Upcycling
When asked if I could write an article about upcycling, my first question was, “What is that?” So, off I go to Wikipedia, to find out that upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.
Who knew? I was already upcycling without even knowing it. I love to make crafts and often take things like Altoids tins and pretty jars to repurpose as gift cardholders or as containers for handmade cards. I also cut out the interesting fronts of cards that I receive, to use as embellishments on new cards or in scrapbook pages. Old buttons can be made into “vintage” jewelry, and Kraft paper can be cut into pages for a journal.
With my new awareness, I have started to observe upcycling all around. While at Summerfaire, the annual Arts and Crafts fair in Cincinnati, I found that many of the artists were upcycling. Examples included a local women who makes upcycled clothing from recycled t-shirts , upcycled, handmade journals and sketchbooks , an artists who takes pieces of broken pottery and china to make beautiful mosaics, and a metalworker that made picture easels and wind chimes from antique silver forks and spoons.
My grandmother was an upcycler before Reiner Pilz first coined the term in 1994. She made rag rugs and quilts from old clothing. She would cut around the holes and stains on the clothing to recover the good fabric. I have many quilts that my grandmother made, that are special because I see my favorite dress when I was 10 in the pattern.
There are many websites now that are full of ideas for upcycling. You might try:
• www.upcycling.org
• www.craftingagreenworld.com
• www.theupcycleproject.com
What is it you have around your house or garage that is a great upcycling idea just waiting for you to make it happen?
Where can you put your creativity to work to make a treasure from what others might view as trash?
How could your ideas be used to fund ministry projects?
We would love to hear your upcycling ideas.
Ideas:
-------
1 - www.loveworn.net
2 - Re*Imagined by Luna – www.reimaginedonline.com
|
