Upcycle Monthly: Featuring Leah from Crunchy Farm Baby

Let's all take a moment to get to know Leah of Crunchy Farm Baby on Etsy.  Her shop features adorable and functional upcycled items for children and grown-ups alike.  I've personally had my eye on one of the latest editions to her shop, crocheted reusable dust/mop covers for Swiffer mops.  She also makes beautiful clothing items and toys for the littlest members of your family.  Be sure to check out all the links at the close of this post.

Tell us a bit about yourself:
I live with my husband, one year old son, and a menagerie of four dogs, two cats, two ducks, and eleven chickens on a small farm in South Pennsylvania.  My husband and I are both teachers, although I am currently a stay-at-home-mom. My Etsy shop, Crunchy Farm Baby, is a place for me to share some of my favorite homemade items that I've made for my son.  I also blog at www.crunchyfarmbaby.com, where I share ecofriendly tips and tricks.

What was your inspiration for using upcycled materials for your craft or art?
I grew up in a family where we didn't throw things away if they had any use left in them, and that's carried over into the way I raise my family now.  Just because a shirt can't be worn as a shirt anymore doesn't mean that it can't be a doll, or a baby hat, or even rags for the kitchen!  It's such a good feeling to be able to use something for more than just its intended purpose.

What is your favorite upcycled medium or material?
I love working with old sweaters.  Where most people see tattered and torn rags, I see baby pants, monsters, jingle balls, and so much more!

What are some challenges you have encountered using upcycled materials?
The biggest challenge for me has been realizing that you just can't have two items that are exactly the same.  When you're working with upcycled materials, you have to understand that there's going to be variations in each masterpiece that you create.  I love the uniqueness of each piece when it's finished, but it can be frustrating at times when working with it.

What is your current favorite upcycled item you have created?
I think I'd have to say that my baby sun hats are probably my favorite.  It might just be that my son models them so well, though!  Haha!

 

Any tips for those looking into the use of upcycled materials:
Use your imagination!  Almost anything can be repurposed into something else.  It doesn't even have to be something super crafty.  Old yogurt containers are great for planting seedlings in the Spring for example.  Just don't be quick to toss something that could find another life!

Leah can be found online in the following locations:

Etsy

Facebook

Crunchy Farm Baby Blog

Upcycle Monthly: Featuring Kellie from The Indigo Forest

Let's all take a moment to welcome Kellie from The Indigo Forest on Etsy.  Her shop features beautiful items for children, parents and even a few things for your family pet!  I've sampled some wool dryer balls from her shop and have even converted my non-ecofriendly husband over to using them with some essential oils.  Be sure to check out the links at the close of this post to find Kellie online.

Tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Kellie and I am the owner of The Indigo Forest on Etsy. I live in beautifully lush, central North Carolina with my husband, two little boys with another little one on the way!


What was your inspiration for using upcycled materials for your craft or art?
Simply knowing that you can make something new out of something that someone else had discarded is inspiration enough for me. The possibilities are endless! I try to see something new in every bit of recycled material I find.

What is your favorite upcycled medium or material?
My favorite upcycled medium definitely has to be wool. There are just so many different kinds of wool out there! For example, some are very soft - those types are great for stuffed toys for children.


What are some challenges you have encountered using upcycled materials?
Hmmm…I would have to say that finding my favorite material, wool, can be hard at times. Usually it’s only to be found during the colder months in my local thrift store.

What is your current favorite upcycled item you have created?
When I used cloth diapers for my children, my homemade wool longies were my favorite thing I’ve created to use! They work wonders with cloth diapers and they double as pants. You just can’t beat that.

Any tips for those looking into the use of upcycled materials:
The best tip I can suggest is to check out your local thrift stores/garage sale/yard sales/etc.. I am very fortunate to have a truly amazing thrift store in my town. (one that I visit very often!)

Kellie can be found online in the following locations:

Etsy

Blogger

Facebook

Upcycle Monthly: Featuring Michelle from Kissing Bunnies

Let's take a moment to welcome Michelle from the etsy shop Kissing Bunnies.  She creates a wide range of items for both children and grown-ups.  My children are currently both the owners of cloth diapers made by Michelle that they adore.  Once you've taken some time to learn more about Michelle, her craft and her passion for upcycling, please take a moment to visit her etsy shop, facebook page and blog linked at the close of this post.
  
Tell us a bit about yourself. 

