Tag Archives: Upcycle

2018 Crackedpots Holiday Shop — crackedpots – Sara Badiali

Crackedpots Holiday Shop encourages shoppers to reconsider the disposable nature of the season with thoughtful alternative gifts made from reclaimed materials.Holiday Pop UpSIGN.png

Crackedpots (crackedpots.org) is a small environmental art nonprofit in whose mission is waste reduction through reuse. This year this humble organization has quietly made a stunning leap forward for the reuse industry, by opening a retail store in a major mall in Portland, Oregon.

The Crackedpots Holiday Shop carries local, handcrafted products that are exclusively made from a minimum of 80% reclaimed materials. Recovered waste materials are transformed into furniture, lighting, fixtures, clothing, accessories, fine art, and craft. Items are made from salvaged metal, glass, textiles, jewelry, assemblage, wood and plastics.

By selling only reclaimed products in a major shopping center for the holidays, Crackedpots is mainstreaming the reuse market by leaps and bounds. The ReTuna Återbruksgalleria mall in Eskilstuna, Sweden is the only other known mall retail outlet pioneering exclusively reclaimed goods.

This unique organization has less than ten employees, working part time. The operating budget is under $100,000. They have three programs, the annual Reuse Art Show, the GLEAN art show, and ReClaim It! salvage store.

This summer’s 19th Annual Reuse Art Show converted over 20 tons of waste into retail products. Since 2014 Cracked Pots has diverted 413,310 pounds from the Metro Central Transfer Station.

By Sara Badiali

Source: 2018 Crackedpots Holiday Shop — crackedpots

Surfboard made from 150 aluminum cans and vinyl records for fins wins Vissla ‘Upcycle’ contest – Orange County Register

People look at a board made by Titouan La Droitte from France. It’s made from 150 aluminum cans and foam and wood scraps as recycled surfboards made from wacky materials are on display at the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

Naude marveled at the choice of the vinyl records for the board’s fins and how the creator, Titouan La Droitte, used a plastic bottle cap for the leash plug. In addition to the 150 aluminum cans, the surfboard maker from France also used split pallet wood to create the winning board.

Source: Surfboard made from 150 aluminum cans and vinyl records for fins wins Vissla ‘Upcycle’ contest – Orange County Register

Meet the Ecopreneur Who Loves to Talk Trash | St. Thomas Newsroom

Jason Utgaard

“It was a snowball effect leading to the intersection of my enhanced awareness of the sheer volume of material I was responsible for nationally distributing through my roles as a buyer/VP, and this surge of sustainably made products I saw while doing sourcing work,” he said.

Source: Meet the Ecopreneur Who Loves to Talk Trash | St. Thomas Newsroom

This Cascade Locks Start-Up Saves Activewear from Landfills | Mount Hood | Portland Monthly

Renewal Workshop HQ: a  stone’s throw from Bridge of the Gods in the beautiful Columbia Gorge. IMAGE: RENEWAL WORKSHOP

So what does the Renewal Workshop sell? Unique, restored activewear diverted from landfills and offered at significantly discounted prices. From its Cascade Locks repair facility, the Workshop intercepts articles of clothing from some of the biggest West Coast names in the outdoor clothing industry (think Prana, Ibex, and Mountain Khakis) that—due to small tears, sewing malfunctions, discolorations, and the like—have been deemed unfit for regular retail and normally would be on their way to landfills.  Instead, the Renewal Workshop founders have worked out a unique arrangement with these companies: rather than trash these items, they’re gifted, and shipped, to Cascade Locks, to be washed and mended back to retail quality.

Source: This Cascade Locks Start-Up Saves Activewear from Landfills | Mount Hood | Portland Monthly

This Toronto design studio uses upcycling to turn trash into treasure – The Globe and Mail

Fugitive Glue has made a variety of items from light fixtures, to stools, to an art installation in 2012. (Samson Wong)

“[It’s] where we isolate a waste stream, collect batches of that base material, come up with a design and create products,” says Jano Badovinac, 39, the mastermind behind the six-year-old company. In this case, “We’d collect propane tanks from decommissioning stations, clean them, cut them down, weld them into something.”

Source: This Toronto design studio uses upcycling to turn trash into treasure – The Globe and Mail

Upcycle Oregon adds marketplace to May 21 festival

“The vision behind Upcycle Oregon is to draw our community and our home state together as thoughtful consumers and creative re-users,” Greene said. “It’s our goal that visitors who attend this free community event will leave with inspiration and practical ideas for making creative reuse a regular part of their lives.”

