Exploring Amazon's Handmade Department

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So one of my dear friends is totally obsessed with the Amazon Handmade department. If you haven't heard of Amazon Handmade yet, think Etsy but on the Amazon site. In fact, I've noticed that many Amazon Artisans (sellers) also have Etsy shops. Amazon has an application process that their Artisans must complete before they can set up shop (I don't know what the approval process is like but I know there is one).

At any rate, my friend is obsessed with Amazon Handmade and has been buying things left and right lately. She's purchased handmade earrings, stationary, a cutting board, a purse, artwork, ceramics, a blanket, you name it. The other day she was showing me this husband and wife Artisan duo who make really cool melted mason jars that can be used as spoon rests, soap dishes, or tea bag holders (and now I find myself "needing" one). I like how you can sort by state on the Amazon Handmade homepage, in case you want to support local Artisans, and you can also search for Artisans who do custom orders, which is nice for gift-giving.

So back to my obsessed friend. A few weeks ago, she begged me to pick out a brush roll from the Amazon Artisan EcoHip, and she bought it for me when she was placing a larger order (I paid her back though; I just want to clarify that for my disclosure at the top of this post) and today I'd like to share my thoughts with you about this brush roll. Take a look!

This brush roll is from the Amazon Artisan EcoHip Custom Designs out of Florida. Natalie Morales is the owner/designer and she makes brush rolls, privacy (tampon) bags, reusable sandwich bags, checkbook covers and more, all of which you can see in her Amazon Handmade shop here (if you're not an Amazon person, she also has an Etsy shop here). The fabrics she uses for her creations are absolutely gorgeous, and I had a REALLY hard time deciding which brush roll to get.

EcoHip Makeup Brush Roll

(retail: $15 + $2.41 shipping in the Amazon Handmade Department)

Ultimately, I went with a darker fabric to hide makeup smudges, etc. and I selected her Amy Butler Bright Heart Folk Bloom in Midnight design, but there were about five other designs that I happily would have selected as well.

I am not a sewing person, which I think makes me appreciate hand-sewn items even more. I am in awe of anyone who can use a sewing machine, needle, thread, pattern, etc. because the entire process requires such attention to detail and incredible patience. I cannot tell you how many times I've tried to start a sewing project only to have it end up in a mess of thread and fabric the floor. I have no patience for it, I tell you!

But I digress. Back to this brush roll. I love handmade items in general, and I love them even more when they have to do with makeup. I love everything about this fabric, both inside and out:

As you can see, there are twelve compartments here, in various sizes. You can also double-stack some of your brushes like this:

So depending on the brushes you own, you can easily store a bit more than 12 in this roll. I just picked some random brushes from my stash here, just as an example.

Rolled up (with brushes inside)

For under $20 (including shipping), I am very pleased with this brush roll. It's handmade, it's beautiful, and it's just what I need for weekend getaways. I wouldn't use this brush roll for day-to-day, because it's not big enough to accommodate all of my brushes, but I think it's perfect for weekend trips because I can easily fit all of my "essentials" here, and keep them all nice and tidy on the bathroom counter of a hotel room. And the roll itself is not big or cumbersome, so it would fit easily in a suitcase or bag. 

Have you explored the Amazon Handmade department yet? If so, I would absolutely love to hear about your purchases!

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.