Etsy.com: Homemade in Canada for Valentine’s Day (Cards for $3+, Gifts for $8+)

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Etsy.com is an online store (made up hundreds of individual shops), allowing small, home-based artists to market their wares on a large scale. There are dozens of Canadian artisans making soap, sewing purses and crafting jewelry and other accessories on Etsy.com. We love the idea of of a completely homemade, completely Canadian Valentine's Day gift -- and we think your Valentine would, too. Here are just a few of the many Canadian-made gift available (use the geolocator or search function to find more).

• Pinkfire designs makes unique, funky jewelry in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. We love the bird earrings. (And we LOVE that they are $12.)
• When we first saw the vinyl applique purses by kittyempire3 in Nelson, BC, we wanted to buy one immediately. Then we realized we'd rather get one from our Valentine. (HINT, HINT.) The one we've pictured here is $50. And adorable. (HINT, HINT.)
• These fantastic spice kits are made in, and shipped from, Montreal. Their Thai and Indian starter-size kits are the perfect off-beat gift if your Valentine cooks. They've also got a kit for Chai Tea, which we imagine smells divine. The kits start at $15 and go up to $55.
• Flyball Bags is based in Toronto and makes fabulous bags of all sizes. Prices start at $8 for a wee coin purse and go up from there. Don't tell, but we are madly in love with the mustard yellow tie clutch.
• We love this classic Valentine's Day love note from Manitoba-based DzDesigns. It's $3 and it'll keep you from spending two hours, three glue sticks, and 47 pieces of paper making your own.
• If your Valentine has a sense of humour, these funny buttons from the Alberta-based ButtonEmpire are a must. Our favourite says "I am Soylent Green" and best of all, it's under two bucks. There are more romantic buttons as well ("I'd Rather Be Smooching My Nerdy Boyfriend," anyone?) and a ton of other little odds and ends.
• If your heart belongs in Winnipeg, you want this lovely map pendant, handmade in BC.

We're putting this up a bit early so you have time to search, order, and await your shipment. Each shop handles its own shipping and handling, and most every Etsy.com shop we have come across welcomes personalized or custom orders. So you can keep your Valentine's Day dollars in Canada and have a unique, one-of-a-kind gift to give to boot.

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