Brooklyn's Trashion Trunk Show

Thank you to everyone on the EtsyTrashion Team, the Trunk Show was a huge success and a ton of fun!



Thank you Catherine of SweetyPrize for organizing, being so patient and helpful as everyone got themselves together, and for being a really fun and fantastic lady to have my table next to.



I specifically heard someone exclaim "this is just gorgeous" in response to Catherine's adorable Sunshiney Flower Crochet Clutch Purse.




It was so inspiring and interesting to see the materials and objects the other EtsyTrashion designers use in their designs, and I was continuously impressed by the Etsy members innovative uses for things like MetroCards, old vinyl records, even just scraps of paper and fabric were woven into new and interesting, upcycled art. What a fantastic green group.



A big thank you to everyone for being so team-oriented, helpful, creative and generous. I, for one, had a successful trade, a few sales to other designers, and the cherry on top were the super-sweet free gifts from a few of you fabulous EtsyTrashion Team members.



Thank you to everyone who came out for it, and especially to those fantastic EtsyTrashion team members who made the trip. Brooklyn welcomed you with open arms and loved having you here.



You think you'll find a better team to join on Etsy.....fuhgetaboutit.

etsy trashion street team trunk show - July 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Etsylabs

The last Friday of every month, EtsyLabs in Brooklyn hosts another group of crafters in a special trunk show. Come July, the fabulous men and women of the Trashion street team will be on display!

The Trashion Trunk Show is Friday, July 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Etsylabs (see here for directions). The team will be showcasing a variety of goodies, all trashion, all etsyians.
There's Mallory, of dismantled.etsy.com, from New Orleans. Her shop includes dresses made from emergency tarps, and fleur-de-lis brooches out of reclaimed materials.

Also on site with be Catherine, of sweetyprize.etsy.com, from New Jersey, showcasing crochet and jewelry from untraditional materials, such as cassette tapes.

There is Renee of reneedesigns.etsy.com, is also scheduled to attend. Among her lovely jewelry are necklaces made with unique, used papers and earrings of doll shoes!

Joining these creative minds will be items from:
YieldToWhim.etsy.com, hillbillyartist.etsy.com, groovyvinyl.etsy.com, Lovepeaceanddye.etsy.com, disCARDS.etsy.com, Kae1Crafts.etsy.com, funkyluke.etsy.com, tomatedepingles.etsy.com, naturemadescents.etsy.com, eyepopart.etsy.com, and etsytrashion.etsy.com

The show will go beyond the sale of trashion goodies, but include giveaways, workshops, and short films.

If you can't make it, check out the virtual trunk show at

http://etsytrashion.etsy.com/, and chat with the sellers in the etsy chat rooms. it's all good.

Hope you can make it!

Trashion team spotlight Interview: .tomate d'épingles.

Shop name:
.tomate d’épingles.

Shop address:
www.tomatedepingles.etsy.com

In a nutshell:
Combining vintage, recycled, retro and new materials into unique creations, the quirky handmade jewelry and accessories of .tomate d epingles. will surprise you!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
We are Isabelle and Guylaine of Québec, Canada.
We are sisters and we share the same love for fun jewelry, luscious vintage components and eco-friendly conscience!

Trashion materials:
Vintage buttons, vintage leather, vintage jewelry that we take apart and re-assemble differently, various found objects

I transform them into:
Jewelry and accessories, paper goods
How do you do it?
We spend a lot of time thrifting, flea-marketing, designing... and then starts the creating. All that is made with a smile and sometimes, a martini ;)

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
As long as we can remember we have been eco-conscious, and in love with old objects that have a history.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept? What was it?
No, but it was most probably a piece of jewelry :)
What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
Right now, we have a new summer collection of vintage button jewelry, and we are preparing a new collection of seashell jewelry for the end of the summer… in fall, we have a new line of fabric accessories to unveil!

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
Handmade is almost always of better quality, more time and love and care went into the creation… Trashion is a perfect match between handmade items and eco-conscious behaviours… we strongly believe in re-using before purchasing… so many things are available to us, why not take advantage of them?
.tomate d'épingles.
Combining vintage, recycled, retro and new materials into unique creations!
Recycled jewelry? How eco-chic!
http://tomatedepingles.etsy.com

Trashion team spotlight Interview: dismantled designs

Shop name: dismantled
Shop address: http://dismantled.etsy.com/

In a nutshell : original and reconstructed clothing & accessories

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Mallory and I live in New Orleans, Louisiana, though

I'm originally from Gulfport, Mississippi.
In addition to creating recycled clothing & accessories, I also write
a blog called MissMalaprop.com, where I spotlight other independent
artists & designers, as well as eco-friendly products. I'm also a
proud member of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, and I work part-time for
both the Louisiana State Museum and for Trashy Diva, an amazing
locally-owned clothing store here in NOLA. I also write a monthly
column for our local alternative magazine, Antigravity, and am a
regular blogger at BloggingNewOrleans.com.

