Etsy Shop for BlueMonkey

orange purple pink repurposed sweater angora

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:08:08 -0500

$65.00
I collect discarded and outdated sweaters, shrink them, disassemble them, and piece them back into new items. I machine stitch them, then hand-embroider the seams for reinforcement and a unique look.

This sweater is made mostly of angora sweaters. It is extremely soft and comfortable. (The dark purple is a cotton/acrylic blend - also soft.) The embroidery was done with a lavenderish thread. A heart is on the upper back.

I do not use a pattern, so it is sized according to the sweaters available, and by me trying it on as I go along. I have to be my own model for photos, so you can see how it fits someone who is about a size 8 U.S. with fairly broad shoulders. The sleeves are nice and long, as is the body. If I can clarify anything for you, please email.

Thanks for looking!

Pink purple reassembled sweater with hood and hearts

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:01:47 -0500

$75.00
I collect sweater castaways, shrink them, disassemble them, and piece them back into new things. They are machine stitched, then hand-stitched for reinforcement and uniqueness. The sweaters used for this are made of high quality imported wool (the body was originally a hand-knitted sweater that was never finished by the knitter), angora and cotton. It is soft and warm. There is a heart sewn onto each side of the hood.

I do not work from a pattern, so I'm not sure exactly what size it is, but I'd call it a Medium. I have to be my own model, and I'm about medium-sized (a 7-8 American).

Any other questions? Convo me, and thanks for looking!

Recycled Sweater Dress red pink white size 5-9 (US)

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:59:40 -0400

$95.00
I find wool-blend sweaters, wash and dry them, and piece them into new items. They are machine stitched, then hand -embroidered for decoration and durability. This one has a hood, small pocket on the chest, and another pocket in the skirt. I build them on myself and I'm 5'6", 130 lbs, about a size 6 to 8, depending. This dress is loose on me, and long, and the sweaters are stretchy.

These are very warm and cozy. My customers and I get a lot of positive attention while wearing these.

Mountain Laurel rebound vintage journal

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:54:08 -0400

$30.00
We take old, discarded books and rebind them with blank paper to make journals. All of the blank paper is hand-folded and cut to fit. This one is called "Mountain Laurel." The cover features a snappy young woman from the 50s, her skirt lifted slightly by a breeze. It is handbound with decorative weaving on the end, 7.5" long by 5" wide, and about 1" thick. It has a ribbon placeholder, an illustration in the front inside cover, and the original library card holder preserved in the back. This makes a great gift for any writer, artist, philosopher or scrapbooker.

The Limerick Trick yellow journal rebound vintage book

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:43:32 -0400

$22.00
We take old, discarded books and rebind them with blank paper to make journals. This one is called "The Limerick Trick." The cover is in very good condition, a cheerful yellow with red, teal and brown. It is handbound with decorative weaving on the end, 8.5" long by 5.75" wide, and about .75" thick. It has a ribbon placeholder. This makes a great gift for any writer, artist, philosopher or scrapbooker.

Die Insel journal handbound blank sketchbook from Germany

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:29:56 -0400

$30.00
We take old books with interesting covers and rebind them with 30% recycled blank paper. We found this book in a Czech bookstore (in Tabor) but I think it's German or Danish. We cut light green blank paper to fit and hand-sewed them with exposed binding. It has end papers with some of the original illustrations, a silver ribbon bookmark, unique beads and trim. It is perfect for a writer, artist or traveler. The cover is lovely, with a figure in a boat heading to an exotic island under silver stars. The title (I think it means "Desert Islands") is in silver, surrounded by purple and blue vines. It measure 18.5 cm x 13 cm or 7.5" x 5" with about an inch of thickness.

Stained glass suncatcher in shades of purple

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:59:02 -0400

$22.00
Salvaged glass is hand-cut in an abstract design and framed for hanging in a small window. Eye-screws on top of the frame allow you to use wire, chain or fishline to suspend the suncatcher from above. This is not a leaded stained glass piece: rather, I take scrap glass discarded by stained glass artists and glue it onto things. This one uses translucent glass adhered to a pane of clear glass with a clear adhesive, resulting in the look of stained glass. It is grouted with epoxy grout, which is extremely resilient. The wood frame is painted purple. It is 4" x 6".

Jar lantern stained glass Dusty Rose

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:27:03 -0400

$40.00
Each summer, I attend the Cracked Pots Recycled Garden Art festival as a vendor. It is a lot of fun, and I get to meet and be inspired by about 80 other artists working in reclaimed materials in Oregon. I'm posting a few things that didn't sell this year, and this is one.

These lantern/candleholders are made of pre-cycled glass jars covered in mosaic made of salvaged stained glass. This one uses pinkish-purplish glass, some blue/purple/ translucent glass, textured clear glass, and marbles. It shines brightly with a candle inside or with the sun shining through. A wire handle is added for carrying or hanging, and it is designed for either indoor or outdoor use. The jar was a mayonnaise jar and is about 7" tall, plus the wire handle.

Stained glass lantern blue and purple Upcycled

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:04:46 -0400

$30.00
I used salvaged stained glass and pre-cycled glass jars to create beautiful lanterns for use indoors or out. This one is made of a jelly jar, about 5" tall, plus a wire handle. It can be hung from a hook or used freestanding. It looks pretty on a windowsill with the sun shining through, and stunning with a candle inside at night.

I have added a photo of a different lantern to show how they look at night with a candle inside.

Hope Tree on salvaged cabinet door demo

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:25:19 -0400

$125.00
This is an original painting done in acrylic, latex (leftover housepaint) and oil pastel. It has been sealed with a glossy coating to protect the painting.

I collect these cupboard door demos from a cabinet distributor when they are being discarded to make room for new products. I usually only take those that I can use for mosaics, but I had to rescue as many as I could. I decided to try painting onto them, and this is the first result.

It is 14.5" x 14.5", including the "frame".

For me, trees are significant as a symbol in many ways. They are rooted in the Earth, reaching for the sky. They act as air purifiers, making it possible for us to breath. Trees provide so much that is essential to our lives as humans. While trying to think of a symbol of hope in these troubled times, the tree keeps popping up for me. This tree has a heart in it's trunk and a blue bird perched at the top. The bird makes me think of peace. Whatever you see in the imagery, I hope it brings you a sense of optimism. We could all use it right now.

It is fitted with a sawtooth hook and ready to hang on your wall.

Peace Plaque 6 inches

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:20:25 -0400

$20.00
This 6" x 6" plaque is made of a wedi scrap (foam-core board with cement-coated mesh used for tile installation), covered with a salvaged stained glass mosaic featuring a pink peace sign with a blue background. Each piece of glass is hand-cut to create a design. It is made to hang indoors or out, though I recommend bringing it in during freeze-thaw cycles, just in case. A sawtooth hook is attached to the back, so it's ready to hang.

Perfect for that small space on your wall, a garden fence, or as a gift for someone special, this is a 99% recycled piece of custom art.