I’m officially way behind on my gift buying. I’ve been especially grateful to Etsy this year for not only connecting me to local crafters, but also for making holiday shopping a little easier for this procrastinator. I’m not buying as many gifts this year, but I am excited to buy some for the kiddos in my life.
monkeyhat

I’ve just made friends with a two-month-old, and I’m smitten with how cute she looks in hats. For her, I’m hitting up local crafter Lauri Armstrong’s Etsy shop.

Armstrong makes reversible hats using recycled yarn and fleece, with images of animals, like the monkey pictured (right). She offers to make custom sizes (the one here fits 0-6 months), so I’m thinking about ordering one for my own head. She’s also running a promotion of 15 percent off all items through December. ($20 plus shipping.)

dollUlla Seckler’s Etsy shop features her handmade dolls, constructed using the Waldorf technique, a tradition that started in her native Germany. Seckler’s dolls are made from pure wool and cotton, and I immediately crooned over the tiny tots featured in the “Wee Pocketdolls” category.

She also offers plenty of doll clothing, from nightgowns to a mermaid costume, so that playing dress-up is even more fun. (Wee dolls are $9.25-$9.50 plus shipping; clothing varies.)