What I Bought With My Etsy Gift Card

The day I discovered Etsy was magical.  It was back in 2010 when I started planning our wedding.  I had read about it somewhere and decided to check it out.  And I was hooked.  I could spend hours looking at all of the different listings.  Over the years, I have made several purchases from ornaments to wreaths to personalized signs.  We even purchased the monogram we used on all of our wedding stationary as well as our Save the Dates on Etsy.

So when my in-laws gave me an Etsy gift card for my birthday, I couldn't wait to use it.  I hopped online and started going through my favorites.  Nothing jumped out as something I needed to have right that moment, so I waited.  And waited.  Then a few months ago, I become obsessed with birch bark.  I wanted to get either some candle holders or coasters or something made out of it, but I couldn't decide.  So I waited some more.  

Then I saw something on Pinterest (my other favorite site) that peaked my interest.  It was a handmade ladder used to display blankets.  I knew it was perfect for our cottage style home, but I thought my husband might be able to make it for me.  I mentioned it to him one day and a few months passed (not his fault, we've been really busy).  But I still reaaallyyy wanted the ladder.  

I hadn't thought before to check the price on Etsy, but when I did, they were around $50.  I decided to reach out to the seller to see what the exact cost of shipping would be.  It was around $30.  I hemmed and hawed over the price for awhile.  Since I had the gift card, though, I would only have to pay for shipping.  I realized that if my husband were to make it, he probably couldn't do it for less than $30 after all of the supplies.  That was justification alone for me!  So I went ahead and bought it.

I couldn't wait for it to come in.  It did take some time, since the sellers had to actually build and stain it.  Finally, a few weeks after the original purchase, it arrived.  It came in one piece and was securely bubble-wrapped.  Unwrapping it was like Christmas morning.  It was beautiful.  And sturdy.  And big.  

The first thing Dan said when he saw it was, "Yeah, I don't think I could have made it as nice as that."  So yes, he ultimately approved the purchase.

Now came the tough part...finding a place to display it.  The only place it really worked was in the living room corner, between the fireplace and makeshift entertainment center.  I debated on kitty-cornering it or putting it flush against the fireplace wall.  Then I questioned whether to leave the captain's chair in that corner, or remove it.  Ultimately, I decided to leave the chair and angle the ladder.  We need all the seating we can get in that room.  Then I just used the red and white striped pillows we use on the back deck and threw some blankets we had on hand on the rungs.   

I do think the corner looks a bit cluttered, but I think over time, I'll figure out how best to accessorize the area.  I would love to get a few more pattered blankets to bring a bit of color and texture to the area, but I'm not in any rush to get those.  
 
Of course, now I'm a little nervous on what we're going to do when we put up the Christmas tree.  Last year, we put one of our wicker chairs in that corner to make room for the tree, and I just loved how it looked there. Unfortunately, I don't really have any other place to put the ladder.  This is the problem with having a small house.  I see so many things I want to use, but i just don't have room for it all.  That's why I switch things out so frequently - to use it all.  Ultimately, I want the ladder to be displayed where people can see it, but I may end up moving it around with each season.

Be well,