Source: Upcycle Oregon adds marketplace to May 21 festival

Fashion and furniture partnership upcycles sweats into sofas, biker jackets into chairs – LA Times

The design collaboration between local furniture maker Stephen Kenn and the menswear label Longjourney includes armchairs made from repurposed leather motorcycle jackets and a sofa upcycled from vintage sweatshirts. (Stephen Kenn X Longjourney)

From afar, the pieces appear to be stylish and modern versions of standard-issue living room furniture. But, upon closer examination, the upholstery covering the chairs is recognizable as patchworked panels from vintage black leather motorcycle jackets. And, while you’d have absolutely no way of knowing it, the eight cushions covering the polished black nickel sofa frame began life as an armload of sweatshirts and tent canvas before being washed, dyed, combed and waxed into a second career, and that some of the frame’s supporting straps are repurposed straps from military parachutes.

Source: Fashion and furniture partnership upcycles sweats into sofas, biker jackets into chairs – LA Times

REvision Division Reduces Waste by Thinking Outside the Box – WhatcomTalk

Design and Build masterminds Matt Vaughn (L) and David Spangler (R) unleash their creativity in each furniture piece. Photo courtesy: REvision Division.

“Eberhard’s influence helped us shift from a value-added mindset to actively pursuing difficult-to-divert materials from the waste stream — shifting the focus to education outreach and behavior change,” Gisclair notes. “We wanted people to see the value and what the possibilities are to repurpose materials that are widely perceived as trash — wooden or flooring shorts, frame pieces, things that we wouldn’t normally accept at the RE Store.”

Source: REvision Division Reduces Waste by Thinking Outside the Box – WhatcomTalk

Bob Falk, Building Material Reuse Pioneer – Shares his Home Remodel Progress

Bob Falk is a veteran building material reuse and deconstruction expert. One could say he wrote the book on how to salvage building materials.  Unbuilding: Salvaging the Architectural treasures of unwanted Houses was released in 2007 as the first book taking you through the process of deconstructing a building. The topic was so new that the publishers had a hard time finding a category for it. To this day you can find Unbuilding in construction, green building, woodworking, waste diversion and other various places.

Bob has a PhD in engineering and works at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin as a Research Engineer. Bob has published extensively on the recycling and reuse of wood materials.

Bob shares his house remodel progress below.

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“My daughter Abby helping me lay radiant tubing in my new woodshop. Blue foam insulation is salvaged.

 

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Reclaimed steel framework for garage…from an old coal plant. I designed and welded up all the components.

 

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Front of new addition before stucco. All trim boards are reclaimed DF bleacher seats.
All insulation on the inside are industrial seconds from a insulation manufacturer. Garage doors are salvaged and rebuilt.
 Stonework is salvaged from a garage I tore down. Light fixture is salvaged from a teardown. Gutters and downspouts are now copper.

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 Here’s the house today. Still not finished on inside. The right side was built in 1927. I have replaced all the windows, exterior woodwork, and stucco. Everything to the left of the main gable is new.  The tall lighting fixture on the right side of the driveway was an original street lighting fixture installed in our Village in the 1920’s. I was able to find two from a house teardown. I bought from the new property owner and rewired/repurposed for driveway lights.
You can’t see it in the pictures but I salvaged from a teardown two clay chimney pots that now reside on top of my chimney.  Also, I bought 800 sf of red oak flooring from HFH Restore that will be using in the house to match the existing, just can’t match with new flooring.” 

 

Sponsor Post: Railroadware Wire Coil Toroid Pendant Collection – RailroadWare

 

Wire Coil Glass Toroid Pendant a14

Industrial lighting made from glass and steel providing style while adding a modern presence to your kitchen, office or restaurant.

Wire Coil Glass Toroid Pendant a07

Wire Coil Glass Toroid Pendant Light™ 580 Lumen LED dimming
Inspired by Tesla’s Induction Coil Transformer featuring a toroid (cylinder) made from a wine bottle shade hand wrapped with reflective metal wire winding.

The suspended 580 Lumen LED bulb beams, reflects and shimmers off the wire strands beaming through the glass shade with a focused task light at the bottom of the cylinder to deliver plenty of light to a table or counter. A warm reflective glow spills out of the top.

