Be Square Quilted Wallet

Be Square Quilted Wallet - $50

Fun Squares and retro modern quilting make this 

handmade freecycled wallet and eye-catcher!

It's been a while since I had a wallet to post, and to be honest I made this one last fall but I never got around to posting it. I'm not really sure what happened but when I went through my stock I found it, photographed it and now I've posted it. Next step... Someone needs to but it!

The interior has eight credit card pockets and two deep pockets for bills/checks/receipts. A simple snap closure keeps your valuables secure inside. 

To make a purchase contact me at: 

ashvantol@gmail.com or send me a tweet @upcycledbyash

Payments are via PayPal, Credit Card or Personal Check 

additional charge for international shipping.

Upcycled Button Necklaces

 

Brown Buttons

I've been having a lot of fun the past few weeks playing around with jewelry making. A few days ago my bag of random buttons was sitting right next to my box of random beads and strings/ribbons. Suddenly inspiration struck. Could I make a necklace out of buttons? YEP, and I love it!

My favorite thing is that these are really upcycled. I didn't have to buy anything. I've had some of these buttons forever. Most are from clothes that fell apart or they are that extra button they always give you but you rarely use. Some of the buttons in my bag are freecycled and others are pretty things I collected somewhere back in time.

These necklaces are simple and they look great. Not to mention being very unique. I hope you like them as much as I do!!!

More and bigger pic of the necklaces can be found on the Upcycled by Ash facebook page- http://on.fb.me/9e6iaO

To make a purchase contact me at: 
ashvantol@gmail.com or send me a tweet @upcycledbyash

Payments are via PayPal, Credit Card or Personal Check 

additional charge for international shipping

Green Buttons $14

Wood Button

The Business Side

I have been putting off making business cards for Upcycled by Ash. At first I didn't want too. I wanted to stick with the upcycled theme, get a stamp and make cards out of scrap paper. That still would mean designing a stamp, which I haven't gotten around to doing.

My friends and family disagreed with my not wanting to get business cards. They said I need real cards to look professional. I still thought I could pull it off though. What pushed me over the edge and made me decide to go ahead and get the cards was the number of people asking for them. My husband works in tourism and everyday people ask him about his wife and what she does. He wants to be able to give them a card. He wants me to make some money so he doesn't have to work so hard!

Last night I sat down, brainstormed, and came up with a design. I like it. I'm always worried about how it will look once it's printed but I think it should be OK. I also suck at spelling, so if you see any mistakes PLEASE let me know so I can correct them before I get my cards printed!

I will, of course, be opting for recycled paper when I order the cards. I am also still going to look into the stamp. I think having both as options is a good compromise. I know there will be many times when a handmade, stamped card will be perfectly acceptable.

What Craftivism Means to Me

The first time someone called me an activist I was shocked, almost insulted. Me? A crazy activist?

The accuser assured me, "Yes, You."

It took me a while to get over my preconceived ideas of what an activist was. There wasn't much hope in denying it though. I had become, without even realizing it, an activist.

Craftivism on the other hand was a word and a description I loved right from the start. My "activism" has always revolved around awareness. The concept of using craft and art to spread awareness really hit home with this crafty chick.

At the time I'd never heard the terms upcycle or freecycle. My friend Nani, who introduced me to craftivism, had to keep correcting me, "not recycling, upcycling." The idea wasn't new to me, just the word. If you came to my house you would find upcycled and freecycled items in every room. Even my car is freecycled!

I love using my craft to spread awareness about issues that matter to me. Sometimes I do this directly by making a piece that illustrates my cause, like the Pelican Messenger Tote for the Gulf or the Lyme Awareness Wallet. These items by design will spread awareness to anyone who sees them.

Other times the craftivism is more indirect with a portion of the proceeds from individual items going to charities I support.

Combining craftivism with upcycling and freecycling hits home with another of my causes, the environment. It's all about, Reduce Re-Use Recycle!

I also get to spread awareness about the causes I care about when I ask people to donate clothing and materials for my projects. I love posting on twitter asking for people to send me their pants. It is a great conversation starter:

Me, "I need your pants."
You, "What! Excuse me?"
Me, "Just the pants, you can keep what's in them to yourself."

I could just go down to Joann Fabric, buy everything I need, make things and sell them, but it just wouldn't be the same.

The reward is so much greater when I've connected with someone who sent me their pants or other materials. I get to turn their "trash" into treasure, spread awareness about the causes I care about, and help protect the environment all at the same time.

The items I make have been on journeys, they have stories to tell and jobs to do. They've been reinvented and given a second chance at life!

I am an activist and a proud craftivist. I firmly believe that by doing my part, even though I am just one person, I can make a difference.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

@upcycledbyash and @VictoriousVixen, green girls down to the wrapping!
Recycling paper, fabric and other materials to wrap up the items we sell.

Make no mistake, we are not perfect, but whenever we can we are making our choices count. Casting our vote through our actions and purchases as to what is and what isn't acceptable. Because actions speak louder than words. 

I choose grass fed beef and free range organic chicken. I won't buy feedlot meat. I don't believe it is humane or good for my health. I go for local when I can too, but lets face it, that isn't always an option.

Most of my family and friends think it is too much of a hassle to eat organic, drive a more environmentally friendly car, forgo shopping sprees for clothes they don't need, buy energy saving light bulbs, turn off the tap when brushing their teeth, turn off the TV and lights when they aren't in a room or even to keep the front door shut to keep the heat in or out.

It is that attitude of apathy that ensures the rich will continue to get richer, the health of corporations will remain more important than the health of people and the guilty will never be held accountable for anything.

I may only be one person and my individual contribution may not seem like much to the big picture, but it is. I believe that one person can make a difference. If we all do something small, something big will happen. Do your part, make your actions and purchases represent what you believe in. 

Victorious Vixen is my good friend and another crafter who does a lot of upcycling and craftivism for a cause. Visit her blog- http://victoriousvixen.blogspot.com/