Reclaimed Threads’ Tote Bags and a quick product update!

Now that Christmas and the post Christmas sales are officially over, all of the holiday items have been taken down from the Reclaimed Threads’ shop. Customers can now enjoy getting back to basics with a nice variety of tote bags and pins. There are a variety of finished clutches that are scheduled to be photographed and uploaded to the store within the week. Trust me, you will want to see these clutches, they are adorable! Make sure to follow Reclaimed Threads’ on Twitter (RECLAIMEDTHREAD) for announcements as to when they are all online!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and is settling into the new year happily!

Here are a few photos of what is in the shop and what can be expected soon! (forgive some of the poor photography!!!)

Etsy Shopper: Gift Ideas For Him!

Hello everyone!

I am excited for this post because after putting all of these great items together in one place, I am full of gift ideas for the men in my life this holiday season! Usually, I have such a hard time because they are so picky and have everything they THINK they want. 🙂 As usual Etsy sellers have come through with some of the most creative spins on products for men! So enjoy and remember that you need to scroll past the pictures to get a product description and link to each seller’s shop, just match the numbers from the pictures to the descriptions…

…As a side note, you can now subscribe to my blog! This is new-ish (about a week) so if you like what you see when you scroll through my blog then make sure you sign up to receive update via email! You do this in the right column where it says “Subscribe to Reclaimed Threads!”

1.2ReVert

2.AmaliaVersaci

3.bodhicitta

4.designsforhim

5.heartfeltbaby

6.hypothesis

7.KeysAndMemories

8.Knight27

9.locomotive

10.MaxineDear

11.northwestgoods

12.primemeridian

13.prixprix

14.randitan

15.RogueEmpire

16.StoneLinkDesigns

17.thebeersoapcompany

18.TheSpoiledCompanion

19.VersatilElements

1. These great cuff links are made from recycled skateboard! They are great, maybe for someone who has to dress up for the holidays or some special occasion and is hating the idea. Give him a cool accessory to express himself! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34531856

2. See how creative people are on Etsy!? This is a second pair of cuff links but they are COMPLETELY different than the first! I’ve never seen cuff links like these! I love the zipper pulls! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34516917

3. This set of 2 recycled glasses are made from the bottom of reclaimed wine bottles! I love this idea and the set includes two different kinds of glasses so you will find many excuses to use them! When you check out this shop read the “Quit your Day Job” Feature that Etsy did on this seller! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34717890

4. This eye glass slip is so great! Not only is it made from repurposed leather but it is small and not bulky so whoever you buy it for can bring it along with him wherever he goes and keep his glasses safe! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34329414

5. I love this scarf! The colors are great for the season and very masculine, even though I love the color green and I can see myself “borrowing” it from whoever in my house I gave it to 🙂 This particular one is reserved but check out the other scarves in this shop! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16874098

6.This leather cuff, made from recycled leather, would be such a unique gift! The antique clock print on it add a nice touch of style. Wait until you see all of the great cuffs in this shop! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33074545

7. What a cool money clip! The front displays a vintage watch movement from Westfield Watch Co. I love how it is so simple and ornate at the same time! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34793328

8. I am from MA and love the Red Sox! There is nothing better than a summer baseball game at Fenway Park. This beautiful photograph is great for any fellow Sox fan! I love it because I know that when this photo was taken, the crowd was roaring and the smells of sausages and peanuts were in the air but there is still something peaceful about this scene. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21820461

9.I love the color of this shirt! The hand screened graphic on the front was an original drawing. The T-shirt is American Apparel made from 100% organic jersey cotton. Such a great shirt and would make a wonderful gift! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31390376

10. This great, one of a kind belt buckle was made from an old math textbook. The book was being taken out of circulation because the interior pages were in bad shape. So instead of being thrown away, it was used to make this belt buckle! Such a great idea and there is a shop full of other cool designs! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33970667

11. This thick and sturdy copper bracelet is hand cut, shaped and pounded into all its glory! There aren’t any chemicals used to coat it, which I think is great! This beautiful bracelet has a matching ring that you can also find in this shop! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34570422

12. This is a great piece of art! Perfect for any den or bachelor pad! 🙂 The image was put through a transfer process onto a recycled tile. It comes in a flat black colored box that was hand constructed for each tile. Truly unique! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31776995

13. This wonderful wallet is made from a vintage necktie and a retired wool suit! You can fit bills in the large pocket and your cards in the two smaller pockets! I love the colors and the fact that all of those wonderful items were given a new life in this product! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33995931

