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.

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

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!?

Sneak Peek!

I have been finishing up a variety of sustainable bags while I am waiting for the Reclaimed Threads’ labels to arrive. I have been told that they are finished and in the mail as we speak!! Yay! It’s nice that some progress is being made on that front! I am keeping tabs on that and cannot wait until they get here so I can sew them in!

I photographed a selection of finished bags to share with you. I am very happy with this first batch of one-of-a-kind sustainable bags. It has been so much fun putting them together and I look forward to continuing to make bags for all of you.

The possible uses for these tote bags are endless! The flexible design allows for all bags to be easily folded for storage between uses and for travel. Not only will you love these bags, but, your children and grand-children can enjoy throwing their school, sleepover, dance or gymnastics stuff into them as well. Since every bag is truly one-of-a-kind and ranges in colors and patterns, there is something for everyone!

I hope that this sneak peek will have you as excited as I am for Reclaimed Threads Sustainable bags to be coming onto the market soon! I love that I can offer you a product that is unique, sustainable and helps support a range of charities. The tote bags will begin to show up on etsy.com as soon as possible. My estimate is that this will be within the next two weeks. I cannot wait and hope that you will all return to have a look at what’s new and tell your friends! I will be updating this blog with photos of completed products each week to keep everyone in the loop!

SO, are you ready for your sneak peek?! I have showcased each type of bag in its own post so you can comment on each if you wish. There are the Patricia, Elizabeth, Muriel and Diana tote bags as well as a couple of clutches. We will start with a look at the Patricia Tote tonight and one additional type of bag will be unveiled each day for the following four days. Enjoy!

Welcome to Reclaimed Threads!

You can read up on what Reclaimed Threads is all about on the…(drum rolllll)… “About” page.

That being said, here is an update on where the business stands at the moment. The starting inventory of sustainable bags is almost ready to go up for sale! Next week, I will have a much better idea of when they will be officially posted on www.reclaimedthreads.etsy.com.

Reclaimed Threads specializes in tote bags, although sometimes I can’t help taking the time to make a clutch or wristlet! (hint hint wink nudge) So there might be a couple of those in the mix this time around. I just love tote bags though, there are so many ways to use them! Very efficient and sustainable. But there is no reason that a tote bag, whether you use it to tote books to class, files to work, or veggies from the market, has to look bland! So far, this first batch of Reclaimed Threads sustainable bags are available in an incredible rage of fun florals, bright summery solids and warm charcoal grays. These bags will hold you for the rest of the summer straight into the fall!

I am finally running low on material after chipping away at the HUGE box of second hand fabric that I obtained a couple of months ago. I am looking forward to going on the search for some fantastic new material this week. Follow me on Twitter to see what I end up with!