Style: Two Tree Designs, Something to Tweet About

We recently attended our local, artisan fair. Walking through the funnel cake eating masses and passing booth after booth of reggae paraphernalia, hair removal gimmicks, and hand-painted "this way to the beach" signs, I finally spied some light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel: Perched on a side street, away from the inflatable kids' toys and the kettle corn stand, was Two Tree Designs, standing like a beacon.

Two Tree Designs doesn't offer anything particularly fancy, but each item is whimsical, practical, and, well, cheap. I picked up the birdie bag with cellphone pouch and secret compartments for a mere $22.00. Use it as a school satchel, a travel carrier, a substitute diaper bag, or as a funky purse. Also offered are ol' school music designs, including turntables, microphones, and tape cassettes. Each design can be placed on a bag, laptop carrier, or t-shirt—buyer's choice. At these prices, why not buy one of each? Details: www.etsy.com/shop/twotreedesigns

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Obsession: Simply Lovely

I know, in these times, buying original artwork or a limited edition print isn't the first purchase on everyone's mind. However, if you experience a sudden, overwhelming desire to personally contribute to the stimulus package or if you need to buy that "special someone" an original gift, check out Melissa Moss's precious nature-inspired prints.

I originally discovered Moss's work on Abbott Kinney Blvd., Venice, California's uber-artsy playground. But, now, for only $35, Moss has made her digitally-colored ink drawings available on ETSY. I don't know if you'll be as obsessed as we are, but her priced-to-sell pieces inspire creative gift giving and an offering of simple beauty even in the hardest of times. Details: ETSY.

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Obsession: Orange Peel Enamel

My husband is not stereotypical in any way—especially when it comes to buying presents. Without dropping a single hint, he has a knack for knowing what I'll like and a gift for introducing me to new artisanal talent. At Christmastime, we place a dollar limit on how much we can spend on each other. This little game has forced us to think creatively about gift giving.

This holiday, at the bottom of my stocking, I found the sweetest ring, made by Seattle artist, Jenny. In her ETSY bio, she writes “The thrill of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit...the lusciously smooth surface of kiln-fired glass...the rich palette of rich, saturated colors. Oooh. I love enameling.”

Well, Jenny, we love wearing your enamel creations. Dress those little beauties up or down, they easily and comfortably add the necessary bling to any outfit. And, because she offers such a wide-variety of colors and designs, my husband has managed to provide me with Obsession article-fodder for years to come. Details: www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=15105.

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Obsession: Stocking Stuffer Bliss

When I moved from Chicago, the holidays were drawing near. Since everything was new to me, I didn't yet have the luxury of buying interesting and affordable gifts from my local retailers. Well, thank goodness for online shopping—it not only rescued my loved ones from a very boring holiday season, it opened my world to accessible, independent, DIY entrepreneurs.

The greatest cyber-place to play is ETSY. Almost everything ETSY offers is affordable because you work directly with the artisan. You can buy fun jewelry (ItsAllAboutThePrint.etsy.com), "ties that don't suck" (www.toybreaker.etsy.com/), or the dictators of the world moustache collection (www.girlontherocks.etsy.com/). No matter your recipient's taste or the size of your wallet, at ETSY, it's easy to find a fun and fabulous gift! Details: www.ETSY.com.

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