Search results (title) for: "upcycling"

Etsy Finds: Gifts for the Eco-Minded

2009-11-21T10:50:00-05:00

Feel good about the gifts you share this holiday season by giving sustainable, environmentally friendly keepsakes. One of the many talents Etsy artisans possess is the vision to create meaningful, clever, and fresh designs from unexpected materials. Each of the gift ideas below has been upcycled from reclaimed, recycled or vintage materials and would make a memorable gift for your loved ones. Shop Etsy's Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide for more creative gift ideas with an eco-twist.

For the Home

Recycled Turntable Clock

By pixelthis, $124.

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Vintage perpetual calendar

By everyeskimo, $34.

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Recycled T-Shirt Rug

By talkingsquid, $54.

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Mounted bike rack reclaimed wood

By cantileverandpress, $75.

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Storage Basket in Vintage Linen

By polkadotsandblooms, $39.

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Upcycled Suitcase Pet Bed

By lovenostalgicwhimsy, $65.

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Reclaimed Sink Stand

By reclaimedhome, $825.

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Reclaimed Wood Photo Frame

By IvarsDesign, $75.

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Wine Barrel Lazy Susan

By alpinewinedesign, $125.

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Shabby Reclaimed Wood Box

By jehnepenne, $19.

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Porcelain Door Knob Hook

By reclaimedhome, $40.

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Vintage Elevated Dog Feeder

By juliacuster, $50.

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coffee sack inspiration board

By designsmayamade, $36.

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Golden Wood Floor Frame

By SecondLineFrames, $85.

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pink plaid

By markdalpra, $75.

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Recycled Coffee Bean Burlap Pillow

By 31homeart, $75.

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On-the-Go

Recycled Suits Gadget Cozy

By RumahKampung, $18.

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Canvas and Lace Tote Bag

By wonderwear, $68.

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Set of Three Sweater Balls

By handmadepretties, $45.

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Clutch made from Target Bags

By blueskybags, $85.

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Dog sweater from reclaimed wool

By MyPuppyPie, $32.

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Ruffle Neck Sweater Dress

By RebeccasArtCloset, $60.

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Stag Black Linen Journal

By tickerfinch, $45.

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Eco-Friendly Bag in Robin's Egg

By humade, $125.

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Hip Bag Eco-friendly

By humade, $45.

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ReConstructed Dress shirt

By PeekoApparel, $75.

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High Walnut Wedge Mohops

By mohop, $148.

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cozy/cuff - light green

By meganauman, $20.

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Bicycle Tire Belt - Hybrid Tread

By julienjaborska, $20.

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Organic Linen Hook Organizer

By atelierdesoyun, $33.

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Hounds-Tooth Topcoat Flask

By RogueEmpire, $17.

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Ladies Pantshirtdress

By mucke, $350.

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All the Details

Porta II - photoalbum

By lacunawork, $70.

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Sock slippers

By netamir, $50.

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Living Ring Squared

By audreylaine, $65.

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Soy Organic Cotton and Silk

By Hopeless, $150.

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Soaking Salt Gift Set of 3 Scents

By SpaGoddess, $22.

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Twig Bracelets in Recycled Sterling

By kristincoffin, $249.

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Oak and Stainless Steel Belt Buckle

By solidio, $60.

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Custom Bralette Set

By ClareBare, $68.

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White Bustle Plaid Clutch

By recycledrings, $28.

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Sterling antique scissors necklace

By TheBlackSpotBooks, $70.

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embroidered collars

By MissAmyPhipps, $115.

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floral silverware handle earrings

By ballandchain, $18.

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Command Flash - Black Shift - 4GB

By robotbaby, $28.

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Recycled Sign Tie

By PunchDrunkPrince, $40.

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Hi Earrings

By corrieberrypie, $16.

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Gold Point Vessel

By upintheairsomewhere, $36.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Earth Tones Blog Series

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Guest Curator: Altered Couture

2009-11-11T15:00:00-05:00

Beth Livesay’s main thrill in life is to shop. Luckily for her, managing Altered Couture magazine entails a lot of browsing on Etsy, where she sources the most stylish upcycled clothing and accessories. Not only do these items leave her inspired, but she also enjoys sharing her finds with readers around the world, so that other people can shop, create, and be happy too.

Altered Couture prides itself on remaining at the cutting edge of artistic fashion. Nothing exudes personal style more than taking something mainstream and altering it to become a one-of-a-kind item, or accessorizing with a unique piece to make a fashionably green statement. The following pieces caught my eye for their execution and wearability. It’s hard to believe these items were once something else. They definitely make you look and think twice.

Superlarge Red Pull Tab Tote

Green never looked so gorgeous! Red is not only in fashion right now, but the sparkle from PopTopLady’s pull tab tote (1500 tabs, to be exact) makes this festive enough for the holidays. $80.

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The Opulent Satin Dress

I love dresses, particularly those with volume and a corset bodice. gaudycouture is anything but overdone. Their frocks offer playfulness à la Betsey Johnson, with upcycled and sourced vintage silks. Accessorize with the perfect necklace and you have party perfection. $200.

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It's Only Rock and Roll But I Like It....

As I said, I love dresses, and this piece by clairelafaye is glamorously bedecked. Draped with vintage lace and tulle, it's contemporary and girly with an added edge. This is the ideal New Year’s Eve dress. And did you see the back? $1025.

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Drop shoulder, over-sized sweatshirt fleece hoodie with crochet details

kaylim is a rising star in the altered fashion world. I love pieces that are cozy, a tad slouchy and loaded with detail. This sweater is perfect for layering and will definitely garner attention and adoration from fall to winter. $92.

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The Tell Me Truly Dress / Skirt

Maybe it’s the romantic picture, maybe it’s the name, or maybe it’s because I’ve been a fan of ArmoursansAnguish for over a year now, but the Tell Me Truly Dress evokes tiers of joy. This ethereal garment is 100% recycled, reclaimed, and cannot be duplicated exactly: words fashionistas love to hear. The best part? It can be worn as a dress or a skirt, which provides more options for the wearer, and is truly altered couture. $88.

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Tulip Dress

If I had a million dollars I would blow a huge wad of it in sarahseven's shop. It’s hard to play favorites when it comes to her line, but the Tulip Dress is straight from heaven. I especially love that Sarah uses recycled bustiers to make her confections. The color, the details, the possibilities: this lovely is couture craftsmanship at its finest. $475.

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Blooming Lemon meringue (( fabric bib necklace ))

One of my favorite shopping addictions is florabond. I love statement jewelry — and more so when it’s repurposed with added bling. Upcycled petticoat netting, fabrics from the 1950s, and the yummy color make this sunny stunner unforgettable. This necklace brightens my day every time I see it.

Another reason that I love shopping from Flora is that you get to choose your rhinestones and placement. I get compliments every time I wear her jewelry. $79.

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Crazyquilt Travelling Coat - Rainbow stripedelic - Upcycled-Recycled-Elf Couture

The embodiment of altered couture is katwise’s recycled sweaters. The colors and concept are so amazing; I’ve never seen anything else like it. $188.

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Cherry Blossom Felted Booties

Shoes can be altered too! Crafttastrophe has the funkiest shoe shop on Etsy, offering all varieties of altered shoes, from stamped wedges to painted pumps. $80.

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Peplum Evening Top

This top takes my breath away every time I see it. It’s the perfect winter look, complete with shine, silk, tulle, and a necklace clasp for a closure. The contrast between the different textures is what makes this piece extra luxe. Plus, it’s made from a 1920s flapper dress — my favorite fashion era. By brightpirate, $155.

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Nerdy Birdie In Blue Poly Blend Blazer Bag

There are a lot of bags out there right now, but this plaid print is on point. This is the perfect fall accessory, especially when paired with PineBlossoms' leafy skinny scarf and your favorite pair of boots. $62.

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ANGEL FOOD CUFF CAKE PAIR BY BOUDOIR QUEEN

BoudoirQueen’s cuff cakes are pure genius — I want to eat them up! All BQ accessories are made from vintage dresses and embellishments. Imagine these peeking out from beneath a blazer, or wear with your favorite dress for a night out. $126.

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If you love innovative clothing and repurposed fashion, be sure to check out Altered Couture. To glance at upcoming and past issues, submit, or learn where to purchase a copy, visit Stampington & Company. For more on Altered Couture, follow Stampington & Company on Twitter or Facebook.

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive!

How-Tuesday: Miniature Stocking Ornament From Sweater Renewal

2009-11-10T14:30:00-05:00

As the season of bulky fibers descends upon us, I inevitably must clean out my sweater drawer for new finds. Pulling out fistfuls of thick wool, I mourn moth holes, shrunken sleeves, oil stains. The colorful knits, even flawed, nevertheless feel enduring, and thus when I came across Sharon Franco Rothschild's Sweater Renewal, I was already inspired. For this week's How-Tuesday, Sharon shares her wool felting technique, along with a template to make a cozy upcycled Christmas ornament. You could even enlarge the template to make a full-size Christmas stocking.

Purchase Sweater Renewal from Amazon or an independent bookseller

I am, always will be, a self-confessed sweater junkie. Whether I am designing, knitting, buying, felting, cutting, or wearing sweaters, I can never get enough of them. Sweaters provide comfort, warmth, and a certain sense of style.

We all have our favorites — some that make us feel fabulously stylish, some that make us feel incredibly comfortable, and those that offer a coziness and warmth that no other piece of clothing can compete with. As we collect and add sweaters to our wardrobes year after year, memories also attach themselves to each piece.

I will forever remember one of my all-time favorite sweaters, and its quick demise. I was sixteen years old, and the sweater (I can remember it like it was yesterday) was a pink mohair cardigan, the exact color of cotton candy. When I wore this sweater, I felt transformed. I felt grown up, stylish, even beautiful. But one of my father's first attempts to do the laundry for our family ended in disaster for this cherished piece of clothing. After some washing-machine agitation (in hot water, no less), my beautiful sweater shrank down to one-third its original size and was suddenly and completely unwearable. But my love affair with this sweater was not yet over. I kept it in my top dresser drawer, and every time I opened that drawer, I would look at my pink sweater and remember instantly how good it had made me feel. It was years before I could actually part with it. How I wish now that I had made something else out of it, something that I could have continued to use in my daily life, to remind me of my dad and the wonderful feeling that sweater had given me.

Fortunately, I have discovered that damaged sweaters, old sweaters, out-of-style sweaters, and sweaters that once belonged to a loved one can have a second life. So clean out your closets, start your washing machines, sharpen your scissors, and get ready to redesign, recycle, and renew your wool sweaters.

