So, one of my clients called me a few weeks ago while I was in the middle of doing multiple things and only partially listening to her...she starts the conversation with "My husband died yesterday and I want you to make 10 bags for me out of his clothes." It took me a minute to comprehend that sentence. When I finally digested it, I apologized for the loss of her husband and was rather shocked that she was calling me the day after his passing. As it turns out, he'd been ill for a couple of years so while it was unexpected at that moment it wasn't really unexpected. She had a voice of sad relief about her as she explained that family was coming in for the funeral and she wanted these bags to give to them as a remembrance of his life....such a sweet way to continue his memory. I didn't get pics of the before garments but these bags are 100% upcycled made from his shirts and his jeans. I also made a bucket hat that was also made from his jeans, when I showed it to her it brought tears to her eyes and she said, "he would love that he's making so many people happy".
If you're interested in your own custom upcycled memoriam here are the options I have so far click here.
]]>
Dragonfish Handmade Goods
https://www.facebook.com/dragonfishhandmadegoods/
Upcycled one of a kind Skullfinity Clutch 8.5x6.5 Value: $26
Upcycled one of a kind Skullfinity Project Bag 10x11 Value: $45
Upcycled one of a kind Skullfinity Tote Bag with invisible zipper 15x12.4 w/4” box Value $225
The Naked Sheep
https://www.facebook.com/thenakedsheeptn/
Handmade Red Custom Skull Stitch Markers + Row Counter Set Value: $26
Hand-dyed Roving Fiber, Colorway: Burgundy Value: $19 Handmade Drop Spindle Value: $10
String Theory Colorworks
https://www.facebook.com/StringTheoryColorworks
Hand-dyed Self-Striping Yarn, Colorway: Red Dwarf Value: $26
Handmade Custom Silvertone Skull Stitch Markers Value: $12
Garage Dyeworks
https://www.facebook.com/Garage-Dyeworks-111857370173396/
Hand-dyed Super Wash/Nylon Yarn, 2 Skeins. Colorways: Basic Black, Red Garnet Value: $27 each
KJH Knit Designs
https://www.facebook.com/kjhknitdesigns/
Shawl Pattern: Hey You Guys! Value: Priceless! (But really, $7)(Hand knit shawl shown for example, knit by Amanda Jenks: NOT FOR SALE)
Total Value: $423
I mean who WOULDN'T enter to win that booty?!
So, the second way I can help people is to donate to a charity that I care deeply for. A portion of profits from all Halloween merchandise sold at Dragonfish Handmade Goods during the Dragonfish Handmade Goods Big HAUNTED Giveaway 9/18/20-10/31/20 will go to APAIT (Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team) to help support homeless trans folx.
Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT) Health Center provides a great number of services to the transgender community including: HIV/AIDS health services, behavioral health services including behavioral health treatment, counseling, and social support, substance abuse programs, housing and employment services.
Homelessness and starvation are huge problems in this at-risk community and if I can help even just a little I always feel like I must.
So, enter to win this Big Haunted Giveaway and you'll receive a discount code to do a little shopping! Buy something you like and in turn you'll help me as a small biz owner, AND you'll help homeless transgender folx in Los Angeles at the same time!
#BigHauntedGiveaway
A bunch of us rebels who’re big Star Wars fans got together this year to bring you this EPIC Star Wars giveaway ending on May 4th in honor of "May The Fourth Be With You" Day. This prize pack features Tanis Brown’s new book, The Official Star Wars Knitting Pattern Book along with gorgeous yarns hand-dyed by Blue Barn Fiber Arts and Lazer Sheep Yarns, an entire custom notions package from Twin Mommy Creations and custom upcycled bags by me, Dragonfish Handmade Goods.
Here's more info about each of the makers and each of the items in the giveaway:
]]>
Lazer Sheep Yarns
"I hand dye yarns and draw sheep inspired by the characters of different fandoms. I specialize in brightly colored, nerdy-themed yarn, and goofy sheep doodles." says Leslie of Lazer Sheep Yarns.
http://www.lazersheepyarns.com
https://www.facebook.com/lazersheepyarns/
https://www.instagram.com/LazerSheepYarns/
May the Fleece Be With You on MCN sock (80% super wash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon) in the Yoda inspired color way. Tan with spots of brown, earthy green, and lime green. (2 skeins) Value: $33 each
Sheepbacca on sparkle sock (75% super wash merino, 20% nylon, 5% stellina) in Chewbacca inspired color way. Marbled browns and tans (1 skein). Value: $31
Custom Lazer Sheep Star Wars 1” pin set (set of 5) Value: $12 set
Tanis Knits
Tanis is a mama of two and author of 11 published knitting books & 600 knitwear designs. And she considers herself Queen of the nerds.
