NEW MEMBER Introductions

[#1]

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

[BlueAcresFarm]

Hi! I'm Caryn from Blue Acres Farm... the name of our farm and my shop. I've been upcycling for as long as I can remember, so was excited to stumble across this team in a search. Have had my shop open a few years but just recently decided to get serious about it and treat it as a job instead of just a hobby. Which led me to doing lots of reading and browsing all the forums and teams here, tons of things to learn!!

Over a decade ago I got started doing craft fairs when I made garden art from old garden and farm tools. That lasted a few years then I sort of switched gears to painting, sewing, collage, etc. But whatever craft/art I've done has pretty much always involved upcycling materials (usually vintage!) in some way.

Currently I'm having a blast creating new household items from vintage fabrics. Mostly napkins, buntings and things like that. I have a stash of vintage treasures also but am trying to sell those and not bring home (too many!) more so I can focus on sewing and creating in the future. I have so many ideas in my head, which is good but overwhelming sometimes!

Looking forward to being a part of Upcyclers, this looks like a really active team! Thanks for listening to my long winded introduction :)

Caryn

[RinnovatoJewelry]

Hi Caryn!....I can SO relate to having so many ideas and being overwhelmed by them. I have dozens of partially completed projects (in addition to all my vintage finds) lying around my house at any given moment and keep thinking of more to start...it gets stressful when its supposed to be fun and therapeutic!! : )

Love your shop and farm name....so picturesque! I also enjoyed reading your "About" page. Nice sewing room! (* I swoon every time I see one of those vintage black and gold Singer machines - and I don't even sew!) Another thing on my list I would love to learn to do though...lol.

Love your napkins....this mod design is one of my favorites:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/101681729/cloth-napkins-mod-color-blocks-orange
You can find them pinned to our team boards here: http://pinterest.com/upcyclers/2nd-time-around/

Hope you join in the fun in all of our different threads and monthly challenges here....A warm welcome to you! : )

[RinnovatoJewelry]

Aww....Thanks, Bee! I appreciate being appreciated!! : )

[Former_Member]

Welcome Caryn! Your introduction made me think of summers working craft fairs and taking care of the horses/garden/chickens on my grandparents farm in the Dakotas. Very happy memories. :) I also love your napkins! These are very fun!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/102753419/cloth-napkins-vintage-mod-chocolate

So glad you found us! :)

[Former_Member]

Marcy, you really are awesome! :) Everything you do on this team does not go unnoticed. I am certain I speak for the entire team when I say "Thank You!!"

[BlueAcresFarm]

Wow thanks for the warm welcome y'all!

Marcy, that is my 'newest' vintage Singer :) Found it on craigslist in May for $30 and it is now my favorite machine of all time (I have, um, several old Singers from the 50s & 60s!). You should absolutely take time someday to learn to sew!

Luci those are some of my fav napkins! I say that about most of my napkins but those truly are, they go perfectly with our kitchen. So if they sit in the shop for too long I may just have to keep them!

Since it's raining here at the moment I'm going to poke around the old threads a bit more and see what I can learn.... thanks again!

[Former_Member]

Kaye T, I'm wondering if you have thrift stores or Goodwill/Salvation Army stores near you - they are great sources for games and all those little pieces & trinkets for (usually) under $1. Good luck! I hope you find some more of those tokens you need!

[Former_Member]

HI everyone,

My name is Kelly and I live in Charleston, SC. My new shop Simply Frazzled will open in September but I am looking for advice in marketing, listing and the soon to be selling of upcylced and recycled goods.

My shop will carry One of a kind camera strap covers, seat belt covers and other personal accessories made from upcycled clothing. I am super excited about it.

This is a complete 180 from my current shop but this shop will speak to my soul. haha. cheesy but true!

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Hello... Daniel Smith here my shop is Quarrydesigns. I have recently retired after 20+ years of public service and am looking forward to devoting full time to my own business Quarry Designs Wood Working.

I first got into recycling / upcycling a few years ago when I salvaged a few boards from a local barn to use in a small project. As i milled these board I began to notice how hard they were, their unique grain, color and aroma. After a little investigation I discovered they were old growth american chestnut from around 1875. I have made several pieces from this and still have several pieces waiting for that special project. Most recently I have acquired a large quantity of of 75 year old yellow heart pine flooring which I will start to make some pieces from in the near future.

Hope the Etsy part of the business works out and I look forward to learning more about it and all my fellow crafters.

Thanks
Daniel Smith

[Former_Member]

Welcome Daniel! I love your shop! Variety and fine craftsmanship get me every time. :) I loved this bed frame! I could see this in my bedroom.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/103395225/king-size-platform-bed

So happy to have you on the team!

[Former_Member]

Hi Kelly! The best advice I can give it to be specific about what you used that was upcycled. For instance, if your camera straps were going to be made of upcycled seat belts, I would say Upcycled Seat Belt Camera Strap. Use the words upcycled and eco friendly in your description and in your tags. Don't forget to add teamupcyclers to your tags! That way we can find you when building treasuries and featuring shops and products. Best of luck with your new shop! :)

[Former_Member]

Bumping this to the top for new people to see. :)

[Former_Member]

I haven't had time to read all the new introductions, but welcome to everyone! You'll love this team! :)

[Former_Member · Accepted solution]

Hello New Members -

I am starting a three part series on how to use the team on our blog. It's a refresher for some and instructions for new members.

http://love2upcycle.blogspot.com/2012/07/team-upcyclers-how-to-use-our-team.html

Thanks,
Bee

[Former_Member]

Hello, I'm a newbie who loves old stuff and seems to get excited over items other people throw away... ;-)
For example, I'm absolutely in love with an old ship trunk (that was used to store all your belongings when you emigrated or traveled overseas), I named it Charlotte because the name is available in many languages and the trunk looks like a wise old lady. Charlotte stores my crafting supplies and is a perfect couch table.
Enough with raving though....

