Pages

6/29/2008

Trashion Team Spotlight- Evy of Thirdhand Designs!

Shop name: third-hand designs

Shop address:
www.thirdhanddesigns.etsy.com

Other sites: www.myspace.com/thirdhanddesigns



Trashion materials:
I use second-hand clothing and other fabrics to create my designs. Thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets & swap meets are all my favorite haunts.

What do you transform them into?
Fun, unique & stylish clothing & bags!



How do you do it? With lots of coffee! No, but yes, I guess that does help! My process starts with the hunt for unloved items with lots of potential. For example, a skirt with a tiny hole, but is in amazing shape otherwise. I lift it up, run my hands through it, hold it in front of me to study it a bit, flip it inside-out, then usually I've got an idea of what I will do with it. Most of my designs require complete deconstruction of the seams, and then, I sew sew sew. With the trusted help of Lucy (my dress form) & a few friends, I adjust to make sure my measurements & dimensions are logical, then voila... the garment has entered its third life!

Do you remember the first thing you made using the
trashion concept?
I do!

What was it? I used to take old t-shirts of my dad's & turn them into pillows. Unrelated to my sewing, I also used to take old bottles & melt candle wax down the sides to make flower vases for my mom.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
Currently I am working on a couple of aprons for my cousin. She works in a cafe & they allow her to choose whatever style apron she would like to wear, so she gave me free rein! In the near future, I am looking to make more dresses. I love the iconic ideal of the dress! So feminine yet so versatile.

Why should people buy handmade and from trashion?
Because we LOVE the earth! It is apparent that we all need to pay a little more attention to the environment and how our actions affect it, and Trashion is a wonderful way to do that. Waste is bad, but we as a society still consume at amazing rates, producing massive amounts of waste; shopping Trashion is one way to satisfy that desire to consume as well as help the environment. We are a group of like-minded creators that produce unique, handmade, eco-friendly items with lots of love... what more could you ask for from a seller!

Anything else you'd like to add? Yes! To all my potential customers, please don't be discouraged to buy clothing on the internet. I am more than willing to help anyone with sizing questions, just send me a message/convo. And no... you don't even need to own a measuring tape, just know your current size! Keep buying handmade!!!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful reconstructed clothing/bags with us Evy!

6/26/2008

Palchemy Trashion Style

Etsy Trashion has a Palchemy Challenge going on!


Above is the first listed item created by ElenaMary for the Trashion Palchemy Challenge! She used the leather scraps sent to her by Beadsinatwist to create an incredible series of

Domestic Settings leather collages.


What is Trashion Palchemy?
It's a fun project uniting Eco-friendly crafters from Etsy. It’s way for us upcyclers to challenge ourselves. Pam of NatureMadeScents organized a swap of materials, between members of the Trashion Team.

Left is the package FairyTaleFibers recieved from Bloomsburygroup, below and to the right is the contents!



Each of us received an exciting package full of things that could be called “Trash”. We know they are treasure! So we are using our skills to remake those items into something new and fantastic!! Each item is then listed in the team members Etsy shop.

Below is the beautiful Kanzashi flower that fairytalefibers made from the contents of the package above!


Are you salivating for more? Search Etsy for “Trashion Palchemy
We will be listing our creations all through July!

6/15/2008

Trashion Team Spotlight- Interview with Tammy of Junck!

Shop name: junck

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

Other sites: http://www.flickr.com/photos/junck1/





Trashion materials:
credit/gift cards, box card, pillowcases... anything I can find really!

What do you transform them into?
I transform the credit cards into jewelry (rings, bracelets, earrings) and hairbands or headbands. I make business cards from old box card (cereal boxes etc.) and I make skirts, shirts and dresses from pillowcases (old and new) my current favourite is a skirt I made from my old Star Wars pillowcase!!

How do you do it?

For the jewelry, each item has a process that is a slightly different. For a necklace, I cut up the cards into smaller pieces (I call these my "card beads"), sand the edges and drill holes into each piece. I often add other beads to these card beads by stringing them onto headpins which I then attach to the card bead.


Shop name: junck

The box card business cards are pretty self explanatory - but I am a graphic designer by day, so I am compelled to cut each card from the most interesting section of the box!

Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?

I grew up in a trashion house!! I first thing I can remember making is a doll. I made her from one of my uncles old hankies... she didn't have a face but she did have a scrap piece of rabbit fur for hair!

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

I just started making rings and hairbands with the card beads and I'm loving them! I want to try making some boxes from the cards as well... On the horizon? I need to get more items in my Etsy shop!



Why should people buy handmade and from trashion?
When you buy something handmade, you really feel you have made a contribution. You can clearly see how your purchase affects the maker - its nice to be thanked by the creator of the item! You feel more connected to the whole process... its a good feeling!

When you purchase from a Trashion member, you've not only supported an independent artist, you are helping the environment! MORE ART/LESS WASTE!

Anything else you'd like to add?

There are so many incredible shops within the Trashion Team! It is SO inspiring to see such creativity!! Thank you for the interview!

Thank you for sharing your innovative work with us Tammy!