         I am Michelle Triplett, I am from Tenino, Washington, a town that is so small we finally became a dot on a map in 1987. The united states army uses the map of tenino to teach it's map reading course (because it has all the major land features needed in one space) Although they don't know how to pronounce Tenino, I am sure not many people would be able to off the bat. Tenino is pronounced T-9-O.  I grew up so far out in the sticks of Tenino that we did not have electricity for a good amount of years. We finally did get it later, but it was quite the experience to learn to function without electricity. We raised horses and I became a horse trainer at the age of 14. I was very good at working horses and miss it terribly. I threw my back out when I turned 30 and have been nursing the back injury ever since. So no horses for me. I needed a new career and thus I picked up sewing. I had always wanted to have those awesome show clothes they have at horse shows and decided I would learn how to make them. If I couldn't wear them anymore why not be able to make them for others to look good in. Also to make them affordable too. Those clothes get so expensive. 

          I started sewing professionally at 32 and haven't looked back. My Etsy shop is really just things I have sewn too many of and have extra of. I would like to one day own a brick and mortar shop but I see that as something a long way off. Right now I do mainly custom orders, I can sew basically anything from show clothes, to curtains at huge horse shows, to diapers for babies bottoms. I really do enjoy sewing and am glad I came in to it when I did and now have a career that I can do and stay home at the same time.

           I am also a professional sax player in a band. We play big band jazz music. I never imagined I could accomplish this but it worked out perfectly. I couldn't be more happy. Our director is the curator of the band, he has had this band since he was 14 and is now 86 and still playing lead sax with us. True inspiration there. 

           At the age of 23 I was married, in the United States Army as a Truck driver, I had twins on my first baby. One twin passed. Then I had a second daughter Alexis who passed at 2.5 months. I got out of the army, tucked my tail and came home. Trying to figure out what to do with my life then. I became a single mom when my husband found the love of another woman. I learned a lot about myself during that time. I met a man 6 years later and we now have a little boy together. We are getting married this August. He allows me to stay home, mainly because I am nursing this back issue, but also to raise our son and heal my broken soul. He really is a wonderful man. 

What was your inspiration for using upcycled materials for your craft or art?

          My biggest inspiration for upcycling  materials comes in the form of a short story. 

When I was young and wanted a fort to play in we didn't have money to buy materials so I would steal a panel off the side of the barn, and hoist it up in a tree with a Y branch. Just before my parents would get home I would put the panel back and hammer it back into place with a rock. We had built a 6 stall horse barn from the trees in the pasture. So that is how I knew the panel was there and easily taken off. I guess upcycling was just second nature to me.  The best part of upcycling is you can sometimes get two birds with one stone. When we built the barn from the trees we also cleared out room for an area. So two for one.

Let's take a moment to welcome Michelle from Kissing Bunnies on Etsy.  She creates a wide range of items for both children and grown-ups.  My children each currently own a cloth diaper made by Michelle that they adore.  Once you've taken a moment to learn a little more about Michelle, her craft and her passion for upcycling, be sure to follow the links to her shop, blog and facebook page found at the close of this post.

 

What is your favorite upcycled medium or material?

          Anything I can find that someone doesn't want. I can literally see something in the raw form and think of what it is going to look like when it is done. I was taught that skill when riding horses. We would have to judge a horse on it's potential vs it's current form. I never had a horse more than a year as I was allowed to lease nags from the pasture. This started me in the diamond in the rough point of view I have now. I had to learn to see a horse for what it might become.

What are some challenges you have encountered using upcycled materials?

          I honestly think the only challenge I have encountered with upcycled material is sometimes I don't have enough and I can't go get more because that is all there was. 

What is your current favorite upcycled item you have created? 

          I made a horse a blanket out of old blankets, flannel, and scraps. I don't have a picture any longer but it was super fun to make. I hand sewed it together it took me almost all summer and autumn to get it done. It was super ugly though. It was just something to keep him warm. It lasted about a day and he had it in shreds then next morning when I went out to the barn. So to say the least he didn't appreciate it nearly as much as me. 

          I once pulled a dresser out of the dumpster and turned it into a hamster cage. Two stories for each hamster, so two hamsters total, and on top was storage for all the gear they use. And built in fish tanks. It was already painted a very nice teal color and worked perfectly in our house. Someone bought it from me for $200 too. That was after two years of use. I was really suprised to be able to sell it, I would of given it away but the lady really wanted to buy it from me. 

Any tips for those looking into the use of upcycled materials.

          Dumpster diving is not a bad thing, it can be stinky so wear a different set of clothes, but sometimes you can find the most amazing things. Also the second hand shops are wonderful places. Or if you want you can visit with an older seamstress and conn her out of some fabric she will never get around to using. Grandma's are wonderful for this. Anyone with an old time sewing machine in their house will most likely be willing to part with some beautiful fabric.

