Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Head out on the highway!

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Escape or Explore Ring (above) in recycled eco-friendly fine silver, by Happy Go Licky.

The car is tuned-up, gassed-up, packed-up, and you’re finally on the road…now what? Is it possible to get to your destination without making a huge impact on the environment and your wallet? Getting better gas mileage is the key to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and saving money.

It should go without saying that you should keep your cool behind the wheel, but did you know that aggressive driving causes you to use extra gas? Simply by accelerating and decelerating smoothly and slowly, you can increase your gas mileage by as much as 30% for highway driving. And, as a bonus, you won’t annoy everyone around you!

You’ve heard the expression “speed kills”. Well, it should come as no surprise that it wastes gas, too. Driving over the speed limit is not only unsafe; it is a huge drain on the fuel tank. Consider taking secondary highways to help keep your lead-foot in check. Not only are posted limits lower, the temptation to speed is reduced when others aren’t whizzing past you like Kimi Raikkonen. (Tip: if you have cruise control, use it to help maintain a constant speed.) Optimal fuel economy will vary from vehicle to vehicle, but gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 100 km/h, so take your time, enjoy the scenery and put all of that saved gas money in this upcycled seatbelt wallet, above, by Interrobang.

Many urban centres are cracking down on idling and for good reason – idling vehicles contribute to pollution (both air and noise) and get zero kms /litre. It’s a myth that restarting your car uses more fuel than leaving it running, so turn off your engine when packing or unloading your car and while waiting in the seemingly endless line-ups for ferries, highway road crews, accidents, etc. To keep your little passengers happy (and quiet) while you wait for the all-clear, give them something fun to do. These little lap-sized, portable Creativity Wallets (above) by Ducks in a Row Boutique keep paper, crayons and artwork organized and at your child’s fingertips. Ideal for the backseat, they’re also perfect for keeping kids entertained in restaurants and waiting rooms.

And, finally, pack light. Before you add the weight of passengers and luggage, remove unnecessary heavy items from your vehicle. An extra 50 kilograms of cargo in your vehicle could reduce your gas mileage by up to 2%. This, of course, affects smaller vehicles more than large, but any little bit helps. Plus, you’ve gotta leave room for souvenirs! The locket set pictured above, cleverly made from a recycled auto part, saves space by giving you three looks in one, simply by switching between the three magnetic lids. I love the vintage travel theme, but there are literally hundreds of attractive options (pun intended) available in the Polarity shop.

Next week: A Movable Feast

Get Lucky

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I have heard that for every 10,000 three-leaf clovers, there is only one with four leaves. No wonder it’s so hard to find one! Still, when you get the chance, who can resist searching to find the one that is guaranteed* to bring a little luck? If nothing else, the tiny thrill that comes with plucking one from amidst a tangle of green leaves and stems is worth the time spent looking.

That’s exactly how I feel about shopping for handmade goods; especially those of the recycled/upcycled variety. Once I started buying one-of-a-kind items, I was no longer content to browse the racks and racks of identical stock at the local big-box store. I’m unique, so why should I settle for anything ordinary? It never fails – every time I discover a fabulous new find, I can’t help but feel grateful and lucky that there are clever people out there putting out their amazing wares just for me…ok, and you, too. I’m always willing to share.

You might have to fight me for this bag, though. Designed by Karen Meyers, this gorgeous little bag (above) was born from a handknit wool sweater that had fallen prey to a hungry moth or two. Karen, a finalist in the 2007 Independent Handbag Designer Awards and busy mother of two, saw the potential, added some trims from her stash, and turned the old sweater into a beautiful, functional accessory. The decorative clover button was added for a little bit o’ luck.

Another great find is this fabulous belt buckle (above) by Amanda of Vintage in Retrospect. Upcycled from a discarded Oklahoma license plate, it’s a perfect example of the kind of cool stuff that you can only get from someone who is both creative and unafraid to hop into a dumpster or two. Aren’t we lucky to have brave gals like Amanda willing to take the plunge, so to speak, for us?

The statement “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is becoming so cliché, but amazing made-from-trash items like this shamrock from Jong Jong Boutique are truly to be treasured. The self-taught multi-media artist behind the piece (above), is known for her passion for upcycling; so much so that friends and relatives will often leave their recyclables on her doorstep, rather than at the curb. It takes more than good fortune to turn a pile of soda cans and some salvaged copper wire into something this lovely, though; it takes a whole lot of creativity, skill and patience. The luck comes to the person who gets to enjoy the finished product day after day.

