Although technological advances enable us to achieve digitally what we once did manually with paper, there are still countless occasions where there is no substitution for the real deal. Case in point: tucking a caring note under a loved one’s pillow, creating an on-the-fly shopping list or handcrafting an entire menagerie of origami animals.

Across the globe, approximately 35% of all harvested hardwood — the equivalent of 4 billion trees — is processed into books, loose-leaf paper, notepads, paperboard packaging, sticky notes, greeting cards, gift bags, grocery sacks and shipping material, among many other paper-based items. In particular, 71 million tons of paper items pass through the hands of American consumers on an annual basis, 62.5% of which is successfully recovered from our municipal waste stream.

For such a ubiquitous and consistently utilized material, we often forget that there is far more to paper than meets the eye. While it has long been essential to industries as diverse as publishing, manufacturing and electronics, the tree-based material can take on transformative qualities when in the hands of an artist. Why shell out big bucks for “fine grade” artist-worthy parchment and watercolor stock when there is a plethora of post-consumer paperboard ready, willing and able to take on new life?

At least that’s what Greek artist Vally Nomidou has demonstrated through her remarkably luminescent yet somewhat off-putting female sculptures, collectively entitled, “Let It Bleed.” Partial plaster casts — augmented with a combination of reclaimed paper, newspaper, cardboard and even disposable paper towels — take permanent, unforgettable form with the application of glue and PVA medium. The result is a contorted, haunting array of feminine figures that appear to be imbued with the very essence of life.

Vally Nomidou's "Let It Bleed" sculpture series

Paper recycling is often viewed with a sense of obligation and practicality, but truth be told, there is nothing terribly exciting about it. We deposit our junk mail, old catalogs, office scraps and cereal boxes into a curbside collection bin and upon being transported to a processing center, the motley material is sorted and then separated into various grades before being transformed through a series of intensive, chemical-laden steps into an amalgam of ink-stripped, contaminant-free pulp. This recycled tree slurry is ultimately converted back into paper via the process of screening and the application of massive, heated flattening rollers.

While that drawn-out process doesn’t seem terribly creative, not all post-consumer paper has to meet a slurry fate. Nomidou’s sculptures are proof positive that there is a very intriguing alternative to pulping that can be achieved through the careful manipulation of common paper-based items. Her sullen-faced ladies, many of whom bear the ink-based hallmarks of the printed word, sport texturally realistic corrugated cardboard and shredded paper locks as well as frayed, Frankenstein-like “flesh” stitches.

All art is open to diverse interpretation, so from an eco-perspective, one could presume that her glum gals are indeed representative of the fallen trees that compose her now artistically recycled figures. Warm and cuddly they are not. Wounded icons of Mother Nature? Perhaps.

Nomidou’s true artistic motivation may remain a mystery, but her work reminds the casual observer that humble, easily overlooked items can take on remarkable new forms, some that even have the power to illicit thought-provoking conversations.

Luckily, a good amount of packaging as well as wrapping paper is recyclable these days, depending on your community. As far as wrapping paper is concerned, the kind that is sparkly or coated is not recyclable, but everything else can be tossed into your recycling bin.

But one thing that municipalities don’t seem to recycle is tissue paper. Unfortunately, most tissue paper has been embedded with other materials during the production process. Additionally, tissue paper is not actually made of a lot of fibers and because they are short and thin, water can often deteriorate them, making it an unprofitable material for many paper mills.

Luckily, there are several ways that we can recycle tissue paper at home and keep it from the landfill. Since tissue paper is usually just lining boxes it’s often in great condition for reuse. If you like to save space and flatten your boxes, you can keep the tissue paper in a shopping bag with your scraps of wrapping paper and ribbons.

If you don’t like to keep clutter in a closet, one thing tissue paper is good for is mulch. You can crush it into balls and throw it into your compost pile, or wet it and spread it around your garden (or even your houseplants). One of tissue paper’s key properties is absorbency, and the paper will deteriorate over time into the soil.

Another idea: Try making things out of your used tissue paper such as decorations, which are perfect for showers and parties. Over at Chateau & Bungalow, recycled tissue paper is used for pom-poms for a child’s birthday party to not only add color and texture, but also to hide ceiling fans. Martha Stewart has some great ideas as well, such as Mexican paper decorations to hang in a window, tissue paper eggs for Easter and a tissue paper garland.

