I dropped the ball on my whole "Etsy Artist of the Week" feature for the past two weeks, so now I'm playing catch-up by presenting 3 amazing artists I'm loving right now. Thanks to my followers on Twitter (@budgetbabe) for tweeting about your fave etsy artists (that's how I found out about Bethany Lorelle, featured below). Feel free to add more suggestions in the comments!

Bethany Lorelle
bethanylorelle.etsy.com

This shop sells fun yet sophisticated hair accessories and handmade headbands for big girls who like to dress up.


Amanda Atkins in a Canary Forest
amandaatkins.etsy.com

I'm in love with this Boston-based artist's prints of mesmerizing heroines who are at once beautifully flawed and flawlessly beautiful.


Savage Salvage
savagesalvage.etsy.com

Each one-of-a-kind piece of recycled jewelry in this collection is a conversation starter that's also easy enough to wear every day.

The Budget Babe's resident product-tester-extraordinaire Kiki Bella (an alias) reviews some seriously smart skincare solutions. —BB



by Kiki Bella
Recently I was asked to review some products by a line known as Smart Girls Who Surf. Smart Girls Who Surf makes products that relate primarily to protection from the damaging rays of the sun, in addition to some soaps and other cute accessories. I am a smart girl but I don't surf, so how could these products apply to me? Well, for starters this company gets top marks right off the bat for being into protecting our planet, its waters and its people by making products that aren't full of icky chemicals. Some are even organic (major points there). The truth of the matter is that these products are awesome for any smart girl who finds herself doing anything in the sun. The products are fantastic, and I really am hooked on them.

In order to properly test these products out myself I took the Smart Girls Who Surf Grab-N-Go Kit ($24.99) on vacation with me diamond prospecting (yes, you read correctly—I spent one week in the middle of Arkansas in a 115 degree volcanic crater digging for diamonds—its hard work, and my boyfriend almost left me a few times, but I loved every second of it!). (continued below)