Trashion materials:

recycled scrap fabrics & remnants, old jeans &
tshirts, bottlecaps, anything I can salvage and turn into something
new instead of throwing it away

I transform them into:

denim skirts, revamped clothing, brooches &
barrettes, chokers & neckwarmers, holiday ornaments

How do you do it?

I get old unwanted clothes either from friends &
family or from thrift stores. I wash each piece and then chop it up
to turn it into something new. A lot of times this means cutting up
old jeans to make them into a denim skirt or creatively covering up
flaws with lace or appliqués and giving the the old clothes an updated
fit.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?

It started out because I hate getting rid of my own clothes that I love,
even when I have ripped up jeans with holes in the butt. So I'd throw
on patches to try to salvage the jeans and when the patches got holes
too, I'd turn it into a skirt, trying to get as much life out of the
garment as possible. My work kind of evolved from there. I just
really, really hate throwing anything away and making waste, so I try
to creatively reuse whenever possible.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
What was it?

There was this crazy vintage hippy dress my mom found at
her flea market (she actually owns a large outdoor flea market on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast and she found it there). She brought it home
thinking I might like it. It was a little too extreme for me to wear
as-is, so I chopped off the skirt part and took the top of some old
jean shorts and sewed them together. I later reworked the top of the
dress into a blouse.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?

Lately I've been concentrating more on accessories than clothing, though I'd
like to get back to making more clothing soon. There are some styles
I haven't done in a few years that I used to make more frequently; I'd
like to try my hand at those again. I've also had ideas for other
things I want to make, other accessories and home stuff. It's all
just a matter of finding the time; there's always so much I want to do!

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?

Buying handmade, and buying handmade trashion especially, helps support
individual artists but it also helps the environment. I find that
indie artists in general tend to be more concerned with where their
materials come from and often recycle out of financial necessity as
much as ethical imperatives. I love the idea of knowing that one
individual made the item I'm purchasing with their own hands. I love
that idea that Etsy promotes: meet your maker. It's easy to forget
about the individuals involved when you're shopping at Target or
something.

dismantled designs: http://www.dismantled-designs.com/
My ETSY Shop: http://dismantled.etsy.com/
My Blog: http://www.missmalaprop.com/

Thread Heads

Threadbanger's most recent show was all about Conscious Clothing and recycled goods. The Trashion team even got a shout out! Thanks guys!

Trashion team spotlight - Interview : TrashionMode

TrashionMode

I became enamored with term trashion and wanted to be a part of the whole scene. Following the theme of my YieldToWhim shop I opened TrashionMode on an impulse with trashion being the only focus.

My name is Pat Berry. I've been using recycled materials since the late 60's. Fancy patches on hippie jeans were my first trashion projects.
My use of recycled supplies has always been driven by my compulsive shopping habit and thrift. I supplied vintage and consignment shops for years. It allowed me to work around my childrens' schedules and I was always running across affordable 2nd hand clothing and art supplies for us.
I'm scissor happy. I love to play with paper and fabric. I'm working on patches with screened images using vintage fabric. And I'm also making recycled paper jewelry. I basically take a smidgen of visual information in magazine pictures out of context and make my beads from that. One time I went on a clipping binge for collage images. When it came time to sort thru them I realized that I hadn't taken the images of people, trees, animals, etc.. Instead I had focused on the blurry backgrounds, shadows on walls, reflections on water, grids and such. It was colors, textures and patterns that I was drawn to.

I struggle with A.D.D.. It's hard for me to complete anything because my mind moves on quickly or I hyper- focus and can't stop to make dinner. Yet A.D.D. has a perk when it comes to trashion. I don't censure my ideas for appropriateness. I'm used to being bombarded with overlapping information. It's like taking a pile of unrelated materials and seeing what looks good together. You, normally, would never think to put those two items together.
I think that people should buy trashion because it's often very unique. It shows that you have an appreciation for individuality. And it may remind you that there are simple approaches to reducing waste that you can incorporate into your daily life. Granted ...a smidgen of paper doesn't decrease the waste by much. It's the discussions about what trashion is that will spread the philosophy and spur bigger and better ideas for helping the ecological issues.

