The Upcycle Exchange » Autumn

Introducing: Craftree Haus, an expansion of Upcycle Exchange!

Autumn — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:38:30 +0000

Craftree Haus is a new division of Upcycle Exchange that encompasses the handmade boutique, maker lab, shared studio, classes, and events at our big new location on Grand Boulevard! The supply store area of Upcycle Exchange is now open for business and we’ve nearly completed the remodel of the entire space. Pretty soon you’ll start seeing sections of our expansion beginning to fill out.

The first area we are concentrated on is the handmade boutique at the front of the building, which we plan to launch in January 2012. After that, we’ll start planning classes, events, and raising money to buy equipment for our maker lab! So, first thing’s first, we are inviting crafters to show us their stuff that they would like to sell here. If you would be interested in consigning, we are not *requiring* that your inventory be upcycled, mostly we are looking for great design, but at least having some elements of upcycling is a plus! You can see more details and fill out our application through the link below:

Application to Consign at Craftree Haus

The deadline for our first round of consignment applications is January 5th, 2012. We’ll open it up again periodically after that. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out The Upcycle Exchange at 3206 S. Grand Boulevard Tuesday-Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-8, and Sundays 12-4!

Upcycle Exchange is Relocating!

Autumn — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:12:45 +0000

Anyone who has shopped at Upcycle knows that we are in a big beautiful space, but it’s not all ours! The Collective at 3309 Meramec St. has served Upcycle Exchange well as a business incubator, and thanks to our wonderful community and customers, we are prime for expansion. We found the perfect new location in the heart of the South Grand Boulevard Business District. It’s got the space we need, along with gorgeous, tall tin ceilings and wood floors that have come to define Upcycle’s identity of being a beautiful place to springboard creativity. It needs a lot of work to bring out it’s full potential, and we’re working night and day on remodeling, but we need to be moved out of our current location by the end of November.

So! …Upcycle Exchange will be open for your craft supply needs through Saturday, November 27th (but closed for Thanksgiving, of course), then will be closed to move everything out and finish up the remodel. We estimate our re-opening day on 3206 South Grand to be within the first week of December. We will be sure to let you know through every channel available to us when we have a confirmed date for re-opening. Our hours from then on will change remain the same, except that we will be open later on Saturday nights (till 8pm).

We are really excited for all the possibilities in this fantastic new location that we are planning: a handmade consignment shop, craft classes, shared studio space and a high-end equipment lab. It will all come together in the next few months, but for now, a bigger, better Upcycle Exchange is just around the corner!

Closing for Strange Folk Weekend, Then NEW EXPANDED Hours!

Autumn — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:18:41 +0000

As many of you know, I own/operate The Upcycle Exchange AND I’m charge of one of the biggest indie craft shows in the Midwest – Strange Folk Festival! You definitely don’t want to miss the 150 crafters, 10 bands, beer, and cupcakes that will be in O’Fallon Community Park next weekend. But, more importantly, I’m not going to be able to have Upcycle Exchange open while getting ready for and running the festival. We will be CLOSED Friday, September 23rd, Saturday the 24th, and Sunday the 25th. So, if you need any crafty goodness this week, try to make it up on Thursday the 22nd!

The exciting thing that makes up for it is that shop hours are expanding after that! Starting on September 27th, we’ll be open TUESDAY – SATURDAY 10am-5pm and SUNDAY 12pm-4pm. That’s two more whole days a week! Yay!

Don’t forget to stop by the Upcycle Exchange drop-off station(behind the big pavilion) at Strange Folk – you can drop off wish-list items, and we’ll have a map to all the vendors that you can use your Coupon Passport with!

Our First Open Source Franchise!

Autumn — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:36:56 +0000

I am really proud to announce Upcycle Exchange’s first open-source franchise in Indianapolis! Indy Upcycle will be open soon! Mandy spent a weekend at The Upcycle Exchange learning the ropes, and now is able to use my business model, and all my insight from running the shop, but put her own spin on it and not pay any franchising fees. I founded Upcycle with this goal in mind – thinking outside the box, and the freedom to derive, tailor, and collaborate to get good stuff in the hands of makers. Our documentation website/wiki, UpcycleOS, is in the works!

Get updates about Indy Upcycle on their Facebook page!