All Railroadware fixtures are made in the USA meeting all NEC Standards and can be tested & UL labeled if needed for an additional cost. The pendant comes ready to hang with instructions, canopy, hardware and LED bulb.

Inquire about our 12V LED Monopoint fixture systems that are UL Listed. This fixture works on a variety of monorail track light series – WAC, H, J & L (See additional lights & accessories for additional options)

Wire Coil Glass Toroid Pendant a10

APPLICATION: Kitchen Island, hallway, living room, dining room, coffee bar, restaurant, foyer, lobby, bedroom…

Customers & friends will notice and appreciate the optical performance & origins of these fixtures.
Includes: (ready to hang,

+ Metal coil glass shade 3″ dia. 6″ tall. Total fixture measures 7″ tall with cord grip.

+ Brass hardware ring inside glass toroid shade.

+ Cord – 60″ adj. 3 wire cord (white & black) additional length available

+ Base – Candelabra base porcelain socket set

+ LED Bulb – 120V 6W 580 Lumens/ 60W equal, 360 degree, 2700K warm white, No UV no IR

+ Canopy – Metal 5″ ceiling canopy, cross bar with two screws and an adjustable cord grip. (white, black & metal)

Weight: 3 LBS

Box Size: 6x6x8

Shipping: 2-4 weeks

Sponsor a Post with the Reclamation Administration

and bring your message to thousands interested in reclaimed materials!

Source: Wire Coil Toroid Pendant Collection – RailroadWare

Booth 121 features variety of upcycled projects – The Herald-Independent: The Herald-Independent

Choices, choices, choices

Robertson shared that the store has been doing well so far, and that word seems to be getting out. Because Booth 121 features the work of many different artists, the inventory is always changing.

Robertson is, however, still looking for more artists to share their projects in her store. She explained that she works with artists on a commission-based split and tries to keep consignment rates reasonable.

For Robertson, opening her own business has required hard work and long hours, but she said it’s all worth it.

“It’s what you do when your job is your passion” she said.

Lots from which to choose

Leah Robertson, who has enjoyed creating upcycled treasures for several years, opened a retail store called Booth 121 in November. The store, which is located at 6203 Monona Drive, features Robertson’s work, as well as projects created by a number of other artists.

via Booth 121 features variety of upcycled projects – The Herald-Independent: The Herald-Independent.

Design Doctor will be at Ocean Terminal this weekend | The Edinburgh Reporter

SWG3F_20151127_1681Today and tomorrow marks the culmination of a Scotland-wide, eight-week social media campaign to encourage people to upcycle and re-use furniture.

“Re-using things – whether that be through upcycling, donating unwanted items, or buying from a re-use store not only saves money – it is one of the best options for the environment since it prevents waste going to landfill and lowers the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new items.”

via Design Doctor will be at Ocean Terminal this weekend | The Edinburgh Reporter.

United Hub – Travel in sustainable style with a United upcycle travel bag – News

Earlier this year the Chicago Department of Aviation changed the size of banner advertisements allowed at Chicago O’Hare, which meant that more than 20 United banners were unusable. Our Eco-Skies team saw this as an opportunity to “upcycle” the materials rather than throw them away. The practice of upcycling allows us to repurpose materials in a creative way to create something truly one of a kind.

via United Hub – Travel in sustainable style with a United upcycle travel bag – News.

Railroad Spike Beer Rack Train by RailroadWare

 

 

 

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All aboard functional piece of heavy duty Railroadware. This unique shelving & product display system is an ideal way to display and feature your favorite cans & bottles. It can handle the job storing your products with an attractive rustic style, industrial old world charm and functionality. Your favorite bottle or can is the locomotive. (Fine wines or beer not included.)

Used in restaurants, bars, and homes, The storage system comes with 2-spikes,  2-rebar rails,  2- cast iron escutcheon washer2 ½” dia. and 2-wood screws 1/4″x 2″  that can be removed and replaced with any hardware you need.

RR_Spike_Wine_Train_Rack_06

Custom sizes and longer trains are available. Each track carries a train featuring your bottles and cans. You can stack you precious cargo on the rails or purchase multiple shelves. Orient them east or west bound either way they make a nice addition to your kitchen or bar station.

RR_Spike_Beer Train_Rack_1b

Attach to wall studs @ 32” O.C. or consult contractor for drywall or other installation. Extra Additional RR spike brackets and ½” rebar gauge track available.