Trashion on Treehugger!

A big thanks to Jasmin of Treehugger and The Worsted Witch for posting about the Trashion Trunk Show!

Treehugger is one of the most awesome eco-living sites around, so this is pretty exciting! Read the post here.

Trashion team spotlight - Interview : ReneeDesigns

Shop name: ReneeDesigns

Shop address: http://reneedesigns.etsy.com

In a nutshell:
I love to make jewelry that you won’t see everywhere. I started out making “traditional” beaded jewelry but then I added broken vintage components, hardware and paper to the mix. I love the freedom that designing jewelry gives me.
Tell us a bit about yourself:
Renee Fensin, Milwaukee, WI

I am married and have a beautiful 18 month old daughter we adopted from China. I really dig hanging out with my daughter watching Sesame Street, playing with her toys and listening to all of the new words she has learned.

Trashion materials:
Paper, hardware, other found items

I transform them into:
Jewelry
How do you do it?
I’ve recently been working mainly in collage, taking magazines, newspapers and junk mail and transforming them into beautiful pendants and earrings.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
I’ve always collected magazines for inspiration for my jewelry. I would rip out interesting articles, photos etc. for later use. However later never really came. When we were getting ready for our daughter’s arrival, I started going through the files I had realizing that there were beautiful pieces of jewelry waiting to come out of something that so many would just throw away. I believe that it is my responsibility as a mother to make the world my daughter lives in a more beautiful place, one small way I can do this is to recycle and reuse the paper and junk mail that comes may way.
Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
What was it?
Well I’m sure the first thing I made with recycled or upcycled things were the popsicle stick frames and macaroni art in grade school. But the first official trashion piece of jewelry was a ring made out of my grandmother’s broken earring.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
I am currently working on collage pieces using fashion magazine images, including paperdolls and doll clothes. I would like to create more original artwork by introducing painting to the collage. I think it would be wonderful to have a miniature art work around your neck.

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
I think people should buy handmade items because there is more care going into the creation of the item. The artist or crafter puts a piece of their heart and soul into everything they make. Trashion is just one more step in this process, the artist takes something that had one use and gives it another life reducing the amount of junk in the world.

Can you tell us anything about the trunk show?

I am very excited to be attending the show in Brooklyn. I can’t wait to meet all the other trashionistas from the street team.

More you'd like to share:
Since I have started working in the trashion mode, I feel much more free in my art. I am much more open to experimentation. Doing this is giving me the same feeling about creating art that I had as a child.

Trashion team spotlight - Interview : Groovy Vinyl

Shop name: Groovy Vinyl

Shop address: http://groovyvinyl.etsy.com

In a nutshell:
Groovy Vinyl is groovy new jewelry and accessories made from
vintage vinyl records! I had a ton of old records that I had been trying to
figure out what to do with. It occurred to me that I might be able to
incorporate them into my beaded jewlery since I had done so with old CDs first
after I found a tutorial on www.Craftster.org. A whole bunch of earrings and
pendants later, I christened my creations Groovy Vinyl and opened up as a second shop on
Etsy.
Tell us a bit about yourself:
Ive always been the artistic nerd. My friends and I used to
make construction paper ears and tails and pretend we were animals,
complete with names and character backgrounds and have adventures in the
backyard. We put on puppet and magic shows for the neighborhood kids,
had dance contests and lemonade stands. Yes, sometimes we would be
dressed weirdly for this and draw wacky signs to go along with it.
As a kid I started art lessons with my auntie Pat at her house,
and during high school I had a constant pass to the art room during study
hall. We had a really cool teacher, Joel Groessel, who let us use
whatever art materials we had at our disposal. Cartooning was by far my favorite pastime and had been since I drew my first Crayola scribbles on my bedroom walls, but as
time went on I gradually picked up painting and delved into abstract art
(on canvas, not so much my walls anymore).
I took loads of art studio classes in college and really rounded
out my personal style. In between real jobs, I was forever
jumping from one creative endeavor to another, be it decorative interior
painting, greeting cards, constructing my own Halloween and renaissance faire costumes and props, custom pet cartooning on ceramic mugs and pet dishes, and private art
lessons for kids. It wast until fall of 2006 that I began
jewelry-making and really went nuts with it. I had done a little bit of beading
when I worked as a teacher at an after school center, but I found it
boring at the time, but this time around, I really discovered joy in it.
Now it consumes me--well, that and blogging!
Im married to a really awesome guy named Bob and we have two
cool kitties named Tricky and Little Byte. I work as a pharmacy
technician and Im certified at both the state and national level.
Trashion materials:
For Groovy Vinyl, old vinyl records. Apart from GV, old CDs, junk
jewelry from thrift shops and yard sales, and more recently, lots of
found materials such as broken street signs and cracked turn signal
covers.
Lately I have been refashioning old tee shirts into new garments. My
newest project will be trash such as dessicant canisters and discarded
caps from pill bottles turned into jewelry of some kind.

