. i can't sew. i can't knit. i can take pictures. i can cook. i can listen to music. nice bag. and hooray for our friend wayfaring wanderer for winning the prize yesterday. she takes beautiful photos.

[karenika]

oh this is absolutely stunning!!

[Janine]

A camera bag is at the top of my Christmas list!!!

[claudia]

What an adorable bag! I could totally spend way too much if I spent time looking on etsy, so I limit my visits :(

[Julie]

i love this blog.. just found it not too long ago. how fun :)

[marcy]

I too spend many hours (too many) marveling and being inspired by the talent of etsy artisans. So inspired infact that I
am making many of my gifts this year, the ones that i am not buying on etsy that is...

[Christina]

This is so cute! I think I will head over to the site, and see what other goodies there are. : )

[Kyla]

What a BEAUTIFUL photo of a BEAUTIFUL bag! Mmmmm, mmmmm!

[Jenny]

I always have good intentions every year, but I do make all my Christmas cards and gift tags. Next year...there is always next year.

[jen]

I'm an etsy addict

[Lisa]

What a beautiful camera bag. When I go on shoots, the one I have is always in the way and I've been looking for something just like this!

[Jamie]

This really is an amazing community. Such awesome talents!
http://umbrellablog.com/holidays/my-santa-story/

[Jodyangel]

oOOooo WW congrats girl!!!
I love Etsy to Death. I bought some really gorgeous jewerly a few weeks ago for my DIL. Let me take a pic or two then I'll upload with the link.

You're right. I could spend all day there. I've been smitted by quite a few things which sit in my favs there now just waiting for me to buy them lol.

[samantha b.]

Lovely bag - would love it for my camera!

[Rebecca F.]

Wow. What a lucky person to receive a bag. Truthfully? I hope it is me. :)

Thanks for such fantastic giveaways!

Rebecca F.

[mamie]

that bird fabric is brill. love it

[nicole]

Beautiful bags. I've got a one year old and am continually finding creative ways to carry all my diaper stuff as well as my camera. It's an interesting mix! Esty is great - thankyou for showcasing the wonderful talents!

[chris]

I love all the birds popping up this holiday season.

[n.]

i love this bag!

[emily]

I definitely need a new camera bag, and this one is just fantastic. So much more personality than my ultra-blah-boring black one.

[michelle]

wow...gorgeous bags!

[Jenny Rebecca]

What a great bag!!!

[jenfarnam]

Finally a camera bag with awesome designs.

[ange]

ooooh I so need a camera bag, I just started my photo gigs and so need one!

[duchess401]

Just found your amazing website!! SO happy I somehow found my way here. The bag is adorable. Like so many others who have posted, I'm lovin' the new wave of homemade gifts. There are so many creative women out there! Have never been on the Etsy website..guess that will be my next stop. :)

[Liz]

beautiful! i especially love the bird-on-a-wire fabric. the only bag i have made thus far was a simple tote--but it was so easy and is so handy that EVERYONE is getting one for christmas this year! found the tutorial on sew mama sew blog.

[maya]

i, too, am in love with all things etsy.

another great giveaway! i have no camera bag!!

:)

[Traci]

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! :)