Re-usable and Beautiful!

Another amazing recycling shop! Julie Meyer makes amazing cleaning gloves, lunch bags and snack/sandwich bags that are all reusable and beautiful!!

Where are you from?
I live in a bungalow neighborhood of South Minneapolis with my Husband and 3 young children. I went to Minneapolis College of Art & Design and held various jobs from Video Editing and Photo Restoration to office work in the corporate world before I came to Etsy a year and a half ago.

Why did you start your business?
Someone sent me a link to Etsy and I was instantly intrigued. I spent a couple of months clicking through Etsy at the same time I was working part-time for a small local company doing graphic design and marketing work. When this company went under with the economy, I knew it was time to open up a shop on Etsy to see what would happen.

What got you started in recycling?
I wanted to create things that were functional but fun to look at, so I started making and selling reusable market bags and flannel napkins then quickly moved to my insulated lunch bags and cleaning gloves. I recently received several tablecloths and knew right away they make great lunch and snack bags. I love the idea of creating nearly one-of-a-kind items using vintage or recycled fabrics. I also appreciate the quality of fabric you find in vintage tablecloths.

What's your supply addiction?
I don't think I have a huge supply addiction. I'm pretty good at using up what I have before I buy more. I'm not saying I don't have a few boxes of fabric, but I enjoy combining fabrics I already have and using them up.

What motivates or inspires you to create?
I'm motivated when I know I have large chunk of time available to sew. With 3 young children those moments can be small and far between and when I get them, I'm usually sewing like a crazy woman.

Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
I don't currently have these available, but had a blast fusing used plastic grocery bags into a fabric that I could sew with - http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=16395056. I also enjoy using vintage tablecloths to create lunch bags like this http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37704300.

Do you have a blog?
Yes and no. It's on my list for 2010 and I actually opened one last week and have begun creating posts, but I'm not quite ready for it to go live - so stay tuned!

What is your favorite shop that uses recycled materials?
I've also enjoyed the shop DriveByBags on Etsy. They take the vinyl material from roadside billboards and create the coolest bags from them.