Miniature Stocking Ornament

It's never too soon to start thinking about the holidays. These tree ornaments are just waiting to be stuffed with tiny treasures and placed on your tree or above your fireplace. The stocking is made from a brightly colored mohair sweater.

Finished Measurements
3" (7.5cm) x 5 1/2" (14cm)

Materials
Yellow-green sweater made of mostly feltable fibers, at least 8 3/4" x 16 1/2" (22cm x 42cm)
Stocking template (download here) and tracing paper
Sewing needle and yellow thread
1 skein each Rowan Classic Cashsoft 4-ply yarn, 57% extra fine merino, 33% microfibre, 10% cashmere, 1.75 oz (50g), 197 yd (180m), in light brown and dark green, plus fuchsia for crochet flower (optional)
Crocheted fuschia five-petal flower (optional)
Four 10mm nugget beads, 3 amber, and 1 translucent white (2 amber beads and the white one are optional)
Small box of straight pins
DMC embroidery needle #5
Beadalon big eye beading needle 2 1/4" (5.5cm)
Tapestry needle
Size G-6 (4mm) crochet hook (optional)

Techniques
Washing and felting
Embroidery: Blanket stitch, running stitch
Crochet (optional): Silp stitch, chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet

Felt the Sweater

There are three methods for felting sweaters: in your washing machine, by hand in your sink or tub, or at your local dry cleaner. The washing-machine method is the easiest and fastest way to felt, especially if you are washing a whole sweater or blanket. If you are doing a small piece, such as a sock, hat, or a cut piece of a sweater, you may find the hand-washing method easier. If you do not want to deal with the actual washing and felting yourself, your local dry cleaner is a good alternative.

Washing-Machine Felting
1. There are two types of washing machines — top loaders and front loaders. Top loaders open at the top of the machine, and you put your clothes in a basket-like container that has a cylinder in the middle. Top loaders work best for sweater felting for two reasons. The first is that you can open the top at any time during the wash cycle and check your felting. The second is that the cylinder in the middle provides a lot of agitation, so your sweater will felt very quickly, often in one cycle.

Front loaders have a door that opens in the front of the machine, and they provide a much larger, more open space than a top loader. Once the wash cycle begins, the door automatically locks and cannot be opened until the cycle is finished. Because there is no spin basket in the front loader, there is less agitation. So with front loaders, I suggest that you begin any felting project using a very short cycle (hand-wash is best) and know that you may need to go through a few cycles before your sweater will felt the way you want it to.

How to Felt Using the Washing Machine

Place your item in a pillowcase. This will protect your piece and provide more friction (which is a good thing).
Select a very short cycle to begin. The hand-wash cycle is always a safe bet.
Set the water temperature to Warm.
Add about 1/4 cup (60ml) of Ivory liquid soap, or any dishwashing liquid with a low pH balance.
Select the shortest spin cycle and the gentlest wash cycle. Spinning the item for too long can distort the shape of the piece, but it needs to spin a little so all the water comes out.
Place the pillowcase with your item inside in the washing machine. Start your washing machine. Do not felt more than one piece at a time. After each cycle, take your piece out of the pillowcase and check to see if you need to wash it again.
When you have achieved the desired results, put your item in the dryer (still in the pillowcase). Run the dryer on a very low- or no-heat setting until the item is dry.

Make the Stocking

2. Trace and cut out the Stocking template (download here), enlarged at 200%. Pin the template onto the felted sweater and cut it out.

3. Pin right sides together. Machine-stitch around the sides of the stocking, using a 1/2" (13mm) seam allowance. Leave the top edge of the stocking open. Turn the stocking right-side out.

4. Turn under 1" (2.5cm) at the top of the stocking. Using light-brown yarn, the tapestry needle, and running stitch, stitch around the stocking to secure the top hem.

5. Blanket stitch around the machine-stitched edges of the stocking, using light-brown yarn and the tapestry needle.

Appliqué & Embroider

6. If desired, you may crochet a five-petal fuchsia flower.

Chain 4, leaving a tail 3" to 4" (7.5 - 10cm) long. Join with a slip stitch to form the loop. (Chain 3, single crochet 1 into the loop) 4 times. Chain 3. Using a slip stitch, join to the base of the first chain 3. You now have five petals. Fasten off, leaving a tail 3" to 4" (7.5 - 10cm) long.

Pin the crocheted flower in place on the front of the stocking. WIth the beading needle, sew an amber nugget bead in the center of the flower, simultaneously sewing the flower to the stocking front. Be careful not to sew the front of the stocking to the back while doing this. If you do not wish to use the crocheted flower, simply sew the amber bead to the front of the stocking at the same point where it would be if the flower were there.

Crochet Loop (Optional)

7. This loop will attach to the bead center of the flower, closing the stocking. Using dark-green yarn, join the yarn to the top center back of the stocking with a slip stitch. Chain 32, slip stitch into the 22nd chain to form the loop, work a single crochet in each chain from that point back to the edge of the stocking. Tie off the yarn and weave the end under the hem of the stocking.

Crochet Strap (Optional)

8. Using two strands of light-brown yarn held together, leave a 3 1/2" to 4" (9-10cm) tail and tie an overhand knot with the two strands used as one. Attach yarn to the upper left corner of stocking (on the heel side). Crochet a 7" (18cm) chain. Chain 10 beyond the 7" (18cm) point. Form these 10 chains into a loop and slip stitch to the end of the 7" (18cm) chained strap. Sew an amber nugget bead onto the upper right corner of the stocking (on the toe side). The chained strap will come over the stocking and attach to this bead by the loop. At the end of the strand of yarn you left as a tail at the beginning of the strap, tie an amber bead. Tie the white translucent bead at the end of the other yarn tail.

Thanks to Sharon Franco Rothschild and the good folks at Potter Craft for sharing this project with us. For more upcycling inspiration, check out Sweater Renewal.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Guest Curator: Wardrobe Refashion

2009-09-16T17:00:00-05:00

Wardrobe Refashion came about when Nichola Presteds, a.k.a. wardroberefashion, decided she needed to be more eco-friendly. She started with the obvious stuff like drying her clothes on the line outside, using less water, and reducing the packaging her family uses, but she knew she could be doing more. Her thoughts turned to her sewing hobby and the global need for clothing. She decided to go 6 months without buying new manufactured clothing and instead refashion or make her own from scratch. She shared her idea on her blog and was overwhelmed with the response. Participants worldwide join her on the blog pledging to abstain from purchasing new manufactured clothing, instead choosing to refashion, renovate, and recycle pre-loved items.

Originally from the UK, Nichola Prested now lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband Kev and their three girls. She spends her days being paid to play with fabric at Tessuti Fabrics, enjoying time with her family, working with BurdaStyle and keeping Wardrobe Refashion running smoothly.

Although Wardrobe Refashion is all about refashioning and making from scratch, buying handmade items is accepted, which means Etsy purchases are allowed, particularly those that are recycled or refashioned! And Etsy has heaps of recycled/refashioned handmade items to offer...

M ethical green blue patterned slouch dress - 'sit down stand up'

A local designer who uses recycled materials in her work. I love this dress, it would work great in summer with some sandals and shades or in winter with thick tights and a cardi. By heidiandseek, $55.

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Black Leather Wristlet / Coin Purse

A cute little wristlet made from pre-loved leather jackets. By minaandoli, $40.

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Pretty Birdie's Antique Quilt and Feed Sack Dress Size small ON SALE

I'm in love with this antique quilt and feedsack dress! By stephanieteague, $154.

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Jack and Jill Necklace - Red

A cute little necklace made from recycled plastic and vintage enameled steel chain. By LianaKabel, $48.

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BIRTHDAY SALE Vintage Inspired Swishy Floral Frock

One of my favorite refashionistas, Veronica Darling, has used vintage fabric to create this gorgeous 1940s style frock. By veronicadarling, $20.

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Miss Madeline PDF Dress Pattern 6 months - 4 years

How cute is this little girl's dress pattern?! Use up your stash of old pillowcases and hankies. By littledresses, $9.95.

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Upcycled Cashmere/Silk Gray Top

A great everyday tee. By aTimeToHeal, $25.

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lilian asterfield triple ruffle upcycled blue green and pink neck kerchief/ascot

Keep your neck warm in the cooler weather with this fabulous kerchief made from neckties. By lilianasterfield, $120.

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Handknit beret hat in recycled eco-friendly Shetland wool / cadet blue ONE OF A KIND

I adore this chunky beret knit from reclaimed wool and embellished with vintage buttons. By miscusi, $25.

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Tire Swings... Lambswool Slippers from Recycled Sweater, Sizes 6 months- 4 years

A little something for baby. By woolybaby, $38.

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Recycled vinyl billboard - 'Rock and Roll' - Clutch / Wristlet

This cool little clutch is just right for a night out. Throw in a tube of lipstick, your wallet and keys, then hit the town. By seen1, $26.

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Vintage Zipper Slide Studs - Charcoal Gray

These vintage zipper earrings are fantastic! By AmaliaVersaci, $14.

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Ivory Peacock Hand-Painted Pumps

Oh, if only these were my size! These handpainted beauties are repurposed vintage heels. By ScholarlyArticles, $80.

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The Botany Coat

This vintage swing coat has been tweaked in all the right places to make the perfect comfy dress. It's also great if you're expecting! By brightpirate, $80.

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Vintage Sewing Pattern / Double Breasted Yoked Dress from 1965 / McCalls 8118

I'm a HUGE fan of vintage sewing patterns, especially from the 40s, 50s and 60s. From ZipZapKap, $7.75.

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UPCYCLED VINTAGE LINEN TABLECLOTH WRAP DRESS

This gorgeous dress was upcycled from a vintage flower-power psychedelic floral linen tablecloth. This would be ideal for a retro tea party. By MaisyBrownReproRetro, $89.

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Make Do and Mend

And how about this as a little reminder in your sewing room? By farouche, $18.

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Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive!

Earth Tones Series | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide | Upcycled Clothing

Process: Beach Glass Jewelry with Wildpen

2009-08-13T18:00:00-05:00

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Like all our videos, feel free to re-post and embed the video on your blog!

(music by Eric Beug, animation by JuliaPott)

I have met a few cockatoos in my day, but on this day, in early June, I met Sunny and FlaxMan, two Umbrella Cockatoos who help run wildpen, an Etsy shop where they sell handmade (er... beak- and talon-made) gifts. Unfortunately, Hope, a Moluccan Cockatoo was out during the shoot, but she's the third of three cockatoos that make up wildpen.

Sunny likes green sea glass. With her expert vision, and ability to see a 4th color channel, she can spot tiny pieces of glass darting about in the surf from a ways down the beach.

