We are the Upcyclers Interview No. 2- Karl Topee, Half Pint Salvage

Artist Name, Location:
Karl Topee, Seattle, WA

Business:
Half Pint Salvage
Half Pint Salvage on Etsy
Half Pint Review (Blog)
Half Pint on Facebook

What is your craft?
I create one-of-a-kind, stylistic and functional home décor items using salvaged and vintage materials.

Do you have a favorite medium or item to make?

I love making all my items! But my personal favorite is the vintage window chalkboard. The craftsmanship that went in to making these old windows is something you don’t see today. And it’s incredibly satisfying to take something with such rich history and recycle it in to something useful and visually appealing.

Blue/ White Vintage Window Chalkboard

Tell us how you got your start upcycling and creating.

I always envisioned my space looking a certain way, but could never really find creative items that matched my design aesthetic. So out of necessity, I started creating those items myself (using salvaged materials, of course). At first, my recycling pastime was merely a hobby. But slowly, I began to realize that many people struggle with decorating their space. From experience, I know that it’s hard to find that perfect look—a look that represents not only the functionality you need from home décor, but also the uniqueness of your personality. So helping people achieve this balance (through my creations) became my goal.

Pink Key Rack/ Organizer - Reclaimed Wood

What brings you inspiration?

Vintage materials are my greatest inspiration: old windows, metallic hardware, rusty hooks and all types of wood are the building blocks in my imagination. I’m also inspired by bold, bright color combination. Recycling, especially in regards to home décor, can take on a drab look. So I think it’s important to add a little “pop” of color every now and then.

Vintage Plinth Block Coat Hook, Hand Stamped

What’s your #1 tip for finding upcyclables?

Go to craft shows or farmer’s markets (as often as possible) and support local artists. There are so many creative people out there; and lots of them are now recycling and reusing all sorts of materials. You’ll find amazing, handmade, one-of-a-kind goods—and you’ll be supporting a small business too.

Half Pint Salvage at the Fremont Market in Seattle, WA

What things do you do to market your business?

Currently, I’m a member of “The Artisans Collective” (http://www.theartisanscollective.com/), a group of Etsy sellers promoting each other through treasuries, blogs and social media/advertising. I also blog about my favorite Etsy sellers and the items they create (http://www.halfpintreview.blogspot.com/).

Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc…) is a given these days. But online galleries, such as PoppyTalk and IndieFixx have also brought customers in to my Etsy shop.

Recycled Desk Drawer Chalkboard

Any advice for newbie artists/crafters/upcyclers?

Just keep making stuff. The mistake I made was thinking I had to have confidence before I started creating things. I couldn’t have been more wrong because my confidence eventually came from creating and failing over and over—and then continuing to create despite those setbacks.

And don’t be afraid to say “Hey, this may not be a full-time gig…yet”. It’s reality. You need money to make money. So getting a part-time job to supplement your income doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it just means you’re smart.

Topee's home studio

If you could jump into a Delorean (in Back to the Future style) and find yourself in the year 2020, how would your business have changed? How would it be the same?

I think my products would be smaller, and in general, a bit easier to re-create. Producing one-of-a-kind items sets me apart from a lot of my competition—but because certain materials are in short supply, some of my best-selling items are hard to reproduce.

By 2020, I hope to have some advanced carpentry skills. That way I could build more from scratch. I think it would give me so much more flexibility, in terms of using salvaged and vintage materials in new, more creative ways.

For the most part, I think I’ll still be creating chalkboards. They’re timeless…I hope!

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On Sundays, Karl can be found at the Fremont Market in Seattle, WA. Half Pint Salvage was recently featured by Apartment Therapy/Re-Nest's "Handmade Home" feature. This past May, Half Pint Salvage was a vendor at the Renegade Craft Fair in Ausitn, Tx.

Interested in becoming a featured Upcycler on Mostaza Seed? Email inquiries to sbradac@mostazaseed.com

We Are the Upcyclers Interview No.1- Kristen Wulff from the Knotted Nest

Artist Name, Location- Kristen Wulff - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Business- Knotted Nest Knotted Nest's Etsy Shop, Knotted Nest Online, and Knotted Nest's Blog

What is your craft?
I make repurposed housewares and accessories. Items ranging from table runners, coasters, and passport covers, to buntings and bags. I am currently excited to be working on some new products as well. In the next month I hope to have wallets and pillow covers added to the Knotted Nest roster. I am also a visual artist, so whenever possible I like to make small mixed media pieces and sell them alongside my crafts.

Vintage Blue and Green Floral Coasters (set of 4)

Do you have a favorite medium or item to make? I am most comfortable working in front of a sewing machine. Whether it’s sewing coasters or working on a detailed machine embroidery piece, I could sit there for hours. I love the vast possibilities of working with fabrics, but also the forgiveness of stitches. You definitely have to be willing to take out stitches every now and then.

Handmade Contemporary Table Runner

Tell us how you got your start upcycling and creating. I’ve always given handmade gifts and appreciated items that are unique and made locally. I began selling my wares just over a year ago after receiving so much positive feedback from friends and family. I’ve always loved the inherent history in second hand materials and the challenges of finding new uses for them. I am also concerned about the waste that our society so quickly produces and work hard to limit my contribution to it.

Fabric Passport Cover, Black and White Graphic Floral

What brings you inspiration?  So many things…..train rides, vintage floral prints, gardening, catching up with crafty friends, tree houses, narwhals, getting lost, language, weathered books, and textile art.

What’s your #1 tip for finding upcyclables? I think that to see the full potential of an upcycleable you have to look beyond its current incarnation. I’ve bought curtains that are hideous as such large pieces, but are gorgeous when mixed with other fabrics into quilts or table runners. For me, it’s about keeping an open mind and using one’s imagination.

Handmade Fabric Wallet, Vintage Funky Floral

What things do you do to market your business? I have a blog and a Facebook fan page. I also try to stay involved with the Etsy community through the online forums. They are endlessly informative and a great place to learn about marketing from fellow crafters. I participate in as many local craft shows as I can to spread the word about my company. I have, in the past, advertised on blogs as well. They are often quite affordable and can be really helpful in reaching new audiences.

Fabric Bunting Garland

Any advice for newbie artists/crafters/upcyclers? My advice would be to jump in. If you try to have everything sorted out before you start, you never will. There will be hiccups along the way, but the only way to learn is to throw yourself into it and go from there. I often remind myself to not be married to an idea. Sometimes what you initially thought would be brilliant just doesn’t work. You have to stay open to change.

Where the magic happens- Kristen's home studio

If you could jump into a Delorean and find yourself in the year 2020, how would your business have changed? How would it be the same? I would love to still be participating in craft shows. It’s great to meet the people that purchase my products and I feel like I can learn something new from every show that I am a part of. As for change…I have been thinking a lot about branding lately. I would love to have a clearer vision of my company’s aesthetic. I find that logos and branding in general can be very challenging and I hope to work on that in the future.

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Knotted Nest will be taking part in the New Bloor Festival and the Queen West Art Crawl. Knotted Nest products can be found at these lovely retailers: The Rage, Kid Icarus, Queen City Emporium, Rare Funk, and Cube Marketplace.

Interested in becoming a featured upcycler on Mostaza Seed? Email inquiries to sbradac@mostazaseed.com