Recycled Crafts » Product Reviews

Marjorie’s Cracked Plate Jewelry

robyn charles — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:12:41 +0000

I’ve never been someone who has wanted china in my house, as I tend to break things way too often! But if I ever did have china, Marjorie would be who I’d send my broken pieces to! Marjorie’s Cracked Plate Jewelry takes broken pieces of gorgeous china and gives them new life as necklaces, bracelets, earrngs and more!

And if you don’t see exactly what you like? She takes custom orders!

Spotlight On: Dinner Time Chimes

robyn charles — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:00:13 +0000

I love all the amazing recycle-themed crafts on Etsy, and Dinner Time Chimes is one of my new favorites. Their gorgeous wind chimes are made from silverware found in estate sales, flea markets and thrift stores. Each chime is unique, gorgeous, and … holy cow, I’m going to overload on adjectives.

The shop also has some great tags made from recycled and reclaimed boxes, perfect for using as either gift tags or price tags. Head on over to Dinner Time Chimes to check out their full inventory.

Best part? The shop owners are super sweet!

From Tea Towel to Tote

Alissa — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:16:16 +0000

Check out this cute pink-and-lime-green shoulder bag made from a vintage tea towel. It’s offered in She-Su’s Etsy shop, along with a sampling of other wonderful wearables reconstructed from neckties, pillowcases, vintage fabrics and other thrift store finds.

Technorati Tags: vintage, tea towel, necktie, pillowcase, tote

Steampunk Ring

Alissa — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:31:07 +0000

Sylvia Anderson’s steampunk ring is a hands-down portable conversation starter. Made with an antique watch movement — including interesting embedded jewels — this particular ring is adjustable to nearly any ring size. While the gears may not help tell time anymore, they certainly act as a beautiful stand-alone work of art.

Technorati Tags: steampunk, Etsy, ring, watch, gear, time, jewelry

Postage Stamp Earrings

Alissa — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:34:23 +0000

I love the idea of recycling postage stamps — artwork in miniature — into earrings. The fact that I’m a Frank Lloyd Wright fan doesn’t hurt, either. C.D. Childs offers a number of vintage postage stamp jewelry items, each encased in glass and finished with lead-free solder.

Technorati Tags: stamps, Frank Lloyd Wright, jewelry, Etsy, solder

Vintage-Inspired Bobby Pins

Alissa — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:16:50 +0000

Found & Made Designs is exactly what it sounds like — a studio that creates handcrafted items using bits and pieces of vintage, recycled or repurposed materials found at estate sales, thrift stores and junk piles. In this delightful Etsy shop you’ll find conversation-starter jewelry and desk accessories pulled from the pages (literally) of vintage books, ephemera and dictionaries, like this cute set of storybook bobby pins featuring glass baubles.

Technorati Tags: bobby pins, jewelry, desk accessory, glass, bauble, vintage

Floppy Disk Desk Accessories

Alissa — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:05:52 +0000

The 80s and 90s brought us big hair, questionable fashion trends and — to a lesser extent — floppy disks. Mike Rosati of Designing Time turns those rarely seen disks into colorful refillable jotter notebooks and other desk accessories. A notebook like this would make the perfect gift for your computer enthusiast or collector of all things computer past.

Technorati Tags: floppy, disk, computer, notebook, jotter

Upcycled Bracelets

Alissa — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:06:27 +0000

Bracelets look great, but they don’t always feel great on your wrist. By wrapping used bangle bracelets in colorful yarn, not only have you created a soft accessory for your skin, but you’ve also created a whole new look. Here are a few Etsy sellers offering pretty yarn-wrapped bracelets:

Technorati Tags: bracelet, bangle, yarn, jewelry, accessory

CD Earrings

Alissa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:27:56 +0000

These cute earrings are music to the recycled crafter’s ears. Shannah at UpCycleMart upcycles discarded CDs into pairs of cute and unusual earrings, like this geometric-themed pair made from the printed side of the CD. She also works with the unprinted side of CDs and embellishes with paint and dainty beads. Check out the upcycled earrings collection at her Etsy shop.

Technorati Tags: CD, earring, jewelry, upcycle, beading

Scrabble Tile Pendants

Alissa — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:56:00 +0000

Pieces of Me Pendants offers a wonderfully sweet collection of pendants made from used Scrabble tiles. Each pendant is sealed with a high-gloss nontoxic glaze and comes with an organza bag with gift card tag, just waiting to be gifted to a special someone. A bargain at $5 a piece — plus the shop is offering a buy two, get one free sale.

Technorati Tags: pendant, Scrabble tile, game piece, necklace, jewelry, chick, bird

Recycled Coffee Sleeve

Alissa — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:36:42 +0000

The next time you crave a take-out coffee, come prepared with your own stylish coffee sleeve — recycled from a sweater, of course. Head on over to East Coast Kitsch for a sampling of colorful ideas from Jane Murphy, or support your fellow crafter and purchase one from her shop. East Coast Kitsch also features other recycled wool and felted products, including bags, pins and cases.

Technorati Tags: coffee sleeve, sweater, felt, bag, pin

Playful Assemblage

Alissa — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:44:51 +0000

Cat Bishop a.k.a. Artsy personifies (or puppifies, in this case) everyday objects with funky assemblage works, including Scottie (shown) made from a vintage xylophone toy, a 50s alarm clock and French tart tins. Check out her Etsy shop for more unique one-of-a-kind sculptures made from vintage doodads.

The artist writes in her profile: “If our outward appearances were to accurately reflect the incongruity we feel inside, on a daily basis, we’d look like these people–eyes asymmetrical, faces askew, legs off at uncomfortable angles, ill matched Jello molds for boobs. The work is about the ways we assemble ourselves, the cobbling together of a self more presentable than the one we know.”

Technorati Tags: assemblage, Artsy, retro, vintage, sculpture

Upcycled Baby Bibs

Alissa — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:03:13 +0000

Babyware can fall under the category of eco-chic, too, as mandolyn on Etsy demonstrates with her baby bibs made from fused plastic bags. She describes the product as sturdy, waterproof, reversible, easy to clean and eco-friendly. A cotton bias tape makes the edges softer for little necks, and a velcro closure makes the dining process easier for parents.

Technorati Tags: baby bib, plastic bag, shopping bag, Etsy

Skateboard Jewelry

Alissa — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:29:10 +0000

Calling all skater-crafters (if any exist) … The 2ReVert shop at Etsy shows us how to transform the already-cool designs of skateboards into something fashionable and less space-consuming: jewelry. Well-crafted rings, necklaces, belt buckles, earrings and bangles all highlight the multiple layers of wood inherent to skateboards. The featured ring, which sells for $24, is available in a variety of colors and sizes.

Technorati Tags: skateboard, jewelry, repurpose, ring, Etsy

Vintage Linens

Alissa — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:04:53 +0000

WITHERINE garments are made from fine vintage napkins, pillowcases, flour sacks, table cloths, hankies and doilies. In the company’s Etsy shop you’ll find adorable little girls modeling handmade bonnets, sundresses and halter tops — all of which are fit for a garden party on Martha’s Vineyard.

Technorati Tags: vintage, linen, flour sack, children’s clothing, Witherine, Martha’s Vineyard