NEW MEMBER Introductions

[Former_Member]

We are cleaning up the team threads, please post here if you are new and would like to introduce yourself. Tell us about your shop, your social networks, whatever you like! Threads started outside of this discussion will be closed.

Making the team's discussion board more concise will allow all of us to get to know each other and help us easily find the information we need to support and grow our shops & team!

Thanks, Bee, Cat & Melissa

[Former_Member]

Hi Bee Cat & Melissa! I am so happy to have found this team - I LOVE upcycling, recycling, and making something really cool from repurposed items. I consider myself a 'Class 1 Hoarder' since I only see new uses for 'garbage' and it keeps piling up around me ...LOL

I am shy of picking junk from the streetside - But I think I will have the nerve one day. I can't see a good genuine wood object just thrown away ... it puts a knot in my stomach!

Anyway, I love to upcycle and come from a family of repurposers ... I think this is the creative inspiration of true artists. Make beauty where none existed.

Most recently I created 'Circles of Inspiration' charms which have sold like mad. I make them from hardware washers. During my process I try to use as little raw materials as possible and reuse my tools and repurpose what would otherwise have been garbage. I kills me to have waste or excess packaging ... I'm sure you all know what I mean.

Not to bore you, here is my shop www.Etsy.com/shop/AnnaPereira and an example of my work:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87111171/namaste-charm-necklace-hand-stamped?ref=v1_other_1

Have a fabulous day and I am looking forward to meeting everyone :)
Anna

[Former_Member]

Welcome Anna! That is an awesome intro! I love the shop and the washers!!! I too am shy to pick from the streets but I have done it twice. I make regular rounds through the area thrift stores trying to repurpose and give back to the community. I found a stellar mirror the other. :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82053160/reclaimed-wood-cabinet-door-with-hooks
I do love 2 upcycle! ;) Such a satisfying process.
Hope to see you around! :)
Thanks, Bee

[Former_Member]

Hey - we're anonüm and we make iPad sleeves out of recycled rubber printing blankets with felt or fleece liners. Soon we'll have some more products made of used sail canvas and bike inner tubes.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87623074/free-shipping-ipad-sleeve-made-of-used
Cheers!

[Former_Member]

Thanks Bee! I shared that super cool mirror on my FB :) I LOVE IT! :)
Those are pretty cool Olivia

[IntoTheTrees]

Great thread ! I recycle my found Florida Palm Fronds ( free canvas) aka trashion into my Fun original Palm Frond Art !

Anna Pereira. . Don't be afraid to pick from the street sides that's where i find my most interesting fronds !

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55366872/orig-recycled-palm-frond-fish-art-j

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71133042/blue-lady-palm-frond-mask-decor

http://www.etsy.com/listing/24937981/fun-dude-palm-frond-mask-orig-j-craig

[Former_Member]

I am a proud re-user and recycler, but I didn't realize I was "upcycling" until recently. I look forward to reading some of the ideas of other members of this team and, hopefully, offering my help to others. I am currently working on re-purposing sweaters, but my first upcycled listing is below. Yeah, team!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87390485/upcycled-snowflake-christmas-tree

[Former_Member]

Welcome Raychel. Yes upcycling is a newer term. I always smile when my auto spell check says it isn't a word.

Janet, awesome palm frond art. Were creating in FL too!

Anna, my cabinet door had a lot of action the other day. Now I know why. Thank you!!!

Bee

[Former_Member]

YVW! I share a lot on my FB and hope all benefit when I post :) xoxo

Janet Your palm frods are so cool! You should contact resarants - I think they would make the COOLEST decor at tiki bars!!

Congrats Raychel!
<3

[Former_Member]

I have just recently joined this team, and was so happy to discover it! I make one of a kind children's items from upcycled/recycled materials. Mostly clothing, and leather booties, but I also make quilts and blankets which I appliqué a Kwaguitl design on. For the quilts I use fabric sample books I get from interior designers, cut them up and piece together.

It's a lot of fun, and I love seeing the transition of something old being turned into something new.

I am loving seeing all the creative ways that people are re-using!! It's fantastic, and amazing!

