There’s nothing quite as special as a handmade gift, but we all can’t be artists. Luckily, there are plenty of talented people on Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, eager to sell you their creations. And one of the best features about Etsy is that you can search for sellers by their location, which means you can still shop local even on the internet.
We’ve rounded up our favorite picks from Chicago-based Etsy shops for gifts for babies, kids, moms, dads and anyone else you might want to share some love with. We’ve chosen gifts that not only help you show someone you care, but also show Chicago some love as well.
Know of a great Windy City Etsy shop we missed? Share it in the comments below!
Want to give a handmade gift this Valentine’s Day but aren’t the arts’n’crafts type? Check out these Etsy picks.
For baby
Will we ever tire of seeing babies in adorable and wittyonesies? Probably not. These screenprinted onesies from Meghan LeeDesigns are pretty perfect for our Windy City little ones.
They’re available for $18 each from her shop.
Toys
A sustainable toy that isn’t an eyesore around the house? Yes please! Etsy seller Mumsybird has a shop full of colorful wooden toys that are perfect for little hands. Toys run from $6 to $50 depending on the size of the set.
Art for the heart
Seller LuciusArt
has a shop full of prints that will add a lot of love to anyone’s
walls. Guys will love these prints and you won’t have to limit them
to the man cave. Paying homage to all your favorite Chicago
breweries, this “Nothing Like a Cold Beer on a Warm Day in Chicago” print is
16×20 and costs $49.
Art for the heart
LuciusArt
also has a great collection of map-inspired art, including this
heart-shaped piece. You can customize which city you’d like in the
print but we’re not sure why you’d choose anything other than
Chicago. This original print costs $18 and is 8″x10″.
A replica of a blue whale heart – the size of a car.
Jewelry
A Valentine’s Day gift round-up wouldn’t be complete without alittle bit of jewelry. Stevie K’s shop tru.che
is a perfect place to find jewelry that lets your loved one show
their adoration for Illinois while also keeping you on their mind.
This “I heart Illinois”necklace is made for order and costs $55. The buyer can also
choose where they want the heart to go in the state.
For the flowers
Know somebody who loves recieving flowers, but never has a goodplace to put them (your lemonade pitcher does not count)? We lovethe variety of vases found in the AmeliaJaneVintage
shop. This aqua vase ($25) is a beauty on it’s own and will add a lot
of character to whatever flowers you pick-up to go with it.
Favorite cards
If you’re planning to write a love letter visit the SteelPetalPress
shop. There’s a good variety of letterpress cards for sale with fun
typography and graphics that were created just for Valentine’s Day.
Whether you’re writing to a friend or a long lost love, you’ll find
something here. All cards cost $4.50 and come with an envelope.
Lurie has three cards to choose from.
Puppy Love
Don’t forget Fido and Fluffy. For dapper dogs, we like these bow-tie collars ($43) from SillyBuddy.
For Valentine’s Day, we suggest red or red with polka dots.
For felines, we suggest this Valentine’s Day felted mouse from FeltLikeHelping
(plus how great is that shop name? Proceeds from sales go toward
helping the people of Haiti). One mouse costs $7 and is made to
last even the toughest cat play.
