Well everyone, I have really procrastinated this week, and I am actually selling my wares at a Craft Fair in Morrisburg as I write this article. Having said that, I am looking around at the many vendors and realizing how many of us are utilizing the concept of recycle, reuse and repurpose in our work.
There are teddy bears made from discarded fur coats, bird feeders made from glass items or china cups and saucers, unique solar light posts from old “mini ties”, glass totems, glass wall blocks from the 70’s decorated and equipped with LED lights, old windows turned into outdoor art, button wreaths and trees, book marks made with dried flowers, hand-painted eyeglass lens that have become broaches, pens from spare bits of wood, barn board, barrel staves and old machinery parts become home décor, and the list goes on. Everyone’s motto seems to be “another person’s discards soon become our treasures”.
The point of this subject matter is to encourage people to resist sending everything to the garbage that they perceive as useless. There are many creative people who would be eager to turn your discards into a creative marketable item. In fact, many of us spend hours scouring thrift stores, yard sales, and auctions for the very item you perceive as unusable.
As many of my readers are entering the time of their lives when they are seeking to downsize, this information should prove helpful as you are cleaning out the closets, cupboards, china cabinet, and garage. It is much easier to dispose of our precious items when we know they will be reincarnated as beautiful and often serviceable items.
So the moral of the story is to start cleaning out your attic, basement, garage, and storage lockers and donate your precious collectibles and mementos to a thrift store or host a yard sale if you have larger items. When you choose to donate to a local thrift store run by a charitable organization (like ours in Deseronto) you are not only benefiting a local agency, you are supporting the local artists who depend upon your generosity. Definitely a “win – win” situation.
The final countdown is on! Our Winter Driving Workshop with renowned facilitator Gary Magwood scheduled for November 25th at 2 pm. He will be providing some valuable information on steering out of a skid, appropriate braking techniques, and many other tips and tricks that will help you and your automobile make it safely through the winter. Seating is limited, so call Deb today at 613-969-0130 to reserve your space.
Second announcement; and this one is frightening … Community Care for South Hastings officially starts their Christmas Gift Wrap fundraiser on November 27, 2015 – “Black Friday”. We will be at the Quinte Mall from 7 a.m. this Friday until Christmas Eve at 5 p.m. We have two requests – come and volunteer if you love wrapping gifts (call Irene at 613-969-0130 to sign up) or bring your purchased gifts and let us wrap and decorate them for you.