FlaxMan is mostly into a rock and roll lifestyle, but he takes breaks to work on wildpen. It helps to have a little Ani Difranco, Howling Wolf or PJ Harvey on the stereo to jumpstart his creative genius.

Hope is really into the mud masks. She loves mixing and testing personal batches on her feet. Since she couldn't be in the video, we'll indulge in one of her favorites:

Reviving Dead Sea Mud Mask Therapy

By wildpen, $11.95.

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Okay, so there is a fair share of (2) human hands involved, but if you buy from this shop, you can bet that a couple of rare birds had something to do with it.

I say rare, but Kate Haley, the birds' human assistant, informed me during the shoot that thousands of domestic parrots or varieties thereof find themselves without homes each year. Sunny, FlaxMan and Hope were all fortunate enough to by rescued by Kate and her husband who brought the birds into their home — a home that allows them to freely express themselves artistically. At the time this video was shot, the birds were donating a percentage of their earnings to charity and spending the rest on personal pleasures. Since the shooting of this video, Kate, Sunny, FlaxMan, and Hope have decided to donate 100% of the proceeds from wildpen to the shopper's choice of one of two bird sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers, to help ensure that more birds like those of wildpen have a safe and fulfilling life.

I suspect that some lucky shopper will walk (or flap) away with the collectible piece that Sunny found and FlaxMan chose for a wrap in this Process Video Feature:

Flaxman's Pendant from the Etsy Video

By wildpen, $22.

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Check out some of the other treasures that wildpen has to offer.

Copper, quartz bead and seaglass pendant

By wildpen, $20.

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Sea Glass and Garnet Pendant

By wildpen, $17.

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Precise flow of copper

By wildpen, $18.

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Citrine and Sea Glass Pendant in Copper

By wildpen, $20.

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Some enthused cockatoos!

Umbrella Cockatoo A Scrabble Tile Pendant

By thegildedlily, $6.95.

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Cockatoo

By wistfulfancy, $25.

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ACEO Cockatoo Painting Watercolor

By carlascreatures, $12.

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Elegant Lady Watercolor PRINT

By ellenmorrowarts, $5.

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Even if you don't live near the water, you can still gaze into the mist of the foggy, rust-covered, mossy piers, like the one just outside of wildpen's beachfront studio.

Foggy Pier

By schugirl, $20.

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Foggy Morning Pier 8x10 photo print

By kwmagnets, $10.

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The Three Stalwarts

By tnoble8238, $4.

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What Lies Beyond the Fog

By WestCoastEchoes, $2.95.

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If you're looking for something a little more tangible, but still can't make it to the beach, there are plenty of shops on Etsy where you can find raw beach glass. Sunny likes the green. It's hard to determine FlaxMan's favorite; he's a wild card with an ever-changing artistic temperament.

Sea Beach Glass Flawless RARE Cobalt Blue

From westcoastseaglass, $26.

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Pure Natural Sea Glass Victorian Antique Glass

From TidelineDesigns, $18.

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SALE Genuine Sea Glass Pieces

From SeaSideSupply, $15.

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GLASS BEACH, CA, ROOT BEER Beachglass

From artbycandice, $9.

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Check out our other videos from the Process Series and see how things get done around here!

You might also like this seaglass post & the Etsy Pets series

Browse Items from the Etsy For Animals Team

Etsy Finds Decor: Sustainable Homes

2009-08-02T10:00:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the philosophy that we are able to live without damaging or depleting the environmental, economic or social resources of future generations. More and more people are beginning to realize the impact their lifestyle and consumer choices have on our environment and are taking the necessary steps toward creating a sustainable home that aims to secure a bright and promising future.

From off the grid Earthships in Taos, New Mexico to the sustainable, green buildings, which are popping up in our world's most congested cities, people are on a mission like never before to create a home with a low environmental impact.

Check out the Etsy Finds below for creative decorating ideas that you can feel environmentally good about adding to the place you call home.

Wooli Northern Forest Toy Box

By BabiesBreath, $175.

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REKAP hollow wall coat hook

By robinhuhn, $3.49.

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BE HAPPY Scrabble Letters Sign

By FunCards, $8.

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PEACE Fork Hook large 1

By jjevensen, $10.

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Eco Friendly Frame 8x10 No lead paints No voc's

By buckscountyframes, $39.

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6 Leaf Print ECO Cushion Natural

By JoannePatterson, $66.

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Oak on the Edge Salvaged Wood Candleholder

By secretlives, $18.

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Handmade Birdhouse Nest with Deer antler

By bearpawrustics, $25.

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recycled glass graphical bowl 8 inch

By branscomeglass, $50.

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Birch Bark Napkin Rings set of 10

By NHWoodscreations, $12.50.

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Table with Flitch

By artavironi, $3900.

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Wooden Planter - Poplar and Cork

By ErdeDesigns, $30.

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Hand made hemp runner

By ambataliafabrics, $90.

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Upcycled Xango Bottle Glasses - (Set of 2)

By YAVAglass, $24.

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Just the Two of Us Spalted Birch Bowls

By makye77, $77.

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Gardeners Log Gobbler

By FuturePrimGarden, $15.

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Vintage Door Coffee Table

From jcrabbit, $188.

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Personalized Doily Painting (8 or 9 letters)

By Ottoman, $46.

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COWBOY ZEN OIL LAMP

By TheCeremonialHome, $35.

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Eco Cushion Hand felted and screen printed

By olofsdaughters, $28.

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pair reclaimed linen vintage pillow slips

By oldyarns, $75.

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Organic soybean vegan votive 5 pack

By Lilsprout, $12.50.

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Set of 4 Tumblers from recycled wine bottles

By bodhicitta, $38.

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Moss Bowl

By benjrs, $20.

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Vintage Wooden Soda Crate/Box

From ShaneLilyRain, $20.

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ZAZA hammock - Free Worldwide Shipping

By Robynas, $70.

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Raku Vase Set No.1

By artbywinona, $35.

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Modern Perch and Post Cat Tower

By DKCat, $195.

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Set of 3 Silver Reusable Vegetable Bags

By wonderthunder, $20.

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Woodlands Draft Stopper

By hierons1, $15.

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Gardening Paper Pot Maker

By WoodElements, $25.

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Hanging Wood Chalkboard

By RowansRoom, $65.

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Looking for more styles and interiors? Check out our video series, There's No Place Like Here, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect. Get involved and show us your amazing space in this Flickr pool.

Check out other Get the Look: Home Decor Editions.

A Cozy Home Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

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Etsy Finds Vintage: Reduce, Reuse, Reinvent

2009-07-19T10:00:00-05:00

As a vintage lover and treasure seeker, there's nothing more exhilarating than rescuing a piece of history from certain doom in a landfill. While I love to use and display the many objects that I collect (skulls, doll heads, quilts), there are inevitable leftovers that leave me scratching my head. What should I do with my beautiful-but-torn vintage lace doilies? How can I best reuse the antique drawer from an abandoned vanity? I inherited ten Mason jars, but what should I do with them?!

Today's Vintage Finds are dedicated to the thoughtful and resourceful reinvention of vintage objects. This collection is a virtual treasure trove of potential projects, so put on your thinking cap and get creative! Check out Etsy's How-Tuesday series for more inspiring how-to's and projects.

Vintage Fabric and Crochet

Vintage fabric sends shivers down my spine! I love the colors, textures and designs of old quilts, feed sacks, lace and doilies. There are a wealth of embellishment projects that can be achieved with these materials. theblackapple made a scarf out of vintage doilies, and DIY Life has a great how-to on making a crazy quilt pillow with scraps. Decorating on a budget? Spice up your celebration with a pennant banner made with vintage fabrics, courtesy of Sew 4 Home. Here are some vintage treasures to get you started.

Vintage Cutter Quilt Good Retro Fabrics

From frstyfrolk, $85.

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Vintage Lace Trimmed Doily

From teremok, $12.

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VINTAGE HAND CROCHETED DOILY

From sandisstuff, $21.99.

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Eight vintage embroidered towels

From foursquarevintage, $29.

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vintage salt sacks

From ThenAndNow, $6.

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Vintage Embroidered Table Runner

From CinfulOldies, $14.

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Vintage Drawers and Boxes

Storage receptacles are rife with reinvention possibilities. An old drawer can be reused as a planter, a makeshift bookshelf, or simply break apart the wood for a salvaged wooden frame. (Check out this crafty frame how-to from Bayou Salvage!) Why not use the exteriors of old drawers as clothing hangers? Check out the full how-to on Design*Sponge.

wooden vintage tool box

From bloomingmardee, $120.

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galvanized industrial steel crate.

From everyeskimo, $64.

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Two Drawer File & Divider Cards

From ethanollie, $50.

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Vintage Sewing Machine Drawer

From katecreativesalvage, $15.

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Weathered Perforated Crate

From 26olivestreet, $38.

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Vintage 1936 Wooden Box Crate

From goodbuyannies, $39.50.

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Vintage Letters, Numbers and Signage

Get creative with vintage letterpress pieces, children's alphabet blocks, and miscellaneous signage to spell out anything your heart desires.

Antique Letterpress - 75 Pieces

From TurnersCollectibles, $215.

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Giant Letter M

From tippleandsnack, $36.99.

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Metal Letter- V

By extravirginhome, $10.

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Vintage Wooden Box of Wood Blocks.

From funkeyfinds, $17.

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White Vinyl Sticker Letters-200

From gleancreativereuse, $6.

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BRASS Letter Y

From sweetshorn, $26.

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Vintage Jars and Baskets

Vintage housewares are easy to acquire and work with, so if you're a beginning crafter, these projects are for you! Design*Sponge has a snazzy how-to for making a pendant light with an old wire basket, and Craft Zine has easy-to-follow instructions for making a DIY terrarium using a Mason jar. Find all the materials you'll need to start below!

Vintage Ball Mason Jar and Jar Lifter

From LittleYellowDoor, $10.

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Antiqued Wire Basket in Soft Pink

From moxiesisters, $20.

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lovely vintage green wire metal basket.

By frisee, $22.

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Antique Ink Apothecary Bottle

From solsticehome, $12.

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vintage AQUA BLUE canning jar

From aimeesarmoire, $19.95.

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Vintage egg basket, yellow

From cabinwindows, $32.

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Vintage Toolboxes and Luggage

Old lunch boxes and tackle boxes make the perfect jewelry boxes, and bright suitcases are a great solution for bedside storage, a deluxe kitty bed or a Tetris-style installation. Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club has compiled a master list of suitcase projects that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

Set of 3 Vintage Mini suitcases - red

From rubyfirecracker, $28.

