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(Music by Animal Hospital)
For the better part of the last two years, I have been in and out of dozens of workshops, studio spaces, and machine rooms. I find myself drawn to the textures of industry and to the stories of craftspeople dedicated to revitalizing timeless trades.
I met Carolina Fontoura Alzaga while touring the workshop of reclaimed wood furniture manufacturer and Etsy seller, Croft House. Following an arrow scrawled in chalk, I found a tiny space wedged between the building’s outer wall and the back of a large spray booth. At first, I didn’t understand what I was seeing. The space was full of bicycle parts, the walls were covered in handwritten notes, and large metal things hung from chain motors hovered just below eye level.
Beneath it all was a small-framed person hunching over something on a table, with a bandana covering her face and a large welding mask on her head. The sound of air compressors and hammering coming from the building drowned out whatever introduction was made. Even after the helmet and bandana came off, it was difficult to know what was being said, though I did manage to get across the idea that I wanted to take some pictures. The woman that emerged from underneath the protective layers seemed more than happy to oblige.
Caro makes painstakingly intricate chandelier sculptures and lighting fixtures from bicycle parts that she salvages from scrap metal yards and bicycle shop dumpsters all around Los Angeles. In making this profile, I was struck by how her social and political consciousness are woven into her life and work.
How do you integrate your beliefs in what you make?
James Mann has been a director and cinematographer for 12 years. His recent work focuses on telling the stories of people who have revived craft heritage by putting a new twist on old materials and traditions. See more at Camera Experiment.
All Etsy videos are created under the Creative Commons license.
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85 comments
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 5 years ago
What an amazing process!!!
OuterKnits from OuterKnits said 5 years ago
Gorgeous and amazing!
LivingVintage from LivingVintage said 5 years ago
Sexy! Beautiful chandeliers.
Suzi from ThePillowStudioShop said 5 years ago
These chandeliers are beautiful in their own right but grow even more so after hearing how (and why) you make them. Thank you for sharing your process and inspiration/ motivation.
Angela Cotton from CottonBirdDesigns said 5 years ago
Beautiful work!
Peshka from Peshka said 5 years ago
Love it!!!
EightAcorns from EightAcorns said 5 years ago
What a smart girl and what a beautiful product !
iammie from iammie said 5 years ago
Cool!
Natalie from HansHolzkopf said 5 years ago
wooooow!!! cooooool idea!!
Marni from rebourne said 5 years ago
Her inner strength and beauty shine through her words and work. Incredible!
BrightFireBeads from BrightFireBeads said 5 years ago
Absolutely beautiful work. I am in awe.
Bradley from FrickandFrackScraps said 5 years ago
What an amazing story! What a smart and physically beautiful end product! So wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Lana Manis from SimpleJoysPaperie said 5 years ago
These chandeliers are amazing! Coming from a family of salvagers, I truly appreciate Caro's work!
Jess from volkerwandering said 5 years ago
Absolutely amazing!
Amy from needleandfelt said 5 years ago
She is fantastic - absolute gorgeous work! I love her story - well done, James! How do I integrate my beliefs in what I make? I source wool from my sheep and local sheep farmers. It starts and finishes here. I could go on and on, but I am very passionate about being a woman owned, small business trying to be environmentally responsible. Loved this feature, thank you!
Amy Gunderson from amysfunkyfibers said 5 years ago
What a great story and wonderful work. BRAVO!
Kannis from KaffeeKatze said 5 years ago
so cool!
Genise Park from GeniseParkArts said 5 years ago
Wow those are awesome! Great work!
Christine and Marc from TaylorArts said 5 years ago
Too stinking cool. I love everything about this girl and her reclaimed art. We work with reclaimed Delta wood and scrap metal, too, so we are walking a similar path down South. One small note: I'd love to see such a smart girl keep her head in one piece, so please wear a helmet and get a light when riding home at night. (I hoping she just didn't wear it for the video.) More power to you, girlfriend. You rock!
Laura Stark from laurastark said 5 years ago
Awesome video. Sharing this with my son - who has a love for industrial design and upcycling.
Kristen from ShabbyVintageMom said 5 years ago
Holly cow, your Chandeliers are incredible!!! LOVED the video~ very inspiring♥
IrieEtsy from CheekynKiki said 5 years ago
Wow! I'm speechless, awesome!!!