In this season of celebrations, unwrap carefully and think twice before throwing that tissue paper in the trash. Not only does it almost always have other uses, but saving it also saves you money. There are tons of other ideas out there, too. Have you recycled tissue paper in a creative way? Let us know!

Outside the realm of that which is positively functional, when was the last time that you said to yourself, “Hmm, a brown paper bag would come in handy right about now”?

Good thing you’re reading this article. In addition to serving failsafe applications such as absorbing the excess oil out of a batch of fried chicken or morphing into a wonderfully cozy nesting material for burrowing pocket pets such as hamsters and gerbils, brown paper bags are equally as effective in a household worm bin or cushioning delicate holiday ornaments while in storage.

Of course, things get really interesting once they emerge from their comfort zone and venture into the wild, wacky world of the creative DIYer. With a little primping and preening, a brown paper bag can be easily transformed into the supermodel of the crafty set. Go ahead and rediscover what you’ve been missing out on for far too long:

Create an instant feline playhouse without breaking a sweat!

Nestle 10 folded bags — one inside the other — for a disposable yet biodegradable waste solution in your home office.

Adorn your next holiday or birthday gift with artfully stitched wrapping that’s fit to be bow-tied.

Don a flirty, flouncy cocktail dress made all the more party worthy with the addition of a quilled necklace pendant and matching earrings.

Usher in spring courtesy of this brown paper nest or a handcrafted eco-bouquet and mark the ultimate transition to autumn by erecting fireplace manteltrees.

Pass on the store-bought Halloween costumes in favor of these child-worthy creations that will be just as enjoyable to make as they will be to wear.

Once Turkey Day comes, dazzle the kiddies with a paper turkey bursting at the seams with popcorn stuffing.

Giant holiday-themed luminaries will grace the pathway to your home in “Why didn’t I think of that?” style.

Restore the wow to your holiday wall with a tree-shaped advent calendar or origami cranes.

Celebrate an upcoming birthday by decking your halls with a festive party garland or mailing out a package in a handcrafted brown bag envelope.

Surprise a loved one with a pocket-sized caterpillar-style inspiration book, a homemade scrapbook or a stack of always practical yet thoroughly appreciated brown paper bag recipe cards.

Put your best career foot forward with brown paper bag business cards and journal cover boasting a faux leather façade.

For more animal-free leather ideas, decoupage old furniture (think chairs, dressers and tabletops) as well as floors, stairs and walls for the ultimate eco-facelift.

Grace your newly revamped tabletop with a complete set of placemats.

While taking a well-deserved snack break by indulging in homemade, chemical-free microwave popcorn, this brown paper bag zine will likely recharge your creative eco-spirit.

Put the kibosh on overenthusiastic weeds by creating a natural mulch barrier and then reserve extra seeds from this year’s bounty inside convenient brown paper packets.

Sure, pinecones are still fair game in the world of earthy, bird-worthy feeding perches, but the perennial peanut butter and seed feast can be easily adapted to cardboard toilet paper roll cores, as well.

A fine mesh produce bag can live on in avian infamy when it is filled with larger-sized seed varieties and protected with an outer metal fence to discourage squirrel freeloaders (a repurposed tomato cage would work especially well for this application).

A 2-liter plastic soda bottle crowned with a reclaimed tree bark roof would make a handsome bird-feeding addition to anyone’s garden, plus the kiddies would have a blast putting it all together.

Take advantage of the natural design of a muffin pan to create a simply inspired yet weather-resistant birdseed buffet.

An old log drilled with holes offers a basic but durable feeding option, but if you’re willing to commit a bit more time to your DIY project, weathered fence boards will also do the trick.

Candle fans are typically perplexed regarding what to do with the glass lids crowning their favorite wax varieties. Amazingly, those lids can be transformed into individual feeding perches with just a bit of heavy gauge wire. Who knew?

Ever thought about welcoming winged creatures to their brand spanking yet not-exactly-new glass wine, beer or liquor bottle feeder? Down the hatch!

Similarly, an empty coffee can or tiered tuna cans could do the job quite nicely as well.

Don’t let those old, unappreciated holiday ornaments go to waste. They’d be happy to moonlight as hanging tree-branch feeders.

