Artist Spotlight: Andy and Trina of Katrina Kaye

I was recently introduced to the fashionable stylings of Katrina Kaye by Charmaine Manley of Charmaine Manley Design, who I had the great pleasure of interviewing back in July for The Organic Mechanic. A truly inspiring Interior Decorator I love to receive suggestions from her on environmental topics so when she pointed me in the direction of Katrina Kaye’s shop I knew it would be inspirational.

Trina and Andy Kaye, a husband and wife team, are the owners of Katrina Kaye, based out of Amsterdam. They epitomize what it means to recycle, repurpose, upcycle and reuse by utilizing vintage fabrics in all of their unique designs. Andy was more than happy to chat with me about the who, what, why of their home based business as well as some of the ways their family lives green aside from that facet. Truly an inspiring story!




Can you tell us a little about what it is you do?

We design and create limited edition accessories, cushions and children's clothing using recycled materials and vintage fabrics.

How long have you been creating fabric items such as bags, cushion covers and clothes?

Trina has always been sewing and making things form a variety of materials. When we came to Amsterdam, Trina decided to not to continue her career in graphic design as she wasn't really enjoying it so she utilized her time by diving into and exploring her creative/ crafty side. Trina and I share a passion for good design especially 60's and 70's things so it was an easy choice after we realized we could get hold of these fabrics. This was about 4 or 5 years ago. Of course everyone wants these fabrics now so it's a lot harder to get hold of them and they are considerably more expensive.



What is the creative process behind your work? How does an idea take shape?

We like to brainstorm a lot and constantly talk about new things we can make. Inspiration comes from every facet of our lives but mainly from the fabrics themselves. It's always easier to design items when you have colorful, vibrant and tactile fabrics. Our problem in the past has been to whittle down the number of ideas into the most realistic and viable option. Since I quit my job 2 years ago we've had to become a little more commercial and get rid of products which, for instance took too long to make. Having a market stall is an excellent way to literally test market something on the public to see how it will be received and Amsterdam is a mixture of cosmopolitan tourists and thrifty bargain hunting locals. We therefore always try to think of a new product in terms of usability and value for money whilst still maintaining the handmade, recycled and unique feel.

Where do you acquire the vintage fabrics used in your designs?

Wherever we can find it... ;)

What inspired you to use recycled Army bags and vintage fabrics together?

It's not a new concept but something which was done back in the 1970's by left wing activists and hippies so we can’t really take credit for the idea.

How do you feel that selling and using vintage fabrics helps the environment?

By using what's already out there and already produced there's less need for us to go out and buy contemporary fabrics off the roll. Perhaps and more importantly we hope we are helping people open their eyes to the possibilities of re-using items which they previously thought held no value.

When did you first become interested in living and working in a green way by repurposing?

When we lived in England and after I'd shrunk 1 too many of her woolen jumpers in the wash she was inspired to cut up the felted jumpers and make them into things like Christmas stockings and blankets. That's where it all started. When we moved to the Netherlands we sold our car as the transport infrastructure is so good and all you really need to get around is a bicycle. When we arrived the Dutch were a long way ahead of the UK in terms of recycling and accepting their role in helping to achieve a greener environment.

There's a fantastic system of exchanging goods in Amsterdam. Every area has a certain day when second hand furniture and items can be left on the street at night and in the morning a local council truck comes round to collect it. Of course by then the discerning person has sifted through to see if there's anything worth saving!

Has any one green practice become second nature, something you personally do every day?

I suppose that through our business we are recycling every single day without really being conscious of it. We bicycle everywhere, use public transport and where necessary make use of a pooled car system called greenwheels.

What green practice do you recommend readers try?

Change to green sourced energy (like wind powered providers) and of course get on your bike instead of jumping in your car for local trips. It will help you to stay healthier as well.

As an independent artist what is your greatest challenge?

For sure it's hard to compete with mass produced cheap imports. People get automatically taken in by what they see as value for money. People seem to have so easily accepted badly produced goods which cause larger carbon footprints to get to the West. Thankfully a larger proportion of people are now doing more to support local economies whether it's locally sourced food or products and services from local artists.

After so many sales do you still get that giddy feeling with each item that sells?