RR_Spike_Beer Train_Rack_3b

RailroadWare Logo IconWHAT IS RAILROADWARE?

We upcycle and repurpose common industrial artifacts transforming them into products that provide a historical accent to commercial or residential spaces. Combining the ruggedness of upcycled industrial steel and glass, our products add distinctive depth and texture to your decor without overwhelming. They are also delightfully functional and all made in USA.

Railroad Spike Beer Rack Train 44″ – 6 pack – RailroadWare.

‘Ding’ Darling reveals silent auction items for Upcycle! | Fort Myers Newspaper | News, Business, Real Estate and Arts in Fort Myers FL | Florida


Chris Tymoshuk from Troutdale, Ore., carved his silent auction lamp from a recycled Disney trivia tin with a torch. It is valued at $100. Chris Tymoshuk from Troutdale, Ore., carved his silent auction lamp from a recycled Disney trivia tin with a torch. It is valued at $100.

“This year, as we expand the second annual Upcycle! Art Fest to two days, we have decided to also offer more auction pieces from our artists,” said Upcycle! committee chair Barb Rogers. “We are thrilled that already Andrew Corke has donated another unique collector’s piece. His work is an amazing representation of the upcycling concept. Two other artists have also agreed to contribute pieces, and we are expecting more.”

via ‘Ding’ Darling reveals silent auction items for Upcycle! | Fort Myers Newspaper | News, Business, Real Estate and Arts in Fort Myers FL | Florida.

Upcycling makes the old look brand new – The Park Record

Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch counties recently held a contest to see who could best upcycle used furniture. A bench made from an old

Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch counties recently held a contest to see who could best upcycle used furniture. A bench made from an old headboard was the winning piece, submitted by Joli Pichot, of Ogden. (Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity)

via Upcycling makes the old look brand new – The Park Record.

Oxgut Hose Company Makes Household Products Using Reclaimed Fire Hose | Inhabitat

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The company, which is based in Oakland, CA. works with Bay Area designers and artisans to make furniture and accessories that feature reclaimed fire hose, keeping them out of the landfill.

via Oxgut Hose Company Makes Household Products Using Reclaimed Fire Hose | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building.

Just Repurposed: Furniture Offered a Second Life | CullmanSense

“What sets us apart is we are not a thrift store, nor are we an antique store. We are more like a page out of Pinterest. We take items with good bones and repurpose them. Sometimes we have to combine pieces to make a unique accent piece. Other times we feel the piece is in need of hand-painted art to set it apart and give it that great new life it deserves. We also paint and repurpose for others who have the piece they want to keep in the family, but do not have the vision we have. Or, they may just not have the ability or location to do the work on their own.”

via Just Repurposed: Furniture Offered a Second Life | CullmanSense.

Upcycled stools by designer Curro Claret and Arrels Fundació for yök Casa + Cultura : TreeHugger

With a simple piece of metal, wood picked up from the street and a desire to create and transform, since 2010 a group of homeless people construct stools, lamps and other pieces of furniture. The project has won awards; however, until now, the most important recognition has been a collaboration with the company Camper to decorate one of its shops with the furniture.

via Upcycled stools by designer Curro Claret and Arrels Fundació for yök Casa + Cultura : TreeHugger.

ReuseConex 2014 | October 23-25, 2014 | Austin, Texas, USA

While it’s true that the “3Rs” have become a catalyzing movement of our times, the “reuse” part of this waste management trilogy is often overlooked. Thanks to ReuseConex, the International Reuse Conference & Expo, this is about to change!

If you work with a local reuse organization, if you shop at thrift stores or online resellers, if you buy or sell reusables, if you’re interested in green-collar jobs, and if you’re concerned about climate change – then join us for ReuseConex!

The theme for ReuseConex 2014 is Innovate. Transform. Sustain. — and we hope you’ll join us while we explore new methods and replicable models to make reuse work for your community. At ReuseConex you will find out more about the “triple bottom line” benefits of reuse, learn from and share best practices, and network with leaders in the reuse industry. Join us!

via ReuseConex – International Reuse Conference & Expo.

Bureo Skateboards

Bureo

Bureo designs and manufactures a unique line of sustainable skateboards. Bureo’s innovative boards are manufactured in Chile through the team’s initiative, ‘Net Positiva’, Chile’s first ever fishnet collection & recycling program. Net Positiva provides fisherman with environmentally sound disposal points, while Bureo receives highly recyclable and durable raw materials. By offering recycled high quality products, Bureo enables ethically conscious consumers to support recycling development and job growth for local inhabitants.