Ingus Jākobsons from Furniply said 5 years ago
Nice! Love what can be made from trowed away stuff like bike chains! Thees lamps should weight a ton!
Janet from PottyMouthGems said 5 years ago
Wow, that's just crazy cool! The chandeliers are incredible.
Annabel from SecondHandSandy said 5 years ago
I love it! How pretty these chandeliers look in a big space. I am totally in favour of using old products instead of buying new. In my shop I do not even need to recycle, I sell products that are too pretty to throw away and only need thorough cleaning and good presentation.
Matejka Max from NattyMatty said 5 years ago
Excellent!!!
sarah parker from thehouseofhemp said 5 years ago
so cool - congrats
uncommon from uncommon said 5 years ago
beautiful!
Hope from blessedvintage said 5 years ago
way cool! blessings
Cristina Ripper from SimpleArtStudio said 5 years ago
Amazing! I love it! Congratulations!
Adriana from Karavakishop said 5 years ago
Caro you are AWESOME!!!
Cassidy Millar from TheMagiciansCat said 5 years ago
LOVELOVELOVE! xoxox
Lisa from REBELbyFATE said 5 years ago
OMG!!! I can't believe what I just saw...AWESOME + AMAZING!! What a super cool product and the process is mind blowing!! Congrats and continued success!!! †♥
PB from dollydollyfashions said 5 years ago
This is so fabulous. Thank You.
Polkadot Magpie from ThePolkadotMagpie said 5 years ago
Such gorgeous work. Love to see women in the machine shop, then I don't feel so alone. :-) Reminds me a bit of Lea Bontecou back in the day.
Leeanna from LeeannasJewelryBox said 5 years ago
You do an amazing job of taking a mundane object and making it look elegant. I really liked the part in your video where you state instead of protesting you want to inspire dialog. I try to integrate beauty into my work in hopes that it will bring happiness to the wearer. I want every person who wears my jewelry to feel special and lovely. We all need to feel special.
Sheri Caruso from SherisBeadVault said 5 years ago
I love that the bicycle lives on in a new capacity after it has been discarded as trash from its original form and use. Fabulous work! Thank you for helping save our planet and for adding new beauty to it.
Beki Wilson from outofline said 5 years ago
I love her work! Have been an admirer for awhile, didn't realize she was on Etsy- very cool.
Ele from minouette said 5 years ago
Great story! She does such an amazing job of articulating the need for and the potential of upcycling materials. Plus, the chandeliers are gorgeous.
Nerrissa W from RecycledWares said 5 years ago
I am so thankful for your creativity - thanks for taking unwanted items and turning them into something new and lovely.
Amber from BambuEarth said 5 years ago
this video is so great. wonderful to see more and more eco-conscious creators. ♥♥
Martha Layton Smith from opendoorstudio said 5 years ago
a life well lived and an amazing philosophy! well done and your work is beautiful!
David Atchison from surfingwoodworker said 5 years ago
awesome!
Terry from Parachute425 said 5 years ago
Bravo! Congrats on a well deserved feature.
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery said 5 years ago
Wow amazing work, I think they have a bit of a 1920's / 30's feel to them a very dramatic centerpiece!
DearDemoiselle from DearDemoiselle said 5 years ago
These chandeliers look fantastic. What a cool girl - and what a great idea! Combining reuse with handmade is a perfect solution. Integrating one's beliefs in what one makes is a constant challenge. It's so easy just shopping for new materials... I'm using as much recycled materials as possible. It's more work than buying new, but in the end, it's also more fun!
Penny from BellaTuppy said 5 years ago
Amazing! The human mind and the creativity it produces always amazes and touches me.
nomera ajmal from nomera said 5 years ago
Amazing concept....amazing products!
Phuong Quynh from SakuraZIPPERjewelry said 5 years ago
So Inspirational!
Elena Petryanina from ElChocolatin said 5 years ago
I'm in a great delight! Your work is infinitely great and wonderful! This is a real success, congratulations! Good luck and prosperity!!
Lindsay Curren from LindsaysList said 5 years ago
Wow, her mind, her mission and her work are all awesome. What a great example she sets in the world of creation and employment as well as in citizenship. Love it!
Emily Delfin from reflectionsjewelry said 5 years ago
What incredible work! Thanks Etsy, for showing us.
