Weekly art websites: Handmade and art-inspired Christmas gifts

(2009 Etsy Inc.)

This week's selection includes five art websites that offer hand-made art objects and unique art-inspired gift ideas for Christmas.

1. Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/
Etsy is the eBay of the arts and craft world -- an online-marketplace where artists and crafts-makers sell their unique, handmade objects at reasonable prices. Some of the available products include silver necklaces, hand-sewn toys, clothes, mobile phone cases and paintings. Many sellers are willing to create custom-made products on request if you can't find exactly what you are looking for so don't hesitate to contact them and ask if they can make you that perfect Christmas gift.

2. Saatchi Online - http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/saleroom/
Saatchi is an online market place where up-and-coming, new, and established artist and galleries can show and sell their artworks. Buyers can browse through thousands of works and purchase works without paying a commission fee.

3. Imagekind - http://www.imagekind.com
Imagekind is a cross between an online art marketplace and a print-on-demand website that offers buyers a choice of more than 750,000 works of art. Consumers can opt to buy original artworks or can purchase museum-quality prints on paper or canvas.

4. Threadless - http://www.threadless.com/
Threadless is a vibrant social community of t-Shirt-design-submitting graphic designers, artists, fashion designers and bloggers. It is also one of the best places on the web to buy unique t-shirts for people with unusual tastes.

5. ArtFire - http://www.artfire.com
ArtFire is a newcomer on the scene, but it is incorporating social networking features that will quickly boost the website popularity. Much like Etsy, ArtFire lists and sells original works of art and craft pieces made by artists from all over the world.