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Feature in Rachael Magazine-Upcycled Craft and Thrifting Gensis

Posted by Mandy Stos on July 10, 2012 2 Comments

High five to Rachael Magazine for producing a fabulous article about us and showing off our hex nut wrist wrap tutorial. Here is a sneak peek of the article layout, but you can find all the information posted below.

Meet Mandy Stos, Upcycled Craft and Thrifting Gensis – By Abbie Stutzer

By rachael | Published July 3, 2012

By: Abbie Stutzer

For more from Abbie Stutzer, check ginchy! (To link: http://absblabs.wordpress.com/), her blog, or follow her on Twitter @AbbieStutzer 

Mandy Stos, Upcycled Craft and Thrifting Genius, on her DIY Company (Plus: Bonus DIY Project)

The DIY movement is officially more than a trend — it’s a way of life! People of all walks of life are recycling old items, and upcycling once disregarded knickknacks into awesome accessories. While almost anyone can patch a hole in an old shirt with attractive, colored lace, or add a few sequins to a drab headband, most of us are not natural crafters. Well, crafting virgins, you’re in luck. Rachael recently got in touch with Mandy Stos, owner of iamthemandy.com, a one-of-a-kind, DIY Web shop. We asked Stos how she became the expert crafter she is today, why she loves upcycling, and even got her to send us a fun (and easy) DIY project.

Rachael: What inspired you to start upcycling? Did you grow-up in a crafty home? When did you launch your Web store?

Stos: I’ve always been a crafty kid while I was growing up and enjoyed making art. I found myself in a tight budget while putting myself through college, and became inventive with my gifts. I began making fabric cuffs from old clothing, t-shirts, and blankets. After a while, the friends who received the cuffs told me I needed to start selling them because they had tons of people asking where they bought them. A few years after completing college, I started up iamthemandy.com. Since 2010 we have expanded into six retail locations across the nation as well as earned the title of “The best place to shop Green Online in Kansas City”.

You’re pretty keen on the environment. What inspired you to start an eco-friendly business? How do you keep your projects sustainable?

I have always believed in recycling and so when I discovered I could use existing materials to create something new, I honestly thought to myself, “Why the heck not?”. It doesn’t need to be thrown into a landfill, I can definitely find a use for everything. I’ll spray paint empty cat liter containers, drill holes in the bottom, and make planters from them. It allows you to use it, customize it, and well, not throw it away. With this upcycling mentality, I am always trying to keep my products in the green category. Of course, on specific items like earrings, I have to purchase the earring backs and hooks. I can’t recall anyone wanting to wear used earring parts. 

What are some of the problems that come with having an upcycled/sustainable business?

The only problem I have found with my upcycled business is limited access to certain items. I try to keep a few staple products in my line that I know I will always have access to, for example, items created with magazines. However, the way I work around this issue is I try to create limited or one of a kind (OOAK) items throughout the year. I might find five neckties at a garage sale and create five items with those. Once they sell, they are gone and I will move on to another item that I run across. I usually don’t have materials in mind, I just let the creative process take over when I see things.

What was your first upcycled project?

My first upcycled project was a fabric cuff. I wasn’t the greatest “beader” when it came to making jewelry. I usually dropped the beads or they would shoot out of my fingertips to never be found again. I thought to myself, how else can I make things without using beads. I discovered that with my sewing machine, t-shirts, and some time, I could make a comfortable cuff. I could make them any color and match them to any outfit. This process allowed me to make them for anyone, no matter what their favorite color was. 

Do you think your experience with crafting has helped you become more creative and resourceful at your day job?

I definitely think my crafting ability has added to my day job as well as everyday life. If something breaks, I’ll find a way to fix it. It might not be the way you would, but it works and well, that is all that matters. I definitely think outside of the box and many times have been told, “Whoa, that is a lot of hands on work to make it that cool”. However, I don’t mind. If I can spend a few extra hours doing something crafty to make a project or design better, you bet I’ll be there.

How do you come up with new projects?

I don’t plan to make any new projects, I usually browse auctions, garage sales or the curb for inspiration. If I spot something that I envision could be a new product, I totally go for it and then see how it goes. My products are mostly in the jewelry line but I am looking to expand more into home accessories and baby items in the future.

What’s your favorite part about bargain shopping, and where’s the best place to find a bargain (garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores, etc.)? And what’s your favorite thing to upcycle?

I love going to garage sales and auctions. I suppose this is because I love seeing what other people find as valuable or why they no longer want it. I’m not really shy, so I don’t mind sparking up a conversation in a drive way to find out a little bit of history about an item. I don’t necessarily have a favorite item to {upcycle} because I am always changing my product line and including new materials. However, if I had to choose one, I would say clothing, any type. The patterns and color schemes you can find in a pair of vintage pants, old t-shirt, or polyester skirt can made a few superbad cuffs or necklaces.

Do you often get custom orders?

I love getting custom orders! Usually it is for a specific color scheme for several of my items, but my favorite is when I am asked to take a passed loved one’s favorite shirt and make a fabric cuff out of it. I enjoy the feeling of being able to help someone keep a part of someone alive that they love, by simply making a piece of jewelry for them to wear. Sometimes they will even mail in a specific button along with the shirt and ask that I use it for the closure or go the route of a wire wrapped ring. 

How do you engage and inspire your readers and customers, and get them to embark in your upcycled projects, re-use everyday items?

I try to get my readers and followers to engage in upcycling whenever I get a chance. If they don’t have the desire to do so, I at least try to express the importance of recycling. If I am able to get one person a day or week to change their habits for the environment through my blog or a Facebook post, I feel good inside. I feel that many people use time as a scapegoat for not wanting to sort trash or wash something to use as another purpose. It does {take} time, only a little however, to make a huge difference on our plan.

Future business plans? Expansions?

I am hoping that iamthemandy will expand into several more retail stores over the next year. Our ideal goal would be 10 stores, as we are only currently found in six locations. We encourage readers and followers to suggest stores that they feel we could rock our products in and then reward them with a free item (up to $20 value, if we get accepted into that specific store). We are a small company, so it is hard for us to have our eyes on each awesome handmade store out there and appreciate our loyal fans. Once we attain this goal, we are going to begin expanding into the home jewelry party scene. We have participated in a few this past year and think it is a great way to expand our line and have some fun.

Want a DIY project of your own to tinker with? Try Stos’ Hex Nut Wrist Wrap.