Recycled Wares : Keeping Vintage Alive

I'm a vintage junkie, and I was thrilled to learn of Nerrissa from RecycledWares joining our group.  She is from Fort Worth, Texas and does her part to rescue and re-offer these way cool vintage items. 

Check out this great 60's can for only $16 in her shop .

When I first joined Etsy, vintage was something they weren't 100% sold on.  Vintage sellers had to unite and fight for the same "type" search results as the other categories.  There was a time we were in fear that vintage would go away.  Etsy did love vintage items, however, their aim was a handmade (and supply) marketplace.  It's no wonder that because repurposing and reusing vintage items is a way to reduce the carbon footprint - that it was bound to stay.  (Maybe in part by modern day divas like Rachel Ray  with her retro kitschy items and Martha Stewart who show that vintage can be functional as well as decorative and go hand in hand with crafting and other daily activities...) 

Imagine Rachel Ray whipping up something in this mod enamelware casserole at $30.

Nerrissa says, "With so many items being discarded, our mission is to rescue as many items as we can (within reason) and present them to the arts & crafts and collector's world. We work with local businesses and families to find items that are no longer of use to them. All the treasures we find are in good condition, but just need a second home. The space in our home and our budget will only allow for so many rescues, but you can be certain, that if you find it within our marketplace, it was a rescued ware."

  Martha Stewart could transform these 93 vintage swatches, $10 into a masterpiece !

Nerrissa keeps busy promoting her shop, and has opened two new shops on Etsy. House of Mirth offers the best in Clay, Wood and Paper Arts and Paper Picker which offers the best in vintage paper.  

Find our more about her here:

FLICKR:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/recycledwares/

BLOG:
http://recycledwares.blogspot.com/

Or go visit her Etsy shop now!

LitKids

Shop Name:  LitKids

Owner:  Matt Hinrichs

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/litkids

Matt is an artist and graphic designer in Central Phoenix. 

Check out his portfoloio HERE.

He also illustrated the children's book "Mama Cat." 

Matt runs  "Scrubbles.Net", a website that is one of my favorites.  Matt says of his new venture, " I started LitKids for two reasons.  One, to get back into silkscreen printing (which I love), and to channel a love of classic kid's literature into art that everyone can share and appreciate."

Matt is using backgrounds from his collection of old vintage children's books, and silk screening one of a kind whimsical characters onto them.  Silkscreening is a big alternative to commercialized printing.  Matt then sells limited edition serigraphs of his work.

These make great gifts for adults or children alike, to decorate any home or decor.   Matt believes in taking something old and making it new again, preserving some of the best stories ever in his artwork--his love for vintage shines through.  Outside of Etsy, Matt has a great love for all things green including using reclaimed objects, collecting vintage, repurposing, and recycling. 

Check out LitKids HERE.

Southern Silverworks

Shop Name: Southern Silverworks

Owner: Tommy Conn & Family (Online contact is Paul)

Location: Oakland, TN

Etsy Shop: http://www.southernsilverworks.etsy.com/

This shop features unique handcrafted jewelry made out of gorgeous antique silverware! Paul describes the shop as a family owned business. His father, Tommy Conn, started the business and makes most of the pieces. When the family steps in to help, the pieces must earn a Tommy Conn seal of approval.

Read more about them in this Etsy shop announcement: " The artists at Southern Silverworks utilize antique silverware in designing and constructing one of a kind jewelry. The techniques involved have been developed over time and involve the highest quality of craftmanship. This high quality, unique design, along with hand picked stones qualify this piece to be branded a Tommy Conn. Whether it is a cross, keychain, bracelet, ring, pendant or earrings you can be assured that much care and thought has been put into each and every piece."

Check out the Etsy shop HERE.

Second Draft

Shop Name: Second Draft

Owner: Laurie

Location: St. Paul, MN

Etsy Link: http://www.seconddraft.etsy.com/

Laurie's items are handmade paper creations which encompass everything from gift bags to journals. Her works are made from upcycled and recycled architectural plots and blueprints - some are hand drawn, others have photographs, but all from architecture school. What a keen way to reuse and recycle. Obtain a one of a kind item great for gift giving here!

Visit her Etsy Shop HERE.

RetroGrandma

NAME: Grandma

SHOP: Retrograndma

LOCATION: Sunny Saskatchewan, CANADA

SHOP LINK: http://www.retrograndma.etsy.com/

RetroGrandma has been handcrafting for over 30 years. This store is filled with whimsical book and record purses made from TOTALLY VINTAGE and recycled goods. Retrograndma loves to recycle books and records into purses, clocks, containers, earring holders and hollow book safes. She describes her crafting as "relaxation therapy".

RetroGrandma has been subject of many blogs, and articles. It's no wonder, you have got to visit this site.

Visit RetroGrandma on Etsy right HERE.

Check out her blog HERE.