https://www.tanisknits.com
https://www.instagram.com/tanisknits/
https://twitter.com/tanisgray
Knitting The Galaxy: The Official Star Wars Knitting Pattern Book (Insight Editions, 2021) Value: $29.99
Twin Mommy Creations
Ann of Twin Mommy Creations tells her story: "I started my business in 2012 just after my twins were born as a way to help save money for their college. I dye unique yarns and fibers, as well as create one of a kind batts for spinners. I started with simplistic polymer clay stitch markers and now offer a wide array of stitch markers, as well as many fiber tools. I specialize in unique colorways and funky stitch markers."
http://www.twinmommycreations.com
https://www.facebook.com/twinmommycreations/
https://www.instagram.com/twinmommycreations/
Custom Wooden Star Wars Stitch Marker Set, (set of 9) custom wooden stitch markers with a mix of snagless rings and lobster clasp closures. Value: $22
Custom Mirrored Millennium Falcon Pin, Mirrored Acrylic with pinback, measures 1.75" x 1” Value: $7
Custom Wooden BB-8 Needle Minder Wooden needle minder, with magnetic backing, measures 1.5" x 1.2” Value: $8
Custom Wooden R2D2 Shawl Pin, Screw together shawl pin with R2D2 and May the 4th Be With You, measures 2.25" x 1.5” Value: $18
Custom Wooden Porg Swatch Tool, Swatching Tool shaped like a Porg, measures 3.4" x 2.5” Value: $10
Custom Leather Star Wars Tags, (Set of 4) leather tags with Star Wars theme. Each tag comes with a metal screw rivet attachment Value: $12
Overall retail value: $613
The lucky winner will be announced on May 4th, 2021 at 4pm PST (US & Canada.) on https://www.instagram.com/dragonfishhandmadegoods/
A portion of profits from all Star Wars merchandise sold at dragonfishhandmadegoods.com during The May The Fourth Be With You Big Giveaway will go to APAIT (Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team) to help support homeless trans folx.
I looked at my wall of fabric and realized it was in such a disarray. I thought, hmm, that sorta sums up 2020, doesn't it? While reflecting on my year and the idea of a blog post I googled synonyms for disarray and you can imagine the options: disorder chaos mix-up confusion clutter jumble disorganize disarrange unsettle dishevel tousle....in other words: EXACTLY 2020...and really the last 4 years. I could add soooo many more distressing and alarming adjectives but let's not and say we did. This is a reflect-on-the-the-year-past and focus-on-how-to better-myself-and-my-company kind of blog post so, here goes....
For most of my 30+ year newspaper/advertising career I had a great habit of reflecting on the previous year and putting a lot of thought into my goals for the following year, I sorta wish I had all those old Franklin Covey planner books so I could reflect over the years but really I just try to stick to that end-of-year/new-year goals format. After I left the media world I continued my annual goal setting and this year during my initial thoughts on 2020/2021 my very first thought -- actually, the very first word I thought while looking at this wall of fabric was: disarray. Then my head swirled around that idea looking at it from a bigger and bigger picture. Our planet is in disarray, not just our government but our PLANET. I surely hope humankind (what's left, anyway) takes a good hard look at how they can do better for their communities, their countries, and their planet. At the beginning of 2020, this wall of fabric was all organized and hopeful and ready for me to take on the world!
And take on the world, I DID!
Unfortunately, not in exactly the way I was expecting, or the rest of the world was expecting, either. The Corona virus waged war out in the world and the world needed masks. My online shop kicked off its debut year with masks...lots and lots of masks. And still lots of masks but now with a lot of other useful upcycled merch, too.
My spouse works in banquets at a very large hotel, the hotel shut down so no banquets have happened since early March. She got another job working for a really great non-profit however our income dropped to less than half of what it was in banquets.
Last year, before the virus/before her job shuddered, one of my main goals was to move my sales from mostly in-person at festivals and farmer's markets to more virtual and online. I started building my website in January and by the time it went live Covid-19 shutdowns were in full swing. At that moment things were so up in the air, we didn't know if we were going to have to pack-up and move to family (?) or if we would be able to stay in our home in California. Between Spouse getting the new job and all of you...well, you folks helped take up that slack that we were so worried about in the beginning. And you well, YOU. STILL. DO. Every purchase you make from my shop helps pay a bill, or buy supplies, or cover groceries. In this online shopping scenario there is no paying a big corporation and wondering how much actually gets to the workers because here it all goes right straight to help support our family AND of course most importantly the idea of us, the collective us, having to change things for the better for our community and our environment, and exactly why you're in my sphere: you support the upcycling and slow fashion movement -- so thank you!
