Thursday, September 23, 2010
Holiday Boot Camp
We, the Glitzy Kitsch designers, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
What is upcycling?
At Glitzy Kitsch, we are big fans of upcycling. But what is upcycling?
"Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value." At least that's the technical definition.
We think it's a broader term, kind of a combination of repurposing and beautifying. We like to take items that have passed their normal lives and give them a facelift. Another term is eco-crafting. So that things have a second life, so to speak.
Taking old clothesline and turning it into coasters (coming soon the the Glitzy Kitsch site, these are beyond adorable so watch for them!). Taking thrift store clothes, adding our own fashion twists and embellishing them, pulling apart old knits to re-use the yarn, and taking apart broken watches to turn them into unique steampunk jewelry are all examples of how we "upcycle".
We live in an era where consumption of goods is rampant, but just because something is older doesn't mean it doesn't have value. And in this economy it makes even more sense to reuse, repurpose and recycle. Plus, we think it's a lot of fun to make great things out of "junk". We live by the old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure". While we aren't trash picking, we are scouring thrift stores, garage sales and even our own closets and attics to find forgotten treasures and hidden gems.
Going green isn't just good for the environment, it can save you some green in your wallet too. Upcycled items are often less expensive than their new counterparts. And because upcycled items are mostly made by handcrafting artisans, you are supporting individuals instead of giant faceless conglomerates.
So the next time you are looking for something unique, amazing and one of a kind, think about checking out a handcrafted upcycled piece. You're helping the planet, the people and yourself!
"Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value." At least that's the technical definition.
We think it's a broader term, kind of a combination of repurposing and beautifying. We like to take items that have passed their normal lives and give them a facelift. Another term is eco-crafting. So that things have a second life, so to speak.
Taking old clothesline and turning it into coasters (coming soon the the Glitzy Kitsch site, these are beyond adorable so watch for them!). Taking thrift store clothes, adding our own fashion twists and embellishing them, pulling apart old knits to re-use the yarn, and taking apart broken watches to turn them into unique steampunk jewelry are all examples of how we "upcycle".
We live in an era where consumption of goods is rampant, but just because something is older doesn't mean it doesn't have value. And in this economy it makes even more sense to reuse, repurpose and recycle. Plus, we think it's a lot of fun to make great things out of "junk". We live by the old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure". While we aren't trash picking, we are scouring thrift stores, garage sales and even our own closets and attics to find forgotten treasures and hidden gems.
Going green isn't just good for the environment, it can save you some green in your wallet too. Upcycled items are often less expensive than their new counterparts. And because upcycled items are mostly made by handcrafting artisans, you are supporting individuals instead of giant faceless conglomerates.
So the next time you are looking for something unique, amazing and one of a kind, think about checking out a handcrafted upcycled piece. You're helping the planet, the people and yourself!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Welcome to Glitzy Kitsch
Hi and thanks for checking out Glitzy Kitsch...Where everything old is new again, and everything new is cool again!
We are the mother/daughter team of Stacie and Shae Wilhite. After years of Stacie teaching Shae all she knew about sewing, crocheting, decorating and the fine art of thrift store shopping, we decided to share our passions with the world.
What do we do? Well, just about everything! We find cool and funky vintage things and fix them or upcycle them into something even more amazing. We make hand beaded jewelry. We knit and crochet accessories. We love making things that are useful, unique and affordable.
All of our items are either handcrafted by us, or in the case of our sensational vintage items, lovingly restored by us.
What do we do when we aren't crafting? Shae owns and runs the amazing bakery and confectionary company, Glitter City Sweets, where she devotes even more creative energy into creating new flavors for her gourmet artisan marshmallows, cupcake, French pastries and custom cookies. In her free time (what free time?!?) she also writes, directs and acts in films, like "You People", which is due for release in late 2010. Stacie is a breast cancer survivor who works in the retail sector and loves to read and devotes her free time to her family.
Glitzy Kitsch is based in fabulous Las Vegas - the home of glitz and mecca of kitsch! Look at our stuff, read our blog and let us know what you think. We can't wait to hear from you!
We are the mother/daughter team of Stacie and Shae Wilhite. After years of Stacie teaching Shae all she knew about sewing, crocheting, decorating and the fine art of thrift store shopping, we decided to share our passions with the world.
What do we do? Well, just about everything! We find cool and funky vintage things and fix them or upcycle them into something even more amazing. We make hand beaded jewelry. We knit and crochet accessories. We love making things that are useful, unique and affordable.
All of our items are either handcrafted by us, or in the case of our sensational vintage items, lovingly restored by us.
What do we do when we aren't crafting? Shae owns and runs the amazing bakery and confectionary company, Glitter City Sweets, where she devotes even more creative energy into creating new flavors for her gourmet artisan marshmallows, cupcake, French pastries and custom cookies. In her free time (what free time?!?) she also writes, directs and acts in films, like "You People", which is due for release in late 2010. Stacie is a breast cancer survivor who works in the retail sector and loves to read and devotes her free time to her family.
Glitzy Kitsch is based in fabulous Las Vegas - the home of glitz and mecca of kitsch! Look at our stuff, read our blog and let us know what you think. We can't wait to hear from you!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)