daily obsession # 3: $2 etsy shopping

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checking etsy is a hobby of mine. but our budget doesn't always allow for treasure hunting. so i have found that i can narrow my budget to two dollars (plus shipping) and still browse hundreds of pages of listings. this results in a more guilt-free shopping experience. : )

(though you have to be careful... $2 + $2 + $2 and so on and so forth can rack up quickly!)

there are tons of sets of things that are great for projects- hundreds of adorable vintage sewing patterns, beads, buttons, greeting cards, ribbon, fabric, books, anthropology prints, sheet music, and more.

it's also something i look forward to doing with matilda- low cost, and lots to choose from- she will have to wait and anticipate for her special little package to arrive in the mail! she can pick an item we can turn into a craft to do together, too.

here are some of the fun vintage things i found in my most recent browse:

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pricetag: $1.50

LOVE these brooches. remind me of fantastic mr. fox...

which i have been really into since design sponge did a "living in" on the movie...

i think they would be adorable pinned to a big scarf on matilda.

pricetag: $1.99

justin really likes this vintage set of 20 french vocabulary flash cards. french is the the first foreign language we'd like to familiarize matilda with. i thought they would be a great collage somewhere for practice...

pricetag: $2.00 per card

pricetag: $2.00 set of 6

pricetag: $2.00

these would make a cute tile for a tiling project.

pricetag: $2.00 for pair

pricetag: $1.00

pricetag: $.90 for set of 15

pricetag: $2.00 for four maps

pricetag: $1.75 for a family of 6 deer

pricetag: $2.00

strange little dishcloth... perfect to spice up your kitchen sink... looks like a bouquet of red poppies!

pricetag: $.90 for pair

shabby little glass candleholders, buyer only wants shipping paid... what a great deal!

pricetag: $1.75 per ring

pricetag: $2.00 set of 10 french flashcards

pricetag: $2.00 for 2 sheets

giftwrap for a gift, or to wallpaper a small project or area.

pricetag: $2.00 for ten cards

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go see what you can find!

daily obsession #1: dolls

we never really got into toys until matilda was older. we didn't buy her many of them because she didn't seem to care. they couldn't hold her attention as long as a straw or keys or something she could slabber all over. but now that she is older, i am really starting to become obsessed with finding her little things to play with. i really like hand made, or organic stuff. but today's obsession is DOLLS.

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for christmas this year, my parents- who are in poland- sent us a beautiful package with beautifully wrapped gifts. they sent matilda this adorable hairy guy that a friend of theirs hand made. LOVE.

they also sent this amazing miniature wool play set that my mother hand made. she is one talented lady! matilda likes to put the little animals in her toy train set and give them rides on the tracks.

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i am IN LOVE with blabla dolls. i have to say, they are at the top of the list for me. ESPECIALLY the little ones dressed in pantaloons.

i have found some really amazing hand made dolls on etsy. they can get very pricey for my taste, as i would rather have lots of them for matilda to play with than just a one or two.

there are so many talented people on etsy it is hard to pick just a few, but here are some of my favorites, all within the 40 dollar price range:

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bit of whimsy dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bitofwhimsyprims

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louie louie bebe dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/louielouiebebe

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poppy and ted dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/poppyandted

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magical creature dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Caracarmina

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pequenabuda softies

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pequenabuda

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chickabiddy baby sock dollies and rattles

http://www.etsy.com/shop/chickabiddybaby

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ollie and ivy dino the dinosaur dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ollieandivy

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3 momes et 1 couffin retro dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/3momeset1couffin

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weepereas eco soft dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/weepereas

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daily whisper comfy doll for baby

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DailyWhisper

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lil sprinkles big sis, little sis, and paperweight dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilsprinkles

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grandhorse handmade custom bunny rabbit dolls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/grandhorse

perfect for a birthday party for little girls! each girl can customize her own bunny.

my mother gave every child a different customized stuffed bear for my little sister's birthday one year. she made each one of them and put lots of fun details into each one... it was extremely memorable...