I do quite like dual-purpose objects. You know, a pen with a clock on it, a cap with a solar panel fan on it, a fire-alarm with a snooze button on it. And so on and so on.

But I’d say this is the best of the lot. Stewart and Patricia Would from ‘Tree Gems’ have come up with a great little accessory to combine a memory stick and a set of post-it notes.

The 2GB USB is able to hold between 1000 and 2000 photos, and let’s face it, you’d have to be a real David Bailey to have that many photos.

The stick itself is made from sycamore and houses plenty of 3″ x 1″ post-its. And when you run out you simply top them up.

The cost of this great little pint-sized device is a mere £18.95.

Buy online here: www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

By Joe

I don’t know about you but I can’t go to work without fulfilling my craving for a good cup of coffee.

Sometimes, I need two before I can even begin to think about doing anything remotely functional, like getting up.

Fortunately for me, I only have a short trip to work but for a lot of people, the daily commute can be the most stressful time of the day; jam-packed trains, chock-a-block roads, incompetent cyclists etc.

Surely the best way to relieve some of the hassle would be to find a coffee shop and buy yourself a decent cup of coffee. However, a common problem with the modern-day coffee cup is that the outside can get extremely hot.

Step forward Jennifer Westwood’s ‘Coffee Cozy’.

Jennifer, from ‘Mouthy Mitts’, has come up with a solution to a common, yet not widely recognised, problem which for £10 seems like something of a steal.

They come in a range of colours, are suitable to be put in the washing machine and can fit around any size coffee cup. The simplicity of the design means that once you’ve bought one, you’re unlikely to need to buy another one for a very long time.

Buy online at www.folksy.com/shops/MouthyMitts

by Joe

Out of all the categories on this blog Jewellery is perhaps the busiest. I’m extremely fond of accessories and always on the look out for new and unusual designs. This sparkly necklace from Elle F Bijoux is a bit of an eye-catcher. The base is a 1920’s pocket watch casing, filled with vintage and contemporary gems, rhinestones and buttons. A very pretty piece indeed!

Shop from www.ellefbijoux.etsy.com.

‘Shiney’ Necklace by Elle F Bijoux - $100 (approx £61). Delivery is only $10 (approx £6) from NYC.

All set for Christmas? Made your lists yet? Last year Locher launched a competition called Bad Santa. It was so successful that they’re running it for a second year. Here’s how it works. Instead of writing about how good you were this year, Evil Santa (aka Locher) wants to know how bad you’ve been. That’s right. He wants to know about all your naughty deeds and dirty dealings.

Email your letters to badsanta@lochers.com to be in with a chance of winning. The best letters will be posted anonymously on the Locher Facebook fan page and the letters to get the most “Facebook likes” will be the winners. Ten lucky people will have the opportunity to receive anything they want from the Locher store (with the exception of the new limited edition iPhone cases).

Letters can be emailed up to 20th December. Winners will be announced on 22nd December.

Here’s a little taster of what’s up for grabs.

Betsey Loves is a quirky little boutique selling pretty jewels and accessories. It’s a showcase of the beautiful and brilliant wares of independent designers and crafty creators from around the globe. Betsey loves vintage, kitsch and retro. And so do we.

Current designers include Bedcrumb, MUKU, Pina Colada, Wonderland, Orla n Eva, Coveted, Crash & Burn and the site’s signature brand Betsey Boutique Jewellery. They’re always on the look out for new and exciting designers and so do get in touch if you think your work fits their style.

The boutique offers lots of choice and there are some real gems to be found. Check it out at www.betseyloves.com.

Navdeep Dhiman is a mixed media textile designer. This for me, conjures up images of largely fabric based pieces or canvas artworks. However, Navdeep’s work is quite different. She works with thread, resin, hand dyed plastic and handmade beads to create unusual installations, jewellery and accessories. Her pieces are unexpected and very pretty.

I particularly like the installations which catch the light to make lovely dividers and wall hangings.

Navdeep doesn’t yet have an online shop but you can order her work by completing the form at www.navdeepdhiman.co.uk.

Some names just jump out at you. Like this one - kOodles. And you just know they’ll produce something quirky and a little off the wall. And they do. ‘Koodles’ are cute critter folk lovingly created by Vikki Aust. Each one is hand stitched, stuffed and embellished using new and recycled fabrics. Vikki also creates hand stitched pictures, accessories and gifts.

Browse and buy from www.koodles.co.uk.

What do Luxe Deluxe, The Mymble’s Daughter and Belle & Boo have in common? According to the Etsy by Numbers blog, they’re currently the top three Etsy sellers in the UK, in the Handmade category. I had a quick peak at their Etsy stores to see what it is that sets them apart.

Luxe Deluxe sells beautiful handcrafted jewellery, incorporating a vast array of unusual findings. You’ll find vintage brass, retro Japanese and Czech glass, sterling silver, antiqued pewter charms and vintage carved acrylics.

The Mymble’s Daughter also sells jewellery. Her work draws on imagery from her Welsh home, ‘a land where everyone lives in castles and the seas are filled with magical creatures’. You’ll find hand cut plastic silhouettes, clay pendants with printed images and other image based charms.

Peggy says of her work, ‘My Etsy success has been a great surprise to me! I do hardly any marketing so everything is mostly through word of mouth. I make what I love and I love what I make and I think my customers can tell that. I think it’s really important to enjoy what you do and not to try to make something just because you think it will sell well. Many people make jewellery for that special occasion but I try to make jewellery for every day too that you won’t be too precious about wearing. It’s fun to collect and to match it to your current outfit and mood. I think this is why I have so many repeat customers!’

Belle & Boo creates beautiful illustrations. The artist is Mandy who has been drawing since she was a child. Her favourite childhood storybooks remain a constant source of inspiration. The illustrations are beautiful, depicting children and animals, each one telling its own story.

All of these stores are different. But there are a number of similarities which could go part way to explaining their success. To begin, the product images in each store are well shot and different angles and close up views are provided. This is so important when selling online, but it’s something that many sellers overlook.

The product descriptions are detailed, providing the customer with everything they need to know about the items for sale. This includes sizing information and the materials that have been used.

Their shop policies are comprehensive and written clearly, stating everything that the customer needs to be aware of before purchasing.

Of course we mustn’t forget the products themselves. Each seller has a quality product which appeals to their target market.

And finally, following on from Peggy’s point, could it be their customer service that sets them apart? The ‘tone’ of each store is welcoming and friendly and their feedback ratings are good. Is it down to the customer relationships that are built up over the years and lead to repeat orders?

What do you think? What makes a successful Etsy seller?