An old plastic liquid soap container can actually look quite elegant when it is upcycled into a dandy, dangling birdie munching zone, complete with a strategic peek-a-boo hole.

Got chopsticks? How ‘bout a soda can? Then you have the raw ingredients for a super cheap bird feeder that all the neighbors will undoubtedly admire.

Stacked clay pots painted in contrasting colors? Great idea, and oh so durable!

Biodegradable bird feeder options abound, from hollowed-out citrus shells and coconut shells, to pumpkins. But please do not forget to compost them once they have reached the end of their practical lifespan.

An old leather baseball mitt supported with baseball bats will certainly do the trick for sporting avian species, as will a clay pot mounted inside of an old picture frame.

Broadcast your affection for brewed tea by creating a bird-worthy arrangement of mismatched thrift store tea cups and saucers mounted on poles or hanging from tree branches (whether upside down, at a jaunty angle or right side up). An old teapot will also work smashingly.

Protect hungry birds from the harsh elements by serving up their edible morsels in the comfort and security of a mailbox or oil lamp.

Seriously, a repurposed Slinky? For chunky bird treats like peanuts and sliced fresh fruit, why not?

An artfully sliced and strategically diced car tire can be transformed into a hanging bird feeder. Plus, it can be spruced up with a few coats of paint and a creative dash of design panache.

When the thrill of that old plaque you won from summer camp for your impressive pizza-eating skills has long gone, turn it into a ground-mounted feeder with minimal effort.

Good news! That random hubcap that rolled against your curb can now quit loitering and start serving up a delightful seed smorgasbord.

You have probably seen this idea before, but it’s so good that it bears repeating. Use a repurposed chandelier or old light fixture bolted to a tree trunk to serve up your feathered friends in style.

Of all the kooky (ahem, “inspired!”) repurposing ideas for bird feeders, however, there are a few clear standouts, including utilizing an old space heater or a once-loved boombox!

Beyond the tattered leaves and bits of bark shards littering the ground, the bad news is that everyone has been pointing fingers, trying to heap the responsibility of cutting up all of that dead wood into manageable pieces on someone other than themselves. Time is precious, after all, and who really wants to spend their valuable free time wielding a chainsaw so they can drag dead tree chunks to the curb for the sanitation department to take away?

Um, you do! Here’s your chance to become the neighborhood savior. While you gallop in on your white horse to save the day, there’s no need to broadcast the fact that you will then take the fruits of your labor — limbed tree sections — into your garage for a DIY free-for-all.

It is there, behind closed doors, that you will transform what others view as a pile of unwelcome refuse into multiple décor-enhancing items that most people would willingly shell out beaucoup bucks for. Think you need special skills to make your homemade tree branch creations come together? No way, Jose. Take a gander at the diverse possibilities below and you’ll quickly realize that with very little effort, you will be able to festoon your home with gloriously free, 100% tree-tastic, decorator-worthy specimens.

Inside the home

Granola-lovin’ tree huggers aren’t the only ones who will appreciate this thrifty yet easy-on-the-eyes jewelry organizer.

Infuse your wardrobe with earthy soul courtesy of woodsy clothing hangers (and if you’re feeling especially crafty, don’t forget to add a few handmade twig buttons).

A ho-hum mirror can be trimmed with layers of branch segments for a pleasing textural facelift.

A rustic branch bookshelf can be easily adapted to suit a living room or bedroom wall, no matter your current interior design style.

Adorn vases, wreaths, tabletops and even walls with mosaic-style circular branch slices (or more haphazard slabs for a truly rough yet esthetically pleasing look).

Fallen tree branches morph effortlessly into tabletop or floor lamp bases, requiring no more than a fresh coat of paint to make them really shine.

Your feline friends will be tickled pink when they behold the splendor of their outdoorsy yet equally refined tree branch grooming perch, and if you have children, why not make them their own playtime version?

Curtains will get a welcome dose of down-to-earth style when they are artfully suspended on reclaimed tree branch rods.

Separate rooms with a dramatic vertical branch divider.

Hang keys, purse straps and reusable shopping bags on tree branch wall hooks. Don’t forget to treat your jackets and coats right, as well.

For a family photo-displaying twist, take snapshots off the wall in favor of a new tree branch perch. This concept can also be adapted to accommodate a paper rose-adorned table centerpiece.

