Refashioned, upcycled, reconstructed, embellished, transformed, recycled, re-purposed, wearable art, altered wearables, altered couture. With any technique there can be many descriptions, names and definitions.
The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines alter(ed) as to make or become different in some respect; change; modify. There can be a little or a lot of change, but I think there can be a significant difference between embellished and altered couture. Just as with vintage, some listing sites can have strict guidelines on what can be listed as altered couture.
At the community forum of a handmade listing site, a member asks just how much does an item need to be upcycled, reconstructed or otherwise changed, in order to be considered altered couture. She also asks if a newly purchased item, to which one element has been added, can be sold at her venue. While her questions are site specific, we can learn a lot through the 26 responses to her post. Etsy Site Help post:
For many, the ultimate in altered couture is the wedding ensemble. See how Brenda Abdoyan creates Christine's wedding dress, altered bridal purse and jewelry. It may be a little ostentatious for some, but imaginative and unique it is.
See Michelle Nance's Clothes-Altered Couture at Pinterest. Her interesting gallery features:
a bleach-pen peacock
re-purposing dad's shirt into a little girl's dress
a pom-pom scarf
old t-shirts into baby clothes
a fabulous orange scarf-necklace with silver embellishments
cut it, slice it, pull it scarf
dollar store knitted stocking hat refashion
revamped cardigan
little girl's scrap tutu
At her blog, The Brass Paperclip Project, Cindi shares the most beautiful men's necktie recycled items that I've ever seen. Check out the gallery, at which you'll also find images of bracelets, purses, cell phone cases and others.
Altered couture creations run the gamut from shabby chic and scrap embellishments on everyday clothing and accessories, to re-tailoring of designer duds. I prefer wearable crafts, as shared by Linda Jackson Graham at her Pinterest board, Wearable Crafts. Whatever is your definition and level of altered couture designing, embrace what you do. Share it with others with enthusiasm and love.
If you've ever considered consigning some of your handmades, you know some of the things to take into consideration. When choosing the venue and the person to manage your consignments, it's important to remember that you will rarely be there to insure that your carefully-crafted items are presented in the best light. Do you have confidence in the skills and commitment of the owner/manager of the consignment space?
"The Door Of My Heart" wall art, "You knocked at the door of my heart but I did not answer, because I thought I had to search for love. You knocked again, and I cracked the door of my heart, because you were so insistent. You knocked a third time and my heart's door swung wide. Because love had found me, and I chose to answer."
You look at the shop, booth, or space itself. Is it neat or unattractively junky? The operative word? Unattractively. Do the products look neglected or well-tended to? Is the space dusty and repelling, or sparkly clean and attractive? It doesn't have to be a large and expensive space, but if it's well cared for it will attract discriminating customers who will be excited about returning to buy your products.
Coffee Greeting Card: "You are like a swig of rich coffee, fragrant, smooth, mesmerizing."
What about the products of the other consignees? Is there a variety of merchandise so that everyone gets equal attention? Too much of one type of product (unless it's a theme shop) means less sales for any one vendor. Evaluate the type and style of your products and compare them with what is being offered. Before you commit yourself, insure that your products will receive equal attention, and not be crowded out by a glut of similar items. Ask if the owner has a plan to counteract this.
"I Am Positive Minded," ornament, "I am positive-minded. Each day I attract money, resources & opportunities. I look forward, not behind."
What about the pay out or distribution policy? Do consignees receive monthly payment for sold items, bi-monthly or quarterly? Is it restricted to automatically-timed distribution, or can the pay out be requested at other intervals?
"Sweet Bliss," wall art featuring Karo
"Plant Lover," blank greeting card
Another thought is what type of advertising and promotion does the venue do, if any? It may be important to you that the owner has a plan or program for attracting customers to the store. The importance of this is different for each of us. Maybe you are consigning in order to gain experience with this selling opportunity. You may be simply doing someone a favor, or bartering products and services.
In these cases and others, these points may not be critical. But think again. Anytime we are allowing our products to be seen, the method and place in which they are being presented can have a negative or positive impact. This is true even if sales are not the driving decision for which to display. We always want to be well-represented where ever our products are.
"Imagine. Do. Become," small wall art
Is the consignment place a co-op, where all consignees are expected to share in the management of the facility? If so, will you have any time to devote to manning the store? Is the amount of time per month established by the owner, or is it voluntary and flexible?
Coffee Greeting Card: "May your day be filled with...Coffee."
Will you be required to occasionally promote by making products on site, in full display of visitors? Would you feel comfortable working while under public observation and scrutiny? Did you think to ask about price-setting, and sale pricing? Are you allowed to set your prices, or are they determined by the owner?
Is any vendor allowed to put products on sale, or is that controlled by management? If you want to put an item on sale and it is not allowed, do you know if you can remove it immediately so that you can list it, as a sale item, in your online shop? The answers to these and other well-thought-out questions can help avoid headaches and strained relationships.
"Imagine. Do. Become," small wall art
Is there a contract? Have you read it and highlighted any questions you may have, or clarifications that may be needed? Read the fine print. How often do we hear that? How often do we obey? Obedience is good.
