Upcycling Plastics and the Fish Sculptures in Rio

I discovered these amazing fish sculptures when a Facebook friend posted a photo of them.  Created out of plastic bottles, they were installed on Botafogo Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,  in time for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development last week.  The conference was a follow up to the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, also held in Rio.  A sign near the sculptures said (in Portuguese) 'recycle your attitude'.

Image ©  Reuters

We on the Etsy Trashion Team are familiar with recycling our attitude.  It's about thinking of the impact of what we buy and consume.  It's about looking at trash and seeing the possibilities.  Here are a few terrific examples...

Spalted Maple Pendant with Upcycled Plastic Bottle
Image © Tangora Designs

REcap Bracelet from Upcycled Marker Caps
Image © Twitch and Whiskers

Upcycled Plastic Phone Card
Image © Junck

Here's to a sustainable future!

 

What's Up Wednesday: The Creative Block & Tangora Designs

Check out the latest team news.  

Visit Leslie Sirag of The Creative Block this coming weekend at the Olympia Ballroom, Olympia, WA.  Leslie is participating in the South Sound Spectacular Spring Show on Saturday, May 26 from 11 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.  The show is sponsored by the Olympia Etsy Team.  There will be free music, kids' crafts, face painting and an amazing diversity of artists and craftspeople.   Good luck Leslie!

Steampunk mixed media pendant © Leslie Sirag

Mary Tangora of Tangora Designs has been in the local news lately!  She was interviewed by The News-Gazette (an East Central Illinois paper), and discusses her latest venture into upcycled plastic jewelry.  For the full article, see The News-Gazette.  Mary was also interviewed on WAND TV on May 18th, talking about how being on Pinterest is helping her business.  Way to go, Mary!

Upcycled Pretty Plastix Earrings © Tangora Designs

What's Up Wednesday: The Creative Block & Junksmith

With spring in the air, members of the etsy trashion team are busy!

Look for Leslie Sirag of TheCreativeBlock at the Olympia, WA,

citywide annual Artists' Garage Sale this weekend.

Hummingbird Necklace ©Leslie Sirag

The sale is sponsored by POSSCA, Patrons of South Sound Cultural Arts, a local arts organization that gives music scholarships and provides and/or repairs instruments for students who can't afford them.

Leslie will be taking vintage "junque", finds from her supply shop FindingsbyLeslietsy, and maybe some older work at bargain prices. Plus magazines, sewing supplies, & who knows what else!  Leslie says it's a "great place to sell and/or buy." The sale will be held at the Olympia Armory, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nancy Kingsbury, of Junksmith, will be talking about the connection between making upcycled jewelry and her spiritual life this Saturday, May 19,  at St. John Lutheran Church Women's Brunch, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.  She will be giving a talk entitled " From Trash to Treasure: Finding Hope and Healing through God's Creative Heart".  Nancy says, "Turning trash to treasure ties in so well to my own life experiences, that it has been a natural evolution, from being broken, to being made whole".  She explains, "I was headed for a career in music but was unable to continue when I developed a medical condition and was no longer able to play my instrument.  It has been a process, but God has used jewelry making and art to help me recover and find joy in my daily life.  My parents were also raised during the Depression, and we saved everything growing up.  Whenever our clothes wore out, we always cut out the zippers and buttons before turning them into rags. It's only natural for me to use upcycled trash in my work now."  

Pull Tab and Zipper Earrings ©Junksmith

St. John Lutheran Church is located at  305 Circle Ave.,  Forest Park, IL.  

Admission is free and open to the public.  

Call the church office 708-366-3226 to register. 

Earth Day Sale

Be on the look-out for this avatar!

Starting today and running through Earth Day

the etsy Trashion Team is having a sale to celebrate!

Participating shops will display this avatar.

Simply check out each shop for the details!

or
Click here for an updated list!

Image © junck

What's Up Wednesday: Team Upcycled Charm Swap

To celebrate International Charm Day, April 28th

http://www.internationalcharmday.blogspot.com/

the Trashion Team is having a charm swap.  

Here's the challenge:

~ Create 10 upcycled charms (no larger than 1.5" x 1.5") from upcycled, recycled, thrifted and/or found materials.  Be sure to package or secure your contact info to each charm if you want recipients to know who made the charms.

~ Send them to remaker http://www.etsy.com/shop/remaker by April 21st.  Please include $4.00/First Class or $5.25/Priority Mail in the U.S., or $5.00/International First Class for return postage.

~ In return, each participant will receive a random selection of awesome upcycled charms!

~ remaker http://www.etsy.com/shop/remaker will post photos of the charms to the team blog as they arrive.  

~ On April 28 we will announce a winner, courtesy of randomizer, from all eligible participants. One lucky someone will Win 50 Custom Made 1" Buttons from pinOmatic.

If you're interested in participating, send remaker a convo via her etsy shop for more information.

What's Up Wednesday: Junksmith in Illinois!

Electric Blue Pull-tab Earrings

Hey!

If you happen to be near Elk Grove Village Illinois on Saturday March 10th you may want to stop by the Lutheran Child and Family Services Luncheon and Fashion Show which benefit's Chicago's Uptown Ministry. Our very own Nancy Kingsbury of
junksmith will be there from 10:30 'til 2!

Lutheran Child and Family Services Luncheon and Fashion Show

Saturday March 10th from 10:30 am 'til 2:00pm

The Avalon Banquets Hall in Elk Grove Village, IL.

The event looks to be a very good time and
Nancy's one-of-a-kind works are not to be missed!

 

 

Image © junksmith

What's Up Wednesday: Twitch and Whiskers Contest Winner

We are pleased to announce the winner of Twitch and Whiskers February contest, "Design Your Own" Thimblism Necklace. The lucky winner is our own trashionteam member Shanna, of Vintage Redoux.  Shanna chose the elements in the necklace from Mei-Ling's (Twitch and Whiskers) large selection of supplies, and this beautiful creation was the result. 

Congratulations, Shanna, and beautiful work, Mei-Ling!

One of a kind Thimbilism Necklace

 Image © Twitch and Whiskers

What's Up Wednesday: Junksmith

Our very own Junksmith will be participating in the

Pleasant Home Artisan's Sale in Oak Park, IL.

Open house and meet the artist event is
Sunday, December 4 from 1-4 p.m.

The show continues from
Monday Dec. 5- Sunday Dec. 11, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Pleasant Home is an historic house museum located approximately 10 miles from  downtown Chicago. 

Free tours will be conducted during the open house. 

Go to PleasantHome for further information.

Pleasant Home Artisan's Sale

217 Home Ave., Oak Park, IL.

Images © Junksmith