Yes, absolutely. Every morning one of us likes to be first down to refresh the webpage to see if we've sold something. Most sales are to the US so we've usually made money whilst we sleep which always makes me giggle. When I take our wares to the market, it's a really nice buzz to share our concept and connect with people. Even if doesn't end in a sale, we just appreciate the positive feedback and the smile it has put on someone's face.

What is your advice to a fellow artisan who is new to their industry?

We were just featured in a 'Quit your day job' interview on Etsy where we tried to share our experiences.

Do you have online presences where your work can be viewed?

We wanted to set up our own website some time ago but we didn't really have the time. Trina was riding the front edge of the crafts wave which was forming online and was into websites like crafster and glitter where people were sharing and teaching other people their ideas. That's when we came across Etsy which was in its infancy and had such a great interface. It showcased people with handmade goods and you just knew it was the start of something big.

Our shop is Katrina Kaye

Is your work featured in a boutique or other brick & mortar location?

We wholesale all over the world now. Some of the requests come from people who have found us online at Etsy or from the market. We also started doing trade fairs in Europe this summer so have started to be present in shops in quite a few large European cities. We always welcome wholesale requests from anywhere in the world.

With such ultra cool vintage fabrics, inspiration to repurpose, working from home (saves on emissions!) and riding a bicycle or public transportation Andy and Trina have become an inspiration to me proving that by working hard enough, anything is achievable and that is why I am bestowing a Four Green Leaf Rating to their efforts. Hooray for making your business viable and going after your dreams while simultaneously helping the planet!

Wine Is Just Recycled Grapes

Last night it was my pleasure to be invited to the first meeting of the newly formed Bennetts Brook Green Group. Melissa has decided to get off her duff and get mucho involved in spreading the word about all things environment so with the help of her neighbor Julie, some suggestions from the cool gals at EnviroMom and a passionate desire to buck the perception that suburban moms do not care about the planet, the group met at her place last night.

There were twelve of us in total and a mix of not only gender but age as well! Her neighbor directly across the street is definitely over fifty and proudly admitted to having been doing this type of stuff for years (most notably saving all his coffee grounds to utilize for his acid loving garden plants). If possible the three guys who showed up were possibly even more vocal than us gals. Yippie!

The forum was open, more a share and chat style, but still maintained a loose organization of topics, themes and issues that Melissa and Julie shared responsibility in putting out there. If I did not know better there is no way I would have known this was their first meeting. It all flowed seamlessly.

Most of the food and drink were organic options (from the beer to the wine to the coffee to the crackers) and since she was not sure how many people would show up Melissa also purchased plastic cups, which she made a point to mention would all be washed and reused or recycled. After some quick introductions and a little snack it was time to get down to business.

The night began with an introduction to how and why the group formed, an impromptu discussion of local organizations and potentially forming a neighborhood share style program where sharing of tools or even grocery shopping will become forefront instead of everyone driving all over to do these things individually or purchase items used only once when a neighbor might have it to lend.

Later in the evening we shared our confessions of what we all do that we wish we did not (I of course admitted to smoking and was surprised that some attendees would not have thought of this as environmentally harmful). Everything was shared from driving large gas gulping SUVs (due to the size of her family of six and not finding an alternate reliable option as of yet), to tossing paper to (shock!) not recycling at all. The good news is that clearly we all want to change those ways or we would not have been in attendance.

The confession portion of the evening was the perfect segue into what each of us are currently doing to, as Melissa put it, “get off the fence” and get involved by doing. Melissa has signed up with 41pounds.org and will let us know how it works as soon as her kit arrives. Other attendees have begun sending credit card offers back in the enclosed prepaid envelope (I also know someone who does this and it greatly reduced the number of offers he received), using Mrs. Meyers cleaning products and composting.

When I first asked Melissa to allow me to interview her for Green Leaf Reviewer she was nervous that as a “suburban mom” she would be flamed for trying to say she was environmental. Well to be perfectly honest, if anything, it made me more excited to interview her and last night was the culmination of proving that no matter where a person chooses to live they can still be interested in helping the planet; no matter what a person drives they might just be doing 1000 things to offset that impact. The first step, just like Julie and Melissa showed us last night, is to stop talking about it and simply make the change in our own lives because how does that saying go again? Oh yeah…

Even the longest journey begins with the first step.

And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Reviews…

WHEW! What a whirlwind of amazing energy that has been swirling about the past couple days! To instantly feel a shift in the attitude and mood of the entire planet to one of optimism still has me on a high I have never felt before. Due to that fact I am giving the entire country a Five Green Leaf Rating today. You deserve it United States for standing up and fighting for hope, for change.