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Vintage Tin Rusty Green Lunch Box

From NestaHome, $28.50.

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Blue metal tool box/organizer

From kewpiesfarmhouse, $16.

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Vintage International Train case / box

From Shabbylull, $24.

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American Tourister Round Suitcase

By happydayvintage, $47.

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Vintage Metal Tool Box

From epoca, $27.50.

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Unorthodox Display

Who says artwork needs to be in a frame? These vintage components will take any stray prints to the heights of display genius. Looking for more ideas on how to arrange your art collection? Check out Abbey of How Now Designs' helpful tips on the art of arrangement.

3 CHIPPY GREEN Vintage Flower Frogs

From birdie1, $28.

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Vintage Folding Ruler - Red, White, and Black

From foundpaperco, $12.

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Vintage Wooden Pant Hangers (2)

From vintology, $12.

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three vintage wooden pant hangers

From ModishVintage, $16.

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Vintage porcelain industrial glove mold

From beggarsandchoosers, $25.

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Old Expanding Ruler

From tippleandsnack, $11.99.

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You Tell Me!

Here's a wide assortment of vintage odds and ends that still have plenty of life in them. Their potential for DIY projects is off the charts! Perhaps the old garden implements could be used as a jewelry rack, the plastic doily as a stencil for screenprinting, or the balusters as the basis for a new chess set... What would you make? Leave it in the comments!

Victorian Period Wood Balusters

From VintageEmbellishment, $20.

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Chalkboard

By HausProud, $44.

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coal Fireplace cover

From FluffyFlowersVintage, $150.

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Vintage PITCHFORK Found Object

From sushipotparts, $15.

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Vintage Plastic Doily

From ponyparty, $8.

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Collection of 1950s Reels with Movies

From shihtzuwest, $170.

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What's your favorite project that resulted from vintage components? Leave it in the comments!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Vintage Category | How-Tuesday Projects | Search for Handmade Items with Vintage Components

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Etsy Finds: Everybody Wants to Save the World

2009-07-02T12:00:00-05:00

Shopping with the planet in mind can make a big impact on the well-being of our environment and health. Today's eco-conscious Etsy Finds highlight the four responsible steps that we as consumers can take to preserve the beauty of our planet. For more eco-friendly suggestions, be sure to check out Etsy's Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide.

Reuse

Eliminate unnecessary waste from our landfills with reusable products.

Lemon Drop Organic Linen Lunch Bag

By countrylifenaturals, $20.50.

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balsam hemp/soy dragonflies wrap

By persimmonandpine, $27.50.

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Snack Bag and Sandwich Set

By JulieMeyer, $12.

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you pick 3 - Bold Collection

By raggedyowl, $10.

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Reusable Vegetable Bags in Blue

By wonderthunder, $20.

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Eco friendly dryer sachets

By ReFabulous, $8.

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MONKEY Reusable Coffee Sleeve

By MonkeyTravelClub, $15.

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Green Way Wool Soaker, size XL

By GreenWayBabywear, $42.

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Get Down with Upcycling

Purchasing items that have been upcycled or repurposed is another easy way to eliminate waste. Look for products that have been created using otherwise disposable materials that are now useful (and desirable!).

Pogo - Gemma

By pogoshop, $33.

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Mason Jar Wall Vase Organizer

By postroadvintage, $35.

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JUGGLER JANE vintage carnival babe

By Artsy, $124.

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Art work 'old barn and recycled wood'

By Chalecco, $55.

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Hoop Dreams

By wonderwear, $52.

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Layered Vintage Zipper Jar

By AmaliaVersaci, $45.

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Vroom - Eco fashion for your little tyke

By allthenumbers, $56.

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Custom NECKTIE Cocktail Dress

By glamarita, $175.

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Animal Alternatives

You don't have to sacrifice style in order to be eco and animal friendly. The following finds are but a few examples of the wide variety of stylish animal alternatives on Etsy.

Faux brown leather paper bag journal

By suebleiweiss, $65.

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Monarch Burgundy Wine Hobo

By CrystalynKae, $165.

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Fake Won't Kill - Fox Fur Tee

By designerplayground, $12.

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Sigmund the Rabbit Faux Fur Plushie

By Zygopsyche, $33.

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Furry Kitty Ear Bonnet Hat

By Ladykonnyaku, $50.

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The Wanderer handbag - faux leather

By galitik, $59.

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Black Faux leather Belt Cinch

By MissMabe, $20.

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bird brooch green crown

By squirrellicious, $20.

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Spread the Word

The easiest way to guarantee a beautiful tomorrow is by helping to spread awareness about the environment. Making those around you recognize what you are doing to help contribute to the cause is an important step toward saving our planet.

badge 'buy ethical' yellow plaid

By heidiandseek, $4.

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GO GREEN Shabby Cottage Sign

By thebackporchshoppe, $34.95.

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Love to Recycle Organic Cotton Tee

By rctees, $20.

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Save Our Planet Tile Saying

By RememberMeEmily, $14.

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Walk Lightly On The Earth Necklace

By lisahopkins, $47.

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Sterling Silver World Guitar Pick

By AndrosCreations, $60.

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save some for me baby and kids tee

By circlesandsquares, $20.

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Live green modern cross stitch

By wallwork, $40.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Environmentally Friendly Gift Ideas | Earth Tones Series | Search for More Eco-Friendly Items

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Handmade Portraits: Birdhouseaccents

2009-06-17T16:11:00-05:00

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(music by Two Dark Birds, animation by JuliaPott)

It took Fred Jakubiec from Birdhouseaccents 25 years before he made building birdhouses his full-time job. It was well worth the wait. After 13 years as Area Supervisor at various fast food establishments, a stint at a steel mill and years of driving for Fed Ex, Fred decided working for other people just wasn't fun anymore.

He and his partner Lynn Patrick regularly took trips to Amish country to go thrifting and flea market shopping. During one visit, Fred discovered primitive style woodworking, and it was then that knew he found his calling. Building birdhouses and decorating them with special recycled accents was the perfect niche for this one time woodworking tinkerer turned birdhouse entrepreneur.

Watch more of our Handmade Video Portraits. Know a seller with a great story? Tell us about them in the comments!

Visit the Woodworking Category | Find "Primitives" on Etsy | More Birdhouses on Etsy

Upcycle This with Reclaimed Home

2009-06-16T16:20:00-05:00

Reclaimed Home was inspired by the rehabilitation of a Victorian house. After restoring the home to its former glory using antique salvaged materials, a business was born. Reclaimed Home takes old, discarded objects and reinvents them. Today they share some of their ideas for reusing and upcycling trash into decorative home treasures.

Upcycling is a fairly new term for an ancient practice. We’ve all been upcycling for years without even realizing it. Have you ever cut your pants to make a pair of jean shorts? You upcycled. Ever made a frame out of old moulding? Yup, upcycled. Tire swing? You get the picture.

I sort of fell into reclaimed materials when I was restoring my 120 year old brownstone. The home was filled with original details, but it was in bad disrepair. Rather than replacing with new, I hit the salvage yards.

The house is (nearly) finished, but I’m still hooked. I now see life in discarded table legs, old beams and tin ceilings. My projects range from easy (coat of paint) to skilled (shutter cabinets) to bizarre (let’s just say I have a doll fetish).

If one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, where do you find this trash? My favorite resource is Craigslist curb alert, free and garage sales. Freecycle is another great site. Habitat’s ReStores are always useful. After nearly two years in the business, I have my “clean out guy” connections. They call me BEFORE they have their tag sales. I must say, there’s nothing better than getting something for nothing. Dumpster diving and bulk trash day send shivers down my spine.

The thing about upcycling is that anything goes: it doesn’t have to look perfect or even make sense. Whatever it looks like, it’s better than it will look in the landfill.

Below you'll find some of my favorite “inventions.”

Too Easy!

I purchased boxes of sample tiles from a local concrete fabricator. With a gloss sealant and cork backing, these make great coasters. I love the fact that they still have the numbers!

Parquet Floors

Desk Frame by reclaimedhome

Blue desk frame with upholstery tack picture holders. How can you beat my 1960’s childhood photos, though?

Gold hanging clip made from single vintage parquet floor square. It’s a good idea to add extra support to the back of parquet tiles, as they are held together with mesh.

Coat Hooks From Just About Anything!

A glass doorknob on a piece of old molding. Antique hooks on a plywood board. Coat hooks are just about the easiest thing to make.

I bought a pair of 1950’s water skis at a garage sale for $15 and made coat hooks out of each of them.

This broken chair back was found on the curb.

Other Hooks and Shelves

Victorian Diorama by recliamedhome

An antique post office drawer now hangs on the wall for use as a shelf and key/hat hook. The vintage magazine interior was a Modge Podge job.

Reclaimed Towel Bar by reclaimedhome

The towel bar was fabricated out of a Victorian window lintel, used copper pipe and antique glass doorknobs.

Got Legs?

This vintage mechanic’s toolbox was found at a garage sale for five bucks. The legs were found in a dumpster. Now it's a coffee table. If you have some longer legs on hand, tool boxes can also make great desks.

Art Doesn't Have to Hang on the Wall.

The painting table project requires a bit more skill. It’s easy to back the painting and place it on a base, but the glass top and backing needed moulding around them.

Shutter to Think

Shutters are one of those things you can always find for free. I have some rather large ones sitting in my basement that came with the house. This radiator cover works perfectly in my living room. Other shutter ideas: litter box cover, partition screen, corner shelving unit, cupboard doors. The list is endless!

Check out ReclaimedHome's shop for more of their inventive handiwork. The related items below are all made from upcycled materials!

Search for Recycled Clothing | Earth Tones Series | Shop Upcycled Housewares

Etsy Finds: Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors

2009-05-27T13:00:00-05:00

If you are worried that planning an eco-friendly wedding means you have to sacrifice style, then think again. The following Etsy Finds include some unique, earthy ideas for wedding favors. Help your guests become more earth aware while leaving them with a message of your most sincere gratitude.

Check out Etsy's Weddings and Celebrations Gift Guide for more beautiful handmade and vintage favors and accessories.

Raspberry Thumbelinas

Think about buying local or organic desserts for your guests to take home or nibble on while they are waiting for the grand entrance of the bride and groom. These cookies are made from organic raspberry preserves and all natural ingredients. They would look perfect packaged in a box made from recycled paper and a sweet little bow. By thehotcookie, $7.50.

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10 Custom Soap Favors for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers

Eco-friendly soaps are a great useful gift for guests. The packaging can be customized to match the colors of your wedding and personalized to include a special message. By primitiveearth, $22.50.