The Minnow Cruiser Deck

via Bureo Skateboards.

TerraCycle and Timbuktu Upcycle Vintage US Postal Service Bags into Messenger Bags – Ecopreneurist

vintage upcycled bag

Timbuktu, in partnership with TerraCycle, has done so, and the resulting product is not only practical and beautiful, but it’s also highly practical. The company’s new bag design uses vintage US Postal Service mail bags, sourced by TerraCycle, for the raw material, which then get turned into a high quality messenger bag capable of hauling all of your work and play gear comfortably.

vintage us postal bag brown

via Ecopreneurist | A blog for and about eco and social entrepreneurs, startups, cleantech, web 2.0 and disruptive business ideas..

SOLO Home Design Creates Chic Contemporary Furniture From Recycled Materials | Inhabitat

solo, recycled furniture, recycled materials, sustainable design, green design, sustainable interiors, recycled table, recycled bench, green products, green furniture, eco furniture

SOLO creates chic one of a kind furnishings and home accessories using recycled and repurposed materials. Based out of Chicago, the studio works with many local businesses to collect objects and give them new life.

via SOLO Home Design Creates Chic Contemporary Furniture From Recycled Materials | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building.

Scarcity Is Beautiful by Paulo Goldstein – Design Milk

Scarcity Is Beautiful by Paulo Goldstein in home furnishings art  Category

The finished product is now the Central Saint Martins’ new Front Parlour, which highlights and celebrates repaired objects given new life, and evoking thought on the idea of scarcity. It asks viewers to explore and think about the potential of what is left behind by our consumerist society.

Scarcity Is Beautiful by Paulo Goldstein in home furnishings art  Category

via Scarcity Is Beautiful by Paulo Goldstein – Design Milk.

Ball State Class Challenges Students to Upcycle Old Airplanes | Earth911.com

One Ball State University student designed an airplane disassembly factory to make recycling easier. Photo: Designed by Joshua Stowers

One Ball State University student designed an airplane disassembly factory to make recycling easier. Photo: Designed by Joshua Stowers

“A colleague of mine, we were sitting around one time, and I was telling him that there should be better ways to do architecture with new materials,” Eggink says of how he came up with the idea. “Then I remembered going to Arizona and scanning their graveyards — their boneyards. We have all these materials there. Nothing was happening to them, nobody was collecting them and nobody was using them.”

Though recycling airplanes and old structures for architecture is not a new concept, Eggink believes his students have the imagination and creativity to elevate aero-architecture to the next level.

“This is the kind of project that is of their generation,” Eggink says. “These are issues that they’re going to be facing. In architecture, our students try to solve problems, and throwing this curveball at architecture students is fantastic. They don’t know the end result, and they really have to work on it.”

via Ball State Class Challenges Students to Upcycle Old Airplanes | Earth911.com.

3-Story Floating School in Nigeria Rides on Recycled Barrels | Urbanist

Web Urbanist has the best articles day and night.

floating school in contexts

A simple wooden stick-frame approach made it possible to construct the building inexpensively, using largely local building techniques and upcycled materials. The project’s “main aim is to generate a sustainable, ecological, alternative building system and urban water culture for the teeming population of Africa’s coastal regions.”

floating platform barrel prototype

via 3-Story Floating School in Nigeria Rides on Recycled Barrels | Urbanist.

Artist repurposes old satellite dishes for shade and shelter : TreeHugger

repurposed satellite dishes at Smokey Banana Tattoo

© Tom Cross Gallery

Tom Cross, tattooist and artist based in Broomfield CO (Denver metro area), first used a repurposed satellite dish as protection from the elements for a well and pump at an off-grid property, and then took that idea a step further by creating an installation of them in front of the Smokey Banana Tattoo shop, where they serve as “a shaded area for customers, employees, friends and the occasional Mexican wrestling match.”

© Tom Cross Gallery

via Artist repurposes old satellite dishes for shade and shelter : TreeHugger.

ReSpace Competition – challenge

ReSpace Competition

PLACE. CULTURE. COMMUNITY.

The challenge: design a small, outdoor community gathering space which exhibits exemplary design using reuse materials.