"Friends," greeting card, "Friends are like leaves. First there's the budding. Next, comes the growth. Then surprisingly there's the falling away...and finally, the regeneration."
As with any agreement or contract, the considerations are many. It's a business agreement that as business professionals we should take the time to fully understand.
"Treetown I," small wall art
Teresa Rusk at Hollyhocks, my consignment venue, shares some considerations to remember when selecting a consignment location for your products. She says you should ask yourself just what does that venue offer.
Teresa has taken the time to share handmades of some of the many vendors at Hollyhocks. Her video is a great example of good marketing and promotion. She is a consignor who has a commitment to putting her best foot forward, for herself and her consignees.
The product images in my blog post are items that I've consigned at Hollyhocks , which is located in North Carolina. Consignor Teresa says,
Hollyhocks, LLC is located in the historic district of downtown Mebane. Our address is 102 West Clay Street Suite C, Mebane, NC 27302. We are located in a walkout basement with Poythress Studio being directly above us. Look for our pink and green stairwell or come around the building for the back door. Our space is as unique as our products! Our phone number is 919/563-2522.
For more help with the consignment process visit these links:
April MacKinnon has experienced the pros and cons of consignment. She offers ways to protect yourself. Her readers offer their expertise within thirty-five comments.
Ever thought about being an online consignor yourself? In his book, How to Start and Run an eBay Consignment Business, Skip McGrath offers sample contracts, forms, flyers and guidelines on selling other people's stuff on eBay. You could adapt his plans for the work of handmade artists and crafters. Mr. McGrath is a longtime eBay powerseller and author of several bestsellers about eBay commerce.
If you're a book artist, or want to be, how about entering your hand-bound, handmade volume in the April 2013 Art of Crafts Book Themed Craft Competition? As Alison says, There are some cool prizes so why not check it out. She makes it so easy for you to participate.I found that the largest image that I could upload at the entry form was 2000x2000 px or less. Find info here: Art of Crafts, Where Crafts Blossom.
I've entered Dream Places, so if you're on Pinterest click on by and vote for me if you like my book. It includes my original verse What If We Could Live In The Places In Our Dreams. Note ***
Don't forget to like "Dream Places" on the actual Art of Crafts competition board. You and others can repin it as many times as you like, but only votes made on Alison's Art of Crafts board will be counted. This is my first competition of this sort, and it is fun whether I win of not. I'm glad that I could make a little time to participate. I've been wanting to for a long time. I look forward to entering some challenges too. Entries for this book arts competition will be closed at 11.59 pm on the 30th April 2013.
Yes, my new store is calledArtsy Crafteryand it's at Shop Handmade, a venue dedicated to handmade artists and crafters. At SH you'll also find vintage and reclaimed vintage items. Their reSupplies(tm) division features new and used AC media and supplies.
You may remember some of these products from my old Storenvy store, which I closed in November.
I'm in the process of listing these and the rest of my Storenvy merchandise, and inventory that has never been listed, in my new store. Eventually my eCrater listings will be moved to Shop Handmade also.
Spring GreenSpot-on-Art
My first Spot-on-Art gallery for this new season includes products from fellow handmade artists and crafters at my new venue, in my favorite greens: from chartreuse to moss.
Hand-rolled and sewn Kiwi Plaid Silk Tie: Tie One On
Do you like terrariums, mini gardens or gardens in a bottle? Well Carrie shows you how to make some cute little ornament terrariums, at her blog Little Big. It's a holiday post using discarded clear plastic ornaments, but the design can be adapted to Spring.
Have you ever seen a green flower? Well Dave's Garden shows you several of the unique specimens, including the Nepal Lilly, Bells of Ireland and the Olive Garden Iris. My favorite though has to be the bright chartreuse Splurge, which seems to glow with a lemony-green inner light. I'd like to have a group of containers full of them.
Sherwin-Williams has a green that I like called SW 6706 Offbeat Green. I love the mossy yellowness of it. With their visualizer you can access all sorts of tools to see how your chosen colors and palettes will look on different surfaces.
The Pantone color of the year is emerald. You can see a touch of it in this wall art piece by A. J. Wiberg. I think their emerald has a bit more touch of blue in it than I'm used to. It's beautiful but can't hold a candle to my yellow-greens.
Pantone has also named a green Tender Shoots. It's a bright, clear green that would make a great accent color. Event Envy has a Pinterest board that's titled 2013 Pantone Color: Tender Shoots. I think she shares a variety of medium greens, rather than just the Tender Shoots color. It's still a lovely pin board to me.
An About.com article states that lemon scent may help with stress relief and mood enhancement. According to an article in Prevention Magazine, a mild lemon scent can help improve cognitive performance.
According to eHow and EverydayHealth.com, heat relaxes muscles, relieves soreness, increases blood flow and reduces pain. Cold therapy slows down blood flow, decreases swelling and pain, and should be used immediately after a sprain or strain.
, Skip McGrath offers sample contracts, forms, flyers and guidelines on selling other people's stuff on eBay. You could adapt his plans for the work of handmade artists and crafters. Mr. McGrath is a longtime eBay powerseller and author of several bestsellers about eBay commerce.