14. I love that the seller calls this “Modern Art To Wear” because that is exactly what it is! It sounds like a lot of work goes into these belt buckles and I’m certainly glad it does because they are so beautiful, colorful and unlike any other belt buckle I have seen lately! Such a cool gift! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34559134

15. This flask is made from a recycled British tartan topcoat. The colors and texture of the fabric is great for the cold winter months ahead! Buy one as a gift for someone else or grab one for yourself! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33832179

16. This beautiful ebony guitar pick is the perfect gift for any guitarist! You will always have your pick with you since you can wear it on this stylish necklace. The pick is removable and can be easily reattached to the necklace after you are finished playing! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34617183

17. OH BOY! Again with the Boston pride! This soap is made with Sam Adams Boston Lager, myyyy personal favorite! It is left unscented. You can wash your body, hair and shave with this soap! I just love it, I think it’s great idea and at this price you can buy them as stocking stuffers for everyone! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34805074

18. This great leash is made from recycled climbing rope! It is a great way for man and man’s best friend to spend some quality time together outdoors! This leash is 10 feet long and very durable so it can withstand whatever you two get into! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32689649

19. This slim, stainless steel card case is a great accessory for any man (or woman for that matter)! It is lightweight so you can throw it into your pocket and be ready for any opportunity to show it off! The watch mechanisms and celtic cross medallion make a bold statement. There are other medallions available so stop by the shop to check it out!  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29308641

About Reclaimed Threads: Reclaimed Threads is a sustainable bag company launched by Katherine DeSantis. Katherine is  a 20-something entrepreneur who combined her love of being creative and sustainably conscious to form Reclaimed Threads.  Every item is handmade by Katherine from reclaimed/repurposed, vintage and organic/sustainable materials. There are a variety of bags and products in her shop: www.reclaimedthreads.etsy.com.

A Great Resource – NEW (The Unofficial) Etsy Business Blog

Do you need help with your Etsy shop?…

…are you looking for some tips about running a business on Etsy.com or just want to learn about some of the MANY interesting and talented sellers there? I have just the thing for that: (The Unofficial) Etsy Business Blog. I am so excited that Justine of PlumeAdore, has taken it upon herself to launch this blog and go out of her way to help other Etsy Sellers, by providing advice and/or publicity on this site!

Who is Justine?

Justine had an Etsy shop called PlumeAdore. Between April 20, 2009 and August 30, 2009 she racked up an impressive amount of sales and expertise around everything “Etsy”. She was featured on the front page of Etsy 10 times, wrote for Etsy’s blog (the Storque), was chosen for Admin Curated Gift Guides and Storque articles, as well as had her Forum Help Threads picked up by Etsy’s EMail Newsletter. I mean, wow, all very impressive and obviously her hard work has paid off because her business is doing very well (she now sells wholesale to numerous stores), she is lucky enough to work at home to be with her young daughter and has now launched this blog to help everyone else out there in Etsy-land.

So what is this blog all about you ask?!

(The Unofficial) Etsy Business Blog launched last Monday, Nov. 2, and is already full of fantastic features and advice columns! The purpose of the blog is to ” provide you with advice and information to help you: Make Steady Sales; Increase Exposure; Build Your Brand; Manage Your Business; Provide Great Customer Service; Grow Your Business off Etsy”.

I really like Justine’s perspective on the issues that concern all Etsy sellers, she is confident and logical in her advice and explanations. The way she writes is clear and easy to understand. She gets straight to the point that she is trying to make, instead of lecturing the reader. This blog definitely provides the tools that an Etsy seller can use to get themselves moving in the right direction towards success. I have enjoyed reading through the existing blog and am looking forward to updates in the future. Given her track record, I am betting that this blog will serve as a useful resource for a long time to come!

Bring me to this Fabulous Blog!

You’ve got it! Enjoy (The Unofficial) Etsy Business Blog! Let me know what you think!

About Reclaimed Threads: Reclaimed Threads is a sustainable bag company owned  by Katherine DeSantis. Katherine is  a 20-something entrepreneur who combined her love of being creative and sustainably conscious to start this company.  Every item is handmade by Katherine from reclaimed, vintage and organic/sustainable materials. There are a variety of bags and products to chose from at her Etsy shop, www.reclaimedthreads.etsy.com.