Create a grand décor statement by suspending massive crystal and light strand-wrapped tree branches directly above a dining area. Dial it back a few notches with a slightly more modest candelabra chandelier or a comparably tame branchy tabletop candelabra.

Outside the home

Move over brick, tile and stone garden pavers. There’s a new sliced branch kid in town.

You can frame the perimeter of your garden with a woven tree branch fence or train limbs to form a living framework.

Emulate the majestic horse sculptures of Heather Jansch or introduce a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor to your back yard with a decidedly more quirky artistic statement.

Enhance the façade of a storage shed or greenhouse with stripped branches.

Try making a decorative overhead trellis or perhaps something more functional for your container garden escapades.

Bask in the sun while reclining ever so peacefully upon a beefy, reclaimed tree bench or a two-seater with built-in back support.

It’s a funny little word, huh? For all intents and purposes, it refers to a thriving subculture of anticonsumerists who are deeply opposed to the widespread waste in our society. In response, these individuals make a habit of frequenting dumpsters located outside of restaurants and assorted businesses in search of discarded items that can be easily retrieved, repurposed or otherwise utilized.

Yes, most of us are familiar with this practice by its more common term, dumpster diving. While the very notion of plunging head first into a massive garbage container probably gives the majority of the population a bad case of the heebie-jeebies, it turns out that far too much of what today’s businesses dispose of is actually perfectly usable.

Between what the commercial sector gives the heave-ho to and what households across the nation contribute, overall trash accumulation has risen to massive proportions. On average, Americans collectively discard 250 million tons of solid waste annually — almost double the volume of other nations — which is the equivalent of roughly 5 pounds per U.S. citizen every single day.

The good news is that practically 65 million tons of what we threw away in 2010 was actually recycled along with an additional 49 million tons (whether composted or ultimately incinerated for energy recovery). In other words, 136 million tons of municipal solid waste was actually landfilled across our country. But let’s be honest: That’s still a sizable amount.

Don’t worry. No one is suggesting that you personally join the ranks of the recycling bold who make meals out of food that is purportedly past its prime. Nevertheless, what’s so bad about rethinking the non-edible objects that you’re prone to depositing in your garbage can? With a different mind frame, you too will soon discover that what once might have seemed perfectly trash worthy is in fact ripe for repurposing. Think outside of the bin and you’ll be rewarded with a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind creations that will help you to feather your nest in enviable, eco-enlightened style.

Oh, the possibilities

A broken lamp and an old picture frame transformed into… a DIY mood board.

Window shutters transformed into… a wall-mounted jewelry organizer.

Glass windows transformed into… a garden cold frame.

Shredded scrap paper, dryer lint and paper egg cartons transformed into… homemade firestarters for your barbeque grill, fire pit or fireplace.

Pet fur transformed into… spun yarn, cat play toys and yes, even handbags.

A computer monitor can be transformed into… a cozy hamster pad, a trash bin or a homemade video projector.

Old denim jean pockets transformed into… potholders, a utility apron or a placemat (with built-in silverware pouch).

A computer tower transformed into… a wall-mounted storage unit, mailbox or a mini greenhouse.

2-liter soda bottles transformed into… a fringed light shade or a complete herb garden.

A porcelain toilet tank transformed into… a garden planter resurfaced with a wonderfully colorful mosaic design.

Your child’s beat-up skateboards transformed into… a sturdy outdoor bench.

Expired calendar pages transformed into… hand-folded envelopes.

Spaghetti sauce jars transformed into… jewel-toned, bedecked Moroccan lanterns.

Oodles of old suitcases transformed into… a massive wall storage solution (or a single case transformed into… a padded hallway stool.

An old drawer transformed into… a practical side table.

A metal mint tin transformed into… a petite portable candle, furry monster, succulent garden or a multi-tiered organizational valet.

Bottle caps transformed into… ring pincushions.

A spoon transformed into… a necklace pendant, a fork transformed into… an eggcup, or a little of both transformed into… a jewelry tree or flatware wall clock.

A typewriter transformed into… a waffle iron or an artist’s paintbrush holder.

Old T-shirts transformed into… crocheted/knitted dishcloths, a braided belt or perpetually blooming blossoms.

