Trashion team spotlight - Interview: Sweet Pepita

Shop name: Sweet Pepita
Shop address: www.sweetpepita.etsy.com
In a nutshell: I make infant clothing from organic cotton and recycled fabric


Tell us a bit about yourself : I’m a jeweler who has always been sewing. I still work for another jeweler, but since my baby was born, I haven’t been able to work in my own studio. I had to figure out a way to be able to work in the same space as my little girl.

Trashion materials: Organic cotton and recycled fabric

I transform them into: Infant t-shirts and hats

How do you do it?
I cut apart recycled clothing and combine the pieces with organic cotton.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
Our house is teeny tiny and we have to be really selective about what we keep around and buy… I had old t-shirts that I knew I was never going to wear again, but I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them. Sewing them into clothes for Pepita was my solution. I hate waste. Communities dedicated to not only keeping discarded items out of landfills, but transforming them into beautiful and useful products are essential. It’s a way of life.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept? What was it?
Jeez, I think every kid made toys out of leftovers and trash. We had tin can stilts and, of course, kazoos made from toilet paper tubes, wax paper and rubber bands. I used to buy olive oil that came in a beautiful printed tin. I always cut the tin up and used it in projects when it was empty.
What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
I’m working on expanding my infant line to include toddler sizes and accessories for adults.

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
People should buy handmade items if they want a well-made high quality, unique product. Buying handmade products is an investment in the community. Buying handmade products from trashion is an investment in the whole earth.

Trashion team spotlight - Interview: SweetWolf Designs

Shop name: SweetWolf Designs
Shop address: www.SweetWolf.etsy.com

In a nutshell:
Need to create, collect, forage, and hoard. Must purge creatively. Need money to further creative/ hoarding habits. Vicious cycle!

Tell us a bit about yourself
I have been married for 11 years, and am proud of it! I enjoy hanging out with my husband and my friends, usually not at the same time! I go out to see live music pretty often, since I live in the ‘live music capitol’ –Austin, Texas. I have 4 children and they all have fur. 2 cats and 2 dogs, the loves of my life! I read a lot, watch too much TV, and work at a job that is not that stressful. I have tried selling at local outdoor markets before, but etsy is my first foray into online selling. So far, I love it! I am really into reuse and recycling and have been for most of my life. My parents taught me the value of reuse early on. I have been creating stuff for myself and my friends for years. They encouraged me to pursue selling it.

Trashion materials:
Thrifted fabrics and gee gaws and knick knacks! Parts from used electronic equipment or random cool looking things I see on the ground. Friends give me things (aka trash) that they think is cool and they know I will eventually find a repurpose for it!

I transform them into:
the ‘hard stuff ‘ usually goes into Clocks, collages, frames or mirrors. The ‘soft’ stuff is made into wearable items like purses, bags or pouches. ( I sometimes refit them into clothing, but that is mainly for myself.)

How do you do it?
I am lucky enough to have a workroom, so I can just lock myself in and create! I also have a garage, and play with tools in there, when I need to saw or sand.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
Inspired by? Life itself! I never know what the heck is going to inspire me. It’s other peoples castoffs a lot of the time! I will just see something and think of the other life it could have.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept? What was it?
I can’t really, cause it was probably when I got my first sewing machine at age 8. There have been so many things I have made since then!
I think it was a tooth pillow or a blankie for one of my dolls.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
Currently I have about 300 projects going. OK maybe only 30. But I am always in the midst of at least 2 projects. Right now, I am working on ideas for stuff to sell, working on prototypes, and making things for me to use this fall! Like a crazy quilted bag that I started a while back. The horizon is full of stuff to do, now I just have to find the time and energy to do them!

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
Well, I always appreciate handmade stuff more, because it seems so much more real. There is something about making and owning a one of a kind object, and if you used recycled or upcycled items to create, it is more likely to be ‘one of a kind’.
Handmade represents what it says, it was made by another humans hands. They put thought and time into it, and quite possibly blood or tears into it also! Factory made stuff is essential for our society, handmade is not necessarily essential, and that also makes it special.

