Thing #6

"We are anthropologists of commerce. We’re curious about people and what they make, exchange and consume. By looking around at the stuff that matters to our lives, we believe we can understand more about what moves us as human beings."

When it comes to the Web 2.0 Awards, Etsy.com is a FABULOUS site! Etsy provides an outlet to buy and sell handmade goods of many different categories. The reason why I absolutely love this site is because it gives any artist to spotlight their talents and sell them for profit; in other words, you don't have to be Martha Stewart! I hope to one day open my own account and sell some of my work! Some other features are found on the site, including blogs and videos covering different subjects like DIY, travel, and hot topics. It is obvious that the editors of the site care a lot about what they do and creating a community atmosphere for their users.

I could easily see this site being used in an academic setting because it can inspire students to create their own projects. I know in high school I used this site several times in my art class to help come up with ideas for paintings. It can also be a great way to demonstrate to students the economics of running a "company" or account and create products for consumers. There are several different approaches to using the site in an educational manner.

Provided are some different products you can find on Etsy:

Wooden Journal

Finger Puppets

Hooded Poncho

Canvased Photography

For a full list of categories (which there are a TON) check out the website. You never know, you might find your own inspiration. :)