Recycled Baskets and More

Craftinator has some amazing items made from recycled materials! I absolutely love the baskets!!

*Where are you from?
I was born here in Michigan, went to Alaska for 4 1/2 years in my 20s then have lived in Michigan ever since.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was around creativity all my life and so I naturally gravitated toward it - it was one of the benefits of living in a house of packrats - there were craft supplies everywhere!! In my spare time, I would find something interesting in a drawer or on a shelf and try it out. When you're a kid, it's not like 'school' or 'training', it's just play. I remember finding a calligraphy book and pen and doodling away. For me, it was just 'doodling' and so the pressure was off to be perfect or get it 'right' quickly - I was just playin'. :)

*How did you decide on your shop name?
My shop name came from my son and I LOVE it!! I had been brainstorming about what to name my shop and I was trying to figure out how to encompass all of the things I do or use the word 'purple' somehow (my fav color) but most things were either silly or cheezy. My son walked by and asked what I was doing. I explained my dilemma and he said - instead of naming it something that you do, why not name it something that you are....Like maybe.... "Craftinator"? AH! I had worked on a name for DAYS and he came up with it in minutes!!

*What got you started in recycling?
I was recycling before recycling was cool :) I suppose it goes back to the whole 'packrat' thing - I don't want to throw anything away! I've had the mindset of re-using and re-purposing my whole life - it just made sense! It sometimes frustrates people when I constantly try to find alternate uses for things but it's one of the things I like to do - it helps keep my brain busy.

Why did you start your business?
Money is a part of this society, can't get around it, so I want to find ways to make money doing what I WANT to do and am good at instead of trying to make money doings things I HAVE to do and am just kinda good at.

*What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass up?
"Hello, my name is Michele and .... I'm a craft supply addict" (crowd replies - "Hello Michele". LOL I can't think of anything specific!! It depends on what my current set of projects is! So, as you could guess, I have piles and piles of sweaters and stacks and stacks of baskets in my workroom at this time :)

*What motivates or inspires you to create?
Hmmmm....that's hard to define....so many things come to me 'out of the blue' or at the spur of the moment. I guess I don't know!

*Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
Well, I like making them all but I get quite a kick out of ruffling through my stash of sweaters, baskets and trims and finding things that all match but were all found at different times at different places. The orange oval basket is a good example. The beads were from a garage sale, the basket was given to me and the sweater was bought at a second hand shop! I think it's the 'thrill of the hunt'.

*Do you have a blog?
Yep! www.craftinator.blogspot.com

*What is your favorite shop that uses recycled materials, and/or your favorite blog about recycling?
Oh, man, I can only pick one??? I'm gonna HAFTA bend the rules just a bit and give you two :) Sarah Jo and Butch at www.ForrestConcepts.etsy.com and Sarah at www.sjroemer.etsy.com