Here is a sample of one of my quilts:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86596767/quilt-deer-kwaguitl-design

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone!
I'm Lynda, from Sydney, Australia.
I've just joined the team, though I've been on Etsy for about 2 years.
I make upcycled knitting needle bracelets like this:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87997046/vintage-knitting-needle-bracelets-mod

and also handbags and cushion covers from upcycled vintage scraps of fabric and repurposed clothing like these:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67330513/jeans-pouch-for-her-turquoise-pom-poms

I love the huge variety of eco-friendly recycled items on Etsy, and hope to discover some more favourites here!

I'm also at allthepreciousthings.etsy.com (vintage sewing patterns).

[Former_Member]

Hello everyone!! :D

I'm Arial, and I've been dabbling in upcycling materials into supplies for other crafters. ^.^

I have a Stumbleupon account: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/riarisque/

And a Tumblr: http://riaa13.tumblr.com/

And here are some new listings from my shop!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88233758/vintage-native-american-pendant

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88234720/small-lot-of-buttons

[Former_Member]

Hi all!
I am new to the Team and thought I'd share an idea.

Wallpaper stores give away their old sample books. You can upcycle them to gift boxes!
How to Make a Box Out of Paper Scraps http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2007/how-to-make-a-box-out-of-paper-scraps/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_mediu...

[Former_Member]

Hey there fellow Upcyclers! I joined etsy and this team recently and I'm really excited to have found such a great community of makers and repurposers!

i have been obsessed with turning discarded/unwanted materials into useable and beautiful things for a long time. I have done a lot of work with fabric/clothing, plastic bags, bicycle tubes, and trash. Almost everything on my etsy is at least partially upcycled. I've never tried to sell my garbage upcyclings, but my last apartment was entirely decorated and furnished with trashfinds, I'm new to the philly area, so I'm not yet aware of the trashing scene here :)

I re-use all of my excess, and can seriously relate to Anna's comments above about how the materials piled around her all have potential to be something someday. I dont think my roommate will let me go trashing until I finish the materials I have!

Here is one of my favorite things that I have made lately, it's so hard to choose! I look forward to contributing to discussions with fellow re-purposers!

See you on the etsy-machine!
Gray @KnotSewTrashy

tumblr- http://www.tumblr.com/blog/knotsewtrashy

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85851037/upcycled-wool-cowl-red-and-argyle-with

[Former_Member]

Welcome everyone! Hope you enjoy Upcyclers as much as I do!

@Jamie "I love seeing the transition of something old being turned into something new. " I couldn't agree more! :)

@Lynda love your shop - the tie apron is very cool.

@Arial love to see another upcycled supply shop!

@Diane - love the idea! I will share on our social networks as well. I use old wallpaper to photograph my items so this idea is right up my alley. :)

@knotsewtrashy - great cowl! I save all of my shop excess too. My husband asks what am I going to do with some of it. I tell him, give me time and I will create it into something new. :)

Happy Upcycling! Bee

[Former_Member]

Hi all, I am very happy to have found this team. And look forward to spreading the upcycling word. I use reclaimed fabric in my hats and jewelry. I love to have my hands busy and for reasons of environment and economy love to give old items new life. Like many of you I have a very hard time throwing things away. They must have a purpose or some creative potential, even if I don't see it right away. Right now I'm in the midst of a personal challenge to save all of my very minute sewing scraps, thread, lint, the works and use it as stuffing for pillows.
Here is some of my latest work:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87569803/half-moon-earrings-yellow-beads-on

[Former_Member]

Welcome ATruantPortrait! Great shop! I hope you save all your stuffing for pillows. You will have to share photos if you completed your challenge. :)

Hope you enjoy the team! Happy Upcycling!
Bee

[Former_Member]

Hi, I am Alex from Pittsburgh and I reuse old houseparts. I like the term upcycler better than scrounger. I have been back on etsy since May 2011, and things are going well.

an example of my work

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88139189/wood-mosaic-mexican-tile

[Former_Member]

Hi there :) We are a team of two, new to the upcycle world but happy to be there!
Here is our shop, we just have mittens rightr now but we will be posting more soon!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PeacedTogether4U

[BrizelFiberArts]

Greetings and I am delighted to have found a team of artisans who like to upcycle as well !

I am primarily a fiber arts crafts person traveling on a road called Brizel... I work with a variety of naturally eco-friendly materials and supplies. Right now, I am particularly enamore with silk sari yarn (made from reclaimed silk sari loom warps), banana silk yarn (made from banana fibers), vintage & antique buttons (shanks mostly), handwoven sash fabrics (rescued from a business going under), tagua nut wood (sustainably grown in the rain forest), rattail cord and... wood which I prune from my own orchard trees.

