etsy trashion blog: 08/2009

8/15/2009

Interview with Maura of lilgreenshop

Name: Maura

Shop name: lilgreenshop

Shop address: http://www.lilgreenshop.etsy.com

Other sites: http://greenworks.etsy.com
http://www.artfire.com/users/lilgreenshop

What draws you to using trashion materials?
I am a diehard hoarder that hates to throw anything out - because it's a cert that once I get rid of something I'll find a use for it or need it within a month! Murphy's Law. Plus I hate to see anything wasted - so as well as my own stuff I adopt other peoples "trash."

What trashion materials do you use?
Mostly fabric, old buttons and jewelry, discarded canvas, picture frames, placemats etc, seat belt ends, stones and shells.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
Yes - I re-tiled my fireplace using broken tiles that I found in a skip (dumpster) mosaic style. I was in a hurry so it wasn't very refined or artistic but that was what started me off on recycling some of my "stuff."

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
I recently did a glut of sewing - brooches and cuffs and am trying to wean myself away from the sewing machine - it really is addictive! I have lots of picture frames and placemats I want to decoupage next ... but the reality will be lots of different projects on the go at the same time. (Haphazard is my middle name!)

Anything else you'd like to add?
I don't think I should in case I scare folks away sharing the inner workings of my fragmented mind! Um, I guess should say my other interest is screen printing and organic fabrics. That's what the greenworks part of me does. I wish someone had warned me that Etsy can lead to split personalities. As greenworks I co-founded the Etsy Organic Team and that takes up a fair bit of time - but we recently restructured so hoping the new structure frees me up more.

8/11/2009

A Tale of Two Cities

Submitted by Tammy of junck

My husband, two dogs, cat and I recently moved out of our 1700 sq. ft. bungalow (in the country) and into a 700 sq. ft., story and a half house (in the city). The new house was built in 1924 and required major renovations.

Waste not - want not was a motto I grew up with. Downsizing means purging. Lots and lots of purging. This was difficult for me at first. Not only does everything have a memory attached to it, I can find a use for just about anything I lay eyes on! To make the job a bit easier, I created a system of sorts (no pun intended!). As I unpacked box after box of “stuff” - I would place the item in one of three boxes - “Keep”, “Auction”, “Donate”. Not only did I set aside items for donation to the local thrift shop, but also for the local animal shelter and women’s shelter (think towels, sheets, toys etc.).

We dealt with the construction material in a similar way. Our renovation was extensive (taking the house right down to the bare bones) and included wiring and plumbing.

We took all the metal scrap to a local metal recycler (did you know that steel is the most recycled product in the world?). When you recycle metal, you get paid based on weight and the current value of the particular metal. Our trips to the metal recycler became a game with my husband and I guessing how much we’d make!

Wood went to a local salvage yard or to neighbours (for firewood).

Before anything went to the landfill we would ask ourselves “could anyone make use of this?”.

While we have very little room for “stuff” anymore, I did save all the porcelain tubes from the old wiring... I’m sure I can think of something to craft with them.