Up [Cycled] With Kids - Motley Mode Mondays

Children's Clothing Summer Girls Dress - Upcycled 4-5YR by BlumenKinder on Etsy.

I love dressing little people. I love it so much that the minute I learned that my siblings were expectant parents, I was out in the mall looking for those special little onesies and booties for the new special people coming into my life. As an Obstetrics Nurse, I have handled with care a lot of itty bitty new born babes, and given lots of first baths, and helped with first diaper changes [men are hilarious when faced with their first sticky meconium coated tushie]. I rarely get a chance to choose the clothes that these little ones wear home, so when my siblings had their little bundles, I was adamant that I be in charge of their "I'm going home in this outfit 'Outifts'."

Cool Up-Cycled Jumpers for Autumn/Spring by SCRAPPY KIDS on Etsy.

The Kenna Coat - Green Velvet Cocktail Coat w/ Black Satin Lining [Various Sizes, From Drapes!] by gibsonsANCHOR on Etsy.

One of the most wonderful things about having little people is giving them comfortable clothes that have lots of personality, that are made for play or special occasions, that are completely unique and even one-of-a-kind [OOAK]. You have to move fast, before they get into grade school and start demanding specific colours and styles, and before they hit their teens and just want to look like everyone else. It is a very small but special window, that time when you can have fun with your kids wardrobes, and it doesn't even have to cost a lot of money. You just need to think outside of the 'brand name' box, so to speak.

Friends 4 Ever - Archie Super Cool Upcycled Pieced Dress, Size 8 by OKEE DOKEE KIDS Boutique on Etsy.

Recycled T-Shirt Skirt, Shreddies - Size 7 by Tricycle Crafts on Etsy.

One fabulous way to be sure your kids are looking their one-of-a-kind best, is by nabbing some great handmade clothes, or better yet, handmade and Up-cycled clothing. What does that mean? Clothes made special just for your kiddo from what used to be other clothes, scraps of fabric and findings, and re-cycled or re-made into an entirely new and wonderful garment.  Not only are these clothes Eco-Friendly, they are also usually extremely comfortable made soft by previous use, and also unlikely to warp, shrink, or fade.  They can also be hella cute, and very funky, made to fit both personality and body type both.

Poor Pitiful Pearl "Do Not Conform To The Patterns of This World" Bib by Poor Pitiful Pearl on Etsy.

Girl's Pink Dress, 2T Toddler Clothing, Green Floral Print - Eco Friendly Upcycled 'KARA' by My Fair Maiden on Etsy.

This amazing selection of Up-cycled Kids Clothing was all found with a quick search on Etsy, my favorite place to find amazing goodies for one-of-a-kind kids.  There are high-cost brands that try to make their clothing look like it is all mix-and-match Up-cycled gold, I am thinking of brands like Oilily, but they will end up costing you their weight in gold too. Better to buy something that is actually the real deal that you can get for a steal, and have a real person, the seller and creator, that you can speak to about your child's actual measurements and needs. You can often request custom items, or specify colours that you are looking for, it is like having a personal stylist work with you to make your fashion dreams come true. Almost like a fairy g-d mother, if you will, taking those tattered rags and turning them into Cinderella's ball gown.

Johnny Cash Upcycled/Recycled ShorTEEs Kung-Fu Pants, 4T by shorTEEs on Etsy.

Upcycled Girl's Skirt Age 6, Size 6T Recycled Fabrics Patchwork Design by Martisanne Handmade on Etsy.

Make sure you check out these very special "Up-cyclers" on Etsy, many of them make adult clothing as well, and find something just as one-of-a-kind as your adorable, hilarious, and talented kids are.

Reef Spirit Boy T-Shirt, Boy's Clothing - Australian Art Print Upcycled/Recycled Clothing OOAK, Size 3 Years by ALUMA for KIDS on Etsy.

Quirky Coat Girl's Size 2-4, Must Like Hand-Me-Downs, Handmade 2nd Life Jacket - Ready To Ship by WiseSewcialTies on Etsy.

Strange Stuff Saturdays - Kooky Creatures

It's hard to define what makes something truly strange, or at least strange enough for a Strange Stuff Saturdays post. What I might think of as strange may be quite ordinary to someone else, and knowing when something goes beyond strange and into disturbing territory is similarly a personal perspective. I am willing to bet, however, that we can all agree on the items in today's showcase. These are truly odd in the most fabulous sense; they are whimsical, creative, upcycled items that rarely are found outside a child's toy box. The circus has come to town, so to speak.

Decorative figure Boxer - The Strange Planet created by The Good Machinery, in Rimini, Emilia Romagna, Italy. These bright and whimsical animals will bring a punch of color to any room or work-space. Check out this Etsy Shop for some truly stunning upcycled toy animals and collect a menagerie of fabulosity.

Bring the prehistoric back to life by snagging yourself a Run 2 The Wild Live Dinoterrarium. These uniquely upcycled dinosaur toys feature glass mini-terrariums with live Kentucky Moss inside. They can be opened for watering and include full care instructions. Berea, Kentucky resident and Etsy Shop owner Kourtney has created a truly Green use for these colourful dinosaurs.

Even though it is just past the holidays, some ornaments can be displayed year-round and this shimmering hippo is one of the above. Meant to adorn your festive tree, and tied with a ribbon, yarn, jingle bell, and star charm Little Plastic Menace offers this Bronze Plastic Hippo Ornament and other wonderful decorative beasts. Just one of Barbara Hart's Etsy Shops, you just have to see what this Buffalo, New York artist is up to.

LizAArt, another Etsy Shop, offers necklaces, wall-hangings, scarves, folk art and more in a variety of styles from the ridiculous to the sublime. This Leaping Lizard Necklace features three plastic wrigglers, and a bounty of beads in Jasper, Unakite, and Howlite. Definitely a statement necklace if I ever saw one. I am just not certain what that statement is exactly. And speaking of Jewelry, check out the images and shop lists below to spot more of this quirky wearable strange stuff.

