eco Archives - Try Handmade

girlingear studio

October 3, 2019 by Erika Jurney 2 Comments

These calendars are brilliant.

girl*in*gear studio: It’s a calendar… it’s a wildflower garden… it’s frameable art… all at the same time! There’s no waste.

It’s printed on seeded, plantable handmade paper. The paper is embedded with 15 species of tiny annual wildflower seeds, including red corn poppy, spurred snapdragon, showy evening primrose, and foxglove. Not only can you recycle this calendar, but you can also compost it or even plant it and watch your garden grow! Instructions for planting are included with each calendar.

EllesBeads

August 29, 2019 by Chelsey Mona 5 Comments

When I was a kid, we got in the car and drove my dad out to a nearby town to take a hot air balloon ride. I remember watching the balloons gliding through the sky. These earrings remind me of that day.

Elle got started in handmade when she was struggling with depression and loneliness. Jewelry-making was her way to be totally immersed in something that was not only positive, but kept her mind off of what she was going through. She fell in love with jewelry making and never looked back. Her style incorporates vintage pieces with modern beads.

Encouraged by friends and family she jumped into selling through her shop Elle’s Beads. After taking a blind leap, she learned as she went setting up up a business strategy, goals, and a budget.

I’ve met such great artisans, both in real life and through venues like Etsy, and I feel like I have a sense of community and belonging now.

Elle’s grandmother is a huge influence. She uses her antique sewing machine and vintage buttons to make a lot of her creations. She’s also inspired by items that people cast away as trash. She has a way of viewing things not as what they are, but what they could become with a little bit of fabric, paint, or beads. She’s also started sewing now due to her grandmother’s influence (she was a seamstress) and makes a point to only use eco-friendly materials in the accessories she makes.

My favorite item is my Vintage Sapphire and Silver Glass Pearl Necklace. It’s the first eco-friendly piece I ever made and it’s from an old vintage earring I repurposed as a brooch. I’m really passionate now about reusing old materials and making them into something beautiful and new. This necklace is a constant reminder to me of the beginning of that journey.

Elle supports the views that many of us handmade artisans have, even though handmade goods can cost more than mass-produced goods, especially those imported from overseas, they’re so much more valuable! When you buy something handmade, you’re supporting an artisan – a small business and an entrepreneur. You’re supporting a craft and a subculture that values the importance of keeping craftsmanship alive. Each handmade item is a little bit different and Elle, like all handmade artists puts her love and a part of herself in every piece.

These adorable vintage birdies are my personal favorite!

Elle is a full-time paralegal working for a non-profit in North Carolina. When not working at her day job or on her business, you can find her relaxing in front of the television, catching up on the latest book club book, or talking on the phone with her family. Online you can find her on Facebook, Twitter and her blog.

Wrap it up!

June 11, 2019 by Rebecca Hadfield 4 Comments

So, you’ve taken a pledge to give only handmade gifts this Christmas. Your ornaments and decorations are all one-of-a-kind creations gathered from the local craft fair and visitors to your home are going to be treated to local artisan cheeses and breads before being sent home with homemade fudge and gingerbread from your own kitchen. It sounds like you’ve got the bases covered…but you’re not planning to use boring old store-bought wrapping paper, are you? Of course you’re not!

I have always been a proponent of the fabric gift bag. Not only do they look so cute under the Christmas tree, they are almost infinitely reusable. Considering the cost (and waste!) of paper wrapping and plastic ribbon, fabric bags will pay for themselves within just a couple uses. These colourful, reversible gift bags by Pidoodle are doubly-good for the environment because the fabric used to create them was repurposed from thrifted garments. A dedicated thriftier and “fickle crafter”, Carissa seeks out used (and sometimes damaged) pieces at charity shops and gives them a second life by dying, silk-screening and sewing them into gift bags. She even includes a piece of tulle to replace expensive and fragile tissue paper. How clever!