Michelle can be found online in the following locations:

Facebook

Blogger

Etsy

Upcycle Monthly: Featuring Haleigh from My Little Mookie

Let's all take a moment to welcome Haleigh from My Little Mookie on Etsy.  She is also one of the many talented crafters of the etsykids team.  Her shop features adorable, customized baby, toddler and even a few grown up items.  Stop on by her shop to take a look at all the beautiful appliqued and monogrammed items she creates after learning a little more about her here.  The links to her shop and facebook page can be found at the close of this post.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a stay at home mom and wife from Plano, Texas and I am the owner of My Little Mookie, a fun and unique baby clothing and accessories company. I have an energetic 18 month old that loves to help mommy create!

What was your inspiration for using upcycled materials for your craft or art?

Here at our house we recycle everything! I had purchased some Toms that came with a cute fabric bag, I thought "How can I use this in my crafts?" It all started with a necktie applique, then a guitar, then a flower headband. I love it because you would not think this would work with babies clothes...but the bags wash beautifully and become very soft over time. I have made my son several other items not listed on Etsy and have been very pleased with them. I love taking something that someone was throwing away or my selvages and giving them a new life!

What is your favorite upcycled medium or material?

Old sweatshirts make for perfect backing to bibs and of course the fabric bags that come with a pair of Toms. Anything I can get my hands on really.

What are some challenges you have encountered using upcycled materials?

I haven't had any challenges yet, but as I expand my line of products I am sure I will run into some. One challenge that I can forsee in the future is if Toms stops giving away free bags with their shoes! I am in the process of trying to make my own onesies out of vintage t-shirts.

What is your current favorite upcycled item you have created?

I love this fabric flower headband! It was so much fun to make!

Any tips for those looking into the use of upcycled materials.

You never know if something is going to work until you try! I waste as little as possible. I have even made my own business cards out of cardboard and fabric! 

Haleigh can be found online in the following locations:

Etsy

Facebook

Thanks for helping reduce waste in the world all while creating beautiful one of a kind items!

Mail organizer tutorial

Looking for a way to tame those frustrating mounds of mail piling up on your counters?  I sure was.  Hopefully this tutorial will help you create a solution.  All you will need is an old cereal box, about a 1/2 to 3/4 yard of fabric, a 12" piece of ribbon, scissors, a tape measure and a sewing machine.

Let's get to it.  To begin cut both the front and back sections off of your cereal box.

Cut the back of the box in half.  These two pieces will be your mail pouches.

It is now time to cut the fabric to cover your cereal box with.  When measuring the fabric, allow yourself a 1/2" all the way around to give yourself a seam allowance.  The fabric should be double the width of each piece of cardboard so it can cover the front and back of the cereal box pieces.  Repeat this process for all three pieces of the cereal box.

Now you can begin sewing.  Fold the pieces of fabric for the two mail pouches in half with the right sides of the fabric touching and sew the short sides closed taking a 1/4" seam allowance.  Turn the fabric right side out. This then creates a lovely little pocket to slide the cardboard into.  Once the cardboard is in the pocket, fold the open sides under and sew closed.  I am not a fan of ironing, but if you feel inclined, you can press the fabric seams before sewing.

Next find your largest piece of fabric that has not yet been sewn, and measure down 2.5" from the top.  Place one of your sewn pockets at this location and then sew the bottom and short sides of the pocket to your back fabric.  You have just created your first mail pouch.

Next you will fold the large piece of fabric in half with the right side of the fabric touching and sew the sides closed just as you did for the individual pouches.  The pouch that you sewed on previously will be on the inside.  Once you have sewn the sides closed, you will turn the entire thing right side out.  Next you will sew your remaining mail pouch onto the bottom (the closed end) of your mail carrier just as you attached the first mail pouch.  The bottom pouch will slightly overlap the upper pouch.

 You are now in the home stretch.  Slide the front piece of the cereal box into the large pocket you have created.  This will provide your mail carrier with structure and stability.

Using a piece of ribbon, you will create a loop to hang your mail carrier from.  Fold the open side of the carrier under and pin the ribbon in between the two layers of fabric about 1" from each edge.  Sew the top closed attaching the ribbon as well.

Now take a moment to pat yourself on the back!  You have created your very own mail carrier.  Find yourself an empty nail to hang this on or a sturdy magnet clip on your refrigerator.  Enjoy. 

To Crochet or Not to Crochet? That is the Question

I have recently become inspired by my fellow etsykids team members, who make such adorable crocheted items for babies, to try my hand at hookin, as the cool kids call it :)  I have also found inspiration from my mother-in-law who made my children the most adorable crocheted blankets.  So inspiration in hand, off I went to the store for a teach yourself to crochet book, hooks and yarn.