FORM Design Show

Autumn — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:10:10 +0000

The Upcycle Exchange will be exhibiting at the FORM Design Show! Come check out our new line of upcycled products including, sew-a-wallet kits, non-toxic dimensional watercolors, camera straps, and message centers…all made with abundant supplies from the shop. You can purchase tickets and get all the details about the show on their website: http://formdesignshow.com/

When: Friday, August 12th 7pm-11pm and Saturday, August 13th 11am-4pm
Where: The Temtor at 8125 Michigan Avenue, Saint Louis MO

See you there, or at the shop this weekend!

New Summer Hours at Upcycle Exchange!!

Autumn — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:29:46 +0000

We totally don’t want to inconvenience anyone, and everything at the shop is going super-de-duper, but sometimes a family-run small business must adjust their hours. My kiddos will only be kiddos for so long, and I’m choosing to spend a few more days a week with them this summer. So, we’re going to be closed Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays till mid-August. It’s only shaving off 8 hours of open time altogether, and adding a couple hours on Sundays, so we hope you’ll find a place in you schedule to come and see us this Summer!

One more time! Summer 2011 Hours at Upcycle:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday……Closed
Thursday…………………………….10a.m. – 5p.m.
Friday………………………………..10a.m. – 5p.m.
Saturday…………………………….10a.m. – 5p.m.
Sunday………………………………10a.m. – 5p.m.

Closing Early This Thursday (3pm)!

Autumn — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:19:11 +0000

So, This Thursday afternoon I’m leaving to catch a flight headed for Columbus, Ohio to attend the Midwest Craft Caucus! I’ll be leading an environmental strategy session, and sitting in on many panel discussions relating to Upcycle Exchange and Strange Folk Festival. Conferences like this are always a fantastic way to network with others around the country who are working to organize the craft community, and I’m known to participate in at least one each year!

So, yes, Thursday, I’ll be scooting out a little early (3pm), but not to worry – my trusty husband, Doug, will be manning the helm at The {Materials Market} all wekend! Go easy on him, ok crafties? He might not know what rick-rack is, but he’ll do his best to hold the fort down :)

We’ll be open for our regular hours all weekend, and I’ll see you next Tuesday!

Printable Store Flyer + Printer Ink Tip!

Autumn — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:25:23 +0000

A lot of you have requested printable flyers, and Upcycle delivers! You’ll find that below. I designed it 8 to a page, to save paper. If you don’t have time to cut them out, just tell people you give the whole sheet to that they can pass it along to 7 other friends, if they are so inclined ;)

Also, I’m always raving about continuous ink systems to my friends. So I may as well tell you about them too, while we’re on the subject of printing. It’s a lot more earth-freindly to reuse cartridges over and over in your own home than recycling them. It’s also A LOT cheaper. I got mine at CISinks.com, but there may be other places that have them. CISinks makes kits for most models of inkjets. It’s not all messy like those kits with the syringes for normal cartridges either. Mmmk, I know ths has very little to do with upcycling….carry on!

EcoBloom, An Upcycle Exchange Craft Show!

Autumn — Thu, 19 May 2011 23:04:10 +0000

The Upcycle Exchange is stoked to be partnering with Acadia McGee, author of the new children’s book Compost! to bring St. Louis a fabulous green craft show this summer called EcoBloom. We have secured an awesome location, you may have heard of it, Tower Grove Park!

EcoBloom will take place Saturday, July 16th from 10a.m.-5p.m. in and around the Sons of Rest pavilion.

You’ll hear tons more about the event itself later, the more pressing matter is that…

We are accepting applications for vendors through May 28th! The fee for a space is $40. Go apply online here: http://ecobloomstl.com/vendor-application/

If you are a facebooker, here’s the EcoBloom page and event. Like it, love it, RSVP to it. See ya there :)

Bicycle! Bicycle!

Autumn — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:29:17 +0000

The Dutchtown Classic Bike Race is happening this Sunday, and Upcycle Exchange is smack in the middle of it! So first off, the store is still going to be open 11-4pm, but parking may be a little iffy(the yellow roads, and Meramec will be closed, as I understand it). We just moved into the neighborhood during the tail end of the race planning, and I sort of have no idea what’s going on, but thought maybe our customers, should know about it. That is all.