A beat-up garden hose transformed into… a wonderfully insulating birdhouse.

A picture frame transformed into… a vertical succulent garden.

An old door, storm windows, fence boards, table legs and door knobs transformed into… a garden plant potting station.

• favor a plant-based diet;
• tool around town on a bicycle just ‘cause it’s fun;
• protect your tabletop with old newspapers whenever you engage in a painting or craft project;
• make a conscious effort to support local businesses and farmers markets;
• rock a vintage wardrobe or embrace the fine art of upcycled fashion;
• spend more time in your garden than on your couch (or in front of the computer, for that matter); and/or
• think that handcrafted items are far superior to newly minted big-box merchandise.

As you can clearly see, treading a bit lighter on the planet is actually pretty easy, and in so many cases it facilitates a better quality of life, too.

Unfortunately, the word “green” conjures up an array of negative stereotypes, some of which are so off-putting to the typical consumer that they’ll do anything to distance themselves. Treehugging? No thanks. I’ll take a chainsaw, instead. Dreadlocks and granola? Not if my buzz cut and big bowl o’beef have anything to do with it. Living more sustainably, however, shouldn’t be about the cool factor or lack thereof. Really, it should be about slightly revamping daily habits so that they contribute to the larger good.

Reusable grocery bag toting, organic cotton T-shirt wearing and kitchen scrap composting efforts aside, there is another way to green your lifestyle with minimal effort for maximum impact: Create a portable reusable food and beverage kit! Whenever you’re on the go, eliminate solid waste by placing the following infinitely washable items inside a durable tote bag that can be stored inside your car:

• assorted food storage containers for leftovers
• two glass, stainless steel or BPA-free plastic travel mugs and/or water bottles
• two sets of bamboo or stainless steel flatware
• two fabric napkins
• two sets of plates and bowls

Now that you have your kit primed and ready to go, order a cappuccino or a bite to eat during your next shopping excursion with none of the eco-guilt — just ask that your reusable container or cup be used instead of a disposable version.

Hesitant to make this a regular habit? This is one case where it’s not wise to judge a book by its cover. Eliminating the waste associated with to-go food and beverage orders while concurrently protecting your health — since one-time-use packaging is often treated with potentially dangerous chemical coatings that persist in the body long after you’ve taken your last sip or nibble — is actually tres-cool.

There is nothing nerdy about being an eco-trendsetter, and even if others don’t follow your lead, at least you’ll be able to hold your head up high, prideful in the knowledge that your drop in the bucket will really add up over time.

Trash Art Show sign created by John Freethy completely from discarded materials.

A small town on the north Oregon Coast puts its creative and earth-friendly minds together to produce one of the most inspiring art shows you’ll see, the 14th annual Trash Art Show in Manzanita, from July 5 to 8, 2012.

Local artists spend months working with reclaimed, repurposed and recycled materials to create fabulous works of art that amaze the mind. Last year’s art show included 84 area artists, utilizing a wide array of art mediums.

CARTM, a recycling provider based in Manzanita, has been inspiring creative reuse of materials with its annual Trash Art Show. Beginning in 1997, the event has outgrown two venues. This year, CARTM is partnering with a local arts nonprofit, the Hoffman Center, to co-produce the exhibition.

The Trash Art Show not only fulfills CARTM’s mission of creative reuse of materials, but has also produced a group of highly adept trash artists who make art from discards. These ingeniously creative pieces have become sought after by a growing group of collectors who often arrive at the show before opening time to have first pick of the work.

With the new partnership, CARTM and the Hoffman Center are adding a pre-opening event on July 5 to the show’s three-day run. This event will be by ticketed admission, and only 100 tickets will be sold. The public opening and reception for the artists is free, and record attendance is expected because of the show’s holiday weekend date.

Prayer flags created by Judy Sorrel from discarded clothing and keys.

CARTM

CARTM began to offer small-scale recycling services in 1990 with just a single trailer in a vacant lot in Manzanita. By 1997, CARTM had received its 501(c)3 status and successfully received the franchise to operate the local transfer station. Twenty-two years later, CARTM is fully engaged in its mission: “Leading our community to zero waste.”