Once I settled in and got started, I must admit this is where my lack of spatial reasoning skills came into play.  Despite my best effort to understand the pictorial directions, I struggled to get past the first row of chain (ch) stitches. 

This is what I ended up with when I just tried to wing it!  My ever so supportive husband said, "Oh honey what a lovely infinity symbol you've made".  Not quite the potholder I was attempting.

After visiting several crocheting websites as well as referring to my handy book, I finally figured out the single crochet (sc) stitch.  Now armed with two stitches, I was able to get down to business.  I looked up a simple pattern for a scarf and off I went.  About half way through the third row of 223 sc stitches I was certain I was going to give myself carpal tunnel syndrome, but I pressed on.  It became my new obsession.  I have decided that we crafters are almost always looking for the next project for ourselves to get lost in.  I am always eager to try something new.

Working steadily each night, I completed my colorful yet slightly wobbly scarf in 3 days.  I still haven't quite got that elegant speed of a proficient crochet master.  Nor have I perfected my gauge leading to the wobbliness of my scarf I assume.

So, as for the question to crochet or not to crochet?  The jury is still out for me.  I enjoyed the feeling of creating something out of nothing; a reward I always get from crafting.  Much more practice will be required for me to make anything more complex than a long rectangle with some fringe on the ends.  My hat goes off to all you skilled crocheters out there it sure isn't easy and almost sent me screaming in fear back to my sewing machine.

Izzy and Sean: My Professional Product Testers

My two children are the inspiration for each handcrafted item I create, so it only stands to reason that they should give each item their stamp of approval before I put it up for sale in my Etsy shop.  They truly put things through the ringer.  Pictured above they gave my fleece winter hats a test drive.  They quickly approved.

I was uncertain how my fleece tie snugglies would go over, but Sean and Izzy seemed to really enjoy cuddling with the small scraps of fabric.  Having these cozy pieces of fleece to play with also allowed me to work on my crafts without them constantly trying to steal my fabric from me.

These flannel boots however, while incredibly adorable, did not meet the standards of a busy baby.  Without any type of elastic casing, Isabel almost immediately expelled them from her feet.

Last but not least, my current favorite item, the scrap monster was met with love and adoration.  Izzy and Sean carry these adorable creatures around everywhere they go.  Being 16 months old they are not easy on their toys.  So far so good, scrappy has made it through many a load of laundry and still comes out kickin.  Our two dogs also love these illusive creatures. Even after a few chomps and chews from Isis and Yoda, the scrap monster can't be beat.  

I consider myself lucky to have such honest and loveable product testers.  As long as I follow their lead, the items I put up for sale at Belly Bear Baby Gear will be sturdy, practical and adorable!

Homemade: The joys and rewards

Upon creating my very first pair of baby slippers, I quickly realized that I was hooked.  The satisfaction of making something adorable and functional was priceless.  I also could not help but smile every time I put a pair on my little ones knowing that they were wearing something one of a kind that was made with love and care.

   What I did not immediately realize was the elation I gained from creating these homemade items was shared by the receivers, no matter their age.

My happy little man.  Clearly the face of a satisfied consumer at the ripe old age of 1.  My 3 year old niece was able to more clearly articulate her joy at receiving a homemade winter hat.

 This hat remained squarely on her head for quite some time.  She proudly beamed to all that would listen , "Auntie Teen, Teen made it".  I could not think of any greater reward than this response.

The value and satisfaction of creating homemade items can often be lost in today's instant gratification society.  I feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to learn how to sew and create handmade items thanks to my incredibly skilled mother.  I can only hope that someday I may acquire her level of expertise.   Hopefully when that day comes I will be able to pass these fulfilling skills along to my children.

 My mini crafter in the making :)

Scrap Monster: My Mischievous Upcycled Friend

While working away at my sewing machine, I heard a rustling in my ever growing pile of fabric scraps.  To my surprise, I discovered a cuddly and feisty little scrap monster!  He quickly sprang into action and escaped.  I soon learned this scrap monster enjoyed the great outdoors.  Following some chasing and searching I discovered him relaxing in a pile of leaves.

He must have been tired after filling his belly with many of the fabric scraps from my pile.  I also discovered that hide and seek was another of his favorite games.

 He truly was a worthy opponent.  His multicolored coat provided him with some valuable camouflage.

If you ever find yourself with an ever growing pile of fabric scraps, beware this illusive creature.  Though he may cause mischief, he does have an amazing way of making those pesky scraps disappear!


-This adorable and cuddly scrap monster was used creating a multitude of fleece fabric scraps.  He was stuffed with scraps of fleece, cotton and denim.  My three year old niece found him to be a perfect addition to her collection of stuffed animals.  The best thing about scrap monsters: no two will ever be alike.