I transform them into:
Vinyl records get remade into earrings, necklaces, pendants,
bracelets, cuffs, pins, magnets, and rings.

How do you do it?
With a heat gun, paint, glue, beads, buttons, charms, glitter, and
assorted findings!

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
The CD jewelry project was the spark that drove me to find other
things to fashion into jewlery. I love the idea of taking something
that appears worthless and transforming it into something new, useful, and
unique. Discovering the hidden potential in discarded items is a
thrill and a challenge for me. And its a little less litter on the
street. Cardboard that comes from the pharmacy finds new life as my paint
palettes, and the boxes and bubblewrap I reuse as packing materials.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
What was it?
In the second grade, I was invited to a last minute Halloween
party. I had NO costume, so I began rummaging around this huge bag of
winter hats and mittens we had in the closet. I found this long black
woven belt which would become a tail, and I fashioned a pair of big round
ears out of black construction paper that I attached to a
plastic headband. I wore a borrowed black leotard from my friends
little sister and went as a mouse. My mom did my nose and whiskers with
a charred cork. I won second prize for the costume contest.
What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
Lately I started making hair pins and rings with the vinyl
records. I also began sewing again after I picked up the book Generation T:
108 ways to transform a tee shirt, by Megan Nicolay, and I also have
begun using casting resin in my jewery pieces.

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
Not to sound too preachy, but because I think that there should be
more support of indie artists and crafters and their small business,
rather than buying mass-produced items from huge, big-box retailers that
are churning out thousands of the same item in some third-world
sweatshop. There does seem to be more of a gravitating towards handmade, and
an appreciation for the trashion concept, and awareness of being
environmentally conscious. Personally, I would rather have a one-of-a-kind
item that was made by someone who shares that passion of making
something from nothing, something that you wont find at Target or Wal-Mart.

Trashion news flash!

Check out this treasury!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=3596

They last two days, so click before 4 a.m. tonight :-)

Etsy is having a scavenger hunt for trashion, play to win:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5161203

Have fun!

Trashion team spotlight - Interview : disCARDS

Shop name: disCARDS: Cut(e) n' Paste

Shop address: http://discards.etsy.com/

In a nutshell:

Cut(e) + Paste = disCARDS

disCARDS puts the "fun" in "functional" with cute, clever, handmade items, created with love and other ingredients in Pittsburgh, PA.

Tell us a bit about yourself:

My name is Emily. I live in Pittsburgh, PA, where I work full time at a non-profit agency, go to school for my master's degree in organizational psychology, and live with my boyfriend and our two cats. Outside of the Trashion team, I'm involved in the Etsy Greetings and etsyPittsburgh teams, and I write a blog about my crafty exploits: http://disCARDSblog.blogspot.com. I also participate in a handful of indie craft fairs around the Pittsburgh area.

Trashion materials:

I use a lot of vintage, recycled and thriftstore finds: discarded library books (particularly old textbooks and vintage elementary school primers); vintage cabochons, charms and buttons; recycled bottlecaps; fabric scraps from deconstructed clothing and leftovers from other projects...

I transform them into:

one-of-a-kind note cards and gift tags, jewelry, and accessories for you and your home

How do you do it?

My process isn't as exciting to describe as some; my favorite part is what I like to call "research and development": collecting books, scouring thriftshops and garage sales for fun scores; buying vintage beads and charms from fellow Etsy sellers; and then sitting down and figuring out where it all fits.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?

I started out with scrapbooking and paper crafts--cards for family and friends at the holidays--and began to realize that the supplies I found at big box craft stores just weren't doing it for me anymore. Everything was so cutesy and contrived; there seemed to be a limited number of combinations of those pre-fab elements. I'd always been eco-conscious: environmental responsibility was ingrained in me from a young age. So I thought I'd take it to the next level. When I discovered the treasure trove of untapped resources that were just sitting on thriftstore shelves collecting dust, I realized those were the materials that really spoke to me, and I began collecting books to (lovingly) rip up and repurpose!