What our mission means to us: Our staff and board of directors all love what we do at CARTM and believe deeply in our mission. Our customers and community love to visit and utilize CARTM’s services. Everyone enjoys seeing the thriving vibrancy of this vital organization. We’re providing an inspiring service, as out-of-town visitors regularly ask us how they can have a CARTM in their community. Who knew that CARTM would become a local tourist attraction and destination by weekend visitors.

We remind ourselves every day that our number one job is to support our community’s efforts to recognize and recover value in normally discarded materials and inspire creative reuse of those materials whenever possible.

CARTM receives donations of all kinds for its resale store. Each year, the best of the best of those donations are offered at a silent auction. CARTM recycles more than 40 different items — more than most facilities in the country. CARTM operates a transfer station, a recycling center and a resale store. Check cartm.org for hours of operation and more.

Cheese trays created by Skip Rognlien from flattened wine bottles.

The Hoffman Center

The Hoffman Center is an Oregon 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports and encourages artistic, cultural and educational activities in north Tillamook County by providing facilities, funding, promotion and other assistance. Lloyd and Myrtle Hoffman were longtime beloved residents of Manzanita. Upon their passing, their trust directed that their home and assets be used to start a community center for the arts and education.

Founded in 2004, the Hoffman Center is the still-developing fulfillment of their dream — a place to nurture artistic endeavors — creating, performing and appreciating. More information about the Hoffman Center and its many offerings is available at hoffmanblog.org.

About the author

Lorraine Ortiz

Lorraine Ortiz, cultural cowgirl, has been making art and music, writing about art and music and assisting nonprofit organizations that are all about art and music since 1985. Along with Susan Walsh, Ortiz is the co-founder of the Trash Art Show. She lives at the Art Ranch in Nehalem, OR.

 If You Go

Dates for the 2012 14th annual Trash Art Show:
Thursday, July 5, 2012: ticketed opening, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, July 6, 2012: public opening and reception for the artists, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 7, 2012: show open, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, July 8, 2012: show open, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The show will be held at the Hoffman Center, 594 Laneda Ave., in downtown Manzanita. For more information, please visit hoffmanblog.org.

For updates on the Trash Art Show, “Like” its Facebook page.

Critics don’t call it fast fashion for nothin’. Like its edible, drive-thru counterpart, “trendy-today-wouldn’t-be-caught-dead-in-it-tomorrow” duds live fast and die young. Consumer desire, fueled by fashion magazines and Hollywood culture, sustains newly launched must-have items up until a point in the comparatively immediate future when they are dropped like a hot, nerdy, what-were they-thinking potato. This endless cycle doesn’t bode well for our landfills, where at least in the U.S., close to 11 million tons of textiles succumb to death by premature burial every year.

Despite falling prey to cheap, easy-to-obtain and equally effortless-to-dispose-of garments, most of us — due to simple practicality or clamoring pangs of guilt — do our best to make sure that what we no longer want is at the very least donated to a good cause.

Whether we take advantage of citywide textile recycling bins or offer our duds to charitable organizations, we feel relieved and even comforted in the notion that in the immediate future, less fortunate individuals will likely be strutting their stuff in the military-inspired blazer or the zippered ankle jeans that no longer deserve a place in our righteous wardrobe.

If only it were that easy. The fact of the matter is that clothing donations do not immediately reach those with compromised social and financial backgrounds. In fact, there are some instances where they never make it beyond the container they are collected in. It’s helpful to first understand that, upon being dropped into a charity bin, items are graded to determine their actual condition/quality, sorted by fabric type/garment style, and either:

• Sold at a discounted rate to thrift store patrons
• Sold in bulk to developing nations
• Cut into wiping rags that are ideal for industrial use
• Transformed into household insulation
• Shredded into fibers that can then be recycled into new garments or other fabric-based items

Chances are pretty good that you’re not the only one who finds that pair of acid washed jeans with the ginormous pen ink splotch undesirable. Donations that are clearly not up to snuff — whether they are torn, stained or otherwise damaged — are sorted by fashion type and fabric before being gathered into large-sized bundles (as is the case at Goodwill).

The clothing bales are then sold at between 5¢ to 7¢ per pound to companies that either repurpose the material in a variety of practical applications or make intact duds available to approximately 100 different countries. A perfect example of this is Savers, which exported a combined 262 million pounds of clothing and other household goods to assorted African countries in 2006.

