• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

Crafting with Re-Purpose, Re-New and Re-Joice in Mind

I confess:  I am a craftaholic.  Yes.  It’s true.  [Just ask my wife and she’ll tell you ALL about it.]  The strange thing is, I don’t limit myself to just one ‘craft’ or medium.  I run the whole gamut.  From fabric to fiber to paint to rubber stamps to card-making … the list goes on and on.

On the bright side, I’m very proud of the fact that instead of running out to my local craft store to buy my supplies, I scour the local thrift shops and Goodwill stores to find items that I can buy (for next to nothing) and convert them into something with new life.  Example:  a pillowcase, in good condition, can be turned into a tote bag, a pencil case, a crochet hook keeper or a travel-size tissue holder.

You would be amazed at all the stuff I’ve dragged home.  Every day is a new day at the St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift shop that I frequent during many of my lunch hours.  You just never know what you might find.  So…I go there often (some weeks I’m there three times).  See:  I AM a craftaholic.  I’m always on the lookout for something that I can buy for a song and dance, make something out of it, and either give it as a gift, or sell it on my Etsy or ArtFire web sites.

I’ve been lucky enough to find bags of good quality thread and yarn.  Yards and yards of 100% cotton fabric in perfect shape for about 49 cents/yard.  I’ve also found brand new wooden pictures frames and plaques that just need to be painted to become perfect gift items.  Can you imagine finding a vintage sewing machine for $5.00?  I don’t mean one that is missing all the important parts.  I mean the kind that you plug in and it purrs like a kitten.

On one of my recent trips to St. Vinnie’s I found a junior-sized drafting table in excellent condition.  The table tilts from a completely vertical position for easy storage, to a 100% horizontal position to use as an extra work surface.  My kids love to tape a piece of drawing paper on the board and scribble, draw and paint.  The cost of the table?  Less than nine bucks!

Books are another ‘trash to treasure’ success story.  My boys love to read.  So…in addition to their school libraries and the public library, I will often come home with a book for each of them.  Most of them are less than $3.00 each.  You might have to dig around in the book bins, but you may find a real gem.  I’ve found lots of books that the boys were very happy to get.  And…when (if) they get tired of them, I donate them back to the thrift shop.  Is that “green” or what?

The next time you need something, make sure you check out the second hand stores in your area before you jump online or jump in the car.  You may find all sorts of things that can be converted into something new and different.  Or maybe something that just needs dusted off or washed up.  Finding that perfect item is certainly something to rejoice about.

IMAGE:  cogdogblog on flickr.com under the Creative Commons License

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« Green Toys Inc – Recycled Toys Made in the USA
Scottish Study Finds 28 Percent of Induced Births Unnecessary »

Trackbacks

  1. Green Crafter Profile: Betz White : Eco Child’s Play says:
    January 26, 2009 at 2:22 am

    […] wool felting and walks us step-by-step (patterns included in the back of book) on how to transform second-hand sweaters into some unique craft items.  Projects include a bonbon journal, messenger bag, scarves, […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

Naturally Clean Appliances with PurTru All-Natural Cleaners

Vegan Creamy Cauliflower Tahini Bisque

More from the archives!

Want to win eco-friendly baby socks?

Healthy Snacking: Organic, Non GMO Verified, Little Duck Organics Freeze Dried Fruit

5 Green Products: Little Twig SPF 30 Kids Mineral Sunscreen to Green Toys Dig Earth Day Essential Green Kit For You and Your Tot

Green Craft: Fun With Plastic Bottles!

Traveling with Kids: Crayon Bungee “No More Dropped & Dirty Crayons”

Uniquely Scented, Soothing Hand Sanitizer with Integrity: New Vegan PlaneAire Hands with Aloe and Green Tea

It’s Time to Quit Plastics and How to do It

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy
organic vermont soap

Hydrate your skin with Vermont Soap Choco-Luscious Organic Skin Smoothie

LA Times: “Parents are obese, they use [sleeping pills], they use drugs. Co-sleeping is just not safe”

14 Natural Remedies for Earaches

Why does disposable equal wealth?

Activist Kids That Care: San Rafael Elementary Asks Crayola to Recycle; Crayola Says NO!

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

What’s in your supplements? Petroleum, rocks, artificial dyes?

Why Moms Should Use Coconut Oil

Why Moms Should Use Coconut Oil

Smart Kids Become Vegetarian Adults

Persimmon cookies are a seasonal kid favorite!

Kid-Friendly Holiday Vegetarian Recipes: Persimmon Cookies

Lower Your Blood Pressure by Raising Kids…Seriously?

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.