Style & Beauty

            Many readers have probably already heard about Esty.com, a website that features handmade goods in the form of anything from hand carved furniture to couture clothing, but did you know that many of these shops are here right in our backyards? Ok well not literally in our backyards..... but you know what I mean. What amazes me about Etsy.com is, not only is easy to use and filled with a plethora of options, but it also places a large emphasis on "community." Etsy.com allows you to specifically shop from individuals located in your area thereby contributing to your neighbors. Don't you feel all warm and fuzzy now? I had a chance to wander around the internet and check out some of Etsy.com's local D.C. shops . I was pleasantly surprised to find that we have some true hidden (ok maybe not so hidden) gems amongst us.  I sat down with Mandy Pellegrin, who is the founder of one of my favorite shops located right here in D.C. called "fabricpaperglue,"  which makes some of the most adorable clutches and pillowcases I have ever seen! The bright colors are just what every girl needs to ring in the spring this year!  Mandy also has a super fun blog www.fabricpaperglue.com which is really where her craftiness started to flourish and ultimately led to the opening of her Etsy shop. Like a lot of folks in DC, Mandy says  that she "is a bureaucrat (and proud of it), but I like to dedicate my free time to all kinds of different projects (everything from sewing quilts to infusing liquors to throwing parties). Then, I pretend that people care by blogging about it." Well Mandy, I am someone who definitely cares!