Etsy Spotlight: PepperberryKnits & MissCourageous

Each week here on my blog I spotlight a different Etsy artist. I try to be as diverse as possible in choosing the artists I spotlight, not simply choosing sellers that design cards or scrapbook projects. I strongly support buying handmade, whether it is from etsy.com, your local street market, fair or church bazaar. For me, buying and designing handmade products infuses a sense of personality, intimacy and personality not found in commercial stores or products. It is almost guaranteed that when you buy handmade, you are buying a product that has been made with love, care and by someone who really, genuinely loves to create.

This week, I couldn’t decide on just one seller, so I’m spotlighting two etsy sellers: Pepperberry Knits and MissCourageous! Both sellers are local to Boise/Nampa, Idaho and are active members of the IdahoIndieWorks team with etsy.

Pepperberry Knits

CASHMERE Fringe Scarf by PepperberryKnits.etsy.com

PepperberryKnits, based out of Nampa, Idaho, creates beautiful scarves, gloves, hats and other knitted items. What really makes PepperberryKnits stand out from the rest is her material of choice: 100% cashmere. Cashmere! That’s right ladies. The Cadillac of wools, cashmere comes from the underhairs of the Cashmere Goat. Unlike most wools, cashmere wool is fine in texture, and it is also strong, light, and soft; when it is made into garments, they are extremely warm to wear (according to Wikipedia). It may officially be Spring now, but it’s not too late to order one of these beautiful cashmere creations. As an added bonus, they are very reasonably priced, well below what you would pay in a department store or fancy boutique. To view more of PepperberryKnits’ creations see her etsy site at: http://www.pepperberryknits.etsy.com.

MissCourageous

Record Vinyl Brooch by MissCourageous.etsy.com

MissCourageous, also known as Millie, is local to Boise, Idaho and is another talented upcycle creator. She uses a wide variety of materials and mediums to create her one-of-a-kind jewelery and accessory pieces. Millie is a multi-talented artist with a second etsy store selling upcycled belt buckles called BuckleUp.etsy.com. Millie describes her works of art as:

All of the things I make used to be something else. It’s been called upcycling, recycling, repurposing, trash to treasure, trashion, eco-friendly, crafting green, re-use, reinvent, redesign, etc…
I call it “POP Jewelry & Accessories”. As in pop caps, pop music, pop a lid, pop art, pop culture. (from MissCourageous’ profile on her etsy shop)

According to her profile she has been “creating for as long as I can remember” and sells many of her beautiful works of art at local shops in Boise including, JuJu’s Accessories in the Boise Towne Square Mall, Hyde Park Gallery and the Boise State University Bookstore. She also has a booth at the Capitol City Public Market downtown Boise April 18 through Christmas. Visit her etsy shop at: MissCourageous.etsy.com; her blog at: MissCourageous.blogspot.com; or follow her on Twitter at: twitter.com/misscourageous.

If you have any recommendations for Etsy artists you would like to see in my weekly Spotlight, please leave a comment or email me! I would love to see who your favorite artists are as well!

Thanks for creating with me!