Gracie from TheBeautyofBoredom said 5 years ago
This is incredible! Having such ideas and then going off and making it a reality. This is amazing and inspiring, thanks for sharing. Now if only I had a fraction of that creativity.
Betsy from BeingBetsyVintage said 5 years ago
Great Story! Powerful Idea and Beautiful Lighting Pieces Too Thanx
Naomi Storey from StoreyThreads said 5 years ago
Incredible! What a true work of art!
JuJuBeeBaby from JuJuBeeBaby said 5 years ago
Wow this is awesome work! Impressive!
Lawrence Carter from AcrossLeather said 5 years ago
Thirty years as a welder and the last ten come to be one of the most sought after on the Eastern Seaboard humbly said. Unique, skilled and definitely your passion. Excellent article, pics and way of life. Larry
PaperAltar from PaperAltar said 5 years ago
Rock Star !!
Jackie from LunaGreyFiberArts said 5 years ago
Very cool!!! I have seen lots of recycled bicycle part art...But, these chandeliers are beautiful! Only thing that would make this video better is a helmet : )
Elizabeth Tipton from ROSEWORX said 5 years ago
The most beautiful items I've ever seen on etsy. You're a genius as a designer. Really really lovely, moving, artful, and powerful once you know the story. Just amazing.
Leasa from LeasaDesigns said 5 years ago
Wow- Amazing - I had to look twice to see not just a beautiful chandalier - but bicycle parts!! Really fun!!
FreakyPeas from FreakyPeas said 5 years ago
this. is. amazing....... this has made me think again about many things... thanks
Toni from Naturallogic said 5 years ago
You Eco-Sexy, babe! xxoo
Demet Gunuc from MyModJewelry said 5 years ago
OMG!Wonderful project!!I love recycled works but I didnt see anywhere this bicycle chandelier...Congrats!!
creativetouch84 from CreativeTouchDecor said 5 years ago
So Cool !!! I'll never look at a bicycle the same way.
ghazala mancy from Maniadesign said 5 years ago
Very inspiring!
Flockof Teacosy from FlockofTeaCosy said 5 years ago
Bravo!
ArtMadeByTammy from ArtMadeByTammy said 5 years ago
So Spectacular!
Marlene Danko from SeaStarGallery said 5 years ago
The chandeliers caught my eye immediately and I loved watching her go through her whole process. She has a wonderful philosophy and outlook. Caro is amazing!
Βαρβαρα Μυλωνακη said 5 years ago
your work is fantastic. Bravo!!!!!!
Marinette De Pimpanteries from MarinettePimpanterie said 5 years ago
I realy love that!! Very good work!
Jim and Michelle Carlson from DaisyLaneVintage said 5 years ago
Truly amazing!!!! Your work beautiful and inspiring! :-)
Monique from voleurdebijoux said 5 years ago
Stunning! lovelovelove
Grace from SacredSymbolStudios said 5 years ago
WOW, I'm so impressed with your eloquence, your insight and your beautiful work.
Giota Kai from Relogyyy said 5 years ago
great work!!! I'll spread the word! wish you the best..!!!!!!!!!!!
Victoria Letemendia Koupparis from LavenderField said 5 years ago
OMG WOW!!
Leana Dominguez from EC0CHICNYC said 5 years ago
LOVE... LOVE... LOVE...
Eleanor from EEEsGems said 5 years ago
Your talent is amazing,your ideas too,
Simone Solomon from SimoneCeramics said 4 years ago
Love the shop , so creatic and fresh Perfect for bikelovers Dont stop making All the best
Regina Dudek from thequeensgonemad said 4 years ago
absolutely awesome!!!!!
Jonathan from Happyglassworks said 4 years ago
This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in my life
Deborah Kelly from Turtlesanvil said 4 years ago
Just beautiful art! It is so awesome, please don't stop. I also love, " surrender to the process".
Jennifer Tracy from JennyMayNatural said 4 years ago
i like it
Veronica V. from WildPeopleFreeSpirit said 3 years ago
Beautiful Art and amazing talent!!!! Congratulations»▲«------------
scatsusan said 2 years ago
How beautiful how creative....I want one sooo bad it rubs like a bike seat! Thank you for this inspirational way of making beauty from recycling...come to Tassie!