Given the fact that the typical U.S. consumer discards 68+ pounds of textiles and clothing annually, it makes good sense that 80% of all textile donations are ultimately “salvaged by private sector recyclers.” Nevertheless, perhaps all of us should reassess our approach to fashion and make more of a conscious effort to fill our wardrobe with classic pieces that will endure, no matter what trends come and go. The next time thinning out the contents of your closet seems tempting, please consider the following:

• The endless cycle of hot/cold fashion trends has created a global surplus of used women’s clothing, with seven times more ladies duds available than men’s.
• Despite the fact that various domestic and international shoe donation programs exist (not to mention shoe material recycling options courtesy of Retex and Nike) American citizens still threw away 300+ million pairs of shoes in 2010.
• Of the 16.8 million pounds of discarded duds that Trans-America Trading Company sorts through annually, 35% is exported as clothing, 33% is transformed into fibers before then being reprocessed and 25% is converted into industrial wiping rags.
• Beware of convenient freestanding donation bins — in many cases, companies rather than charities are benefitting from profits by reselling the contents via the textile recycling market.
• When in doubt, tattered 100% cotton items can always be cut up into very small pieces and completely buried in a home compost pile!

Genuine cashmere garments, however, aren’t easy on the budget. Compared to woven cotton, polyester blends and even silk, raw cashmere wool — obtained from molting and/or shorn Kashmir goats — is in relatively limited supply. While repurposing the cashmere sweater that your favorite aunt gave you in commemoration of your college graduation might initially seem like a good idea, think carefully before you begin cutting. If the garment is in excellent condition, it might make more sense to find a thrift store alternative for a DIY upcycling project, especially if you intend to transform it into a patchwork pet bed, pin cushion or other item that doesn’t allow the material to shine in its best light.

Fortunately, suitable raw material for sweater repurposing projects can be found nestled unassumingly among thrift store offerings, priced at mere pennies on the dollar. Similarly, nationwide clothing swaps can also be an excellent source for old cashmere sweaters, as can estate sales, garage sales and perusing the forgotten duds that a family member would sooner donate than throw away. That’s good news for crafting enthusiasts who get giddy with excitement when contemplating the many ways that a been-around-the-block sweater can take on new life.

Once you have settled on a cashmere sweater that will function better in its future reincarnated form, smooth it directly on top of a flat work surface. Using sharp scissors, remove the sleeves and either consider utilizing them in a project specifically geared toward elongated pieces (such as this upcycled doll dress) or set them aside for a future application.

Then, cut along the right exterior torso seam of the cashmere garment and up toward the neck in order to create one continuous piece of usable fabric. This process will enable you to make the most of the material with minimal waste while accommodating larger-sized projects.

You have been patient up to this point, so now it’s time to get lost in some pretty fantastic cashmere sweater crafting possibilities. Perhaps one (or all) of the following lovely little tutorials will get your repurposing juices flowing. How about making:

• A protective iPad cover
• A case for your sunglasses or eyeglasses
• A menagerie of children’s stuffed animals
• Bookmarks for your old-school tomes
• Embellished arm warmers that will make everyone ooooh and aaahhh
• UGG-envious boots or boot liners that cozy up to your calves
• A hair band/ear warmer combo
• Winter-worthy hat/scarf/long mittens
• A colorfully psychedelic rug
• Herb garden pot cozies
• A cheerful, wilt-free bouquet
• Insulating pot and pan handle covers
• Conventional pot holders
• Appliqués to enhance garments or camouflage small holes/tears
• Infant leggings
• Dog sweaters
• Hanging plant pouches for urban gardening simplicity
• Infinitely reusable Easter baskets
• Underwear!

If you don’t see a pattern for what you envision, you might even want to try making your own. Countless ideas abound on the Internet and in books, but don’t make the mistake of limiting your search to projects that are specifically geared toward repurposing sweaters. Your options will expand exponentially by seeking out handcrafted ideas that simply utilize fabric, since recycled cashmere can easily be a suitable stand-in.

Upon choosing a craft project that you intend to use for your cashmere sweater, scan the list of supplies you’ll need to successfully execute the project. Assemble all of the necessary tools and sewing notions (such as a tape measure, marking chalk, sharp scissors, needle, thread, etc.) right next to your workstation so they can be easily accessed. Keep a watchful eye on the steps involved in your selected craft project, exercise patience and you’ll come out of the experience with a one-of-a-kind, soft-n-snuggly creation!