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Wedding Favors - 100 Tubes of Lip Balm

Natural lip balm is a clever favor idea that will have your guests thinking about you every time they pucker up. These can be customized to match your wedding colors and printed with your own personal message. This seller is even willing to work with you to create your own custom flavor. By longwinterfarm, $130.

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Plantable Earth Tags Favors Set of 10

Plantable seed cards are a perfect favor that will encourage your guests to do a little gardening. Depending on how green their thumbs are, these tags could potentially be enjoyed for years to come. By GreetingsthatGrow, $8.

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Jumbo Heart Rainbow Crayons (Set of 3)

These recycled heart-shaped crayons are perfect for guests of all ages. Create a large framed canvas, or place blank notepads on each table where guests can sign a message to the bride and groom. By art2theextreme, $7.

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Thank You Promotional Matchbook Notepads - Set of 6

Another useful gift for guests are little notebooks — perfect for jotting down spur of the moment ideas or making shopping lists. These "thanks a latte" notebooks would look so sweet accompanied by gift cards to your favorite coffee shop. Your friends and family can actually enjoy a latte — your treat! By Brendaswhite, $5.

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6 Reusable Le Petit Sandwich Snack Bags

If you are planning on serving lots of small sweets at your wedding, then a reusable snack bag could be the perfect gift for your guests. Attach a thank you card and encourage your guests to take home leftover cookies and treats. By evelynfields, $30.99.

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YAVA Glass - Upcycled Blu Italy Mineral Water Bottle Glasses (Set of 4)

Use your favors to inspire your guests about recycling. These gorgeous cobalt glasses made from recycled mineral water bottles not only make usable gifts, but they also prove that upcycled items can be truly beautiful. If blue is a color in your wedding, then these could also look beautiful illuminated with a soy candle at each place setting. By YAVAglass, $45.

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Personalized Favors

Beautifully packaged teas and coffees are a great favor that guests will enjoy. Maybe they will even invite their newlywed friends over for tea when you return from your honeymoon. By GoldenSilhouette, $3.90.

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Mystery Flower Thank You Notes-Set of 8

At the last few weddings I've attended recently, the bride and groom have made a donation to a charity in lieu of a wedding favor. If this idea appeals to you, think about presenting your guests with a recycled thank you card with information about the charity. By MichelleBrusegaard, $12.

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Looking for more Wedding Finds? Try these links:

Weddings Category | Handmade Weddings Series | Weddings and Celebrations Gift Ideas

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Etsy Finds: Fashion Resurrection

2009-05-12T12:15:00-05:00

My closet...well, it's a bit of a mess. There's always a pile of clothing that's just not quite right: "This skirt is too short, but the suede is so gorgeous...And the color is so amazing!" These thoughts ultimately lead to the nearest charity (as one woman's trash is another's treasure). The kicker is that getting rid of old things allows me to go on guilt-free Etsy benders to look for new things, and today's collection of repurposed clothing will not disappoint. I've composed a most exquisite mix of recycled clothing and accessories, reworked into new pieces that will fit just right. Now if I can only find something that includes worn green suede...

V Back Xtra long Top

This extra-long top (yes!) was made from a recycled cotton jersey 80's dress (minus the shoulder pads). By astronette, $48.

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burgandy scroll freestyle bow tie

For the dapper man, only a bow tie will do. This tie was lovingly repurposed from a vintage neck tie. By xoelle, $36.

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SALE Bella bounce dress MEDIUM

This dress mixes the totally current floral trend with comfy jersey. Get it while it's hot! By elysiumdesign, $40.

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LICENSE PLATE BUCKLE

This colorful mosaic-like silver belt buckle is inlaid with "tiles" of recycled license plate metal. By randitan, $39.

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Pretty Birdie's Antique Flower Dress

Whoa! This dress is made from an antique quilt top and an antique cotton feed sack. You don't get more recycled character than this, folks. By stephanieteague, $265.

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True Blue... Felted Merino Wool Slippers for Babies / Kids, Custom Size

These booties are handmade from a recycled, felted, 100% merino wool sweater and recycled leather (and can be custom sized to any little foot!). By woolybaby, $29.

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S georgia dress, ethical womens clothing

I love the ruffles on this recycled tank top (previously a skirt and a dress). The two patterns go so well together! By heidiandseek, $60.

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Size 3T Recycled and Vintage Apron Skirt in Blue

This folksy skirt and apron combo is perfect for the fashionable toddler on the go. Better yet, it's made from a vintage Norwegian table runner! By LittleOvercoat, $26.

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Sweet Bow Adorable Dress in Mustardy Flowers and Bright Teal size L

This adorable dress was composed entirely of recycled materials. By SoSheSews, $45.

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Recycled vinyl billboard - shoulder tote bag - retro doctors bag - Med

This unique doctor-style bag is made from recycled vinyl Asian advertising banners. What a story! By seen1, $30.

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SUMOMO SUKI SUMMER 09 Upcycled shirt dress

sumomosuki customized a huge men's shirt to create this lightweight summer dress! $58.

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Money Bag Wallet

chakrapennywhistle's recycled money bag wallets would be perfect for a Father's Day gift, no? $30.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Search for Recycled Clothing | Earth Tones Series | Spring Fashion Posts

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Crafting a Community of Awesome: Be Part of the Summit

2009-04-23T14:17:00-05:00

Five years ago I totally didn’t have any crafty friends. I toiled away in my living room each night, making stuff without any clue what I would do with it. And when I finished something, I stored it in our extra bedroom until the spare bed became this weird pile of strange stuff. I felt like my making had no purpose and I had absolutely no one to talk to about this. There were no support groups for the likes of me: people who were addicted to making with no real end game for the products. I remember being obsessed with picking up trash to make into collage art, stealing rubber fishing lures from my dad to make into necklaces, looking at a seat belt from a junked car as if it were a prize. I was upcycling before I had a word for it, and to my non-crafty friends, I was just a little wonky.

I had no idea then that my life would totally change, and that not only would I meet someone like me, but that my life would end up full of friends like me. These are not just acquaintances, but real, amazing friends: collaborators and co-conspirators and comrades and colleagues. The importance of these friends to my craft is one thing. I love that I know who to ask when I can’t find Gocco supplies or where to go if I need advice on a craft show application. I love that my friend Beth knows just want to do with an old sweater and that my friend Sara knits me the best scarves with bumpy yarn every year.

But it is the importance of these friends to my actual life that has taken me so by surprise. When my family recently went through a tough medical diagnosis, my crafty friends were delivering groceries and stopping by to teach my twins to sew and sending me encouraging text messages. I never imagined it, but I have found myself surrounded by community, and that is the most fabulous part of the handmade revolution for me. I’m not just a weirdo making things while I watch TV anymore. I’m one of many weirdos making things while we watch TV.

And this is why I am so excited about the Summit of Awesome, my latest project with Hello Craft. After years selling at and organizing craft shows, I wanted to help create an event that is about more than just gathering to sell our wares. It seemed to me that selling at craft shows leaves little time to actually socialize, forge friendships and learn from each other. And my attempts at gathering crafty friends to just "hang out" always seemed to be foiled by the business of real life. I am so excited that I get to help provide other people with the venue to infuse their lives with new crafty friends; to hang out with neat people, while learning from some of the most inspiring speakers in the crafting community.

The Craftnotes with Sublime Stitching’s Jenny Hart and Etsy’s CEO Maria Thomas are in themselves exciting, but we also have 30 more speakers lined up for seminars, workshops and demos. And if you can't make the event, the Etsy Virtual Labs will be covering several of our seminars. We've also just added single day passes if you cannot make the whole weekend of awesome.

Here are the details:
Hello Craft’s Summit of Awesome will take place in Washington, D.C., May 1-3. The Summit is designed for artists and crafters, from dabblers to business owners, and includes the D.C. premiere of the Indie Craft Documentary, Handmade Nation. We also have fun social "making areas" planned, as well as the first ever Handmade White Elephant Gift Exchange and Swap! You can check out the complete line-up of speakers and register online at hellocraft.com.

I can't stress enough the importance of gathering together to learn and share in the same space; how I think these types of events will help deepen the bond of the crafting community and spark new and innovative ideas on the direction of the handmade movement. And dude, you need more cool friends, right?

I’d love to hear your stories of how the handmade community has made your life better. Please put them in the comments below! I may contact you to record your story for the Hello Craft Podcast!

Etsy Finds: Home, Sweet Home

2009-04-22T12:23:00-05:00

Today (and every day) is Earth Day. Celebrate the beauty of the planet we call home by supporting businesses that create sustainable products with a low environmental impact. These Etsy shops approach product design with an eco-conscious mission and use Earth-friendly practices in everything from production to packaging and reducing their carbon footprint. Here's to Earth!

TUNDRA - repurposed grey leather with red plaid

By hoakonhelga, $85.

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EARTH DAY SALE Recycle sign necklace FREE SHIPPING

By alliteration, $12.

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Soy and Organic Cotton Barn Cowl

By consciousclothing, $60.

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Mrs. Peacock - Recycled Cotton/Plastic Material Grocery/Shopping Tote

By EarthCadets, $24.

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MamaMade Reusable Sandwich Bag - Groovy Guitar

By mamamade, $7.

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eARTh Bowl - Blue

By cinderelish, $24.

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Falling Stars Organic Long Sleeve

By ecozuzu, $64.99.

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Organic Parsley - dried herbcooking - herb

By TheBlueKraken, $2.

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GO GREEN SPRING SALE - Sea Glass Jewelry - Olive Green Flower Earrings

By sweptfromthesea, $24.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Environmentally Friendly Gift Ideas | Earth Tones Series | Search for More Eco-Friendly Items

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

News from the Etsy Labs: 4/20 Craft Night with Betz White

2009-04-16T14:00:00-05:00

This Monday evening, learn how to make upcycled tyvek totes! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs and in the Virtual Labs. Craft Night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out — whether you're here in person or beaming in via the Web. Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm EDT. Join us online in the Virtual Labs (where the schedule is magically in your time zone) or in person at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York.

This week, on Monday, April 20th (just 2 days shy of Earth Day), we'll be creating fabulous totes out of discarded Tyvek envelopes with Betz White, author of the book Sewing Green.
You can decorate your tote with a bubblewrap stamp technique, applique, etc. This project is open to people with a basic level of sewing experience. Supplies will be provided for guests here in Brooklyn.

Not in Brooklyn? Join us for a live broadcast and demo from Craft Night online in the Virtual Labs starting at 5pm EDT. Click here to see what time 5pm EDT is around the world (though we usually take some time to get settled and ready to go). If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to craft along with us, you'll need a few supplies:

Four 11 1/2" x 15" used Tyvek mailing envelopes

One sheet each of large and small bubblewrap

Scissors

Disappearing ink fabric marker

Paper clips

1" wide sponge brush

Acrylic craft paint

Plate or palette for mixing paint

Newspaper

Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on. If you've made a project like this before, show off your items in the Virtual Labs or in person at Etsy Labs. We want to see!

