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I wish they had something like this closer to Flagstaff — or even Phoenix.
The Upcycle Exchange is a pilot program that realizes some of the concepts I wrote about in Craft: Vol. 9’s “Crafting a Green World” article. I compile a wish-list of specific items local indie crafters are looking for on our website, and when people donate items to us, we offer them a discount on our handmade goods. We have been running the program successfully for over a year now, collecting and distributing at many local indie craft shows. Recently, we’ve moved into a small distribution center and have started enlisting local businesses as drop-off locations. Later this year, I will be publishing detailed “schematics” for running the program, essentially open-sourcing it. This Sunday, we happen to be hosting a open house at our distribution location!
For those of you that live closer:
The Upcycle Exchange Green CrafTea Open House
Sunday, March 28th 12-4pm
Finder’s Hive
3022A Cherokee St., St Louis MO
(via Craftzine)
Fri, March 26th 2010
Purpose Restoration.
“Why create when you can recreate? You call it art; we call it furniture destiny. Now we live, and work, for a purpose.”
This company takes repurposing seriously, with style. They take old pieces of furniture, that you might find in a thrift shop or on the side of the road - and apply snazzy design concepts and principles to recreate new furniture, the kind you’d pay $$$ for. You can apply this same idea to your old furniture - do this!
This is The Butcher Block: Old “ice box” style TV stand. With large wide screen TV’s, and all of the components that come with our new modern viewing adventure, these stands have become obsolete. The cabinet is of high quality wood and construction. Medium: White lacquer with black and red lacquer knives. 1 ½” thick reclaimed butcher block cut to size, Butcher block oil (FDA approved for food preparation). Plexiglass backing. Dimensions: H 35” W 35” D 19 ½”
From this: 
To this:
(via Purpose Restoration)
Tue, March 9th 2010
Real Simple provides a HUGE A-Z list of how to responsibly recycle, upcyle, reuse or properly dispose of several common items, including:
— Paint — Bubble wrap — Jars — Eyeglasses — Aerosol cans — Books — Computers — Batteries — Mattresses — Post it notes — Prescription drugs —
»> Here are some examples:
Cell phones: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fewer than 20 percent of cell phones are recycled each year, and most people don’t know where to recycle them. The Wireless Foundation refurbishes old phones to give to domestic-violence survivor calltoprotect.org. For information on other cell-phone charities, log on to recyclewirelessphones.com. In some states, like California and New York, retailers must accept and recycle old cell phones at no charge.
Crayons: Send them to the National Crayon Recycle Program (crazycrayons.com, which melts down crayons and reforms them into new ones. Leave the wrappers on: “When you have black, blue, and purple crayons together without wrappers, it’s hard to tell them apart,” says the program’s founder, LuAnn Foty, a.k.a. the Crazy Crayon Lady.
Stereos and VCRs: Visit earth911.org for a list of recyclers, retail stores, and manufacturers near you that accept electronics. Small companies are popping up to handle electronic waste (or e-waste) as well: Greencitizen.com in San Francisco will pull apart your electronics and recycle them at a cost ranging from nothing to 50 cents a pound. And the 10 nationwide locations of freegeek.org offer a similar service.
Holiday cards: After they’ve lined your mantel for two months, you could throw them into the recycling bin, or you could give them a whole new life. St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (stjudesranch.org), a nonprofit home for abused and neglected youths, runs a holiday-card reuse program in which the kids cut off the front covers, glue them onto new cards, and sell the result―earning them money and confidence.
(via Real Simple)
Sat, January 16th 2010
Upcycled Boots!
You can use a sweater to make these comfy boots.
(Get the tutorial here: via crafster)
Sun, January 10th 2010