I have been sewing and crafting most of my adult life, so it didn’t seem like much of a stretch to translate my skills into clothing redesign. I am also a dedicated thrift-store shopper, and there have been countless occasions where I’ve thought, “I would buy that if… ”

“… If those pants weren’t quite so long.”

“… If that dress with the beautiful fabric wasn’t such a hideous style.”

“… If I only had a pattern for turning that shirt into a purse.”

The next time I went shopping I looked at the racks with new eyes. Like magic, candidates for upcycling started popping out at me. There were two dresses with tops so skimpy I suspected I might get arrested if I wore them outdoors. But the skirts were nice, and how much work could it possibly be to chop off the top part and transform the bottom into something wearable?

The same thing happened on future trips. There were several pairs of pants I could wear with a little hemming. There was a jersey bed sheet that could be cut up and made into the darling cardigan for which I’d just found a pattern. There was a shirt that would fit perfectly with the growing collection of old T-shirts I promised my husband I would make into a quilt.

So, finding the clothing for projects was not hard. I already own a sewing machine, and there are a couple places in town that sell secondhand notions like thread and zippers.

The only hang-up? The bane of crafters everywhere: time. I’m a bit notorious for starting projects but not finishing them. Three pairs of pants with pins in them, a dress with the elastic for its new waistband and the pieces of the cardigan have been sitting in a sad heap for months. I tried putting them on the arm of the couch so I’d remember to work on them, but after a while they blended in and I stopped seeing them. Every time we had company, they migrated to the sewing room, only to reappear on the couch when I was feeling ambitious. The cycle has repeated itself several times.

Earth Day conveniently falls on a Sunday this year, so I’ve rechristened it “DIY Day.” I’m going to get together with my sister and my mom and try to finish at least one of these projects. And, as the year goes on, I’m going to institute a new rule: No buying stuff for new projects until an old one is finished. Hopefully that will force me to stay on the ball.

Of course, if I find the perfect upcycling candidate the next time I’m perusing a thrift store, I might have to make an exception. I can always rechristen America Recycles Day in November as a sewing day as well.

For more information on Earth Day, see the Earth Day 2012 guide.

Photo courtesy of robosteel.com.

What happens to the bearings, chains, conrods, camshafts, exhaust manifolds and gears when a car or motorcycle just won’t run anymore? Well, if it’s lucky enough to be junked in Dublin, Ireland, it just might be recycled into a fantastic work of art instead of being melted down into molten steel.

RoboSteel is a unique hybrid of an auto repair shop and an art studio that designs and creates handmade steel sculptures in a variety of categories, including movie memorabilia, collectables, sci-fi/fantasy and custom-commissioned pieces.

RoboSteel makes tiny, inexpensive sculptures that could sit on your desk, as well as massive structures more than 8 feet tall that cost thousands of dollars. The smaller pieces consist of only a few parts, while larger sculptures can contain thousands of individual pieces. The best part is that all materials used in construction of these unique art pieces are reclaimed from discarded cars, motorbikes and airplanes.

How did the gearheads and welders behind RoboSteel become inspired to work with junkyard scraps as their medium? They say it all started with Picasso, oddly enough.

“Picasso’s sculpture of the bicycle saddle and a handlebar was the first example of a work made from everyday things, using junk or scrap,” states the RoboSteel website. “This work opened up new possibilities for artists. In this instance — sculptors, who for centuries had employed traditional materials such as stone or wood now instead, many of them began to incorporate junk materials into their work (known as assemblages) or fashion new objects from them. The works are a great example of the inventive genius of Picasso and the ultimate inspiration for RoboSteel.”

Who needs a life-sized replica of Optimus Prime, you might ask? Well, RoboSteel has completed many commissions for customers around the world, including promotional props for Hollywood features and futuristic robots for gaming arcades in Japan and Singapore.

If you are ever in Dublin, you can see RoboSteel’s creations up close and personal, seven days a week, at Cows Lane Fashion and Design Market in Temple Bar. If you’re not planning a trip to the Emerald Isle any time soon, you can also browse the gallery on the RoboSteel website.