Where to Buy Indie Homemade Gifts

If you're in search of the perfect gift, and the national retailers just aren't cutting it anymore, handcrafted items made from local artisans may be your next shopping stop. As of late, there's been a surge in crafting by the younger crowd that's putting its own spin on handmade goods, turning out items such as cool knitted sweaters, to goth magnets and everything in-between.

Crafting just has gone trendy, and here are just a few places you can go to get your craft on or buy from the extremely creative.

Etsy: Etsy has got to the be the most well-known of the handmade goods sites. Its a great forum for both buyers and sellers. You just look on the list of categories of what to buy, and you are put in touch with crafters that have made maybe just what you are looking for to give to someone else. Products range from purses and beauty items, to the more untraditional, such as "geekery."

The homepage usually spotlights items called "handpicked." On a recent day among those handpicked items were, vegan cotton bracelets selling for $12 by a seller called "easternsky" and a $65 burgundy shrug by a seller called "trendyknitting."

Other shopping categories include, shopping by color, shopping local and editors' picks.

Shipping and handling as well as payment options vary by seller. Visit www.etsy.com.

Circle Circle Dot Dot: The word cute comes to mind. In fact, the motto of Circle Circle Dot Dot is "Handmade Cuteness. This site offers products by a rotating group of crafters. Shop for unique prints, note cards with a bit of a retro feel and patchwork coin purses in not-so-typical prints. Visit www.circlecircledotdot.com.

Peep: If you want something knitted or crocheted, try Peep Accessories, which sells handbags and accessories. Products are limited edition and they will even do custom designs. In addition, they sell very cute satchet sets made in the shape of baked goods, such as assorted chocolates, caramel apple and chocolate dipped strawberries - so cool. Visit www.peepaccessories.com.

Ach Ach Liebling: Based in San Francisco's Mission District, Ach Ach Liebling sells handmade jewelry "committed to following our own peculiar vision and are unmoved by trends," reads the about section of the web site. Products include a metal mustache pendant and a bird in a heart-shaped cage. Visit www.achachliebling.com.

Art School Dropout: Art School Dropout sells jewelry and accessories made from new and vintage materials, or plastic. Designs are pretty playful and include a television pendant necklace and octopus necklace. Visit www.artschooldropout.net.

Craftonite: The group is made up of a bunch of people who get together on a weekly basis and craft. The products sold are about as varied as the backgrounds of the people in the group and include photos, posters, screen prints and Victorian-style stuff. Visit www.thebazaarium.com.

Pretty Little Thieves: If you want art work for your home, but want something that's totally out of the ordinary, try Pretty Little Thieves. The crafter behind the product, draws, cut, pastes, colors and prints her work and sells via etsy. Visit www.prettylittlethieves.com.

Ryn Rina: Flower pins, rings and hairclips are the specialty of this crafter. The flowers have a sort of cartoonish look that makes these one-of-a-kind pieces fun to wear. Visit www.rynrina.com

Hella Good: Aside from the catching name, this business was started by best friends up in Northern California who started making bath products and selling them in 2004. Today, the web store not only sells bath products, but also jewelry, home decor, art and music. Check out the section called "Original Art, Music & Photography" if you are looking for some not so average art pieces for your home, such as polaroids of liquor store signs and a gnome statue. Visit www.hellagoodproducts.com.

DIY: For the person who would rather make than buy, go to www.instructables.com/id/homemade_gifts for some great ideas of gifts you can make. You can also post your instructions for gifts on the web site. Ideas range from making your own soap, to making a tile picture (for less than $3). If you're just learning to get your craft on, this site gives you step-by-step instructions and could get your creative juices flowing. Visit www.instructables.com/id/Homemade_Gifts.

If you like crafting, but don't want to see crochet doilies and knitted toilet paper covers, visit www.indiecraftshows.com for a nationwide calendar of indie crafting events, such as punk rock flea markets, the I Made it Market in Los Angeles and craft swaps. And if you're a crafter, the web site carries a small number of blogs related to selling techniques and other business-oriented information.