Etsy Shopper – Thanksgiving

I LOVE THANKSGIVING! There is no way around it! I live in New England where the first Thanksgiving took place  and where we have the most brilliant fall colors that you can imagine! I love how the weather is getting brisk and you can start cozying up in your sweaters, build fires and drink hot cider. While compiling this post, I just kept getting more and more excited! Any excuse to bring family and friends together, give back to the community and …well… eat is GREAT in my book! So. That being out of my system, I will get on with why we have come together today….

Etsy is chok full of talented artisans and vintage collectors. All I can say is that they make putting together these Etsy Shopper posts so easy! You are all so talented and it always such a pleasure to get to know all of you! Anyone out there looking to buy unique items for their home, as a gift or something special for themselves should start their search at Etsy. I know that I am bias because I have an Etsy shop too but I am consistently impressed by the community of people here and how talented they are. WOW, I am really gushy today!

Here is a great group of items to spice up your Thanksgiving. Make sure to check out each shop because there is always more where this great stuff came from!

Remember that you need to scroll past the pictures to get a product description and link to each seller’s shop, just match the numbers from the pictures to the descriptions…

1.AmybugsOriginalStyle

2.AtlantisDesigns

3.bowsbydawn

4.chasedreams

5.cutebeamsandrose

6.eagerhands

7.EvesLittleEarthlings

8.homemadesoy

9.iFeelVintage

10.linencloset

11.marimakings

12.motleyboutique

13.mrowe

14.OhBananas

15.PatinaVintage

16.SAGEOLIVE

17.SallyRags

18.SeaMe

19.taraduff

20.vintageinspiration

21.whimsypics

22.AspenBottleHolders

1. This is a great custom made dress set for your little one this Thanksgiving! The colors and little appliqued turkey are just perfect for the occasion! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33118499

2. This slumped glass bottle is a great addition to any hors d’œuvres spread you have planned for the holidays! It is perfect for cheese and crackers or any other small finger food. There are small rubber feet attached too, so it will stay in place and not slide all over! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33182259

3. This adorable turkey hair bow is made to order! It will look SO great with any child’s Thanksgiving outfit! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=33806663

4. Want to keep the kid’s entertained before and after dinner? Why not give them a big sheet of recycled paper and this Tom Turkey Crayon Puzzle. Its fun to take apart and put back together as well as draw with. Best of all, it is made from recycled crayons! Bring it as a gift if you are not hosting this year! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33148353

5. I love this! It is a vintage New York Trade School News, “Thanksgiving Issue”. There 12 pages full of fun text and illustrations, all Thanksgiving themed. This would be a lot of fun to look through with family and friends! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30984018

6. This vintage pleaded apron will help you look cute and stay neat while helping to make Thanksgiving dinner! It is 27” long and light weight, so you won get hot while you are working! The colors are great for the occasion too! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33078489

7. Ooooh Adorable. This little Tom Turkey is made from an upcycled, 100% wool sweater and stuffed with wool fleece. He is just so cute and would make a great decoration, and toy for the kids, at Thanksgiving dinner! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33047969

8. I love candles! This 8oz Pumpkin Pie soy candle has hints of clove, nutmeg, vanilla and just the right amount of spice. It’s in a 100% recycled aluminum container. Great gift for someone hosting Thanksgiving or for yourself! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33317116

9.This silky brown dress will help  you look great while you are cooking Thanksgiving dinner! Very cute dress and it’s at an unbeatable price. Snatch it up before someone else does! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31903513

10. Looking for a vintage tablecloth!? Look no further. This great Fall themed piece will be a welcomed addition to any Thanksgiving table! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33302396

11. This unique piece can be used for gravy or soup. It will sit proudly on your Thanksgiving table waiting to serve. It is at least twenty years old and looks great! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33092411

12. This lovely apron is made from an upcycled pillowcase! Perfect for preparing dinner and is definitely a unique item that no one else will have! My favorite part is the ruffle at the bottom. Nicely done! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30752065

13. Could this garland be any cuter?! It was hand cut from upcycled wool sweaters! Such a wonderful decoration for around your dining room this Thanksgiving! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33296744

14. This is such a cute T-shirt! Custom-made and in a variety of children’s sizes, it will be a hit at your Thanksgiving dinner! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=33777411

15. My family used to have a serving dish that looked similar to this. This serving plate encompasses the image that comes to mind while thinking about Thanksgiving. It’s beautiful, ornate and deserves to have the most important part of the meal upon it! I just love this piece! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33288450

