Showing posts with label chicago. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicago. Show all posts

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Print Print Print!

We've been buried in fun fabric jobs here at Reuse First HQ! This past month we worked together with a fantastic couple who collected vintage handkerchiefs and sought us out to print their wedding invitations on them. The couple worked with Jeshurun Webb to design them. It took some configuring and thankfully we had printed a handful of t-shirt and fabric jobs to warm us up and get used to working with the new press and flash cure unit. Have a look see at the end result, we were quite pleased!









 We've also been working closely with Hemlock Records to print t-shirts and other promo materials for Orange Drink's newly released album, Minotaur.

Split fountain t-shirt print!
Fresh off the press


Another exciting print project we had the fortune to work on was Let's Be Friends circus punk plushies and tags! Stitched and designed by the lovely Felicia Koloc. We love these little guys!

Photo by Felicia Koloc







Monday, April 23, 2012

Where Have the First Four Months Gone?!

Is it really almost May?! Eek! We've been keepin' busy here at Reuse First HQ. We've printed a handful of posters, done a complete redesign for Ipsento, participated in the Bloomington Handmade Market and printed/designed lots of wedding invites! We've also started printing tote bags, t-shirts and fabrics. We don't have too many big summer plans as of yet, a few local/midwest shows and lots more printing! We are working on creating a wholesale wedding invite book for Inkling, and trying to get things together enough so we can finally take our honeymoon! Here are a few pictures of what we've been up to! As always, more to come!

The new Ipsento Bags! We'll soon have photos of each new design!
Gabi & Manuel's Wedding invites! Custom portrait by Jana Kinsman.
Bloomington Handmade Market 2012
Working on our garden plans for 2012
Jeremiah working hard to eliminate our morning glory problem!

Friday, February 3, 2012

New Year + New Goods

We've had a great start to the new year! We've picked up a few new clients, made a couple new greeting cards, got some new equipment and started working on several wedding invitations/save the dates! We're looking forward to an exciting and productive year!






Thursday, September 15, 2011

2011 Chicago Renegade

A big thanks to all those who came out to show their support last weekend! It was a perfect day for the fair and lots of friendly faces popped into our booth. This year we had a few new items that turned out to be red hot sellers! We were amazed at the positive response to our hand poured soy candles and plants in our hand cut liquor bottles. We've applied to the Renegade Holiday Fair here in Chicago and if we get in you better believe there will be a booth chock full of yummy scented candles and soothing succulents in liquor bottles!

Here are a few photos of our new products and some booth shots!

Lovely little aloe vera plant.


The evil Bunny Ear Cactus! Beware of its spines!!

Rainy Day Savings Jug

Before and after shot at the beginning and end of day 1
We went home and made a couple dozen more over night!
Our motto, "Sleep is for the weak!"

The right side of our booth.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Reuse First's Wedding Invites

Seeing as how we make cards candles and books regularly, it was the natural choice to make our own save the dates, invitations, thanks you's and favors for our wedding. It was important that we upheld our Reuse First values to show our friends and family our dedication to being creative with discarded materials. Designing the invitations was definitely a challenge, we had two separate receptions as well as chair cards for immediate family members. We had to create a coded check list in order to keep track of the replies. As far as the bicycle  and flash mob theme goes, we should probably explain! The two of us met over bicycles twice, randomly on the street. The second meeting was at a midnight bike ride through downtown Chicago. Bikes have always been a part of our relationship. Jeremiah's proposal even took place during the monthly Critical Mass bike ride. We originally joked about doing a flash mob ceremony, but as we explored other options, the flash mob stuck out as the most fun and well, affordable! There was no synchronized dancing, we just told everybody to show up at the same place and same time and to disperse quickly.

All that being said, here are the save the date, invite, thank you, and favor photos.






Hand poured soy candles in assorted reused jars with scrap wrapping paper wraps.
Photo by Clarissa Bonnet of I Luv Photo
Hand silkscreened jotter with custom wrap.



We do custom jobs for any occasion! We love when people have an idea and we can actualize it! Contact us at reusefirst{at}gmail{dot}com

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Reuse First Gets Hitched!

We finally got married!

On June 18th, we said, "I do" in a vacant parking lot located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. We had a huge turnout and can't say thanks enough to all of our amazing friends and family who helped us make the day amazing and worked their butts off to make the day possible!!

We can't say enough wonderful things about our photographer, Clarissa Bonnet of I Luv Photo. Anyone out there gettin' hitched? Call her up! I Luv Photo is also a husband and wife team who usually shoot together. Their creative approach seamlessly captures every last moment!

Before it filled with 250 people!
Jeremiah and his Mom and Dad
Michelle and her Mom and Dad (my dress was handmade by Candice Reilly-Powell!)
Sweet and Simple was our motto!

Salina and James dancing down the isle
Nicole and Joe dancing down the isle
Heather and Alex dancing down the isle


Your's truly dancing on down the isle


Eeeee's lovely pedi cab

My handmade veil by Karen Simpson, my hair was done by Sara Hernandez of Paper Tiger Cards

My beautiful boquete by Sharlan Edmons

Handmade paper flower boquetes

Handmade paper flower boutonnieres 


Serious faces!

It's not a wedding if the groomsmen don't JUMP!


 Here are a few photos of our decorations and favors!


Hand poured soy candles in baby food jars with scrap wrapping paper wraps
We had broccoli, celery, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts in mason jars as our center pieces

Our delicious, homemade vegan wedding cake by Karen & Heather  Simpson

Sweets table! Penent by Lizzie Greco of Craft Belly

Our wedding cake topper, compliments of the Simpsons!

Handmade tissue paper flowers by Kat's Phrase

We'll do our next post on our handmade wedding invitations and save the dates! Thanks for looking. Cheerio for now!