First-ever Etsy Awards Acknowledges Canadian Creatives

The Etsy Awards celebrate the best in Canadian creativity and craftsmanship

Etsy, a global online marketplace, is a popular platform for independent creative businesses around the world to showcase and sell vintage items, handmade goods and artwork. Founded in 2005 in Brooklyn, New York, there are now about 1.6 million sellers and 25 million buyers from around the world who use the site to stay connected and share their love for art and design.

With so many active users, there is a load of talent on the site. To recognize stand-out sellers as leaders in their fields, Etsy Canada held its first-ever cross-country competition with six different award categories.

From over 2,000 entries, the esteemed panel of judges—including Etsy Canada’s managing director Erin Green and designer/television personality Jillian Harris—had the tough decision of selecting 60 finalists and eventually picking one winner per category (each winning a $1000 cash prize) while Canadians voted for the Community’s Choice Award winner, who also recieved a grand prize of $10,000.

Click through to see the six winners of the 2016 Etsy Canada Awards…

Forest Print by Katelyn Morse

The $10,000 grand prize Community’s Choice Award winner was Birch Bliss founder Katelyn Morse for her Forest Print. This young artist from Nova Scotia takes inspiration from nature to create prints and home decor. This serene evergreen forest painting showcases the vibrancy of the outdoors.

Minimalist Moon Phases by Claire Goodchild

The Art, Illustration & Paper Goods award was given to Toronto-based artist Claire Goodchild for her Minimalist Moon Phases print. Creating art inspired by astrology, Goodchild uses a mix of graphic design, painting and illustration to design her pieces and takes a very hands-on approach to her creative process—painting, drying and packaging each piece personally.

Shibori-dyed Silk Blend Dress by Devlyn van Loon

Independent designer Devlyn van Loon won The Fashion & Accessories award for her Shibori-dyed silk blend dress. Her label focuses on pieces that are comfortable, transitional and one-of-a-kind. Each garment is created in her Toronto studio using European materials and certified organic textiles that are high quality and long-lasting. The print of this dress was made with the Shibori technique, a Japanese hand-dyeing style dating back to the 18th century where no two pieces end up looking the same.

Diamond Gemology Pillow Cover by Andrea Tsang Jackson

Nova Scotia native Andrea Tsang Jackson‘s Diamond Gemology Pillow Cover was awarded for its success, and Tsang was also recognized for her shop, 3rd Story Workshop in The New Talent category. This pillow is hand-quilted with 32 fabric pieces to create the reflections of light in a round-cut diamond. With a background in architecture, Tsang is a self-taught quilter whose interests lie in geometry and materials.

ZZZ Blanket by Yarning Made

This hand-knit ZZZ Blanket from Yarning Made was the winner in The Kids & Baby category. Sandra van Katwijk, a mother of three, knows children’s comfort first-hand and runs a successful blanket shop in Victoria. She combines her love for bold graphics and colour to create these modern, cozy designs, which are available in stores across the world.

Opulux Cone Table Lamp – Gagan Singh

Winnipeg’s Gagan Singh took The Home & Living category for his stylish Opulux Cone Table Lamp made from brass and marble. Raised in an Air Force family, Singh combined his passion for design and aviation to become a self-taught furniture and modern lighting designer. His pieces are created with strong attention to detail, craftsmanship and the mantra that The Best Things in Life are Still Made By Hand™.