It's Open!



I spent last weekend getting everything finished and moving it into my new booth space at the Merchants Outlet Mall.  I'm really pleased at how great it looks!  No pictures yet.  I still have to hang my sign! 



Here are some pics of some of the items that have been upcycled and placed in the shop for sale.

Musical Jewelry box from the 70's.  Added artwork purchased from French artist through Etsy, and painted the box black with red accents.



I loved this blue glass plate.  I knew it needed a substantial pedestal, though.  When I found this heavy pewter candlestick, I knew it was a perfect match.  I love this!

 The storage ottoman above is a vintage piece that I covered with old felted sweaters.  A little silver paint to the wooden legs and it's a modern piece!

All of the display items in the shop are also upcycled.  I use the existing wall shelves and brackets left from the last renter, although I added a fresh coat of black paint to them.  I hang clothes from a rickety old ladder I painted, an old lamp and skis that I added hooks onto.

For shelf space, I tried to get creative as well.  I purchased this vintage vinyl upholstered headboard for $10.  I thought it could be great if repurposed into a shelf for the shop.  It definitely needs some sprucing, though! Franky still enjoyed hanging out under it.

Before



So, I decided to use maps from an old atlas my dad gave me that was just laying around in his barn and Mod Podge it over the vinyl.  Here's the result!



After

What do you think?





Getting Started

I have made the decision to take the plunge into the retail world.  I've dabbled periodically with craft shows, eBay, etsy, webstore, etc., but now I've decided to rent space at a nearby popular antique/craft mall.  This serves many purposes, one of which is storage for all of the things I have made! The second purpose is to generate enough income to pay for my thrift store habit.

So, let me explain a few things about my arts and crafts.  I love to take old, unwanted, used, discarded items and transform them into something you would never expect.  Such as this bustier made of plastic water and soda bottles.



I realize it isn't something one would actually wear.  I made it for a fundraiser style show called Mardi Bras.


I also enjoy just taking a well worn item and sprucing it up a bit, such as this doll bed I made for my niece's Christmas present (whose picture will need to be added later because Mr. Computer isn't cooperating today!).

Some call it upcycling, some repurposing and others, like me, just know it as a way of life.  Growing up the youngest of five, I was always taught to make do with what I had.  That could involve a new coat of paint on a dresser or a patch over a worn knee, but it was never considered "crafty."  It just was how it was.

Now, I have college degrees and the ability to purchase what I want.  However, that just doesn't seem challenging enough, and it isn't nearly as much fun as making something myself.  Making something new out of something old is a good exercise in thinking outside of the box (or thinking outside of the sweater, as I write about in my other blog!).

So, all of this creative thinking has led to an abundance of items I have upcycled.  Thus leads to the creation of UpDo, a place to sell and display (and store!) some of my creations.  I will post pics and tutorials on the blog for some of the items I make.  I get so excited with projects sometimes that I fail to take before pictures.  I'm going to work on that, though!  If you live in the Evansville, Indiana area you can visit the store.  Otherwise, I do have an etsy shop where items can be listed.  But, the primary purpose of this blog is to share with the world my latest adventure and get feedback on my creations.  I want to know what you like and don't like; what you think is too common or not keeping with current trends.  I'd like to hear anything that can help make my creations more useful.  Thanks for coming along!