Sewing cafe in Berlin

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Founded by 29 year old Linda Eilers, Linkle is the first dedicated sewing cafe we've come across. Knitting clubs have spread like wildfire over the past few years, with men and women gathering in pubs to stitch, bitch and get their craft on. A sewing machine, however, is rather more cumbersome than knitting needles and a bag of wool, leaving less room for social sewing.
A year ago, Eilers was teaching sewing classes in The Netherlands. Noticing a huge increase in the number of people interested in sewing their own clothes, Eilers spotted a gap in the market and left for Berlin, a city with low rents and plenty of crafters. Her sewing cafe, Linkle, is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 1 - 10 pm. Like internet cafes, people just walk in and install themselves behind a machine, and are charged by the hour (5 euros).
Besides 10 sewing machines, customers have a cutting table at their disposal, as well as Eilers' extensive knowledge. She helps replace broken zippers and advises on tailoring a vintage dress or stitching a handbag. Linkle serves a wide range of customers—from teenagers customizing jeans, to a woman creating her own wedding dress.
For entrepreneurs with a knack for sewing (or carpentry, or almost any other kind of craft), now's the time to make the most of the craft revival as it continues to expand. Set up a working / being space, and maybe combine it with a fabric or supplies shop. It might not be the most lucrative business, but at least you'll be doing what you love. ;-)
Website: http://www.linkle.de/
Contact: Wrangelstrasse 80, 10997 Berlin

Trashion team spotlight - Interview : BurningRubber's Reliquary

Trashion team spotlight

Interview : BurningRubber's Reliquary

Shop name: BurningRubber's Reliquary
Shop address: http://burningrubber.etsy.com

In a nutshell : It is a very eclectic place

Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Viki Banaszak. I live in Wichita, KS. I am on the Stampers Mall design team and I also design samples for convention displays for After Midnight Art Stamps. I am 48 and suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic back pain. I work at Michaels Arts and Crafts as a picture framer about 10 hours per week at this time. I currently live with 5 cats and a dog, oh yea, and 1 or 2 strays that come around for food. I am a sucker for animals. There are also 4 other women that live here with me. It is definitely a full house. I get creative when the sun goes down. I love to watch sci-fi while I work. I can't just sit and watch tv though. I always need to keep busy with my hands.

Trashion materials:
metal tins, boxes, used fabrics, books, photos, cards, lamps… just about anything.

I transform them into:
My latest projects have been making necklaces out of those small mint tins. I do find it difficult to alter things sometimes, because I really appreciate the items as they are. For example, I had to purchase fake cigar boxes to alter because I just couldn't bring myself to change the real ones, so I now have cigar boxes all over my studio for storage and I am always on the lookout for more. LOL
How do you do it?
I guess I am pretty intuitive. I don't make sketches of what I am going to do or anything like that. When I look at an object, I get a picture in my mind of what it could be. I just dive in. I have almost every art supply known to man from so many years of creativity. I am always trying new things, so I go out and get the supplies for that and so on. Lately I have been collecting various metal working tools.

What inspired you to do this and why are you involved in trashion?
I am inspired by Michael de Meng and Opie and Linda O'Brien, Michelle Ward, Elaine Jackson and a host of other artists and segments on HGTV.
Do you remember the first thing you made using the trashion concept?
Yes

What was it?
A lamp. I still use it.

What are your current projects and what is on the horizon?
Currently I am making card samples for After Midnight Art Stamps, but I have several ideas for making nichos and shrines rolling around in my head. I am sure they will have something to do with the billions of tins filling my closet and my paper hoard.
Why should people buy handmade, and buy from trashion?
You can't get quality from mass produced items anymore. They are made to be disposable. Not like my stove and dishwasher from the 50's that still work. The blasted things will never die. LOL Of course if they ever do I will probably take them apart and see what’s in there. Buying things made from used items just makes sense. Keeps the items out of landfills and from contaminating our home, the earth.

Burning Rubber© IS my real name...

ink me
Stampers Mall Design Team Member
http://www.stampersmall.com/newsletter/
My ETSY Shop: http://burningrubber.etsy.com
My Blog: http://burningrubbersreliquary.blogspot.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/BurningRubber
http://www.flickr.com/photos/burningrubber/

Etsy Trashion Shop turns 20!

The shop is now 20....items full. :-) Open a couple weeks, the Etsy Trashion Street Team shop is filling and has 22 items. There will be more to come! But take a look at www.etsytrashion.com to see beautiful clothing, housewares, accessories, greeting cards and more. A bookmark from recycled steel. Totes and bags with reclaimed fabric. Accessories made with vinyl records. Cards and tags with vintage and recycled papers. There is so much diversity! Check out the shop and then check out the members' shops further. You can find addresses in the listings, but also in the favorites section. Have fun shopping!