Is upcycled handmade??

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

I've noticed more and more lately shops that sell items such as plaster busts, wall decor, and shelving that are from craft stores or pottery stores that are simply painted and distressed with sandpaper. These are being sold as handmade items. Is this okay to do? I've seen ornate painting done on wood and on ornaments that is gorgeous and is truly an art, but to simply cover a store-bought item in brightly colored paint... is that really handmade?

I think these items are super cute, and if it's legitimately okay to sell those on here then I'm thinking, how hard could it be? Maybe I should do it? I guess I'm questioning the ethics of it. Any thoughts?

**edit** Not sure 'upcycled' was the right word to put in the subject line. I personally don't consider buying something brand new and painting it to be 'upcycled.' Or maybe it is and I'm wrong? Clarification please!

[hydeandstitched]

I love the "how hard can it be" comments, we always joke about those within my family, especially for "as seen on TV" infomercials. I remember when I saw the dinosaur planters on Etsy for the first time, it is such a simple concept and I did say "wow, why didn't I think of that".

Part of the handmade process is the vision and thought that goes into the end result. While I agree, simply painting or distressing may not seem on the same level as a custom quilt or fine art painting, but it is the combination of an idea and materials that make it a handmade process.

It's the same as those damn painted pine cones that come around Christmas time, anyone could go out and find some pine cones and spray paint them glittery gold, but a surprising number of people rather just buy the ones already completed for them.

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

This is true, Brandon... about people buying completed items with the thought already put into them. People at craft shows ask me, "How do you make your candles? Can I make them at home?" And I always say, "Well you COULD but you'd have to buy all the supplies and then take the time to make them." And then they're turned off because they realize that even though anyone CAN do it, they probably don't want to put the energy/effort into it, and it's easier to pay more and just buy it from me.

[Former_Member]

I have a sign on my table for craft shows. It says, "Sure, you make it yourself, But will you?". I think this falls under the same category, the seller has put some work into the item, has changed its appearance, and put a value on it. In the case of a wooden lamp with fresh spray paint and nothing else, or painted pine cones, I might express inner doubt that it's even "upcycled", but someone else is willing to pay for it.

[hydeandstitched]

Exactly! The easier the concept the more likely it will be that the consumer will just do it themselves, especially with the increase in the maker mind-set these days. So, while people may sell things that seem really easy to make, they may in fact not be that profitable as the ideas could get quickly lifted and remade from home.

[spacefem]

Upcyling is taking something that someone might throw away, and making it cool.

I also like the Regretsy term "notcycling"... that's when you take a piece of trash and make it into another piece of trash :)

Painting a store-bought item is just like anything else handmade... most all of us use supplies in some form or fashion, I mean I sew little bags but I'm certainly not growing the cotton in my yard, it's mostly store-bought fabric. I sometimes wonder if a simple pendant on a chain is really handmade. But it'd be so hard for Etsy to draw the line... how many steps should you have to do? How many supplies should you have to combine?

So bottom line, if you don't think it's handmade "enough" you don't have to buy it.

[Former_Member]

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. Per wiki

Painting something to me is more like repurposing not so much upcycling

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

spacefem - notcycling. Love it. :)

Loni - I'm of the same mind as you - I've painted the walls in my house and I consider that redecorating but not necessarily upcycling.

Okay, so I guess it's not the ethics of it, but the semantics that I'm hung up on.

[Former_Member]

its all in the wording of the listing i do etched glasses not so much upcycling as repurposing (would not list them as upcycled) and i also make upcycled tshirt pillows so yeah i get it where you hung up at :)

[Former_Member]

"Hand altered/embellished" is allowable on Etsy. . .

[DesigningParrotJewel]

I agree that painting isn't really upcycling and in painting something like a plaster bust, I'm not sure I would even call it repurposing (usually it was made expecting SOMEONE to paint it or gild it or whatever). I would simply call this "decorative" but in any case, it DOES take time, effort, thought and ability to paint it so to me...yes I would call it handmade.

[decembermoondesign]

Brandon says
" but it is the combination of an idea and materials that make it a handmade process."

Exactly.

[PIXELGRINphotography]

Jaime, My first thoughts would be to not pour your time and energy into things that people are already doing.. unless you can improve upon it, why do it? You would just be putting your stuff out there in a market that's already got competition.

As everyone has noted already, according to Etsy anything even "added to" is considered handmade, I'd be willing to guess that nearly 90% or 95% of most of the shops on Etsy are using supplies created by someone else to make their product, and I'm sure there are some that do literally everything their self. I wish I could be that self reliant!!

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

Jennifer, this is true. I wouldn't bother doing something I wasn't passionate about when it comes to my shop anyway, since the Etsy market is so tough when there's already competition. I was thinking maybe for craft shows I could sell a few select decor items. I mean hey, if there's a market for them, why not?

But then again it's more money to invest in supplies that I could be putting toward my vintage shop & handmade candles. I guess my heart isn't really in it since I'm questioning it so much anyway. :-/