ABOUT

ReCraft is a secondhand store for craft and hobby supplies
​ with a focus on sustainability and environmentalism

I LOVE TO CRAFT

My name is Bethany Walters and I'm the driving force behind ReCraft. 

My background is as a musician and I began learning violin and piano at the age of five. I double majored in Violin Performance and Creative Writing at the University of Indianapolis. Most of my career has been as a professional musician and working in arts administration.

Crafting has always been a big part of my life. My paternal grandmother, Patricia June, taught me to quilt and knit when I was seven and my maternal grandmother, Patricia Anne, taught me to tat (an old form of lace making) when I was a teenager. My mother used to sew and make us matching outfits. Currently, I mostly knit, spin, tat, and enjoy exploring different mediums. My next big project is fixing up a loom I inherited and learning to weave!

Since the age of 16, I've struggled with violin-related injuries. After working in the non-profit world for awhile, I quit to focusing on my teaching and performing. I spent two years building my teaching studio and performing career and realized that my career as a musician was not sustainable for my body or my mental health and I started searching for a new path.

I LOVE THE ENVIRONMENT

My journey into environmentalism has been a slow burn and it is all the fault of my friend, Julia. She started organizing and running clothing swaps in 2013, and that opened my eyes to the environmental impact of fast fashion. I began thrifting all of my clothing and changing my diet to be plant-based. Then, while I was searching for a new direction in 2017, Julia started a business as a sustainability consultant. She hired me to do waste diversion at events and I discovered a new passion - digging through trash! The sheer amount of waste was staggering and it made me examine other areas of my life to see what I could do to reduce the amount of garbage that I was creating.  

Crafting was a natural place to start. In my search to find sustainable and eco-friendly supplies, I found out about Indy Upcycle just a few days before they closed their doors. The idea was percolating. I visited the Scrap Box in Ann Arbor, MI and ReCreative Denver and found more inspiration. 

ReCraft was opened on November 1, 2018 in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood of Indianapolis. Focused on sustainability and environmentalism, ReCraft is a place for makers and creators to come together and #craftresponsibly. 

Thank you for reading about the origin of ReCraft. We care deeply about the environment, creating, and community. Hope to see you soon!
​
~ Bethany Walters, Owner & Founder