This year the competition combines issues of program, culture and context to the challenge of designing with reuse materials. We are asking you to design a space that will allow Hope House (a non-profit outreach program for the inner-city of Wake Forest, NC) to continue growing by moving some of its programs outside.  This will solve their need for space and increase their connection to the neighborhood.

We selected “Porch” as the theme for our 2014 ReSpace competition because porches are a key element of the southern vernacular.  They are central to southern culture.  They are a primary place where neighbors gather, socialize and become a community.

Prizes

A total of $2,000 in awards will be presented to three winners. The Grand Prize winner’s design will be constructed on site overseen by Habitat for Humanity of Wake County and will receive $1,000 in prize money.

via ReSpace Competition – challenge.

{ diy design } philadelphia home show upcycle challenge | DESIGN + LIFE + KIDS: { diy design } philadelphia home show upcycle challenge

Scott and I are participating a local upcycle project called the Unhinged Challenge. It’s hosted by the Philadelphia Home Show and Habitat for Humanity and we’re super excited to share what we’ve been working on!  We were asked to source and repurpose a door from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and turn it into a functional item or hand painted pieces of art. Here are the details…

We visited the Philadelphia Restore and choose this beautiful lightweight bifold door. It looks brand new and we could see it would create a great box shape! So we tossed around a few ideas… we wanted to create something visually beautiful, modern and useful. Then we came up with the Garden Bento Box.

If you like this design vote for them here!

via { diy design } philadelphia home show upcycle challenge | DESIGN + LIFE + KIDS: { diy design } philadelphia home show upcycle challenge.

What Workz to showcase art, repurposed furniture at open house » Local Business » The Herald Bulletin

 

Don Knight / The Herald Bulletin From left, Heather Chandler-Robleto and Jason Crist are owners of What Workz in Anderson. What Workz has been open for three months but Crist and Chandler-Robleto want to celebrate with an open house noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Even the space itself fights convention. The building used to be a liquor store and the owners are using it to their advantage.

Along the back wall they converted freezers that once stored cold beer into a giant tool box. Customers can peer through the glass doors at the materials and watch the two in their workshop.

“We want people to see us at work,” Crist said. “I don’t mind people coming up to ask me questions.”

What Workz has been open for three months but Crist and Chandler-Robleto want to celebrate with an open house noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. They’ll have face painting, a magician and free pizza from their next door neighbor, Columbus Pizza.

“We’re trying to get people in here to see we have other things,” Chandler-Robleto said. “It’s not just our art.”

The two said they don’t want people to mistake their place for a normal flea market. They describe many of the items for sale as things that have been repurposed or “upcycled.”

via What Workz to showcase art, repurposed furniture at open house » Local Business » The Herald Bulletin.

From landfill to living room: the upcycling revolution – Independent.ie

Brothers Attila (l) and Levente Magyar of Mamukko, upcycling the sails of sunken tall ship Astrid into designer bags

In these recessionary times, the idea of upcycling is something that has universal appeal. Attila and Levente Magyar, fourth-generation craft-workers from Hungary, turned to the idea when they were out of work two years ago.

They set about making handcrafted bags from sailcloth, PVC tarpaulin and other materials and have gone on to build a successful business, winning a start-up award. “The business is growing dynamically,” says Attila. “Upcycling is a nicely ripening fruit — and it’s sweet.”

That kind of transformation is at the heart of a new upcycling movement that has inspired a range of Irish businesses to make money by refashioning old, unwanted things into new and improved products.

There’s Tom Smith the roofer/crafter from Carlow who turns old scaffolding into furniture (www.slatycraft.com); metal workers The Liffey Forge, which make wine racks, umbrella stands and hanging baskets from old horseshoes (www.liffeyforge.com); Belfast Rain (www.therainskirt.com), the company that turns discarded musical-festival tents into designer skirts that start at €50.

via From landfill to living room: the upcycling revolution – Independent.ie.

Crafting a Green World | The home for green crafts and tutorials!

Children's Book The Old Green Chair

The discarded chair finds itself by the side of the road, but the story doesn’t end there.

The Old Green Chair” is a richly illustrated children’s book by author Traudi Allen that tells the story of a decrepit chair, thrown aside after years of use that finds renewed life thanks to its positive attitude and a new owner’s clever imagination.

via Crafting a Green World | The home for green crafts and tutorials!.

