What's New

Here are just a few new items from the Etsy West Michigan Team

Want to see more? Check out our new listings thread to keep up with the latest!

Getting to Know UpCycledSimplicity

SaraJ of is a wife and mother of two balancing family life, a full time job, and her newest venture, UpcycledSimplicity where she creates stylish, eco friendly cuff bracelets. It all got started when she couldn't find this accessory in a style she liked for a reasonable cost and researched how to make her own. Now that she has perfected the process, from searching for the right belt to upcycle through creation, she's offering them to you!

On finding the right piece - When I am out hunting the second hand stores looking for materials I've gone through a lot of trial and error. I look for a belt that is good enough shape to provide 3 cuffs with a unique look - that could be texture, cut outs, embellishments, or a color. I try to step out side of my own comfort zone and think of customers and what they might like for a look or feel or even what type of an outfit it could be work with. It can't be new, I'm interested in rescuing somebody else's cast off and turning it into something of beauty again. 

Her eclectic style - I have a lot of different styles, shapes, sizes of cuffs as an offering in my shop. My personal style is just a varied as the variety you see. I have love a classic 1950's look, but can just as easily slid into a Ramones or Social Distortion old school punk rock look. On the flip side of that I understand and want to be able to blend just as easily in a polished corporate environment. 

A hint at things to come - With the onslaught of winter we had, I have jumped into the mitten making market - strictly personal so far. I am using UpCycled Wool Sweaters to make mittens and fingerless mittens. I plan to put them into my shop in Fall 2014 when I have built up my skill set. I am also looking into two or three other projects right now - key fobs with the upcycled belts, shoulder bags, and coffee cozies from the upcycled sweaters. 

Home Sweet Home - The Best thing about West Michigan is Lake Michigan. But to me West Michigan is the most beautiful place in the world. Where else can you find all 4 seasons, clean blue waters, diversity, the room to grow your family and your passions (one craft at a time). Even if it is cold for a few weeks every year. 

Etsy Craft Party 2013

So, here's part of the list of crafty goodness I toted out to the party (in no particular order):

Scissors, regular

Scissors, craft with various patters (zig zag, scalloped, etc)

Scrapbook paper

Hair dryer (great for drying paint quickly)

Acrylic paints

Yarn

Buttons

Ribbon

Foam brushes

Popsicle sticks

Stickers

Punches

Cuttlebug

Embossing folders

Origami paper

Paper punch

Hole punch

Mode podge

Lunch bags

Crayons

Markers

Colored pencils

Tape

Double sided tape

Photo booth printables

Inspiration pages

Google eyes

Paper cutter

Alcohol inks

Mason jars

Glass bottles

Glass jars

Hot glue guns

Beads

Etsy Craft Party 2013

So, the Etsy Craft Party 2013 is over.  All the goodies have been boxed up, taken home and put back into our own stashes. We hope you enjoyed it. We did.

Well, actually there weren't many mason jars, glass bottles or canvases left!  

Etsy Craft Party Inspiration

So what kind of crafts will we be working on at the Craft Party this Thursday? Here is a sneak peek at some of the projects we have in mind from our Pinterest Board. Don't forget - you can bring your own crafts to work on and share, too!