I'm making something!

I have been inspired by all the beautiful sweater quilts i've been seeing, so I decided to make one for my son. I am hand sewing it, and figuring it out as I go, so it will be a long time before it's finished, but he will (hopefully) love it & have it forever. I have much respect for those who make these to sell... so time consuming! His favorite color is orange, but I also wanted it to be adult looking, so he doesn't outgrow it. This is what I have so far.

Sweaters & sweaters & sweaters, oh my!

Last Saturday I went into Chicago to hit all the great thrift stores in search of sweaters for my shop. I spent 6 hours in 2 stores & 3 hours driving, but I came back with over 100 sweaters! You should have seen the looks on the cashier's face when I brought up my cart filled with sweaters, lol.

My son was overjoyed at the mound of sweaters, and I let him play in them before I sorted them. Life's simple pleasures :)

I made something!

All the sweaters & creativity around me have got me feeling crafty for Christmas. I will not be selling anything, but i'm going to be making some homemade wool things for my family. It's also nice for me to have something to do while i'm watching the few tv shows that I watch. I made this the other night (out of sweater scraps from my quilt project) for my son, & he loves his "worm". Yes, I understand that worms do not have antennas (my husband was quick to point that out), but this one does. Crusty, what my son named him, also has a sweater ;)

Water bottle cozies, cute & functional!

What a fun & cute way to keep your drinks cold & your hands warm & cozy! Other super cute cozies, as well as other fun upcycled wool goodies, can be found at:

The Radical Thread Co.
www.katesy.etsy.com

Drinks wear sweaters too!

ThinkingMama was really thinking when she made these! Ever feel guilty at all the waste when you put the cardboard sleeve on your drink then throw it away? Me too! Not only is this better for the environment, but more pleasing to the hand... and even more pleasing to the eye. More coffee sweaters, and other great recycled wool items can be found on her site:

ThinkingMama
www.ThinkingMama.etsy.com

Hats... don't forget the hats!

These hats are so stinkin' cute, but still not as cute as her kids! I even like her slogan (i'm jealous because it's better than mine!): "recycled. reconstructed. and re-loved". You can check out more of Mosey's great hats, as well as her other cool upcycled wool goods at:

Mosey
www.mosey.etsy.com

What could be warmer than a wool quilt?

Betcha don't think of Grandma's cardigans when you think of quilts! This beautiful heirloom quality quilt was made from recycled wool.

For more beautiful quilts like this, you can visit:

Sheep's Sleep
www.sheepsleep.etsy.com

Toys... or are they art?

I am in love! Look at this little cutie? Can you believe he was once just sweaters that nobody loved? You can check out more of of a kind work of art toys that Karna created at:

COCOON DESIGNS

www.cocoondesigns.etsy.com

Cute little slippers & shoes!

One of my favorite things made of recycled wool are children's slipper shoes. They are so cute that it's hard to believe that they were once a sad sweater that didn't have a closet to call home! The striped pair are made by the talented Kaboogie. More of her work can be found in her Etsy shop:

Kaboogie Shoes
www.kaboogie.etsy.com




Now these truly deserve the term 'upcycled', because I don't care how lovely the sweater... these are much better off in their second life as Polliwogs slippers. I don't consider Olivia just a wahm or crafter, but an artist. Don't take my word for it... check out these slippers! For more of her work, go to:

Polliwogs
www.hyenacart.com/polliwogs

Wool soakers & longies - diaper cloth covers

Some people knit them, some use wool interlock, but some make them with recycled wool! When I started using cloth diapers on my son, I used the type with the waterproof fabric on the outside, but learned my son runs too hot & his skin is too sensitive for any kind of plastic at all. What I then discovered were the wonders of wool. He now has a variety of soft, breathable, comfy wool soakers & longies & loves his "woolie pants"!
Fluff-A-Rump makes some fantastic & unique soakers & longies. One example is the patchwork soaker pictured. Amazing that that came from sweaters, eh?
More of her great stuff can be found in her Etsy store:

CussinCrafter
http://www.CussinCrafter.etsy.com

The longies pictured are adorable ... also recycled wool! These are from Kaboogie, who makes wool shoes as well... but those will be in the next entry :) More of Kaboogie's cute things can be found in her Etsy shop:

Kaboogie Shoes
kaboogie.etsy.com

recycled wool felted purses & scarves

These are made by my best customer, and a really cool & crafty person, Chris. She has awesome stuff & it was hard choosing just one example each of her work! Can you believe these were once unloved sweaters? More details on these, as well as her other fabulous things, can be found at:

tallulah's satchels - exquisite hand knit items

tallulahssatchels.etsy.com

Reuse, recycle... Resweater!

I recently started selling wool sweaters on Etsy, www.resweater.etsy.com, and I am amazed at all the fantastic things people can repurpose a sweater into. This little blog will be a little adventure to find the most fabulous stuff I can find, all made from recycled wool!