Gold Fishey Go Earrings by Pussycat [Hot Chick Psychics] on Etsy.

Gold Crush Dinosaur Necklace by Lapineau on Etsy.

Camel Brooch by Plum August on Etsy.

Puppy Necklace by Ultra Horse on Etsy.

Purple Turtle Ring by PURPLEGUN on Etsy.

Half a Bandit Earrings by Uncle Fun on Etsy.

The final fab item for this Saturday is really attractive, and that is a scientific fact considering it uses magnets. Upcycled plastic animals become magnetic photo or memento holders with the help of Gallivanting Girls Vintage Home on Etsy. Check out this The Wolf Vintage Animal Magnet Photo Holder and others like it and bring new meaning to the term "Animal Magnetism".

While we have all likely all spotted a little boy walking his toy dinosaur through his mother's garden or been *cough* entertained by the little girl trotting her rubber horses up the arm of your chair as you wait in for your doctors appointment. Maybe you have watched your own children toss around plastic sea creatures in the tub. The genius here is turning these items from toss-away plastic or rubber toys and thinking fabulously outside the box, instead turning them into sculptural art, functional and funny terrariums, or terrific and whimsical wearables. It may just make you think twice about passing up that 25 cent plastic giraffe at the next yard sale or swap meet, and there is nothing strange about that at all.

Time Travel Thursdays - Smashing Plates

Thursdays here at Foraging For Fab celebrate everything Retro and Vintage, gathering great memories from our own past and the iconic era's that preceded us. This week I asked the question, "Where do old License Plates go to die?". I imagine some are hung on the walls of random garages, some are reclaimed and recycled, others just get lost along the roadside. But when you think about it, they are pieces of history, they tell us about car culture and the places we have lived, and they are treasured memories of past Car Loves to some. When it comes to License Plates, it seems an awful shame to send them all to the scrap pile to be turned into yet another metal something or other, that's why I was thrilled to spot these shining examples of upcycled art by the Recycled Art Company of Niceville, Florida.

In their Etsy Shop, the Recycled Art Company has no less than 200 examples of how old License Plates can be not only useful, but also beautiful and functional. There are smashing works of art, whimsical ornaments, functional pieces of furniture, and wonderful word blocks. You can deck out your cottage or vacation home, spruce up your place of business, or add a personal touch to a baby's room. There is no better gift for the Car Enthusiast in your life, and prices range from under $20 USD to over just over $1800.00 USD for the most intricate and large items, such as this amazing "Original United States Map" where each State shape is actually made out of the License Plate that it represents.

So definitely add this Etsy Shop destination to your trip-tick or GPS, and stop to check out all the fab work by this upcycling upstart. And before you ask, they do take custom consignments, all you have to do is drop them a line with a request and they will work with you on creating the perfect one-of-a-kind personal "Smashing Plate" art piece you desire.

Teeny Tiny Tuesdays - An Octopus's Garden

It's true what they say, it is the little things in life that make it worth living. Now, when people refer to the little things, I am pretty sure 'they' are speaking of the smiles, the moments of joy, the small wins. When I say little things, I mean something a little more... literal. I mean small, as in teeny tiny, itty bitty, teensy weensy, and miniature. Yes, I have always been a fan of the impossibly little and detailed things that make you celebrate your ability to see them. They are sometimes funny, often ironic, and certainly cute, but there is one thing you can be sure of, everyone has room for something tiny.

For instance, on my desk I have a little pocket mirror compact (some promotional item from a cosmetics store), and it sits open to reveal a miniature sized family of Pugs. A female, male and their two puppies. Yes I am close to forty years old, yes it is basically a toy, but you know what? It makes me happy. I see my little Pugs, not a one over an inch tall, and I smile. My current lifestyle doesn't accommodate owning a real dog, so these little Pugs remind me of something I love, something I aspire to have in my life in the future, and are just plain cute. That is the power of having something small around. It doesn't take up much space at all, it may be functional or fanciful, but it can really be special. Tuesdays are all about the power and joy of the little things..

In Kenora, Ontario, Canada there is an artist that shot to the top of my "Teeny Tiny Tuesday" To-Blog list the moment I saw this offering on Etsy. The hip kids call it up-cycling, it is basically recycling or re-purposing items, but adding a touch of fabulous in the process. It's just past the winter holiday season, and most people are about to pack away their holiday lights, but Adrianne Kinsella does something absolutely amazing with those old glass holiday lights that I just had to share. Adrianne turned little old burnt out light-bulbs into the ultimate in fab home decor by making what she calls "Lightcatchers and Birdhalts".

These adorable "3 Octopus with first tooth" Recycled Lightbulb works of art are available at Ms. Kinsella's Kissinglass Recycled Glass Shop on Etsy. The set of three have the most charming little Octopi that could be found, and include hand painting and sculpting work that make them truly one-of-a-kind. Beutiful, whimsical, and functional. Who could ask for anything more!

Adrianne describes this set as follows; "These recycled lightbulbs are dead Christmas lights measuring 2 inches in height and a half inches in width. The octopus are all about the size of my thumbnail. The lightbulbs have been coated with a translucent paint and will glow when the sun hits them. They can be hung in your window to detour birds and as light catchers to catch the light. The relief pattern, making up the octopus, has been painstakingly sculpted by hand and baked onto the glass." Coming it at less then $30.00 CAD/USD a set, they are also an affordable indulgence and would make a wonderful gift.

Head over to Kissinglass Recycled Glass on Etsy to see more of Adrianne Kinsella's work, and snag some tiny works of art to hang in the sun.