So back to goals. The main ones last year were 1) set up the Dragonfish Handmade Goods studio (because I'd been working in our living room!) 2) website (domain, sales platform, populate) and then 3) create and build inventory, of which I accomplished all pretty much in spades. The big bonus of the year however, was to get back in touch with my exe -- we hadn't really talked in 10ish years so that was a welcome fence to mend. I'd tell you what her biz title is but I don't know (?!) What I CAN tell you is that her resume is huge. She's won all sorts of awards and basically she's a creative director/graphic designer type person. A negotiation of trade was made between us and I got an updated and professionally designed logo and a stockpile of professional files in a variety of file types (GOLD!). This was a blessing I did not expect at all but am super appreciative of because I've been hobbling along in that arena for quite some time on my own.
There was a health component in there somewhere last year and I was actually on track until covid hit -- exercising and tracking steps and all... but I'm at-risk for multiple reasons and even though we now know more about how the virus travels and how to protect ourselves and those around us, there are so many people out there who just don't. Sigh. I do not feel like dying at the moment so I'm just cocooned here in our bunker waiting for the zombie apocalypse to do whatever it plans on doing....and I'll just keep on making things and keep on accepting your clothing donations in order TO keep on making things. Y'all just let me know when it's over, ok?
Ok so, goals for THIS year - I have a few....1) Get my biz stuff in order. There are a few things I've been slow to learn or deal with but this is changing in 2021. You know the stuff creatives don't like to deal with... first appointment is on Monday (look at me looking like I'm all on top of things!).
2) Fill Inventory: on my website there are a few categories that are low in inventory (messenger and tote bags, oven mitts, coasters, etc.) these are categories I plan on working on in 2021.
3) Add 2 new pattern designs. This is a biggie because there's a lot of work between "hey, why don't you make a _____?" to actually having a working pattern and then, even more time to actually produce inventory using that pattern.
4) Lose 20 lbs. (I really want to lose more but I like carbs.)
5) Continue to be kind to myself and those around me during these trying times. This is a time like no other, right? I feel like, because of that, we all deserve an extra moment/dose/handful of grace. I will continue to take deep breaths and think before I speak because I never know what the other person is going through...especially right now.
6) Produce 1-2 big giveaways. Definitely Halloween again, and one other.
7) Donate double to APAIT, a charity I care about. In 2020, thanks to all of you and #thebighauntedgiveaway, we were able to donate $52 to APAIT to help homeless trans folx with food and housing. It's not a lot so in 2021 I'd like to double that because trans folx are the most at-risk population in our country and because I believe in helping those who need it most. Hopefully giveaway events will help me accomplish this goal.
8) Spend quality down time with my spouse because we are a great team. <3
Ok, that's it for now.
These types of goal-setting documents always end up becoming "working documents" so I may come back and amend this to add or change things based on accomplishments. I consider it a way to hold myself accountable and so now you all can too. Plus, you can see what I "sort of" have planned for in 2021.
Oh and I do have a super special Willy Wonka 50th year anniversary collaboration coming up but that's already in the works so get ready -- it's going to be EPIC!!!
Btw, I just added some new things to the shop so be sure to check them out!
Lisa
your friendly virtual neighborhood upcycler
The short answer: Yes. And thank you for thinking of me, first.
The longer and more complex answer, and what I should start with, is mainly what I can NOT use...
]]>The longer and more complex answer, and what I should start with, is mainly what I can NOT use: and that is primarily see-thru clothing and stretchy knit shirts or leggings. The see-thru I can possibly use in bolts or large sections for reusable gift bags but as a general rule: see thru fabrics and stretchy knit fabrics are near-impossible for me to use in my current iteration.
The things I keep an eye out for:
Heavy Fabrics: rich upholstery fabrics, denim (points for fun prints or colors), canvas, duck cloth/oil cloth, light leather (my machines can’t handle the heavy stuff), 100% wool sweaters/blankets/etc. (points for colorwork or texture), vintage men’s suits (herringbone/houndstooth styles preferably but I’m game for funky 60s-70s suits), corduroy, linen, and khaki.
Mid-Weight Fabrics are mostly woven cottons: bed sheeting (interesting colors and patterns are a big bonus), dresses, dress shirts, tablecloths, drapes, etc. Also, vintage embroidered items, too.
This isn’t an exclusive list so be sure to reach out to me if you’re not sure. I’d much rather take it and donate it to my local thrift store if I can't use it then risk losing some great garment or textile, you know? Just click the "Message Us" button on any page. Thanks again for considering saving your unwanted textiles!