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Repurposing
The trash to treasure crowd has always had critics wondering “What exactly is a treasure?” Toilet paper tube binoculars don’t cut it.
Reusing has a sister name, repurposing. Repurposing is artsy, sophisticated and useful. Repurposing takes something headed for the trash and gives it a new utility.
This plant stand was turned into an attractive pan rack.
A pair of jeans with holes in the knees can, of course, be turned into cut-off shorts. Cut-off shorts can be turned into a hip purse.
That’s a start, but what about the stuff in the basement, stuff in the garage and stuff in the closets? What else can we do with this junk besides throw it away?
Look at this darling dress made from a man’s shirt: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6652171
How about this bed sheet-turned skirt? My kids have outgrown those same sheets! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6298397
Here’s a link repurposing some fabric scraps into a creative log book: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6119685
Buttons can be rescued from clothes so new buttons do not have to be purchased. At a garage sale, if a blouse for sale has a hole but boasts cool buttons, you might want to purchase it solely to rescue the buttons.
I have seen stuffed animals from socks www.stupidcreatures.com and a former cigarette machine turned into a vending machine for tiny art www.myspace.com/gladiatorart. In times of need, cigarette-pack sized art and sock animals won’t be much in demand, but I believe art is a necessity and these endeavors also keep stuff out of landfills.
A home packed with junk is a home packed with raw materials.
Notes: Check out the book, Decorating Junk Market Style, at the St. Charles County Library under the call number 747 Whitney.
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Repurposing takes something headed for the trash and gives it a new utility.
Some age-old examples are rag rugs and scrap quilts. Taking old fabrics and making something useful was called thrift and common sense back then.
An essential part of home keeping was the skill of squeezing all usefulness out of objects before throwing away. |