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