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept? What was it?

Cards! When I was still making cards using more mainstream supplies, I entertained the notion of selling them. When I was trying to come up with a name, "disCARDS" kept springing to mind. I thought, "Why not use recycled materials in my cards?" and started digging through some old clip art collections and other materials I'd been stockpiling since my high school zine-making days, and it just evolved from there.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?

Lately I've been much more focused on jewelry-making. I've been finding amazing vintage bead and cab lots on Etsy, and am looking forward to creating with them. I just scored some great vintage plastic chain that I plan to make into charm bracelets and necklaces. That'll be fun! And I'm building up my stock of pie magnets, made from recycled bottlecaps, beads, buttons, styrofoam peanuts, felt and rickrack.

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?

For me, buying handmade used to be just about capturing the handmade aesthetic that I really appreciated. These days, the handmade look can be found just about anywhere, but the true essence of it is so special, and I really want to support real artisans of handmade goods. Part of it is about reaching out to a likeminded community and building connections. Part of it is political: removing myself from the consumption loop of mass-produced goods and voting with my dollars. Buying handmade is akin to buying locally: it just feels good to have that personal connection to someone who's selling you a product, or buying one from you. As for trashion: it's becoming more and more important to abide by the three R's: reduce, reuse, recycle. Trashion artists are using their creativity to make recycling more than a utilitarian necessity; they're creating beautiful, functional objects out of materials that would have taken up space in a landfill. I just love that!

Can you tell us anything about the trunk show?

I can't get out of Pittsburgh the weekend of the trunk show, so my participation will be virtual. I hope to join in the workshops during the show, and I've sent some miniature "Bricolage Kits" for the swag bags that will be handed out at the show. Participating in the team--and the trunk show in particular--is really exciting for me. I feel connected to something bigger than myself, as corny as that sounds, and I'm excited for the opportunity for my work to reach a larger audience. I'm really honored to be a part of such a proactive, supportive team, and look forward to future Trashion projects!

Thanks to the Etsy Labs for acknowledging the burgeoning Trashion movement and giving us the space to promote our cause, and thanks to my fellow team members for doing such a great job of getting the word out!

Trashion team spotlight - Interview : Nature Made Scents & Mad & Mini Metals

Shop name: Nature Made Scents & Mad & Mini Metals

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

In a nutshell:
Funky Yet Useful Stuff! (C)

Tell us a bit about yourself:
Pam Farren, Newburyport , MA
I've owned and operated Nature Made Scents since 1990. After finishing college, and getting married, my (awesome) husband and I opened The Craft Café. We sold funky folk art made by us and by our friends from school. I met a woman, who was totally into aromatherapy, and I was so intrigued by the concept, I've been practicing aromatherapy ever since. Hence, the name, Nature Made Scents. My son was born in 1994 (yeah!). This is when I started working with metals. Book'markers were my first commercial venture. A friend of mine took them into her store, I was picked up by a rep, and it's been a whirlwind since then! I wholesale, retail, drop-ship, stand-on-my-head (not really!), and love it all. The best part is that I have my studios at home, so I'm also a stay at home mom. My son is now 13, and has operated Mini Metals for the past two years.

Trashion materials:
I work primarily with metals; silver, gold, copper, brass, aluminum, tin...
I find stuff on the street, at flea markets, auctions, wherever! I've never met a funky piece of metal I didn't like!

I transform them into:
I'm a very practical person. I like to make things that serve a purpose. I love to collect old tins, and upcycle them into jewelry, and clocks. I also like to make notebooks from recycled papers and cardboard packaging, like cereal boxes.

How do you do it?
Because of the variety of materials I work with, most of my pieces are one-of-a-kind. Each piece is fabricated or assembled by hand, and with a collection of terrific tools. Sometimes I'm instantly inspired to make something, other times I have to live with the materials before the idea comes to me. I lived with the 1lb. coffee tins for quite a while before the rusty couch springs came into my life. Then it hit me, clocks!

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
We're certainly not an earthy-crunchy bunch at my house, but we do want to do our part to take care of the Earth. I love to recycle, and upcycle! It's great when people see my work, and are excited about the materials. Think green!

