Upcycle Vintage for the Best Gifts

Upcycled Folding Rule Photo Holder offered by birdie1

Upcycling is a great way to bring Vintage into the lives of those who only want New. Think of those people on your Holiday list that think the Mall is the only place to buy. They would turn their nose up at a Vintage item from the flea market, but put that same item in Pottery Barn with some polka dots on it and they have to have it. 


I think we all should include upcycled gifts into our Holiday plans this year. How else is the upcycled movement going to continue to grow? It's green, it's the best for the planet, it's creative, it's one of a kind, it supports artists & it's just plain cool. You'll look like a genius. You'll be labeled as an imaginative gift giver who gives the BEST presents. 


Here's a few fantastic items I found being offered by members of the Etsy Vintage Team:

Vinyl Record Bookends offered by nerdnest

Upcycled Pitcher Wind Chimes offered by transienttreasures

Vintage Button Brooch offered by calloohcallay

Upcycled Jewelry Stand offered by MellowMermaid

Upcycled Potting Shed Bookcase offered by judygovintage

Welcome New Members: BD Vintage, Daisy Fairbanks and Rewind Wear Vintage

BD Vintage is the Etsy shop of Becky and Shane from Oregon. If you love the warm feeling of rustic cabin or farmhouse decor, this is the shop for you! They offer not only wonderful vintage goods, but also Shane's handcrafted wall sconces, such as this one from reclaimed wood. Such character!

Daisy Fairbanks is a member of the Vintage Fashion Guild and operates a vintage boutique in Santa Cruz, California. The Etsy shop offers vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry to express your own individual style. I love this smart vintage tapestry handbag with leather trim!

Rewind Wear Vintage is exclusively handmade-with-vintage! This Missouri artisan creates baby bib and burp cloth sets from a wide variety of vintage fabrics, all backed with cotton terry and chenille, in every color of the rainbow. They are also sold in several retail locations. A perfect gift for the vintage lovin' Mom-to-be!

These new Etsy Vintage Team members represent the best of what Etsy is all about--true vintage goods and finely crafted handmade. Welcome!

Vintage Buzz: Make It (With) Vintage



This 'Shabby Quilted Strips Bag' from
Such and Sort is a fun way to use
old fabric scraps and cutter quilts.



 

Kitschy little Mice R Nice Charms

come in several colors and have

lots of creative potential. They

are offered by True Colors For You.

Scooping up piles of broken and orphaned vintage jewelry at the local Salvation Army along with sifting through jars and tins of old buttons clinched my vintage addiction. Sorting through my little treasure hoards was at once exciting and relaxing, yet the gratification that came with each acquisition was short-lived. The sense of satisfaction that came each time I found something special drove me to seek more. At some point I had to do something with all this fun junk - thus my first Etsy shop was born as an outlet for my handcrafted-from-vintage creations. I have since found that I'm not the only Etsy Vintagephile that crafts green, using vintage materials both as inspiration and for the very substance of their handcrafted offerings. A search under the 'handmade' category for 'etsyvintageteam' reveals well over 400 items - badges and broochs, pouches and purses and so much more! You'll find plenty of styles too - contemporary, steampunk, country, retro, Victorian and more! 



Check out the Pearl and Brass Steampunk
necklace crafted by DRyan327
in her shop, Purple Toes Jewelry.
(In my opinion, she competes for one of the
greatest avatars on Etsy!)

Once you begin searching, it becomes obvious that members of the Etsy Vintage Team enthusiastically practice the three 'R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) - after all, didn't we learn that from our Grandmas who reused everything from foil to raggy old clothes? But not everyone has a stash of vintage goodies to work with, and for those people there is a fabulous hoard offered by the Etsy Vintage Team.

Etsy Vintage Team shops offer a plethora of vintage supplies: fabric, buttons and lace; paper ephemera, beads, buckles and charms, as well as all sorts of intriguing oddments you never even thought of until you found them surfing through fun shops like The Vintage Recycler or 12Karri Elegant Junk Shop (L-R, below).

Whether you're thinking of something crafted from vintage or are looking for supplies to craft something wonderfully unique yourself, the members of the Etsy Vintage team can provide plenty of satisfaction for your creative muse.

 



Etsy, A Mental Shift Towards Vintage

I’ve been buying on Etsy for years, but switched over to selling early this summer. I’ve been amazed at the differences I’ve observed about selling on Etsy vs other mainstream vintage sites.

1.     My brain was wired to what had value as a vintage collectible. I didn’t buy a book to sell unless it was a known antique one with value. Every book required extensive research. I’ve had to switch that entirely since being on Etsy. Books are also valued as good reads, decorative elements and/or the base for an art project, not just for their collectible value.

Upcycled Floating Bookself by komunications

2.     Everyday objects are sculptural reminders of the past. I have walked right past old 1960s sprinkler heads in yard sales. Since being on Etsy, I’ve seen dozens sell quickly. Mason jars, rusty metal tools, wooden letters from old games all are snapped up. These objects can be displayed or altered and enjoyed now as reminders of the buyers past. I love to see simple beauty being found in everyday vintage objects.

Ever so Practical but beautiful Mason Jar by Dandelion Girl

3.     Vintage isn’t just for decorating-it’s for everyday practical uses. Buyers on Etsy appreciate an items working value, not just its beauty. Many people are choosing to replace the modern box store items in their homes with vintage substitutes. If Grandma used it, why not me? 

Vintage Wall Clock by bitofbutter

I like that Etsy buyers have forced me to think more creatively about my treasure hunting. I’m now looking for objects based on their decorative, practical, artistic and whimsical angles. While I still have a lot of just very collectible items to sell, this new viewpoint is making my job so much more interesting and fun!