In my shop I sell upcycled apparel and I like combining old and new fabrics, colors and patterns. Sometimes I make bags out of my aunt's discarded jeans, like this one:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103164278/cij-sale-funky-red-tote-bag-upcycled-and

(I hope this isn't considered as spam, it's just to give you an idea what I do.)

[Former_Member]

Welcome Tamara! I love your shop. And no posting a picture is not considered spam. We love pictures!! :) I loved this shirt. The purple is gorgeous and the folklore pictures add a great element of funk to it. Oh, did I mention that I just love upcycled clothing??? :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95936298/cij-sale-purple-shirt-with-sewed-on-and

We are so happy to have you on the team. I would recommend Bee's article that she posted above for some useful information on how to use the team to you advantage.

[Former_Member]

@Tamara - Welcome! I love your fingerless gloves. They remind me of the circus. Really cool!

[Former_Member]

Hello! New to this team, but sure we will fit in well. 26 Briks is all about finding old reclaimed wood or salvaged metal and repurposing it to make home decor, furnishings and art. We have a studio in Chagrin Falls, Ohio which we share with an interior designer. Check out our etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/26Briks for just a few of our upcycled items. We show more of our studio and larger pieces on our Facebook page... Www.facebook.com/26briks (feel free to search around).

Looking forward to checking out some great artisans who reuse materials to create works of art.

[RinnovatoJewelry]

Hi 26Briks!....Ah, wood and metal...love it! Love your shop and the many more awesome creations on your FB page.

The colors in this one are great:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90632710/arrow-industrial-wall-decor
you can find it pinned to our team boards here: http://pinterest.com/upcyclers/2nd-time-around/

I imagine you would have done wonderful things with a metal downspout had you been here for this month's creativity challenge...lol!

Welcome! : )

[Former_Member]

Welcome 26Briks! I am sure you will fit in well also. You have a beautiful shop. I love starts so I loved this piece!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85971803/abstract-star-wall-art-made-from

So glad to have you on the team. :)

[Former_Member]

* Pinning to the team board for the new shops I missed last week.

Welcome, Tamara and Daniel! : )

http://www.etsy.com/listing/104985740/cij-sale-purple-skirt-modern-times
pinned here: http://pinterest.com/upcyclers/ecochic-fashion/

http://www.etsy.com/listing/102938826/56-piece-set-of-preschool-building
pinned here: http://pinterest.com/upcyclers/for-the-little-ones/

[Former_Member]

Hi, My name is Leslie. I recently relocated from MA to GA. I was also recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The more physically challenged I became the more creativity came from me. My father was a watch maker from his teens till he dies in 1999. He used to tell me he felt like a doctor getting their little hearts beating again.
I also have a love of watches-wristwatches and pocket watches. My "hobby" started when I started taking broken watches,headed for the junk pile, and removed every part. I then create a design and recycle those individual watch parts into new "time pieces" and "watch art". I sell those pieces on Etsy. I also sell Fibromyalgia Awareness Bracelets. .If anyone is selling broken watches, let me know. I will recycle them so they can live on in a different form. All are welcome to come visit my shop and look around.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LessieBlue

[Former_Member]

Welcome Leslie! Love your shop. You do wonderful things with these watches. I loved these cuff links.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100367032/cufflinks-made-from-recycled-watch-dials

So happy to have you on the team. :)

[Former_Member]

Hi Leslie!

Welcome to the team! You will find lots of great support here. I can relate to the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue and we have several others here that suffer with chronic illness....you are not alone. Creating be can difficult, but is also one of the best therapies!

I love the story your Dad told about reviving the clocks' little beating hearts...so sweet. Neat that you are carrying on with the watches!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88834753/steampunk-3-d-vintage-watch-dial-with
You can find this one pinned to our team boards here: http://pinterest.com/upcyclers/ecochic-fashion/

PS - I buy vintage jewelry at estate sale auctions and many times for "that one piece" I want, I have to purchase a whole lot or tray....often times it includes broken (or even working) watches that I do not have the time to do anything with.

I will go through and see what I have....and if I happen to acquire any more, I would be happy to send them to you (just for the cost of shipping) if you are interested.

Actually, I almost forgot we have a newer thread for that (upcycling supplies) if you want to check it out or post in it) : http://www.etsy.com/teams/6610/upcyclers/discuss/10524844/

Best wishes!! : )

[Former_Member]

Hi! I'm Kaitlyn I'm a Junior in college and I love radio, theatre, moviemaking, comics, and crafting. My shop is a collection of my moments of inspiration. I like to think that everything has a purpose. Things can be remade. That's why I hang on to old things. Here's an example of something I could have thrown out but kept and remade instead

https://www.etsy.com/listing/104821397/popular-pokemon-charm-necklaces