Yes We Can.
Yes We Did.
YES WE WILL!!!

The Answers Are In

Here in Massachusetts we had three publicized questions which were binding (meaning it will go into law) and a forth in only eleven districts which was non-binding (meaning people would be generally expressing to their legislation what they want to see happen). All of the questions were serious points to consider and the non-binding question was one available in my district; I was happy to fill in the black blob for all four this time around.

Question 1 was to reduce personal income tax (currently at 5%) to 2.65% as of the first of next year and then eliminate it completely by the first of 2010. A yes vote for this question would cut state revenues by more than forty percent of the total state budget surely reducing aid, education funding, safety and potentially other programs -- as reported by those against. Those for indicated that there is waste of over 40% in Massachusetts already, that each of the 3.4 million residents would gain $3,700 annually (upon complete elimination) and no services would be cut.

Since it was not accurately expressed exactly what would be cut if the income tax was eliminated, and I did not want to take the chance that someone like my Aunt who works for the Parks Department would lose her job due to the reduction of alleged waste, I happily voted NO.

69% of the state agreed.

Question 2 (I am showing only the basis for those over eighteen in my summary) was a proposal to replace criminal penalty for those possessing an ounce or less of marijuana, keeping it off a criminal record (will not show up on background check) and make it a civil crime resulting in a $100 fine and relinquishment of the substance. Those in favor estimate that $30 million and 7,500 arrests could be saved and spared annually, freeing up police to pursue more serious crime. Those against insist it would encourage use of marijuana and send a lackadaisical message about selling to drug dealers.

For those who are unaware of my stance on this issue, I fervently voted YES.

65% of the state concurred.

Question 3 would ban dog racing, meeting and wagering on those races across the state and anyone in violation would be subject to payment of no less than a $20,000 civil fine. Those in favor indicate the inhumane treatment of the animals both while racing (living in confinement, injuries and positive testing for drugs such as cocaine) and after their career has come to an end (potential cardiac arrest, paralysis and broken legs). Those opposed note the over 1,000 jobs that would be lost as a result of shutting down an institution that has been in place for over seventy years as well as revenue for the two towns where this type of racing still exists.

Although I do agree that revenue and job loss for anyone is a blow, I had to vote from the heart on this one. I do not support racing of any animals and happily voted YES.

56% of Massachusetts was ready for change tonight as well.

Question 4 would instruct legislation to vote in favor of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year 2020 and begin working to eliminate tax incentive for projects which drain on energy resources while simultaneously expanding efforts to increase green job creation, conservation and sustainable agriculture efforts.

Although all of the precincts have not yet reported on this question as of the time of my writing I am happy to report that all precincts in my district have and we are all in unison saying YES! For the other districts not yet in but some votes tallied it is looking as if this measure will get a yes vote almost all the way across the board.

Go Green! Go hope! Go positive vibes!

“No Matter What Happens We Are Making History”

My Mom uttered these words recently when discussing voting in one of the two major candidates.

Indeed.

I am not one to criticize others for their choices because that is what makes this country truly fantastic -- there is choice. Perhaps you are even now undecided, perhaps you have not had enough time to read about and learn about the six candidates running for President. Yes, that is correct; there are six candidates representing Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Write-In and a No Party Affiliation Independent. Can you guess who is who? You might be surprised to learn that Ralph Nader is not the Green Party nomination.

Tonight will be the first Presidential election I have voted in since the first Clinton term; for those keeping track that is sixteen years. I used to think it did not matter. I used to think my vote did not count.

Now I know that through action is the only way to effect a reaction.

When enough of us make a positive action the results will be amazing. Try reading this posting for inspiration.

Likely none of my readers will be surprised to discover that I support Barack Obama. He fits with who I am and what I feel the country needs to rebound into a place of prosperous hope after so many years of somber fear. At approximately five o’clock this evening I will be casting my ballot to truly show my support for this inspirational man.

Want to learn more about where each Presidential candidate stands on just about every issue, their voting history, read their speeches or a myriad of other information? Please go to Vote Smart. Then take advantage of the (as my Mom put it) privilege we are afforded in this country and go out and vote.

Remember that privilege also means: opportunity, advantage, benefit, right, and freedom.