So my last entry was about fabulous ideas for upcycling furniture and home decor and the value in finding new uses for old things. The benefits to the environment, your pocket book, and the great feeling you get from knowing you have something unique are all reasons upcycling inspires me. I truly believe that the desire or the pressure to consume is just the other side to the shiny designer coin of conformity. Buy this, all the other cool kids have it ! I do not pretend to be crafty, ahead of any trend, let alone starting them, but I do appreciate the feeling of finding something at a thrift shop or garage sale that is unique, one of a kind, or so old and outdated it is in again. Shag carpet anyone?
I found a number of really awesome ideas for upcycling things into jewellery, clothes, and some great places you can go to get something unique of your very own.
First I'll start with a store here in Kitchener Ontario called Rare Funk. Tamara (the owner) has assembled a fantastic collection of vintage, funky, retro, and modern pieces and there is a little something for everyone. From funkified vintage ties, cool monster stuffies for the kids, glass tiled jewellery, and lace undies for the ladies (or boys, whatever floats your boat !...) the variety is amazing. So no matter your age, budgets, size or shape you'll find something either in store or in their online shopping gallery to help you get your funk on !
Visit the website at www.rarefunk.ca
Next I want to showcase someone I already have a link to on my blog but her stuff is really cool and I have already passed the site onto someone who will be purchasing some of her stuff very soon! Handsome and Lace makes old ties new again with vintage fabrics and they are lovingly hand stitched. She also has an incredible collection of bow ties, ankle bows, and hair accessories that would make heads turn !
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandsomeAndLace?ref=top_trail , here is the link to her etsy shop and she also has a blog by the same name.
This is a link to another Etsy shop that I recently was turned onto by a friend and this will definitely be on my Christmas list, and the artist is from my home town of Victoria BC ! Vintage teapots and china turned into stunning earrings. I call them tearrings.... too much?
http://www.etsy.com/shop/2birdsjewellery?ref=top_trail
These are just a few ideas of amazing ways to breathe new life into often forgotten things that may otherwise end up in our landfills, to turn something old into something beautiful, to appreciate our "things" once again. So look around your hometown or on the net and see what unique and funky upcycled item you can add to your collection !!