16. Serve yourself something delish using this art deco style serving spoon (say that 3 times fast!)! Look at the fun details on the end and picture using this spoon year after year during your Thanksgiving feasts! Great piece with a great price to go along with it! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33512877

17. I’ve always wanted to know how to make pot-holders like this. This autumn colored pot-holder is crocheted from a recycled tablecloth. Great addition to your Thanksgiving cooking arsenal. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33384903

18. Wine charms are one of the best inventions! This particular set is just perfect in color and texture for Thanksgiving. Made with beach stones from Lake Michigan, you will not only have nice pieces to mark your glasses with but  they will be a wonderful conversation starter! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32445637

19. oooooh my goodness! How cute is this! The first thing I think when I look at this hat is that it must have taken a long time to make! It is so cute, love the colors! I can see some of my younger cousins wearing this to Thanksgiving! They might even get away with leaving on their hat for awhile inside! But of course the best part is that its made from 100% cotton yarn and stuffed with recycled clothing!! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32683527

20. Soooooo beautiful! I almost don’t want to see it covered! Perfect Thanksgiving colors. The edges are just lovely and this would be a great accent on top of another red or white table cloth, creating a real festive table! Oh I am getting excited about Thanksgiving while writing this! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27287063

21. These are the most beautiful place cards that I’ve seen in a long time! They are made from recycled post consumer paper and have threads of gold embedded into them. I love the gold tree that finishes the cards off perfectly. These are the wonderful place cards for any holiday meal, so lets start with Thanksgiving! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29486954

22. Wow, talk about statement pieces! This wine/whiskey rack will have everyone that visits your house impressed! You can even get a personalized carved plaque to finish it off. Each piece is unique, I think the price is extremely reasonable and I can’t wait to get my own!! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32040910

About Reclaimed Threads: Reclaimed Threads is a sustainable bag company launched by Katherine DeSantis. Katherine is  a 20-something entrepreneur who combined her love of being creative and sustainably conscious to form this company.  Every item is handmade by Katherine from reclaimed, vintage and organic/sustainable materials. There are a variety of bags and products in her shop: www.reclaimedthreads.etsy.com.

Reclaimed Threads Business Update! October 2009

Back To Work After A Death In The Family

Hello, Hello.

This is my Nanny 1919- 2009

Unfortunately my grandmother, aka Nanny, passed away a couple of weeks ago. All of the chaos that unfolded after, family flying in from everywhere, etc,  has kept me away from the computer. I have, however, been doing some sewing, buying and planning during this time. That being said, I AM BACK! I have all sorts of great new tote bags coming out soon that I am really excited about.

New Equipment and Materials!

My birthday was a few weeks ago and I got the mother of all sewing machines! It’s the new Singer Professional 2010. It is a great machine but with my luck one of the prongs in the power outlet, within the machine, broke off into the power cord?! Figures, so now I am down one machine and up lots of eager customers! Things could be worse though of course.

I have stocked up on all sort of materials over the last few weeks; I blew through my original fabric stock quickly. We have been going through my grandmother’s huge home and  have found a whole bunch a fabric from all over the world! From fabric samples straight out of 1950’s  NYC to silk from Asia. We’ve really found an amazing mix of high quality textiles. I obviously got my knack for nice fabric from my Nanny! I also bought some great vintage fabric off of Etsy.com and was given a whole box full of relatively new fabric that someone decided they weren’t going to be able to use the way they had planned. So I am all stocked up with great fabric and notions!!

Interfacing Dilemma Solved!

quick pic of one of my new bags, made from a fabric sample, cotton interfacing and blue cotton interior

I have been struggling to find some sort of alternative to synthetic interfacing so commonly used today. I came across some organic cotton interfacing (they only have a limited supply though) and regular 100% cotton interfacing. Both only come in the fusible variety of interfacing and I do not know what is in the glue, but, I figure it is still better than the synthetic interfacing. Using the interfacing is making the quality of my bags increase so much more than I thought it would. Higher quality bags means that they will last you longer so overall this is the most sustainable option for the company and I hope that you all agree! I also came across some cotton and bamboo batting, I’ll play around with that too once I build up some more inventory!

Getting Out There!

The idea that I need to get my products out into boutiques and into markets has been reinforced repetitively over the month that I have been selling my tote bags online. Tote bags are definitely a product that people need to see and touch before they buy from you for the first time. Once people have bought a tote bag from me in person then I am confident that they will feel comfortable buying another from my online shop and recommending Reclaimed Threads Sustainable Bags to their friends.