I have four online shops- two on Etsy and two on ArtFire. Brizel4TheAnimals.etsy.com houses my Silk Tapestry Art Boxes which is my current artistic focus plus homegrown goodies which in a way are also upcycled. And BrizelSupplies.etsy.com which is my vintage button & destash fabric shop. A good overview of all my Silk Tapestry work can be found on my blog: http://www.brizelhandcrafts.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71346990/apple-wood-brigid-cross-house-blessing
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76357427/purple-dream-box-silk-tapestry-art

I spent late summer / early fall doing a full makeover of my novelty fiber art boxes here on Etsy... in the hopes that they would catch more attention. I absolutely adore making these precious boxes & I'd love to make more. I spend a lot of time helping others. I am super involved in Team EFA, Etsy for Animals- as Team Captain etc... and 10% of boxes, once sold, benefit our Charity of the Month.

I'd like to succeed with selling my upcycled handmade items - am happy to be joining a team with like minded folks. My hope is to find encouragement & guidance here. It will take me a wee while to get my 'crochet needles in a row' and discover all the Upcyclers loops & ends.

Gratitude for your patience & help !

[Former_Member]

Hi there everyone,

I am one of those who didn't realize I was "upcycling" until I became more familiar with the term recently. I love it!

Jumping in with both feet to a new Etsy shop and learning as I go... a bit of a rough time to start during the Christmas season! The shipping has been one of the biggest learning curves for me - though I am thrilled to be getting orders!

I also have not had the chance to do much, if any, promoting through social networking. All will come in time...

I do many things...mostly started out in fine arts - drawing, painting...and then onto photography and graphic design. I also used to design jewelry...there are so many possibilities and wonderful medias out there to NOT try your hand at a few.

This time around I somehow got started with shadowboxes...re-purposing old jewelry, trivets, napkin rings, etc and framing them in recycled frames - some that I paint, white-wash or distress. I also like to frame nature items - bamboo, reed, branches, etc.

I have branched out into other upcycling ventures with candlesticks and mirrors, and ended up opening a vintage shop ( www.RinnovatoVintage.etsy.com ). This seemed to come naturally as I found items that I felt were perfect the way they were and did not feel right altering them!

I have many more ideas and piles of finds waiting in the wings...the winter weather has put a bit of a damper on some of the creating process (ie, spray painting outdoors!) I hope to get more organized and streamlined so that I can continue bringing new creations and ideas to my shop. I am very inspired by all of the people here....amazing and unique talents!

Here are a just a few of my items:

http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.295724953.jpg

http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.295124855.jpg

http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.285158247.jpg

http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.292913232.jpg

http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.290667990.jpg


Thanks for reading and I look forward to more involvement with Etsy and teamupcyclers!

[Former_Member]

Sorry about the above (and the re-post)....I copied the image location instead of the URL....still learning!!!! : )

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88623466/christmasholiday-sale-15-off-glittery

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88454025/cast-iron-owl-hand-painted-silver-black

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85830219/vintage-gold-faux-tortoise-shell-framed

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85777217/zen-inspired-up-cycled-natural-wood

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87251584/pair-of-vintage-primitive-wooden-square

[tuppencehapenny]

Hello! I just joined - I'm trying to get more involved in teams and the community here on etsy, although I've had a shop for some time.

I sell vintage clothing, custom shoes and (most pertinent to this group) upcycled hats and handbags made from old records.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88822421/shaken-not-stirred-vintage-record

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88519316/pink-cocktail-hat-or-bridal-headpiece

[Former_Member]

Welcome all! Thanks for introducing yourselves.

@alex with woodenarh, love your shop. It's right up my alley. :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88144392/recycled-wood-fleur-de-lis

Wow @Christina from PiecedTogether4U, you are a newbie! Welcome to Etsy too. Six sales already. That's great! Love these


@Nicole, you must stay really busy with all those shops! Love your flower bulbs. How beautiful. Love the supply shop too. I have a button fetish. :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/84186354/vintage-sewing-buttons-stamped-cogwheels


@M. Basile you are doing correct in jumping right in and learning as you go. I think that's the best way. Great shop!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88384523/retro-green-majolica-ceramic-leaf-tray

I look forward to upcycling with you all.
Thanks, Bee

[Former_Member]

Moving thread to the top... :)