Sometimes, though, luck can be elusive and there are “those days” when you just can’t catch a break. This silver pendant (above) by Beads in the Belfry is perfect for those of us who sometimes get passed over by Lady Luck. Legend has it that the four leaves on the clover represent hope, faith, love and luck. In the case of this “almost four leaf clover“, I guess three out of four ain’t bad.

* Disclaimer: the author and tryhandmade.com cannot guarantee luck, unforeseen fortune or sudden windfalls. But, don’t let that stop you from trying.

EmmsgEMs – Gutsy and Gorgeous

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I first met the gutsy Emily (and her gorgeous gEMs) about a year ago and I have been a die-hard fan ever-since. For those who have yet to discover the EmmsgEMs shop, allow me to introduce you. Winnipegger Emily designs pieces that are colourful, timeless, funky and fun. Always on-trend, the collection is constantly growing with casually-elegant, easy-to-wear earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I should mention that I came home last Thursday evening and found a flat of petunias on my doorstep. They weren’t put there by a secret admirer, or mysterious garden-fairy, but were dispatched by the lovely (and generous) Emily and delivered by her wonderful hubby. The gesture, while much-appreciated, had nothing to do with this week’s feature on Emily and her shop, EmmsgEMs. No, the gems in Em’s shop stand on their own merit; especially the gorgeous new “eco-collection”, which has me all a-flutter. I had the opportunity to feature one of Emily’s coconut shell pieces in an earlier post, as some of you may remember, and couldn’t wait to shine the spotlight on her again. Needless to say, I was thrilled when Emily agreed to an interview…

How’s things?
My creative mind is in hyper-drive – which is detrimental to my health.

You have new, eco-fabulous materials in your shop! What’s the scoop?
I stumbled in to eco-fabulous by accident. (eco-fabulous – I love that!) By that, I mean that I didn’t just decide one day that I wanted to create jewelry that uses sustainable and recycled materials. I purchase beads that I love – and it all started with coconut. Discovering coconut beads in my collection, along with Buri nut beads, I did some research, and discovered that beads derived from nuts and seeds are sustainable – no trees are harmed. I’ve been using these ingredients for over a decade! How cool and green is that?! Some of my other “green” ingredients include paper, recycled glass, and various nuts-seeds from Peru (picked up by a good friend who was traveling the world).

I love the new pieces. You have such a distinctive style (there’s no doubt that these are “gEMs”); were there any challenges in introducing/integrating the new materials, while keeping with the EmmsgEMs “look”?
I like to put elements together that you wouldn’t normally expect to be paired – like paper and glass – and I don’t like to over-do a piece. The bead is the star – second to the person wearing the jewelry.

Is there a learning curve in working with new beads?
Test the bead holes before beginning the task of stringing! And don’t expect two identical pieces! Oh – and a bead reamer might be good to have – I have pricked myself many times using a short straight pin to clean out holes!

To me, the beauty of recycled materials lies in the imperfections. What is it for you?
Colour and texture (both visual and tactile) are what draw me to a specific bead. I’m a “bead grabber” when shopping; I don’t set out to buy beads that match. Nature is full of these elements!

What has been the response to the new “eco-collection”?
I was recently selected as an “Etsy Find”! And, I’m here! This is the big time!

What are your favourite pieces?
Seriously? I have a difficult time parting with ALL of my pieces, but I’m really enjoying my front toggle necklaces and my red Bahay seed earrings.

I never see you mention “limited mobility” in your product descriptions, yet your pieces all seem to be made for easy-use/wearability (slip on necklaces and bracelets, big toggles, etc). As someone who has MS, do you design with this specifically in mind?
Thanks for the idea! I often tag my slip on necklaces as “easy-on” – once I realized that it was an additional benefit to what was originally my “metal free” line of jewelry. I struggle with fatigue, and just because I’ve given up wearing make-up to save energy, it takes a lot less effort to compliment my outside-self with a great stretch bracelet!

Generally speaking, do you think jewelry designers are getting better in terms of universal design?
I don’t know what other jewelry designers are doing – but it’s a great idea.

Tell me something good.
It’s baseball season in Winnipeg!