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Shades of Green – Grass

April 16, 2019 by Rebecca Hadfield 5 Comments

It would be nearly impossible for me to choose a favourite shade of green, but if pressed, I would probably put “grass” in my top 10. Of course, that answer is an utter cop-out because grass itself comes in hundreds, if not thousands, of shades. Just last night, while watching my fella cut his lawn, I found myself mesmerized by the way the grass appeared to change colour with each pass of the mower; much like velvet changes when you run your hand across the nap. Before I knew it, my guy was finished with the lawn…and I was inspired. This week’s collection of handmade goods is just a small sampling of the many shades of fresh green grass, chosen not just for their colour, but for their eco-coolness as well.

Wren Willow’s “Ozymandius” (the grumpy owl, above) is an original design hand-screened onto a 100% cotton American Apparel t-shirt, which has been dyed in a gorgeous grass-green. The special water-based dyes that Marla uses are environmentally friendly and will not bleed or fade in the wash. Your shirt from the Wren Willow shop promises to be perfectly unique because, as with all hand-made items, it is the slight differences from one piece to the next that make them so special. So, what does that owl have to be so grumpy about anyway?

This beautiful grass-green votive (above) is made in Spain from 99% recycled glass and filled with clean-burning, eco-friendly soy wax, scented with your choice of Mireio’s irresistible fragrances. Each candle is custom-poured to order and should last up to 20 hours with careful burning, according to shop owner Wende. Once the candle has burned, the holder can be refilled with any of the standard 2oz (15 hour) votives from the Mireio shop.

Bring nature inside and add a touch of colour to your home without going to the mess or expense of painting with these striking vinyl decals by Connie of Circle Line Studios. The removable decals adhere to any clean, smooth, flat surface and are a quick and eco-friendly way to freshen up your décor. Cut from high-quality vinyl, the decals are available in your choice of colour, including my favourite – the grass-green pictured above. Check out the Circle Line Studios shop for dozens of designs or to inquire about a custom creation.

Semra of Istanbul, Turkey is the talent behind these amazing grass-green necklaces pictured above. These stunning pieces were crocheted by hand and are just two examples of the unique and beautiful lace and crochet jewelry items available in the Kirevi shop. Whether you are looking to make a big statement or just a little one, Semra’s bohemian-chic necklaces will add an attention-getting shot of earthy colour to your summer wardrobe.

Hittin’ The Road

February 27, 2019 by Sarah Safranski 3 Comments

Please welcome new columnist Sarah Safranski to Try Handmade! She’s going to be treating us to a weekly column on how you can create popular styles using handmade wares. Looking to recreate a particular style? Let her know in the comments, and she’ll see what she can do :)

:: Erika

Having grown up in the Midwest, the summer months meant three-day weekends and road trip adventures. Our destinations were always peaceful and relaxing, but packing up the car and getting there was half of the fun.

The first essential for any road trip is the weekend bag. This option by StudioOneDesigns is roomy, made from sturdy material, and has lots of pockets to hold all of the little things you need to keep track of while you’re on the road.

When you’ve got a long ride ahead of you, comfort is key. This sweet yellow dress by Gina Michele is the perfect combination of ease and style. Made of bamboo jersey, it is both wrinkle resistant and eco-friendly. You’ll arrive at your destination looking as good as when you first stepped into the car.

Getting lost along the way can make for fun road trip moments, but eventually you’ll need to head in the right direction. This compass necklace by Rubyann Designs will point you in the right direction.

When you finally reach your location, you’ll want to do some exploring. These cute handmade and eco-friendly flats from extraseed will allow you to walk around all day without aching feet. The neutral color will match every outfit, and leave room in your bag for souvenirs.

You’ll want to take lots of pictures to document your trip. This braided camera strap from Loray:n is both stylish and timeless. Made from leather, it’s sure to last through summer road trips for years come.

So, what are you waiting for? Call some friends and hit the road! Just don’t forget the music and snacks.