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit! I get that from my Dad (he's a master carpenter and all 'round amazing guy). When I was about 15 I started a business, called the Tom Thumb Collection, and made doll house furniture from scraps of wood from his workshop. I sold them to a local store. I also remember my mother making the coolest clown marionettes one summer from stuff she found around the house. She really allowed, and encouraged my creativity.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
I'm working on the clocks, and jewelry. I'm enjoying the journey! One project leads to the other. New materials come into your life. I just received about 400lbs. of scrap rubber roofing from a local company that was closing up shop. I plan to make belts, and book covers, bracelets, and bags. It's a lot of rubber! I see "making stuff out of rubber classes for kids" in my future...

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
My handmade items are thought about, and cared about, and fussed over until they're just right. They come with a story, not just my story, but the story of where all of the materials came from, the life they lived before they came to me. How cool is that?

TRUNK SHOW:
I'll be sending in stuff to the Trashion Trunk Show at etsy labs, thanks to my fabulous fellow trashionistas! Earrings, bracelets, and pins made from tin trays and cans. My Trashion book'marker is part of the Swag Bag too!

More you'd like to share:
I love to work with kids. Their work is honest, and true. Upcycling is a great concept for them because they're usually operating with no budget. Teaching them how to make a great notebook or bracelet from stuff they have around the house makes me very happy.

Trashion team spotlight - Interview : EyePopArt

Shop name: Eye Pop Art

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

In a nutshell:

Mandalas art and accessories made from recycled vinyl records

Tell us a bit about yourself:
Christine Claringbold - mom, artist, art teacher, music lover

I have a husband and two kids, ages 13 and 11.

I have filled my house with psychedelic murals and I paint on just
about everything including furniture and my car.

I have been teaching art to elementary kids for the last eight years,
and I am also offering mandala classes for all ages this summer through
http://www.diylounge.com/ and http://www.workingartistsonline.com/ . I am
also the store manager and website manager (and one of the artisan
members) for Trillium Artisans, a nonprofit organization that supports
Portland artists who use recycled and reclaimed materials - please visit
us at http://www.trilliumartisans.org/ .

Right now I am a member of the Vignettes - we are the backup singers
for my husband's punk rock band, Dartgun. I also play a little flute and
I have played bass guitar in a few bands as well.

Trashion materials: Vinyl records

I transform them into:

Mandala Clocks, Mandala Bowls, Feng Shui Mirrors, and Roman Record Cuffs

How do you do it?

With acrylic paints and lots of imagination.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?

I have never had a lot of money to spend on canvases, so I just started
painting on whatever was lying around. Being involved in trashion was
just a natural step, as the recycled-materials concept is really my
"niche."

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
My very first painting was done on the front panel of my old hardshell
suitcase. The Greyhound tags were still attached. I was briefly
living in Montana at the time, and I was pregnant with my first child. I
just wanted to paint, and it was all I could find. After that I painted
my husband's guitar (since then I've done quite a few guitars), and did
the entire interior of our car, a 1970 Galaxie 500.

After we moved back home to Portland I started painting on records, an
idea I got from our good friend Billy Brahm, who is an awesome artist
himself, and he still paints records - he just gave me one the other day
and I love it!

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
I have recently started my blog, http://eyepopart.blogspot.com/ , so I am
getting into the whole blogging thing. I am also on Etsy's Portland
street team and we are planning another outdoor art show for August 11 -
visit http://www.pdxetsy.com/ for more info. I also hope to go to New
York in October for the PDX Etsy trunk show - hopefully I'll make
enough money at my summer job (teaching ceramics at Oregon College of Art
and Craft's kids summer camp) to swing it.

I have been painting my car this summer, practicing with the band, and
hanging out in the pool! I am also continuing to make new designs in
my record cuffs to sell on Etsy.

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?

People should buy handmade because mass produced stuff is boring. When you buy
trashion, you are also helping to keep reusable materials from going into the
landfills, which is a positive step that everyone should take toward
helping to save the planet Earth!

Can you tell us anything about the etsy trashion trunk show?
I am really excited about the trunk show! I will not be there in
person by I am sending a box of my products and my friend Joan, who lives in
Brooklyn, will be attending in my place and selling my items. I think
this is such a wonderful and unique opportunity to expose my work to a
completely new group of people (in New York!!!) - another reason why I
am so glad to have discovered Etsy!

More:
Watch HGTV's "Look What I Did" on September 19, 2007 at 6:00 pm ET/PT.
I will be featured in a segment called "Psychedelic in Portland"
which is all about how I transformed my master bedroom/studio into a
psychedelic wonderland of bright colors and fabulous mandalas. Tune in!