Monthly Archives: August 2011

Jazzy Button Push Pins

Most of us have jars of vintage buttons sitting around our house, just waiting to be made into something useful. Personally I had a big container of push pins, both plastic and metal. Some of the plastic ones were slightly … Continue reading

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Hipcycle Fan Mail: Bring back the passionate, responsible Maker!

Hipcycle recently received some fan mail from an enthusiastic fan, and I thought I’d share some excerpts from the letter: ——— Hipcycle – from a different angle I have been thinking about the history of the American economy and what … Continue reading

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Sources for Free or Cheap Upcycling Material

Whether you are new to upcycling or a seasoned artisan, sometimes it can be difficult to find sources for material to upcycle. With that in mind, I’ve gathered up a number of ideas to consider for your next project. Your … Continue reading

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Magazine Coaster Tutorial

A recent posting on my local Freecycle offered a bunch of magazines for free, so I jumped on the opportunity to upcycle them. These fun magazine coasters are the result, and while the project is time consuming, it is incredibly … Continue reading

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Auction Fun!

As a young child, I remember going to a few local auctions with my parents. My memories are generally limited to the fact that I knew my dad would buy me a hot dog and soda, and otherwise he and … Continue reading

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Upcycling at the NYIGF (and Hipcycle product preview!)

Earlier this week I went to the New York International Gift Fair at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. It wasn’t as large as some of the largest shows I’ve attended when I was in other industries, … Continue reading

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Upcycled Paper Flowers

For a recent wedding gift, I made these gorgeous paper flowers from some books that were (literally) falling apart. As an avid reader myself, I am completely against the destruction of any books that are still in good condition and … Continue reading

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Confessions of an upcycler

I’m addicted. I admit it. Ever since I learned about the concept of upcycling just a few months ago, I can’t get enough of it. Whether I’m surfing the Internet for new ideas, admiring Hipcycle’s upcoming products, or contemplating what … Continue reading

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Is upcycling out of a thrift shop like adopting a pet from the ASPCA?

As I have been working with my team to get Hipcycle geared up for its October launch, I have had a chance to examine a lot of upcycled products. When I check these products out, I’m looking for things that … Continue reading

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We’re the featured Social Enterprise of the Month at Give to Get Jobs!

The great folks over at Give to Get Jobs are featuring Hipcycle as their “Social Enterprise of the Month.” Browse over to their blog to read their interview with me, where they ask such questions as: What does Social Enterprise mean … Continue reading

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