Staff Spotlight: Shayla M.
Each month we highlight one of the incredible staff members that makes the magic happen at Austin Creative Reuse. This month, it’s Retail Reuse Specialist, Shayla M. (she/her). She is the ray of sunshine in our creative reuse center lives, and you’ll know exactly what we mean if you ever get a chance to chat with her at the register. Continue reading below to learn more about her and take a peek at her handmade junk journals!
How did you find Austin Creative Reuse?
I actually found ACR at its original (and small) location in the Linc shopping center! I remember walking in and immediately being engulfed in every craft item I could ever dream of. I happily rubbed elbows with fellow customers who were also on the hunt for wonderful treasures and even had a few conversations on future crafting plans.
What’s your favorite part about working at ACR?
100% the people. From my co-workers to volunteers, I love that as a whole we are all working towards making the world a better and more connected place (corny, I know). It makes me proud to know that I’m part of a team with a big heart.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve found at ACR while working?
I always love donated handmade items. A piece that sticks out to me was a shadow box that had a bunch of random, rusty, and weird objects in it. It reminded me of the artist Joseph Cornell and the shadow box art he would create. I definitely should have bought it!
What do you do when you’re not working at ACR?
When I’m not spending my time at ACR, I’m usually creating video content for my YouTube channel (@BubbieandBean), making handmade junk journals and showing off my latest thrift hauls. I have even started selling my handmade items on a different platform! But besides everything crafty, I love to hang out with my husband (aka best friend), play video games, try out new recipes, and explore new places in Austin.
Are you an artist, crafter, or maker? What mediums do you work with?
I consider myself a crafter or a maker. I craft because it’s an outlet for me to express myself and be creative with interesting materials. I make junk journals and just like in the name, there is a lot of interesting items that can be reused and repurposed to create a journal. I love getting a material that interests me because of a certain attribute it has and figuring out how I can use it in creating or embellishing a journal. Also, it allows me to collect a lot of interesting things along the way!
Where can we see more of your work?
I have a YouTube channel where I create tutorials on junk journals and paper crafting. You can view it here!
These two (above) are from a circus collection. They can be used as tags or journaling cards and are fun to tuck into pockets of journals! The hoop on the left is actually from a piece of jewelry! I love adding texture to paper, whether it’s sewing, a piece of fabric, or a fun charm.
Halloween themed journal and kit to embellish the journal. The journal is made from an old Nancy drew book. It has sewn in pages and pockets on the side, ready for decorating! I love to sell unfinished journals with embellishment kits to help others get inspired and set them up for a fun creative experience!
Last but not least, I love making altered paperclips! Paperclips are great for adding fun things to your journal without permanently adhering them to a page! These of course also are part of my “spooky” collection. Check out the Frankenstein paperclip at the bottom, my fav!