So now they key lies in getting out into the brick and mortar market place! I am looking forward to this and if anyone has any advice about where to start looking for stores that might want to carry my sustainable tote bags, how to price products for wholesale or how to market yourself then drop me a line! I love hearing from all of you and find that I get some of the best advice this way!

I’m also starting an online picture account so that I can share more pictures of fabrics that I come across, finished products and Reclaimed Threads in action (sewing, buying, at fairs, etc). So I will be sure to reference to that on Twitter as I update it with pictures!

To Wrap Up

I am excited that the company is already evolving and improving! I cannot wait to get all of the new bags finished and up for sale because they are turning out so nicely and I am really proud of them! I love that life has worked out so that I can be a 25 year old with my own company that reflects my  passions for being creative and living sustainably. I am learning so much and enjoying every minute of work. Creating sustainable tote bags for everyone to enjoy is so much fun and watching someone love a bag that you made with your own hands is extremely rewarding! So things are looking bright and I can’t wait to give everyone another update next month!

‘Til then, remember to stop back and catch the Etsy Shopper weekly feature (picking up again next Thursday, October 22, spotlight on Earrings) and other miscellaneous features promoting sustainable living every Tuesday (starting up again next Tuesday, October 20 with “Halloween Goodies”). Thanks for all of your support and spread the word!

Best Wishes,

Katherine

It’s in the bag… Products making life that much greener. TODAY: OFFICE SUPPLIES

Welcome to the first edition of the feature, “it’s in the bag…”. Each time we meet,  I will feature a “themed”  group of sustainable/green products that I have come across while going about daily life. I’d love to hear  your thoughts and comments, especially if you have ever had personal experience with a mentioned  product or can think of another brand available. I hope that you enjoy this feature as much as I have  writing it! On to this post!…

While setting up my office space for my new business (Reclaimed Threads) I found myself in a unique position to make some sustainable decisions around what products to stock this office space with. If you are familiar with my business, you know that it revolves around the idea of using reclaimed materials to make something new, bags in the case of Reclaimed Threads. So I wanted to stay in tune with this as I moved forward. I found some AMAZING green office products while stocking my space!

Binders and file folders–   I went to Target and found binders and file folders that are by Greenroom Eco. They are SO cute and I love that they contain 60% post consumer recycled fibers and they print with soy-based, non-toxic in. How great is that? The company also makes notebooks, journals  and social stationary. Go to Target to check it out or go straight to the source and check out their site: http://www.greenroomeco.com/ Finding these products by accident is what made me think “DUH! If there are products like this out there, then this is the kind of stuff that I’m going to to buy for my business!” and the result being an almost completely stocked office (i still need to grab some stuff at the store) and this post.

Printer Paper- I originally wanted to get paper from Rawganique because their paper products are 25% hemp fiber and 75% post-consumer recycled paper. They don’t use any virgin trees in making their paper. http://www.rawganique.com/HempPaperProducts.htm#printer Their shipping was $13.50 and I couldn’t afford that on top of the price of the paper, which wasn’t too bad but I wasn’t buying enough to justify the shipping cost. So instead I opted to go to OfficeMax, they have packages of ‘OfficeMax’ 100% post consumer recycled multipurpose paper. I really like it, it has a smooth texture and is just as “bright white” as other brands I have used. The price wasn’t even SO much more than the non-recycled choices, maybe $2. http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/paper/recycled-paper/product-ARS24027 I will look into going back to Rawganique in the future though because their products look great.

Business Cards: For my business cards I have been using up my Avery clean-edge business cards sheets that go through my laser printer because I had them from a long time ago. Now that I have used them up, I have been looking for sustainable business cards. I was SO excited to find this website where they have tons of options for business cards made from 100% post consumer content. Their prices start at around $10 for 100 cards.I can’t decide which one I want! In fact I may pick a few and have everyone help me! That will come at a later date though! Here is the site though for you too look at in the meantime: http://www.123print.com/Recycled-Business-Cards The picture posted here is of their website and you can see the pages and pages of options. Awesome.

Shipping Supplies: Since my business is based on mailing my product to customers I wanted to make sure that I am only using Sustainable Products while doing this.