Upcoming Craft Nights:

4/27: Open Craft Night

5/4: Scrapplique with Heather Ross

5/11: Cupcake Craft Night with Cupcakes Take the Cake

5/18: Open Craft Night

Would you like to lead a Craft Night project? Send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night idea" as the subject line. Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group! Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

If you're on the prowl for some eco-friendly items on Etsy, be sure to check out the links below!

Handpicked Environmentally Friendly Items | Earth Tones | Search Items Tagged "Eco"

Guest Curator: Eco Chic with Style at Home's Laurie Grassi

2009-04-15T12:50:00-05:00

Laurie Grassi is the executive editor for Canadian magazine, Style at Home and the Natural Chic blogger at StyleatHome.com, so all of her time is consumed by thoughts of beautiful homes, fantastic home decor accessories, and how to live in a more eco-friendly but still stylish way. When she does have a spare moment, she rides her horse, Lex, who also loves the Earth, but in a somewhat different way: He likes to roll around in the mud and get as dirty as possible!

I’m always on the lookout for great natural products for the home, and I recently posted about a colourful baby quilt by Etsy’s SewnNatural. There are masses of other fabulous earth-friendly products on Etsy, and this is just a small sampling!

FLOWER FIELD Organic Linen Napkins / Set of 2

I love the splash of colour on these organic linen napkins. They’re hand-screenprinted using water-based inks, and 5% of the profits go to Friends Without a Border, a charity that provides medical care to children in Cambodia. Goodness all around! By natsuminishizumi, $30.

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vintage fabric hearts in orange and lime green

These lavender sachets from pouch will add a sweet scent to your drawers or closets and repel moths in a natural, chemical-free way; plus, they’re made from vintage recycled fabric. By pouch, $11.50.

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Yellow Dragonfly Night Light

What a clever use of an old can! MariposaAvenue takes what would otherwise be trash and turns it into an attractive light fixture by cutting out a pretty design, painting it a bright, cheery colour and adding a light equipped with a photo sensor so it only comes on when the room is dark enough. Perfect for when guests come to visit or wee ones just find the dark too frightful. By MariposaAvenue, $15.

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Recycled Bright Summer Flowers Journal and Sketchbook - Very Thick Eco-Friendly Book

Feeling inspired? If you’re not already, you will be by this colourful 80-page book. It’s handmade, 100% recycled and perfect for jotting down your thoughts or sketching pictures. By BurgundyDistrict, $17.

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White Purity - Vinyl Record Bowl

How many people do you know who can say they have something as unique as this absolutely fabulous white bowl? I simply can’t say enough about how smashing I think it is! Unfortunately, this item just sold - so disappointing! But that's what happens on Etsy, so if you see something you love, grab it quickly! Let's hope vinylrocksmyworld finds more of these white records and quickly! By vinylrocksmyworld, $13.

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SEAHORSES 14 inch Recycled Felt Applique Pillow

Get a little taste of the seaside and summer with this 100% recycled felt appliqué pillow from alexandraferguson, pillow-maker extraordinaire. These jaunty little creatures are soft, cute and cuddly and are sure to add charm to any interior. Who would have believed they were once plastic water bottles? By alexandraferguson, $49.

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Letterpress counting poster in green and pink

This charming 8.5” x 11” letterpress poster from Canadian illustrator sweetbeets is on 100% cotton paper made of fibres recycled from the fabric industry. By sweetbeets, $30.

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Reiter8 Recycled Sail Tote - Blue Number 8

The stark, graphic quality of this tote from Reiter8 really makes it shine. Crafted from upcycled sailboat sails, the tote’s number is appliqued on the front and red organic cotton lines the inside, which is divided into three sections so you can easily organize all your gear. (Check out Etsy's Handmade Portrait video with Reiter8 for a peek at her process!) By reiter8, $75.

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Handwoven Felted Wool Rag Rug.

Canadian crafter fiveforty turned old sweaters into this gorgeous felted wool rug. The lovely gradations of greys, blues and greens bring to mind lakes and cool green forests. By fiveforty, $240.

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Army Blanket Pillow with Stripe and Webbing Handle

Made out of surplus Italian army blankets, the modern, somber tones of these pillows from Vancouver crafter ouno would look chic against clean-lined white slipcovers in the summer. By ouno, $60.

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Cherry Blossom Vase - Freehand Etched on Reclaimed Glass

Tuck a sprig of spring blossoms into this petite reclaimed glass vase etched by TrilliumArtisans member Amanda Siska. (You can also check out her Etsy shop breadandbadger.) By TrilliumArtisans, $45.

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felted wool beach stones - rustic turquoise - set of 15

Add a hit of colour to your home’s surfaces with these quirky felted-wool-wrapped stones. Lisa Jordan uses wool from old clothing and finds her inspiration in nature – I’m in love with the colour and love the idea of these stones! By lilfishstudios, $30.

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Longing to check out more of Laurie’s Natural Chic finds? Visit http://www.styleathome.com/naturalchic. You can also follow her on twitter! For more about Style at Home, go to http://www.styleathome.com.

Check out our archive for more Guest Curated goodness.

Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide | Earth Tones Series

Etsy Finds: Good Wood

2009-04-08T10:50:00-05:00

When shopping for myself or for gifts, I always try to consider where and how the particular object was made and how its method of manufacturing will affect our environment. There are many sellers on Etsy who have taken on the challenge of designing their products with renewable resources and locally harvested, reclaimed or recycled materials. The following Etsy Finds are made by small businesses who have focused on creating items made from recycled, reclaimed, upcycled, salvaged and sustainably harvested wood.

If you're interested in recycled wooden jewelry, check out our Process video with designer prasseindesignstudio. She demonstrates how she creates her beautiful wooden bangles and rings using reclaimed wood remnants.

Beautiful Hanging Wood Chalkboard Made From an Antique Cabinet

By RowansRoom, $65.

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Nature's Barcode no. 3

By prasseindesignstudio, $200.

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Wood Journal

By SomeThingsIKnow, $25.

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necklace 060

By fringecollection, $150.

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BABY RUSS CUSTOM LAMP / made from reclaimed wood

By resurface, $325.

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Reclaimed Wood Serving Tray

By SeguinWoodWorks, $35.

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wood tree earrings

By garnishhome, $38.

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El Jefe Stamps Set

By Tresijas, $22.

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Walnut and Maple Belt Buckle with Stainless Steel back

By solidio, $50.

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Banksia Bottle Stopper

By LuckySustainables, $30.

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Maple/Walnut wood stacking toy small

By littlesaplingtoys, $24.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Earth Tones | Environmentally Friendly Picks | Woodworking Category | Reclaimed Wood Items

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Guest Curator: Kelly Rand of Crafting a Green World

2009-03-18T16:15:00-05:00

Kelly Rand is a writer for DCist.com and Crafting a Green World, as well as a compulsive knitter and avid maker. She spends most of her free time pursuing crafty endeavors and volunteering for numerous causes. Her latest upstart, Hello Craft, is pretty awesome (see our posts about it here and get involved!). Kelly believes that handmade will save the world.

Environmentalists can easily be labeled Chicken Little, always crying that the sky is falling. Indeed, there are very scary things that are happening in this world, from climate change to water scarcity to habitat loss. It is also very easy to get bogged down in the doom and gloom and not know how to help or where to start.

Ok, deep breath. So how do we get from big, crazy, scary, the sky is falling, to crafters? Easy. It's all about inspiration and a positive attitude.

Since I started writing for Crafting a Green World, I have met some pretty amazing people. Each and every one of them realizes the big scary picture and wants to help in their own way. They realize that we share a planet with finite resources and we need to find a balance to ensure the health and well being of generations to come. The first step is as simple as taking a look at the supplies we use.

OLIVE Hemp Organic Cotton Hand Dyed Eco Friendly Fabric

NoondayTextiles offers a variety of hand dyed hemp/organic cotton fabric for sale by the yard. When you choose organic cotton fabrics you are helping to support the natural growth of cotton without the use of harmful pesticides. By NoondayTextiles, $14.50.

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Orchard hemp/cotton fabric in Red

Check out this gorgeous hand printed hemp/cotton blend fabric from pippijoe. Hemp is a very hardy plant and doesn't require the same amount of water as conventional fiber plants. Just because the label screams "stereotypical environmentalist," it doesn't mean sacrificing design. By pippijoe, $15.

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SALE Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm Long Sleeve T SIZE LARGE

Running away to a farm is probably pretty high on the daydream list, but low on reality. With MVKnits, you can own a small piece of your dream, and help out a small farmer all at the same time. By MVKnits, $10. (Watch the Handmade Portrait video Etsy made.)

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Harvest Farm misshawklet handspun yarn

misshawklet hand spins and hand dyes wool from rescue farms. No harmful chemicals are used in processing these beautiful animal-friendly skeins. By misshawklet, $15.

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Smoke and Mirrors- handspun naturally plant dyed wool silk yarn

folktale is another shop that is conscious about material use. This beautiful skein is hand spun and hand dyed. I had the chance to meet Folktale's owner this winter. Watching her spin is magical and mesmerizing. By folktale, $28.

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SK-8 short-sleeved toddler t-shirt

Approximately 7% of the waste found in our landfills is made up of clothes, bedding and shoes. Help reduce this strain and have your old t-shirts remade into cute kids clothes. By sweetpepita, $40.

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Orange Julius Cupcapron

This apron makes me smile. It's made from reclaimed linens and eco-felt, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. glueandglitter (another writer with CAGW) is doing her part. By glueandglitter, $25.

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Recycled Bike Tube Belt ONLY

Who would have thought that a bike tube could be a belt? steeltoestudios, that's who. By steeltoestudios, $38.

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Recycled Skateboard Necklace 2in1 Reversible - Large

Or that old skateboards could be art? 2ReVert is on it. By 2ReVert, $26.

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New Square Broken Plate Ring Atomic 50s

Or that broken plates could be jewelry? By TheBrokenPlate, $50.

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Fawn in the Forest Necklace

This little fawn has a big story to tell. Their woodland friends are made with recycled and reclaimed silver and gold. By FigsAndGinger, $70.

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Adeline Coin Purse--Eco Friendly

Vinyl is a horrible, horrible substance. But until its production is stopped, it's good to see that it is being
diverted from the landfill. By birdversusbird, $8.