Get Your Motor Running

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“Long Road Trip” print by Donna McKenzie

By the time you read this, I’ll be back from my annual mini-vacation to rural Saskatchewan; back to the world of traffic and computers; back to waking to an alarm-clock instead of the call and answer of the owls. I don’t know how long I’ll stick around, though; I spend most summers gripped by wanderlust and have already started planning our next adventure. For the next three weeks my articles will all be road-trip related and full of tips to keep your travels economical and eco-friendly. So, buckle your seatbelts and get ready to hit the (green) highway!

Before you set off, take the time to get your vehicle in good shape. Not only will you have a safer journey, you’ll save gas AND money! Ensure your engine is properly tuned and maintained, check your oil, spark plugs, oxygen sensors, air filters, hoses and belts, and make any necessary repairs and adjustments before embarking on your adventure. Be sure, as well, to have your wheels aligned and keep your tires properly inflated; low tire pressure is not only a safety hazard, it wastes gasoline. Fact: you can actually increase your car’s gas mileage by over 3% just by properly inflating the tires! (See your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s recommended tire-inflation.) Upcycled Volvo spark plug keychain, pictured above, by Brown Dog Welding.

Setting off into unknown territory can turn any journey into an adventure. Getting lost, however, can take the fun out of the trip as soon as you realize that you are going many, many kilometres out of your way. A satellite navigation system is a great way to stay on-course, but I have heard many stories of GPS units directing drivers into cornfields and up long-abandoned roads, so pack “old fashioned” maps just in case. The wood and upcycled map bangle bracelets, pictured above, were made by San Francisco’s Squishy Sushi.

In order to avoid wasting precious gas and time, try to plan your route well in advance. There are a number of web-based trip planners that you can use to make the most of your journey. I like http://www.freetrip.com/ and good ol’ Google Maps. Or, if you are a member of an auto club, you can let them do your planning for you! AAA and CAA also provide their members with free maps and travel guides. Are we there yet? Repurposed plastic and map luggage tags, pictured above, by Marmalime.

In addition to planning your routes, pre-planning your stops can help keep everyone in the car happy-go-lucky, too. Being spontaneous is fun, yes, but have you ever driven an extra-hour for an impromptu treat and arrived only to find that a much-hyped ice-cream shop is inexplicably closed? Trust me; it’s an instant joy-kill. It’s also a good idea to call ahead to your destinations to check operating hours, etc. Check out the fun and guaranteed melt-free, upcycled wood neopolitan “ice cream treats” by Rekindled Cottage, pictured above.

Next week: we head out on the highway!

Tell Me Something Good

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When stress or boredom starts to take its toll on me, I ask my fella to “tell me something good”. More often than not, he rolls his eyes and carries on with what he’s doing. I don’t take it personally, though; who can be expected to think up “good stuff” on demand? This week, however, he surprised me with something good – an email containing a link to Hello Rewind’s t-shirt upcycling program. It was the first that I had heard of the fledgling organization and I was immediately impressed. Not only is it something good for the earth, it’s something good for survivors of sex trafficking in New York City.

Here’s how it works: you have a favourite t-shirt that you no longer wear, but can’t bear to part with. Rather than let it langish at the bottom of a drawer, you contact Hello Rewind and tell them that you want it made into a sleeve for your 13“, 15“ or 17“ laptop. You pay them 49 bucks and in a few days you’ll receive a prepaid envelope, which you fill with the aformentioned shirt and drop back into the mail. They stitch it up into a custom, padded sleeve and before you can say “upcycle”, it is back in your hands. Not only will your laptop be cozy and happy, you’ll be happy knowing that you’ve helped women get off the street and back on their feet. How cool is that?

Hello Rewind got its start as a simple idea – take an old t-shirt and make it into something new and usable like, say, a laptop sleeve. The social/rehabilitation aspect of the business came into the picture when the company formed an alliance with the founder of Restore, NYC; an organization which provides support and housing to women victimized by the international sex trade. Soon, the ball was rolling and the company is becoming a source of support, training and income for women trying to break free from prostitution rings. The young women, mostly in their 20s and 30s, are taught to make the custom laptop sleeves, paid a fair wage and given a safe and viable option to a dangerous and marginalizing lifestyle.

The $49 that Hello Rewind charges for the sleeves is, in their words, a “break-even” price. The money that they receive is spent on training and wages for the women in the program, materials, shipping and operational costs. If there is anything left after that, it is used to sustain the business itself. From the sounds of it, no one is getting rich over at Hello Rewind. Not financially, that is.

Check out the Hello Rewind blog for more info on their background and what they do. To read more about what Restore, NYC are doing to help integrate ex-sex trade workers back into society, visit their site.