See -- and Make -- Puppets this Sunday

Looking for an activity to do with the whole family this Mother's Day? Join us at Wit's End Puppets' production of The Amazing and Marvelous Cabinets of Kismet. The show itself is getting rave reviews; following the afternoon performance on Sunday 5/12, SCRAP will help run a workshop so that attendees can make their own puppets. Tickets ($15 for the show; $20 for show + workshop) still remain for this collaborative event, 2-4pm at Flashpoint Gallery, 916 G Street NW.

 Photo by C. Stanley Photography

Last September, we held this same SCRAPpy workshop over at Watkins Nature Center. The results were varied and fun, and participants had an opportunity at the end to have their designs' photos taken from behind the puppet stage. Time permitting, we'll do the same on the Kismet set.

Photos by SCRAP DC

Things to do with Samples!

At SCRAP DC we get loads of various samples from interior design and architecture firms such as floor, wood, carpet, and fabric. There's so much potential in these squares of material that people sometimes overlook! Here are some clever examples created by volunteers of SCRAP:

Heather made awesome wall art by hanging wood finish samples and scattering photos between the pieces of wood: 

I made a little table for my router out of three pieces of wood floor samples (with scrap fabric glued to the front hide the wires):

Jessica's cat tree combines both the carpet and wood samples with pvc pipe. Kitty approves!:

       

I put many carpet samples together to make one big rug:

Last month we gave out free fabric samples with purchase. What did you create with them? We've heard ideas like wedding invitations or doll clothes. SCRAP also has a plethora of other material samples like plastic signage, marble floor tiles, and wallpaper trims that are really cool. If you make something with them, send us pictures of your results!

Re:Boutique -- Done for Now!

As we focus on the fun and exciting experiment that has been our Re:Boutique, here now is a look at the artists and goods -- including our fab pegboard -- not yet discussed. This lovely white board came to us, as much of our "scrap" does, thru freecycle. Then, one of our sweet volunteers offered to take it to Jed Dinger Design (14650 Southlawn Lane in Rockville, MD), where the guys in the shop cut down the huge piece and attached it to this frame (another donation to us). Thanks, all!
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Christa McDermott [FreedFromTheTrash (at) gmail (dot) com] is one of SCRAP's devoted Advisory Board members and makes these beautiful coat racks. An environmental psychologist by day, she's also a trash refurbisher by night, using as much salvaged material as possible -- including paint and hardware. When a factory in Brentwood closed, all of the plaster was headed for the dump. Of all that Christa rescued, she still has many different trim styles available. Custom orders welcome!

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KLK Studios [klkstudios (at) mac (dot) com] has made jewelry for over two decades, originally using beads, metals, and -- eventually -- kiln-formed glass. But after owner Karen L. Klein started incorporating recycled materials into her projects, she stumbled upon the existence of SCRAP in Portland, OR, and felt that DC would support its own creative reuse resource, too. More than 2 years later, SCRAP DC is going strong, so you can also reach her at karen (at) scrapdc (dot) org. [For the rest of our "creation" story, including how we came to be TWO co-directors, go on over to this link.]

As seen above, Karen's earrings come on interior design laminate samples, with some made from the same material. It's one of SCRAP's most affordable items, at just 25¢ per inch! [This photo shows how we measure that inch.]

Getting back to the jewelry display cards: when customers return them to SCRAP for another use, they'll get 10% off that visit's purchase. Or they can try making their own project, since the labels are easily removed. Either way, it's less junk going into local waste streams.
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The remaining categories of stuff on the board are by artists we've already presented; the bottle cap earrings and key rings are provided by Judith Capen, while Bahari Deco Crafts folds the small gift bags from pieces of newspaper. There are still more Re:Boutique items to see aside from those photographed for this blog series, so come by this and every Thursday and check them out!