More you'd like to share:
I am relatively new to ‘cyberspace’ and the venues it offers. I only got a computer last year! I resisted for a long time, but now that I am familiar with all that being online has to offer, I seem to be spending too much time on here! I am excited about the possibilities though! Thanks for reading!

Trashion team spotlight - Interview: Stars Dreams and Jewels

Shop name: Stars Dreams and Jewels
Shop address: www.StarsDreamsandJewels.etsy.com
In a nutshell: Eclectic and Collage Jewelry

Tell us a bit about yourself :
I graduated with a BFA in metalsmithing and textiles in 2002. I really enjoy coming up with new ideas and methods for my jewelry making. I try not to limit myself with my ideas, materials, and techniques. My motto is “anything can be made into jewelry” I have been making jewelry for over 15 years. My favorite thing to make is collage style bracelets. Trinkety kitschy style bracelets are the shizzle!!!!!

I’m a full-time artist working from my home. I currently sell on Etsy.com and have my jewelry in one shop and am entering into two more in the next 2 wks. So, I am really busy making new jewelry. It is a very exciting time for me!!!

I’m an animal lover and activist. When I am not making jewelry you will find me at the Humane Society of Jefferson County or doing outside volunteer work for them. I love to cook and bake and I have recently published a cookbook, 25% of the proceeds of that cookbook go to benefit the Jefferson County Humane Society.

Trashion materials: everything and anything…I don’t set limits on myself

I transform them into: jewelry/wearable art

How do you do it? Anyway I can!!!!!

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
I am what my family calls a physco recycler. When I have to throw something out, I look at it and think about what else I could use it for. Trashion is an awesome concept. To remake/repurpose something that someone would have thrown out It always makes me feel good inside to take something that I originally thought was unusable into something useable and beautiful. I am putting a little less into the landfill and making jewelry out of it!!! So it is a win, win for everyone.

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept? What was it?
I can’t really remember what the item was that I made. I have been reusing/repurposing things for over 15 years. While in college I made a Raggedy Ann and Andy doll out of actual “rags” I thought that was fitting because part of their names started with “raggedy” Recently I have been taking apart non-working clock motors and other gadgets and using them in my jewelry.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
I have been working on making jewelry out of used bottle caps and using a lot of little second-hand trinkets that I buy at thrift stores. I try to have at least 50% of my store items using some sort of recycled or second-hand item. I am trying my hand at weaving bracelets and other goodies out of telephone wire…so far so good. It is a little hard to work with….but I will make it work.

Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
Why wouldn’t they? I can’t imagine not buying handmade. I guess that is probably because my whole family is crafty and makes different things. We all really enjoy the idea that someone took the time to make a quality item. I feel like I have someone really special, something to be cherish, when I buy something handmade. As goes for why should people buy from trashion? That is easy,,,,it is helping the planet…..ohh and besides the fact that trashion is so very awesome!!!! How could you go wrong with that combo?

More you'd like to share:
A little amusing story to tell: I was recently at a surplus store. I had a little plastic tube of some sort in my hand. I was staring at it intently, turning it around and around. It had a pointed tip with a hole in it. I keep thinking, “I really like the color of this thing” “What could I make out of this” “How could I make it into jewelry” My thoughts were interrupted by an employee. He said, “ You look way to serious to be at a surplus store” I told him that I was thinking about what I could use this item for and that the wheels were turning in my head” He quickly told me that it was used to put on the tip of a bottle and that they were used as medical supplies. I laughed and said, “Oh no….I meant what I could use it for, not what it is actually used for” I told him that I was going to make it into jewelry and he said “okay” I got to talking with him and within a couple of minutes he asked for my website and said that my ideas where really “interesting” . I told if a little about trashion and he said that was one of the coolest things he had heard of in awhile. Trashion is awesome…spread the word!!!!