Halloween Recycled Style...

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!  It is one of my favorite holidays because it brings out the creativity in everyone and allows us to be as expressive as we would like to be.  So, needless to say, my Litterbugs have been busy creating lots of Halloween recycled projects at the studio.

This one is my favorite...check out the fun shadows!

Plastic CD cases and empty medicine bottles for that orange glow!

This PUZZLE was a huge hit as well!

Popsicle sticks (half was already orange from an orange popsicle!)

Happy Crafting!

T-Jewelry

You know your T-Shirt drawer is in need of a good spring cleaning.  Why not take those old, faded, not-entirely-flattering pieces of cotton off the bottom of that neglected stack and breathe some life back into them?  That's what we did at Trashed:

(This one is a little "Madonna-esque", but I love it.)

Add some pop, add some flair, add some broken beads and... voila!...you've got yourself a brand new accessory! 

Fun and Fashionable!

At 'Trashed', we have had lots of practice being fashionistas lately! 

These expired gift cards got a new life at the bracelet making class...

                                     

What a conversation piece!  They are so stunning!

Also, the 'never-to-be-looked-at-again' pages of the phonebook were transformed into flowers for wearing...

Such little cuties!  They did such a great job!

EARTH DAY!!!

What fun it is to light up the entire street in honor of Earth Day! 

So many of my students and visitors created these wonderfully inspirational luminaries using recycled milk jugs, and they are so impressive!  There are some clever and crafty folks around here!

***side note***
Here is a glimpse of the collecting of milk jugs...thanks Meredith...oh if they could see you now!

SCORE!!!!

Keeping in mind that I am not a photographer, the finished product really was beautiful!  Thanks to all who participated and came out to witness!  We will do it again next Earth Day...Double Time!

(the spots are from bubbles...I'm not that terrible of a photographer)

Curb-side Transformation!

This bench was found sitting on the curb, just waiting for the garbage collectors to take it to it's final resting place in the dump.  Not much to look at, but it definitely had good "bones". 

After a huge fabric donation (thanks, Joni and Jordan!), I knew that I could bring it back to life, so I gave it a little makeover.  Now it's going to have a new home right in the studio!

reFind...reThink...rePurpose!!!!

The Afterlife of a Book...

What a fun project!

 I (after sending out a silent apology to the author to free myself from the guilt) gave this paperback novel a second purpose in life!  It was a great read in its first life, but rather than letting it live out its days trapped in a dusty box in my attic, I decided that it deserved a more fashionable chance this go round! 

So...I turned it into a beautiful book "poof", we will call it.  It was so exciting to watch the transformation!  Have a look!

I even found a page with my birthday as the chapter title...

ha...just kidding...it's really this one...

Unil next time, Happy Creating Ya'll!

Let Your Light Shine

Check out this lamp that I made today! 

I had a lamp that just wasn't my style...

so I decided to use some materials I have been collecting to give it a quick makeover. 

I found a bunch of lace on freecycle that someone was planning to throw out.
A sweet mom from my son's preschool class gave me these turquoise beads that were a necklace her daughter had broken (thanks, Grace!).
I had some old twine and some old paper, paint and buttons. 

Mix all of that together, and this is what you get!  What do you think?

Dumpster Diving!!!

So I am officially a true dumpster diver!  I found mounds of GREAT fabric in the dumpster behind my friend's fabric store (Muse Designer Fabrics on Church St....you should check it out!) that someone just tossed!  Unbelievable!  It makes my heart beat a little faster with each piece that I find :)  I am just baffled by how irresponsible it was to throw this all in the dumpster to begin with, though.  Folks, you have to believe me...there is always something clever and useful to do with fabric scraps!  Oh, the ideas just keep swimming around my head...bags, scarves, window treatments, cell phone cases, doggie beds, and on and on and on...

So, I know, I am probably a little kooky and "trashy", but at least I will have some new, awesome pillows to show for it.  :)

Coming Soon...

The dream has a home!!!  We have found the perfect space for "Trashed" creative recycling studio in downtown Concord!  The next time you are at Ellie's coffeeshop (and you know you will be~ everyone loves Ellie's!), take a look across the street and up to the stained glass windows~ that's us!  I have decided to take advantage of the often overlooked, upstairs spaces in our beautiful historic town, so come see me! The stairs even provide a little exercise~ good for the heart, good for the soul!

We are so excited about the renovations to come!  In keeping with the concept, everything in this space will be upfitted using recycled and repurposed materials (down to the paint on the walls!).  I'm always up for a good challenge!  Stay tuned for progress pics and updates...

If you or your business have any extra/disposable items that could be repurposed, I would love to take them off of your hands!  I'm happy to come collect!  There is an ongoing wishlist of useful materials including magazines, books, fabric, metal, yarn, glass pieces, old jewelry, buttons, corks, wire, wood scraps, and much more.  It will serve a much better purpose in our studio than in the landfill, so please consider this before taking out your garbage. :)

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED..."TRASHED" IS COMING SOON!

Today is the day...

OK, here goes...today is the day I become a blogger! I have recently taken a leap of faith and began a very exciting journey, so it seems the perfect time to start a "thought trail."

For as long as I can remember, I have had a huge passion for all things found and repurposed.  Since creating is in my bones, I have created a way to share this deep rooted enthusiasm with other folks in the form of a "creative recycling studio."  Imagine, a place to let your creative self (we are all creative beings) rethink your perception of disposable objects and repurpose them into something original and beautiful...and made by you!  There is something very satisfying about dreaming up an idea and forging it with your own hands.  I like to call this process "recycle therapy" since it truly is so therapeutic for the soul and for the planet we share.

So there it is...I am commiting to do my part in keeping unnecessary items out of the landfills by recreating their purpose.  And while I'm at it, I believe I will recreate mine...