Thursday, April 21, 2011

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…..Repurpose? (Giveaway Closed)

While repurpose can fit into the reuse category, it often gets overlooked. What is it you ask? Well, it’s reusing something that would normally get trashed in a way that is different from the original use.

Along with being a great mom and an incredible artist, my sister Hilary is the master of repurposing things. Some of it came from need (supporting her family on no other income) some from being an artist and some because she really gives a damn about the earth.

A few years ago on my birthday, Hilary made me this most amazing coat rack out of a used board. Look at it. Really look. It’s all hand carved, hand painted from a design all her own. Each scale is not just painted on, it’s carved into the wood. Can you feel the love? Can you see the work that went into it? I have this mounted at kid level for the boys to use. I want them to see it daily and appreciate the wonderful things in life.


Her more recent artistic endeavors have moved over to jewelry. All of it is amazing and is almost the only jewelry I have. These two pieces were Christmas and Birthday presents 3 or so years ago. Nice eh!


But then 2 years ago, she sent me this amazing piece. Along with this narrative:
The pendant for this necklace is made from the leg of an old and broken mahogany headboard that was set out on the curb for garbage pick up. I'm on a mission to divert as much old wood from landfills as possible. Items that can't be fixed up and re-used are repurposed as jewellery or other household items.
The pendant is hand carved and completely unique. No patterns were used for its design. I hope you enjoy both the necklace and its story.
I was blown away. Luckily that headboard is big, because this year, I got this piece and was even more impressed (sorry for the poor photography)



Then, to be more wonderful, she made and sent these great puzzles for the boys. They were made from an old bookcase that was destined for the dump. Can you imagine, instead of taking up room in the landfill, these wonderful toys have emerged. I put my glasses in and turned one piece on the side so you could see how sturdy these are. Incredible, wooden,  hand painted and hand carved toys! What lucky boys I have.



I really want to share her work and support her efforts to keep her family going. So I offered to host a giveaway on my blog. No, you can’t have any of the pieces above, those are mine and I won't part with them for anything. Hilary probably doesn’t know, but I still even have the soup tureen that she glazed when she was still in high school and working with for potter for the summer.

If you would like to buy a work of art in either a toy or jewelry form, you can contact Hilary directly at to work out the details.  The pendants start at $50 unstrung, and go up based on effort, what other beads are used in stringing etc. Of course, you would also cover shipping (which is minimal on the jewelery) For more information, email Hilary at htyler_35@sympatico.ca


If you want to take the chance, you can win this incredible necklace, made from the same headboard as mine were. It will also include the document about its origin.


Mandatory entry: Tell me how you have repurposed an item (with a use not originally intended) that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

Extra Entry 1: follow me publicly on google friend connect


Extra Entry 2: tweet this giveaway (can be done daily) and leave me the direct link (I check)
#Win jewelry @ChrisRFretwell (Can/USA) Ends 04/24 #Giveaway http://bit.ly/hBaQMj

Extra Entry 3: blog about this giveaway and let me know how to find it (2 entries)

Contest closes May 24 (midnight PST also my birthday) and is open to Canada and the USA.

Although you won't get entries, you can get good karma by clicking on the button for Top Mommy Blogs (just click, your vote will be counted).
And for my undying thanks, you can also vote on Facebook to help us win a lifetime family pass to the Aquarium. It's such a wonderful thing and not something I can't always afford. It's a one-time vote, so if you've already done it. Thanks. https://apps.facebook.com/vanaqua/gallery/single/255


36 comments:

Domestic Diva said...

We recently turned a cracked teapot into a flowerpot. It's cute!

Thanks for the chance.

lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com

Domestic Diva said...

I follow on gfc

lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com

Jessica said...

recently turned a lamp cover into a plant pot!
jessicatang90 at gmail dot com

Jessica said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/hongdoufantuan/status/61819126351532032
jessicatang90 at gmail dot com

i_love_purple_cows said...

I always have a tendency to reuse things and have since I was little. My parents are following in my foot steps now.

When my parents redid our bathtub my Dad redid (fixed it up) and we now use it as a planter, also little things such as cracked glasses, bowls, and so on we use as planters.

we use our old clothes, towels, and bedsheets for dusting, or for when my dad fixes the cars.

We got parts from our old climbing set or swing set and covered it with wood and made a climber for my cats.

cdillane at hotmail dot com

i_love_purple_cows said...

Tweeted.

http://twitter.com/Ricki911/status/62243365286199297

cdillane at hotmail dot com

Sherri said...

I love the 4 R's!
You have so many fun things on this post...love it!

PAIGE said...

I turned an old ugly picture frame into a cool grovy picture frame by adding a little paint and sparkle.
elysesw@aol.com

toughturtles said...

follow on GFC

Unknown said...

I use grocery bags when I scoop the kitty litter

rugerpuppies at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

Follow on GFC

rugerpuppies at hotmail dot com

coliebear said...

I use egg cartons to hold paint in the art center of my prek classroom
lenz.nicole(at)gmail(dot)com

gibberish said...

I used the shards of a broken clay pot as drainage in my outdoor planters.
jlgibbings at hotmail dot com

Candie L said...

I wish I could think of something cool and exciting. I know we use popsicle sticks in my math class (for picking partners). We also use string and other odds and ends to go with our hands on projects. THank you

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Candie L said...

I am following on google friend connect. Thank you

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Lesley said...

Does your sister sell the puzzles? I would love one for Ewan.

Debbie Kennedy said...

We use plastic milk jugs as bird feeders.
cleaningrhouse at yahoo dot com

April said...

I am working with my 12yr old son to make notebooks and notepads out of cereal boxes.

Melissa said...

We use empty milk jugs (with part of it cut off) to bail out our boats.

melissamcnicol AT yahoo DOT com

Elka said...

I use my gallon plastic milk containers as disposable mini wash buckets, just cut the top off them

electricisland(at)gmail.com

Elka said...

I follow you on google friend connect
electricisland(at)gmail.com

jemr2 said...

We used an old door as the bottom of a new rabbit hutch. It works great!

Jemr2@aol dot com

jemr2 said...

Google follower (jemr2)

Jemr2@aol dot com

jemr2 said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/#!/jemr2/status/72706771092897792

Deadmonkeys90 said...

gfc follower
deadmonkeys90@yahoo.com

Deadmonkeys90 said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/deadmonkeys90/status/72875790785724416
deadmonkeys90@yahoo.com

april said...

I am following your blog publicly via GFC :) crazymommylife

email: crazymommylife@yahoo.com

susansmoaks said...

i always use the plastic grocery sacks as garbage pail liners before throwing them out
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

Lisa P. said...

I use a huge plastic animal cracker tub as a piggy bank.
lafittelady @ gmail . com

Lisa P. said...

GFC follower ~ Lisa Blogs

Lisa P. said...

Tweet
http://twitter.com/Lisa_Blogs/status/73027670992093185

kylie8cake said...

I found a broken 70's owl wall hanging. I fixed it, painted it white, and hung it up on my purple wall at my house. It looks GREAT! Salvaged items are fantastic :)


kylie8cake (at) gmail (dot) com

kylie8cake said...

tweeted:

http://twitter.com/#!/kylienkate/status/73114577201664000

kylie8cake (at) gmail (dot) com

yadgirl said...

I follow you publicly as yadgirl on GFC

yadgirl said...

tweet with wrong date http://twitter.com/#!/yadgirl/status/73239587681615872

wall mounted coat rack with shelf said...

Great idea... love em!