Woman Develops Impressive Side Hustle After a Simple Art Project Takes an Unexpected Turn (Exclusive)

In the vibrant heart of San Francisco, high school physics teacher Kaitlyn Kraybill-Voth is turning the conventional ideas of art and sustainability on their head. Known for her colourful sequins made from discarded materials like cans, wrappers, and even old credit cards, she manages to combine her passion for teaching with a commitment to environmental awareness.

Kraybill-Voth’s artistic journey began when she was grappling with the need for a specific shiny green sequin for her artwork. Instead of opting for the convenience of online shopping from a retailer like Amazon, she decided to rely on her creativity and resourcefulness. “It just was a moment where it clicked,” she reflected on the epiphany that led her to use items she might otherwise discard. Using her toolkit, which included two different-sized hole punches, she crafted the exact sequin she envisioned — a striking piece sourced entirely from a green LaCroix can.

Much of her artwork features intricate embroidery designs that often highlight natural themes such as flora and fauna. “I try not to buy extra materials to make trash with because that kind of takes away the purpose of reusing what you already have,” explained Kraybill-Voth. Her creative process begins with a colour and texture-focused scavenger hunt within her own pantry. Rather than combing through refuse bins, she prefers to examine her surroundings and repurpose what is readily available.

The process of creating sequins is both simple and clever. Kraybill-Voth employs a standard 1.4-inch hole punch to form the circular shape and uses a smaller jewellery punch to create a centre hole for sewing. For metallic items, such as LaCroix cans, she utilises a dedicated punch designed for cutting through metal safely. Her expertise in handling these materials ensures they are not only functional but safe to work with.

In recent times, Kraybill-Voth has expanded her repertoire of materials, incorporating old plastic items such as credit cards. This evolution comes with its own commentary on consumerism; her latest project reflects the duality of waste in a capitalist society and the innovative repurposing of that waste. “I liked that one a lot because I thought it compared and contrasted the ideas of just waste under capitalism, and then repurposing that waste,” she noted.

Aside from her impressive artistic ventures, Kraybill-Voth values the integration of art in her teaching approach. Although her students may not share the same enthusiasm for her artwork, she believes in offering them diverse ways to express their understanding. “It’s important to give students different modalities to show their thinking,” she expressed, highlighting her commitment to educational inclusivity.

Through her art and teaching, Kraybill-Voth aims to convey a fundamental truth: that “all art is political.” In her view, every act of creation exists within a broader social, economic, and cultural context. In a recent video on social media, she explained how creating something by hand, especially in a fast-paced consumer culture, pushes back against the disposability and mass production that often define modern life.

“Creation, then, is revolutionary,” she articulated. “It is a tactile reminder that we have the power to shape the world, stitch by stitch, trash sequin by trash sequin.” Her philosophy emphasises the potential of art as a form of resistance against prevailing norms — a mission she embarks on not just through her creative projects, but also in her classroom, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment within her students.

Through her innovative practices, Kaitlyn Kraybill-Voth exemplifies how art can be an eco-friendly endeavour, seamlessly blending education, creativity, and sustainability. Her work invites us all to consider the materials we use and to rethink how we engage with the concept of waste, while simultaneously inspiring the next generation to look beyond traditional artistic boundaries.