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Zine Issue No. 1 - DIY recycled envelopes

Feel like sharing your newfound eco-knowledge and ideas? Why not write to someone about how they can help? Catch a hold of these cute EcoMonsters and create your own envelopes to send off your stories and inspiration. By EcoMonster, $5.

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By taking a look at the processes and materials used in crafting, you can help drive a sustainable future. Every little bit helps and every small step counts. So encourage each other in making more eco-friendly choices, especially now that you know how easy it can be.

Further Resources:
Crafting a Green World
Near Sea Naturals
Treehugger
Feel Good Style
How Can I Recycle This?

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive.

Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide | Earth Tones Series

Etsy Finds: It's Easy Being Green

2009-03-04T10:30:00-05:00

Over the last few years, “going green” has become a mainstream topic and many have been trying to do their part to clean up our environment. As someone who has made many changes in my own lifestyle to help better the place we call home, I'm excited to put together this list of Etsy items created by people who have taken on the eco-friendly challenge.

So Many Things To Do (Notebook)

This “To Do” notebook is made from paper that is processed using wind power. You might want to consider converting your home's electricity to wind power as the first task on your list. I made the switch about a year ago and the tiny increase in my bill is a small price to pay for the difference it makes environmentally. By katieblairdesigns, $10.

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Seaweed with Sea Horse Tote

Have some grocery shopping to do? Don't forget to pack a few canvas tote bags to carry your goodies home from the store. Many stores are now offering special discount incentives to those who bring along their own reusable bags. By willywaw, $30.

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raining fish organic t shirt

Dress yourself in eco-friendly fabrics like organic cottons, hemp or bamboo. This t-shirt company also uses nontoxic water-based inks, which prevent harmful chemicals from entering our ground water. By regeneration, $24.

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7 Reusable Le Petit Sandwich Bags

Another super simple change that creates a big impact on our environment is cutting back on your use of disposable sandwich bags, plastic wraps and food storage containers. Try packing your lunch in a reusable food sack for a more eco-friendly alternative. By evelynfields, $26.

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Blue Wooden Star House Bird Folk

Wooden children's toys are another way to be a bit more Earth conscious. Natural materials are much safer for children, and prevent yet another mass-produced, non-biodegradable plastic product from being created and thrown in our landfills. (Careful, this toy has small parts!) By urastarhouse, $22.

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You Pick 3 Dishcloths

Growing up, my parents were always big advocates for creating less waste. I didn't learn that paper towels came on rolls until I moved out on my own. My mom always used cloth washcloths for washing dishes and wiping down counter tops and tables. By raggedyowl, $10.

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All-Purpose Cleaner - LaPetiteVie

Another tip! It's wise to use nontoxic cleaners while keeping house. They not only help our environment, but are also great for households with small children. By lapetitevie, $6.

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Caffeine Love Tattoo Hand-embroidered Reusable Coffee Sleeve

Do you drink a to-go cup of coffee while on your way to work or school? A simple waste-reducing solution is to replace the cardboard beverage insulation cozy that prevents you from burning your hands with an eco-friendly wool felt alternative. By 60bugs, $15.

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Vintage Distressed Green Cottage Chair WITH FREE SHIPPING by Vintage Renewal, On Sale

I've noticed a growing trend of incredible vintage painted and reupholstered furniture here on Etsy. Give an old chair a chance at new life by adding a touch of recycling to your home décor. By vintagerenewal, $384.

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A Trip to The Maine Woods Balsam Fir Sachets or Mini Pillows

Solar power is yet another alternative energy resource. This seller's entire home and work studio is powered by solar panels, which soak up the sun and convert it to electricity. By agapeluv, $15.

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Vintage striped mugs

One of my favorite earth saving tips is to buy vintage. Etsy is the perfect place to shop for incredible deals on vintage clothing, home décor and crafting supplies. By SidneyAnnDryGoods, $16.

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Worm Composting Bag (Beige - less expensive without the pocket)

A fun way to reduce waste while creating your own nutrient rich potting soil is by using a worm bin. Instead of throwing your food in the trash, feed it to your 1000 pet worms that will break down the food, creating the perfect treat for your garden. Vermicompost to the rescue! By nomadneedles, $55.

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Have any tips to share? Post them in the comments of this blog post!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Enviromentally Friendly | Earth Tones Series | Guest Curators | More Items Tagged "Eco-Friendly"

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Process: Tin Toys by Loran Scruggs

2009-02-11T13:00:00-05:00

YouTube | MP4 | blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(Music by Eric Beug and Boolar. Animation by JuliaPott)

Up in the most northern and western part of the United States lies the artsy little town of Port Townsend, Washington. There, in a chilly workshop, artisan Loran Scruggs fashions whistles, airplanes, elephants, sculptures, and all sorts of amazing oddities from the tin that she collects from all over the world. She uses the tab and slot method in upcycling the tin, an abundant and colorful resource.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Loran this December. We visited her studio to produce the fifth video in our Process series, where we focus on the artists' flow and the conception of handmade items, as shown by the unique and inspiring artisans who make them.

See more Process videos from this series.

Creative Reuse: Deadline for Crafty Submissions "Extremely" Soon

2009-01-02T11:45:00-05:00

Stone cold craft enthusiast Garth Johnson has put out a call for your "creative reuse" ideas. The deadline is January 5th!

Rockport Publishers/Quarry Books is an international publisher of high-quality visual and idea books for design professionals and creative enthusiasts—crafters, artists, and designers. (Check out our distinctive books at: www.quarrybooks.com.)

We are seeking submissions for 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse, an upcoming book by Garth Johnson of ExtremeCraft.com, which will feature 21st Century craft and design, all made with recycled, upcycled, repurposed and reused items. We are looking for the best examples of paper and book arts, jewelry, clothing, home and personal accessories, furniture, art, and miscellanea for possible publication. We invite designers, artists, visionaries and crafters of all stripes to submit their work. High quality photography is essential. We are looking for photographs of the finished work, not step-by-step shots. All images must be AT LEAST 1400x1750 pixels at 300 dpi. There is no entry form for the book--all we need is the Grant of Rights form and an image list in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Please upload them with your images. Deadline: January 5, 2009!

DOWNLOAD THE CALL FOR ENTRIES

UPLOADING INSTRUCTIONS (PDF)

GRANT OF RIGHTS FORM (PDF)

GRANT OF RIGHTS FORM (MS WORD)

FAX COVER SHEET (PDF)

Check out Garth's Shop Live post for some of his amazing finds from Etsy.

You greenies should also see our Earth Tones series!

Quit Your Day Job: 2ReVert

2008-12-15T12:00:00-05:00

Jann and Jeff of 2ReVert never expected their side project of recycling skateboards into jewelry and accessories would turn into a full time business, allowing Jeff to quit his regular day job. They work together on the business; Jann organizes orders while Jeff works in the studio and makes trips to the post office. Keep reading to find out what they think their most successful promotion has been to date.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Although we like to believe in ourselves, and Jann usually dreams big, we would have to admit that neither of us thought 2ReVert would grow to the point of one of us being able to quit our day job.

How long were you selling on Etsy before you took the plunge into selling full time?
It was 6 months from the time we started selling on Etsy until Jeff was able to give his notice to quit his full time job (of 14 years).

What was the deciding factor resulting in pursuing Etsy as your full time job?
We believed in being able to sleep at some point... and with both of us working full time jobs and 2ReVert piled on top, we just never had any free time for anything (even our sleeping hours where being cut back).

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time?
Prior to Jeff giving his notice, we did many things.

We played with the budget and looked at our money many times over.
We had our business set up (license, bank account, etc.).
We spoke with our banker and then we quickly sold our first home, and bought a new one (that we would be happy in forever).
Once we were in our new house, we then dove into the deep end and Jeff gave his two weeks notice. We were both a ball a nerves but had never felt so alive.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
First off, Etsy is amazing, and landing a spot in a treasury or on the front page is a huge boost for sales. Blogs are so great, as you get such positive feedback not only from the writer, but their readers as well. We have also been so lucky to have been featured in TransWorld Skateboarding magazine, our local newspaper, and we even had the experience of doing a national TV interview.

What have you found to be unsuccessful promotion?
We’ve been fortunate enough so far that we haven’t had many mistakes.

Would you walk us through what a typical workday might entail?
Jann goes to work and reports to another boss (oh!). Jeff’s days as solely self-employed go like this:

Up at 7am with Jann
Watch a Tivo’d show (The Hour) during breakfast.
Out in the shop by 9am.
Check the orders that Jann set up for him and then turn on the Sirius radio and get to work.
He takes an hour for lunch, walks to the mailbox with Gabrielle (our baby, a Shih Tzu cutie pie pup), then back to the shop for the afternoon.
Leaving the shop at 5pm, give or take.
We sometimes work on the weekends, and it’s usually a couple more hours in the evening, doing the packaging and computer work.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
Being able to create and make a living off it is a great feeling, but because Jeff isn’t used to being alone all day he becomes quite chatty when Jann returns.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself, knowing what you know now?
We feel we planned pretty well for the day Jeff quit and could only wish that it happened earlier. Jeff used to work shift work, and we didn’t realize how hard it was on his body and sleeping patterns until after the plunge.

What advice would you give someone else thinking about taking the plunge?
Make sure you figure out the financials. Order loads of supplies prior to taking the plunge, talk to as many people as you can about it and sock away some cash.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year?
We plan on doing a couple craft shows and hope to continue to grow our business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We want to say a huge thanks to Etsy and all our supportive customers. Having customers return again and again is so thrilling, we are very grateful for their support of our recycled goods

Thanks to Jann and Jeff for sharing their story and business with us! Check out the related items below to see some more of their work.

You can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

How-to Make the Cutest Belt with Cluttershop via Sprig.com

2008-11-06T15:39:00-05:00

In this video, cluttershop shows us how to make a simple belt by recycling an old apron. Way to go, Cluttershop!

Sprig.com, "Your Daily Green Style Guide," is looking for more Etsy sellers to contribute how-to videos with a green twist. Let Etsy know about it too, so we can post it here on our blog as well. We are always looking for video-making Etsians (see our Getting Started in Video series, if you need a leg-up).

See more how-to videos!