Also: This just in, a sister shop with cool vintage goodies HERE.

RetroClassics

NAME: Retro Grandma

Shop: Retro Classics

LOCATION: Saskatchewan , CANADA

SHOP LINK: http://www.retroclassics.etsy.com/

When Retro Grandma is not making her cool upcycled purse and book purses, she is stocking this great vintage shop with cool finds. Anything goes here, a true "blast from the past!"

Toys, games, dolls, clothing, you name it!

Hey, wait, I had this as a kid. Does that make me retro?

Grandma just loves the thrill of searching for vintage. If you are looking for something special just let her know. Did I mention the kitchenware?

Etsy RetroClassics HERE.

Check out her other shop, RetroGrandma HERE.

Visit her BLOG here.

Retro Chalet Studio

Name: Ira Mency (nom de' plume of Cindy Fahnestock-Schafer)

Shop: Retro Chalet Studio

Location: Baltimore, MD and Danforth, ME

Shop Link: http://www.retrochaletstudio.etsy.com/

Retro Chalet Studio houses upcycled art, jewelry, and home decor made primarily with recycled, discarded, broken, trashed, or unwanted goods. Upcycled or repurpose vintage goodsalso play a role in these whimsical creations. Retro Chalet Studio is loaded with one of a kind handmade poker chip pendants, fun assemblage sculptures , home decor, and mixed media collage designs. Ira Mency is a published author and freelance journalist who primarily focuses on greener living, and of course runs this blog. Her sister shop, RetroChalet offers vintage and supplies on Etsy.

PROUD TEAM LEADER OF

Check out Retro Chalet Studio shop here.

For vintage and supplies visit the sister shop Retro Chalet HERE.

For more on Ira Mency, visit the official website or official blog page.

Nature Poet

Shop Name: NaturePoet aka "The Old and New Shop"

Owner: Mary

Location: Brantford, Ontario, CANADA

Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/naturepoet

Mary has been dealing in vintage for as long as she can remember, having been raised on a rual farm in Ontario, Canada. Her grandparents lived next door, but never had electricity, and Mary was in awe of the vintage goods that could be found in their home. Fast foward to 1979, where she began working in an auction house buying and selling antiques. Her love for all things old would soon expand to her own selling of handicrafts and vintage goods in her locality. She is now excited to be offering them on Etsy for everyone to access. Make sure to check out her repurposed dominoes, I love them! She is also a member of the Canadian team, and her shop is full of wonderful goodies. Be sure to check it out.

Visit her Etsy shop HERE.

Check out her BLOG here!

The Only Girl

Name: Pamela Morrow

Shop Name : The Only Girl

Location: Flagler Beach, Florida

Link to Store: http://www.theonlygirl.etsy.com/

Pamela's shop is full of awesome upcycled fused plastic bags, great for everyday use as a handbag, using something durable for shopping, beach bumming, or for a great book tote! Pamela has been sewing for 44 years, and was ecstatic when she found out that by fusing bags, she could create a durable material of which to make things. Pamela feels, "I want to do as much as I can and I believe with all my heart that if every person did just one thing everyday to help eliminate waste we could make such a huge difference one person at a time."

Pamela is a that is a recycler, and upcycler. She says, "I do not like to waste and there is so much trash everywhere you look. Before I throw anything away I ask myself if I can use it for something else or can I make something useful out of it. I love the fact that I can take plastic bags and make something really useful and beautiful. I think that what motivates me the most about fusing plastic and recycling, reusing, etc. is that it helps to keep items from going to landfills. Plastic bags are everywhere they shouldn't be...along roadways, waterways, ponds, lakes, forests, beaches, and I could go on and on about where they end up. I truly believe that we have been given countless gifts of life in many forms and that it is our responsibility to respect those gifts. The wildlife that live among us are victims of our wasteful living, they cannot clean up after us. I once read a pamphlet while volunteering on beach clean up day that said, 'there is a face behind every piece of trash.' I have never forgotten that statement and thought to myself how true it was."

Visit Pamela's shop HERE.

Pamela also has a sister shop called "Hey I Remember That" on Etsy as well. Visit that HERE.or read more about it in this directory!

TheBackyardBear

Shop Name: The Backyard Bear

Name: Mary Ann

Location: Bracebridge, Muskota ,CANADA

Etsy Link: http://thebackyardbear.etsy.com/

Mary Ann's shop is full of whimsical hand painted novelties, all made from upcycled and recycled bits of nature and vintage goodness. Tic tac toe boards incorporate mother nature and make for beautiful playtimes. Driftwood collected on the Muskota River give way to gorgeous painings. Smooth river rocks turn into brooches and pins each hand painted and depicting nature in it's finest. Be sure to check out this shop as it is full of great one of a kind gift ideas. Resuse, Recycle and Reclaim are just a few vocabulary words you will find here.

Check out her shop HERE.