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!

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.

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

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!

Customized Window Gardens!

All winter long we dreamt of growing food in our home. We hemmed and hawed over the daunting tasks of not only teaching ourselves how to garden hydroponically but also over designing and building the actual hydroponic units. We decided on using the large Jameson bottles that we collect from The Boiler Room and Jeremiah and Alex set to figuring out all the logistics.

It's been around 2 months since we first put sprouts into the unit and they've done nothing but impress us with their progress! We're still sprouting and adding rows, not yet pictured is our newest row with strawberries and

In the beginning....

Happy Tomatoes, Spinach and Sweet Peas

Cucumber Sprouts!

These zucchini sprouts mean business! The arugula and
peppers are  coming along slowly but surely!

Cat Grass! We won't be growing this hydroponically but it looked
so delightful and springy I had to photograph it!

Little Broccolis!

'Maters, Cukes, Zuchs, Broc, Basil, Arugula, Romaine, Rosemary,
Thyme, Cilantro,  Sage, Peppers and more!

Nutrients drip through these tubes, through the
 Hydroton balls and to the roots!

Check back again soon for photos of our first customer's unit!

Happy Spring Chicago!

End of 2010 Recap!

The last few months of 2010 proved to be a busy time for Reuse First! In November we headed down to lovely Chattanooga, TN for the first ever annual Chatty Crafty event. We met tons of wonderful independent artists/crafters, the degree of friendliness there was refreshing! Here's s small handful of our favorites:
Let's Be Friends
Devochka
Buffalo Blue Designs
Hollandsworth

Then we zipped down to Athens, GA for the Winter Craftstravaganza event where we had a great day of selling and of course, meeting the other lovely vendors. Upon returning to Chicago we did a small pop up craft show at the Weekend Handmade Gallery. Then, we organized the annual Indie Arts Holiday Market that takes place at Schubas Tavern in Chicago. Buzz buzz buzz, are you getting tired yet?! How about some photos of our latest creations!

Unicorn Card

T-Rex Card

100% Soy Wax Candles! 

Absolut Mango Long Burning Soy Candle

Jim Beam Long Burning Soy Candle

Absolut Citron Long Burning Soy Candle

Stay tuned for more product updates and exciting news! We are currently waiting to see if we will be a part of this year's Austin, TX Renegade Craft Fair.