One Mans Trash is Anothers Craft

This past Saturday we joined the City of Savannah in celebrating Earth Day. By “we” I mean Structured Green and me- I’m Jessie, one of the new interns here! Together with many other vendors we spread knowledge about how to be more eco-friendly in how you live, and in our case, how you shop! We handed out recycled cards with a little information on them about what we do, and something extra- a plank of reclaimed wood with a hole made in it begging for your creativity. It could be turned into a key chain, a necklace, a magnet, or anything you can imagine.

Here at Structured Green we love the idea of rebirth. We take tattered pieces destined for the salvage yard and breathe new life into them, turning them into something beautiful and functional for years to come. Every piece we claim is one less piece that goes into the landfill.

There are many ways that you can do this at home. Check out some of the ideas that were made for the Crafty By Nature Contest at www.craftstylish.com.

Something old:
Have an old jacket that has been in the closet for years and you just can’t bare to part with? Check out the inventive way this woman reused hers and still made it wearable!

Something new:
These leaf pieces are just gorgeous and worth mentioning!

Something recycled:
Saved from the Landfill! This artist is after our own heart!

Something Green:
Empty nest syndrome? Put those old toys to good use! This inspiring woman made rings from old Jenga game blocks! Kim Carneys "Ringas" are pictured.

There are other people in the community here in Savannah who are also making a difference in the Green and creative communities. Green Lifespace is a consultant agency who works with existing businesses to make their enterprise more eco-conscious. ReCORK America, the world’s leading producer of natural cork wine closures is now working with Green Lifespace to provide a recycling collection point for the corks and wine closures in the Savannah area. The uses for the collected corks is still undecided, but studies are underway to determine if the corks could be used as padded mulch for childrens play centers, or as insulation material for packaging and shipping. The corks are also being used as flooring, shoe soles, and fishing rod handles.

I have been collecting metal bottle caps for as long as I can remember. I have yet to figure out something interesting yet functional to do with them that I wouldn’t tire of a year from now. Any ideas? The table top is too overdone. And wall art… I am not sure. It would have to be pretty spectacular. For now they sit in bags and jars in my art room. Maybe one of the ways that ReCORK uses their corks and caps will inspire me! If you have made anything awesome from objects you save (picture me walking around parties and family get-togethers collecting the caps from counter tops and trash cans) by all means, post a picture in response to this blog so all can see!

If you are not feeling crafty this week, but still want to do what’s right for the earth, take yourself and a friend over to the Market at Trustees Garden. There you can pick up locally grown organic produce, dry goods, naturally made jewelry, Green body products, and many other fun things that will surprise you!

Live Long and Recycle!

Jessie