For the uninitiated, Etsy is an online marketplace, made up entirely of artisans selling their handcrafted goods out of virtual storefronts. I happened to stumble upon the site one day in 2012 (while looking for a cute necklace I saw Katie Holmes wearing in People Magazine), and now almost exactly two years and 542 favorite items later I emerge from my Etsy shopping hangover and assess the damage.
I knew I truly had a problem when I realized I had 42 open tabs, and each tab had an piece of jewelry, or a painting, a hand carved "Under the Apple Tree" canopy bed, or tiara (!) that I suddenly couldn't live without. I was getting out of control, packages were arriving almost daily. And since most items I bought are handmade, knowing something was made just for me started to provide an added thrill. Something clearly had to be done.
In order to regain a measure of control over my ever-worsening habit, I decided to give up Etsy for Lent. Cold turkey. When Lent is over, maybe I will try to add some Etsy time back. One step at a time. Everything in moderation is the new mantra.
In the meantime, if anyone who reads this should decide to become an member of the Etsy community (You should!), don't be shy! Stop by and introduce yourself!