Youth program turning discarded pallets into furniture | Gainesville.com

Joel Kissel, left, lead furniture fabricator with Upcycle Inc., a project of the Institute for Workforce Innovation, watches as, left to right, Jeremy Whitehead, 19, Johnathan Davis, 20, Greg Sercey, 23, and Ronaldo Rawls, 18, use scrapped wood pallets to build furniture with Project YouthBuild Americorps to be sold at Wednesdays’ Farmer Markets. Erica Brough/The Gainesville Sun

Upcycle is part of the Institute for Workforce Innovation’s Project YouthBuild program for 16- to 24-year-olds who come from low-income households and have not earned a high school diploma or GED.

“(Upcycle) really accomplishes the goals of our organization and also helps the environment,” said Jonathan Leslie, the institute’s executive director and CEO.

Under the direction of furniture fabricator Joel Kissel and other staff, the young people turn discarded pallets made of wood such as pine and oak into home décor inside the Boys & Girls Club Mentor Center on Southeast 17th Drive.

Proceeds from the sale of Upcycle items go toward the institute’s programs and allow the organization to not have to rely on state and federal grants, Leslie said.

Some of the Project YouthBuild students and alumni participate in Upcycle, which teaches them the principles of entrepreneurship and manufacturing, according to the institute.

via Youth program turning discarded pallets into furniture | Gainesville.com.

B:Hive Co-Working Space Features Upcycled Barn Wood Conference Tables and Thrifted Decor | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

“We wanted to create something that couldn’t be replicated,” explains Madeline Rhodes about the array of edgy thrifted furniture and upcycled barn wood tabletops. Rhodes, a master thrifter and trained visual merchandiser, didn’t have a big budget to work with but wanted to make sure that everyone that walked through the doors felt at home, comfortable and energized by the creative environment. Private conference calls can be placed inside of the makeshift phone booths, and vintage clothing can be purchased in between coffee breaks.

via B:Hive Co-Working Space Features Upcycled Barn Wood Conference Tables and Thrifted Decor | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building.

Community Forklift hosting “upcycle” event — Gazette.Net

Community Forklift in Edmonston is partnering with Prince George’s County organizations to host “Upcycle Your Life,” a free event designed to lift up the community.

Free resources and workshops will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the nonprofit thrift store, located on 4671 Tanglewood Drive.

The various free programs at the event include food distribution, health screenings and a workshop on affordable housing.

via Community Forklift hosting “upcycle” event — Gazette.Net.

Cool Bags, Handmade in Seattle using Upcycled Products – Alchemy Goods

Provided by Mom.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/63010612]

The Upcycle Challenge

We’re on a mission to collect one million bike tubes by the end of 2014. Thanks to awesome partnerships with Trek, REI and hundreds of independent bike shops nationwide, we’re well on our way. With Ag, your old tubes can become an upcycled and stylish messenger bag, wallet or belt.

Alchemy Goods from Chris McElroy on Vimeo.

via Cool Bags, Handmade in Seattle using Upcycled Products – Alchemy Goods.

Beating the Drum for Upcycling | 2Modern Blog

 

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The brainchild of Dutch-born, Helsinki-based product designer Willem Heeffer, each light is comprised of a washing machine drum, painstakingly extracted from old machines at local recycling centers. In addition to the salvaged drums, the washing machines’ drive wheels have also been given new life, residing inside each pendant as housing for the light bulbs.

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via Beating the Drum for Upcycling | 2Modern Blog.

Toronto Fall Home Show – Habitat for Humanity Unhinged

Celebrating 25 years, both The Toronto Fall Home Show & Habitat for Humanity are inviting the participation of 25 Celebrity Experts and emerging style, décor and DIY bloggers in the 2nd annual Upcycle Challenge: Unhinged.  They will source and repurpose a door from a Habitat for Humanity Toronto ReStore location.  All items will be on display at the show.

via Fall Home Show.

Cheeky recycled bike trophies for hanging things up : TreeHugger

Consisting of combinations of bike handles and saddles mounted on wooden plates, the constructions play upon the traditional hunting trophy and send a saucy wink towards Picasso’s iconic “Bull Head” sculpture. Calling the series “Upcycle Fetish,” Scheiger explains some of the context around this tongue-in-cheek design:

Pablo Picasso saw it first and created his “cabeza de toro”. I needed a bicycle hanger. And then I needed a hanger for bicycle caps and while I was on it, something to hang my umbrella unto. And when left bare I see a tribute to my fetish, the bicycle.

Andreas Scheiger

via Cheeky recycled bike trophies for hanging things up : TreeHugger.