Mailing Labels: I need to print my own labels in order to maintain a high level of professionalism and to make sure that the writing is bold and clear. That way there is one less obstacle in your package getting to you as soon as possible! I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find any labels made from recycled fiber but Avery came through again! With lots of options. the ones I chose were the Avery® White EcoFriendly Address Labels 48160, 1″ x 2-5/8″ (product number 48160) for the return address and Avery® White EcoFriendly Shipping Labels 48163, 2″ x 4″ (product number 48163) for the mailing address. Both can be found at www.avery.com. Not only are the labels made from recycled fibers but the packaging is as well, the adhesive is water-based and recyclable and everything is processed chlorine free. I need to run to the store and get mine and I can’t wait! I’m getting mine at OfficeMax but I’m sure you can get them anywhere there are Avery products.

Packaging: I am really excited to share this product with you. Since my bags can be folded nicely, I can use very little shipping material.  I have found the best padded envelopes by Caremail. They are Plastic-free Cushioned Rugged Mailers and they are made from 90% recycled material, 50% of which is post consumer. I think the envelopes have a nice texture and color. They come in a wide variety of sizes and Caremail has a wide range of other shipping products. Caremail offers boxes, kraft paper and protective packaging items like peanuts that break down easy and ”eco-Packaging” which is recycled paper used to cushion items in boxes. I’m obviously obsessed with OfficeMax today so here is where you can find Caremail products there: http://www.officemax.com/catalog/search.jsp?freeText=caremail&search.x=0&search.y=0.

I do not have a lot of office supply needs but I was able to fulfill what I did need in a sustainable way. There is such a variety of “green” options out there that it wasn’t too hard to find what I was looking for and everything was pretty close to the same price as the “traditional” options.

I’d be really interested in hearing if anyone knows of green options for pens and pencils or if there are ways that you go green in your office that you think is pretty awesome. Thanks, see you next time!

Remember to check out Reclaimed Thread’s shop as well for Eco-Chic Bags! www.reclaimedthreads.etsy.com

September 2009 Flyer

I have decided that, as an inexpensive means of promoting my business, I would make some of those tab flyer to put in cafe’s, college campus and community centers, etc. I think I will go for a road trip today and spread them around so if you live in MA keep a look out for them. Hey,even feel free to print some out yourself and spread them around! I’d send you the file, why not!?

Reclaimed Threads is many important steps closer to opening up shop!

I have finished up a dozen more totes, found an online second-hand fabric supplier at http://shop.secondchancefabrics.com/main.sc, as well as have a good friend on the look-out for unique buttons, may have finally found a local company to make my sew-in labels and chose the first charity to be donated to!

The bags are turning out very nicely! I was given a lot of this very big, very floral patterned fabric that I was a little taken aback by, thinking it was a bit loud. But beggars can’t be choosers in this game and I knew I had to make it work. It’s like what we used to say to the kids that I worked with at an extended day program during this past school year, “you get what you get and you don’t get upset!” I love it though, working with fabrics that I wouldn’t normally choose to buy. This is because it really allows me to get creative and come up with one-of-a kind pieces that you will really enjoy! It has also taught me to step a little out of my comfort zone when choosing what I buy. The colors and textures are turing out to be so fun and chic.

The very big, very floral material, wait until you see the bag! So cute.

When it comes to buying my supplies, I prefer buying everything locally but Second Chance Fabrics is a new company and I just love the direction that she is taking it. In an email to me, the owner explained that she gets a lot of her fabric from estate sales and from people she knows, all smoke-free environments. None of the fabric has been used to make anything else, but everything is second-hand so I feel fine buying supplies here to make Reclaimed Threads sustainable bags! She is in business to serve your quilting needs but material is material to me as long as it is good quality and second-hand!  I just thought that she has a great concept and wanted to share!

I have also enlisted my good friend Amy, http://www.amysgreenportfolio.com/home/, to go on the hunt for cool buttons. She moved to Sweden last summer after getting married and is now working as a landscape architect there. When she comes home in December she has promised second-hand buttons from Sweden, so that will be really cool! I’ll keep everyone updated on what she comes up with and when I start using them on the totes!

I finally may have found a local company to make the tags for the totes, I am very excited about this and when I have them in hand I will be able to stitch them into the bags and get posting on Etsy.com! Very exciting.

The first charity to be donated to at the end of the August- October 2009 quarter is Dress for Success. You can find more information about Dress for Success and Reclaimed Threads’ vision on giving back on my “Charity” page and  www.reclaimedthreads.etsy.com.

‘Til next time, take a look at the link I posted on Twitter (available in the right column) about good reasons and ways to shop sustainably!