Search for Fabric Belts | Search for Aprons

News from the Etsy Labs: 11/10 Craft Night

2008-11-05T12:02:00-05:00

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live into in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm EST at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own projects to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, November 10, Wendy, a regular craft night superstar, will be teaching us how to transform junk mail into snazzy envelopes and mini matchbook-style notebooks. These techniques are great for making eco-friendly holiday cards and small gifts. This project is open to everyone, regardless of crafting experience. Please bring along your finest junk mail, including old envelopes with security lining and old greeting cards or postcards. All other supplies will be provided. We'll start demos on this week's project at 5pm (rather than 4pm). If you're an early-bird, you are welcome to participate in open crafting from 4-5pm.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to craft along with us, you'll need a few supplies:

old envelopes from credit card, utility, bank companies with security lining on the inside (make sure not to include private info!)
old greeting cards or post cards
scrap paper, envelopes or copy paper that's been printed to make pages for the notebook
paper scissors and craft scissors (the kind that cut interesting shapes)
stapler and staples
glue sticks
templates (circles or different shapes) to make designs to collage onto envelopes
trimmings, glitter, beads, sequins to add onto notebooks

Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on.

Upcoming Craft Night Projects

11/17: Making Lip Balm

11/24: Open Craft Night

Would you like to lead a craft night project? Send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night idea" as the subject line. Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group! Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. If you'd like to receive email updates, join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Will we see you this Monday? Let us know in the comments.

Recycled Glove How-to: Make a Chipmunk Softie

2008-10-17T15:34:00-05:00

Gloves (like socks), while born to be part of a pair, often end their days in lonely solitude, separated from their mates by the forces of the universe that conspire at every turn to pull them apart. Alone, they sadly serve little purpose (aside from the occasional show biz appearance for only the most sparkling among them), and are left to languish in the backs of a drawers and bottoms of closets — that is, if they're not disposed of all together. Ah... but it's a new day.

With her book, Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves, she's given hopelessly single gloves a new lease on life as cozy companions. In her able hands, one glove's worth of material becomes an elephant, a penguin, a donkey, a bunny — you name it — all set free to romp and play together. (Can't you just hear the claps of cheer?)

Crafter and author Miyako Kanamori has a plan and she's ready to share it!

Try your hands at this chipmunk to start your very own menagerie of recycled glove critters. Download complete instructions here or follow along below.

BUY the book at Amazon!

Thanks to the Penguin Group for sharing this project from Happy Gloves.

Author Miyako Kanamori is a crafter who lives in Tokyo. She is also the author of Sock and Glove. You can see more of her work at her website: bananawani.org/nuiguroom.

For more cute critters made from recycled materials, search "Recycled Softie". Some examples plus a few other autumn-inspired creations can be seen in the related items below.

The Sustainability of Vintage Suits

2008-10-10T11:30:00-05:00

My husband and I both care deeply about the environment. He spends his days growing local organic produce which feeds our small Ontario town, and I spend mine de/reconstructing those beautiful old tweed and linen suits we all see in thrift stores, wish we had a use for, and inevitably leave on the rack. I take them home, take them apart, wash them, and upcycle them into lovely shoulder bags, wallets, and pouches. Those suits are so strong: some of them have been around since the 1970's, but they have so much life left in them!

My love of vintage fabric came from my grandmother. Growing up she would send me home with the most beautiful old dresses and blouses which she was no longer wearing. Then I would commandeer my mother's sewing machine, hole up in my bedroom, and make myself clothes: The ones that I wanted, the ones I couldn't find in stores. When I moved to Canada to attend university, I no longer had access to a sewing machine and the habit slumped off, until about a year ago. Upon graduating, I married a Canadian, and we now live mostly in Canada, where I run my online business. I borrowed my mother's machine again, let a friend offload a couple of vintage suits on me, and A)Kat was born.

In day-to-day life in our home, attempts to curb both waste and consumerism are ever-present. We opt for minimal packaging, re-use everything we can, repurpose and repair, and then finally, as the very last step, we recycle. This extends beyond our recycling bins and into our everyday lives — we make efforts to buy much of our clothing and furniture second-hand so as to keep our ecological footprint low by reducing the disposability of both our, and other's, consumer goods. Building bags and wallets for my shop out of men's suits rescued from the depths of closets and the circuit of Southern Ontarian thrift stores, then, was a natural choice.

I deconstruct the suits with my beloved rotary cutter along seams which allows for the largest swaths and least amount of waste, depending on intended uses and individual jackets. This was, at first, a bit more of an endeavor than I had imagined it would be. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find just how much reclaimable fabric is contained in a single jacket.

The existing curves and seams make the design process an intuitive one. Not only is the fabric long off the market, but the motion dictated by individual cuts contributes to making each piece unique.

These gorgeous suits are perhaps the most untouchable staple of thrift shops. The fabrics are beautiful — well made and sturdy after thirty years in circulation — but the jackets themselves are almost impossible to take home. From the time I was 15, I've eyed them, wishing just one would miraculously look good on a skinny 5'5" girl; no such luck. With the odds stacked against them, they're seemingly destined to join the ranks of the rest of the unwanted stock, run their circuits, and end up baled and shipped to developing countries which, due to the clothes-as-disposable-goods mentality of the West, no longer have textile industries of their own.

The exportation of our discarded clothing, as opposed to domestic re-use, contributes not only to dissolution of long-standing textile traditions in economically vulnerable cultures, but also to dependency situations which would take much longer to reverse than they did to establish. The transportation of these goods, by air, land, and sea, also creates copious greenhouse emissions which could be easily be reduced, were an effort made by each of us to step up and exercise restraint in our buying habits.

Supporting small-scale artisans, working in recycled materials, providing upcycled goods of high quality which will last longer than the season — these actions affect the local community, the country, and the continent. And further, our actions have ramifications which affect everyone: the whole world.

Further Resources:
UN Chronical: The Secrets of Used Clothes
Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry

Craftivism Section | Earth Tones Series | Read More About Upcycling

News from the Etsy Labs: 10/13 Craft Night

2008-10-08T12:30:00-05:00

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm EDT at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own projects to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, October 13, we'll be performing a little eco-alchemy with seamstress extraordinaire Alexia of sakidesigns. She will show us how to transform old t-shirts into new totebags. These upcycled totebags are perfect for carrying your groceries, library books, and Halloween candy! We will demonstrate how to cut, hand-stitch and machine-stitch, and embellish these bags. This project is open to people with all levels of sewing experience.

If you have 2 old t-shirts of the same size that you would like to use to create your project this week, feel free to bring those along. Otherwise, we have everything you will need, including a big ol' box of t-shirts, thread, needles, and sewing machines.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to sew along with us, you'll need a few supplies: two knit t-shirts in the same size, hand sewing needle or sewing machine, thread for hand sewing (preferably embroidery thread) or for machine sewing (any thread is fine), a sharpie to trace the pattern and that's it! Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on.

If you are joining us virtually for craft night this week, please be sure to download the totebag pattern PDF: download pattern piece 1 and download pattern piece 2.

Here is a sneak peek at a few upcoming craft nights:

10/20: Make Halloween-inspired coasters with kimmchi.

10/27: Carve pumpkins with Christine

(Photo by NicoAndMooMoo)

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Will we see you this Monday? Let us know in the comments!

Process: Sustainable Wooden Jewelry by PrasseinDesignStudio

2008-09-26T12:31:00-05:00

Process is a new Etsy video series that features the intimate relationship formed between Etsy sellers and the handmade items that they create and make available to the world through their online shops. Process is not to be confused with a How-To video, as each video is intended to show each seller's unique artistic voice through the process by which their items come to be.

This month, Seattle native Shawn Taylor of prasseindesignstudio is sharing her process of making a wooden wrist cuff with us in conjunction with our themes of woodworking and jewelry making.

As a designer, Shawn works with architects designing spaces, and she applies her knowledge of certified wood and recycled materials in a way that makes her designs both safe for habitation and easy on the environment. Shawn is very passionate about sustainability and has partnered with ecohaus, a sustainable urban building supply company based in the Northwest.

While ecohaus attempts to reuse all of their materials in one way or another, the shipping crates that carry their bulk materials often break in the warehouse and then have to be chipped up to be effectively reused in other building materials. Through her relationship with this building supplier, Shawn has inserted herself into that ecosystem to prevent some of the more exotic woods from being destroyed by upcycling scraps into stunning yet minimal wooden accessories.

Shawn was kind enough to take me to the ecohaus branch in south Seattle, where we met Elliott Kopet, her friend and knowledgeable sales associate who led us through the warehouse, sharing various places for Shawn to scavenge for reusable scraps of wood. Shawn's passion for wood was instantly revealed by her ability to accurately identify a variety of different woods all with varying degrees of weather damage. After gleaning what she could from the scrap pile, we continued to Shawn's home wood shop in north Seattle where she transformed a piece of scrap lumber into a magnificent wrist cuff. The piece, Nature's Barcode no. 1, highlights the sustainably farmed certification stamp that was burned into the wood itself, sharing the story of its origins. As stated in her shop announcements, 25% of Shawn's sales from the Natures Barcode series will be donated to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Subscribe in iTunes | Youtube | Blip.tv | MP4

Etsy Holiday How-To #1: Packaging

2008-09-23T12:13:00-05:00

What? Too soon to start thinking about the holidays, you say?

Not at all. It takes some time to get your Etsy shop ready for the holiday shopping season, so it's best to start now. We know this can be a daunting task.

So we'll be presenting a series of video how-tos to help you get your Etsy shop ready for the holiday season. In our first segment, Mary shows you how to recycle items from around your home to make original, appealing, and eco-friendly packaging. Tune in to the rest of the series for more how-tos on sprucing up your shop, shipping, photography and more!

Click here for a How-To on making your own boxes out of recycled paper.

See the The Etsy Seller Handbook: All Our How-Tos about Selling.

[This video was originally published October 9, 2007. We're bringing it back for the '08 season!]

News from the Etsy Labs: 8/18 Craft Night

2008-08-13T14:59:00-05:00

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

For our Monday, August 18 craft night, we will be demonstrating how to make paper boxes. These boxes are wonderful to use as gift boxes, storing your favorite trinkets, using in displays at craft fairs....The list goes on! Creating these paper boxes is a great way to breathe new life into old papers, such as discarded magazines, junk mail, and any other paper scraps you may have around. You may wish to bring some paper if you have any on hand that you'd like to put to good use and a bone folder (if you have one). Bringing these supplies is totally optional, as all tools and supplies will be provided by the Labs.

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own project to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

Are you joining us virtually for Craft Night this week? If so, and you would like to craft along with us, you'll need a couple supplies:

paper (any paper will do, including fancy paper, junk paper, old magazine or book pages, etc)
scissors

Craft Night Study Tip: If you'd like to be ahead of the game for Craft Night, check out this video by marymary all about this box-making technique. We'll be on hand in the Virtual Labs to answer questions during the live broadcast of craft night.

See you Monday!

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Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group!

Would you like to lead craft night or do you have an idea for a craft night project? Send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night idea" as the subject line.

Keep an eye on the Storque Events calendar for future updates from the Etsy Labs.

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.