My World Tour Plan
I have this idea of travelling all over to visit people doing Trashmagination stuff. I’m going to keep a running list of places I want to see for the day I go.
The keywords I use when searching for these people are:
- American Made
- Collaborative Working Space
- Creative Recycling
- Etsy Recycled
- Fiber Art Center
- Folk Art Center
- Maker Faire
- Mosaics
- School of Crafts
- Scrap
- Textile Center
- Tinkerer
- Upcycled
EVENTS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
- Maker Faire – All over the world
- Renegade Craft Fair – “Indie” craft fair in Austin, Chicago, San Fransisco, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, London
ALABAMA
- Alabama Chanin – This visionary has a factory of organic cotton design awesomeness in Florence.
- Arcadia Salvage – Furnishings from recycled wood – in Pell City
- The Resource Place – A place for teachers & caregivers to get recycled materials in Mobile
ALASKA
- Maria Shell, Tales of a Stitcher – one of my favorite improv quilters – in Anchorage
- Genny Rietze, Hello Zero Waste – in Haines – fruit sticker artist and lots of other great waste reduction ideas
ALBERTA
- Adrian and Martinus Pool – reclaimed wood artists using aged barn boards, recycled gymnasium flooring and broken skateboards – in Calgary
- Cedar Mueller Art – In Canmore, makes bears, horses and other large animals from cut up recycled vehicles
- Needle and Pine – Shelves that look like triangular mountains and mountain pillows – in Calgary
- Sustainable Slow – In Edmonton, Deb Merriam founded The Local Good and does rug hooking
ARGENTINA
- Botito Ecoguardian – Plastic robot kits made from caps and other post-consumer plastic packaging
- Fabiana Gadano – makes jewelry from recycled plastic bottles in Buenes Aires
ARIZONA
- John T. Benedict – recycled metal artist – in Tucson
ARKANSAS
- Leslie Stewart – 3-D paintings built on newspaper – in Fort Smith
- The Rabbit’s Lair – In Rogers – I like that they call themselves a creative fiber center
AUSTRALIA
- Afloat by Recolab – bags are crafted from up-cycled boat sails, abandoned festival tents and other stuff saved from landfill
- Sean Avery – artist who makes animal sculptures from recycled CDs, as well as cartoons – in Perth
- Karen Benjamin – trash fashion / wearable art designer and environmental artist in Brisbane
- Craft School Oz – Ruth Woods – delivers craft classes across Australia, especially coiled basket and vases – in Amsterdam
- Gypsy Weaver – weaver in Maryborough – trash fashion inspiration
- Crossing Threads – I would like to meet weavers Lauren and Kassandra Hernandez
- Freya Jobbins – Makes installation art from plastic toys
- Ministry of Handmade – Teaching handmade skills with a modern twist – in Brisbane
- The Happenstore – creative space – in Annandale
- Jonathan Pampling – trash fashion designer – in Queensland
- Recreate Community – sustainable community organization – in Mount Pleasant
- Reverse Garbage Queensland – creative reuse center in Woolloongabba, Brisbane
- She Makes Happy – Coiled basket maker in Tasmania
- Jordan Sprigg – Metalsmith makes animals from metal scrap – in Narembeen
- String Harvest – Natural fiber craft supplies in Southport, Queensland
- Textile Beat, Jane Milburn – Slow Clothing author, sustainability consultant, TEDx speaker, upcycler, natural fibre champion – in Toowong, Queensland
- Wild Fibres – Ainsley Warner – woven baskets and jewellery – in Marrickville Sydney
BRAZIL
- SK EcoStore – many items from recycled glass bottles – in Ribeirão Preto
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Katy Biele – embroidery – in Victoria
- ChopValue – recycles bamboo chopsticks into furniture and honeycomb-shaped shelves in Vancouver
- Hine Mizushima – Crafter who makes incredible felt creatures
- Kristen Chursinoff – amazing fabric artist in Vancouver
- Nadine Flagel, Pretext Studio – Rug hooking artist from recycled textiles in Vancouver
- Our Social Fabric – Vancouver-based non-profit group that helps recycle excess fabric from manufacturers, the movie industry, and more
- Lucy Poskitt – I would love to meet this weaver in Victoria
- Mardell Rampton – quilter – in Burnaby
- Sans Soucie Textiles – Clothing and other fiber art made from recycled hosiery in Vancouver by Katherine Soucie
CALIFORNIA
- A Place to Grow – Greenhouses made from recycled windows & building supplies – in San Luis Obispo
- Bolt Threads – They make a leather-like material from mycelium and a man-made silk based on studying spider silk – in Emeryville
- Brightworks – At this school in San Fransisco, the kids really take ownership of their learning. They study subjects in “arcs” where each child takes some aspect and runs with it. I really want to do the silk scarf dancing from the ceiling.
- Camp Couture – A camp for people who want to make clothing from recycled materials in San Mateo
- Chimera Arts and Maker Space – A place for makers of all types to get together in Sebastopol
- Couch Guitar Straps – Guitar straps from recycled seat belts in Long Beach
- Crochet by Kait – I would like to meet weaver Kaitlyn Taylor in Long Beach
- East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse – connecting people with reusable art supplies – in Oakland
- The Ecology Center – ecological design in action – in San Juan Capistrano and Encinitas
- FabMo – Taking designer fabric scraps, collecting them and having a monthly event for designers – in Mountain View
- Fallen Fruit – A project by two artists mapping the locations of fruit trees on public lands
- Tess Felix – beach trash portrait artist – in Stinson Beach
- Iris Skateboards – George Rocha – new skateboards, squeegees and tap handles made from recycled skateboards – in San Francisco
- The Junk Girls – art, lighting, jewellery, and furniture from vintage materials – in San Luis Obispo
- Made by CBK, Caroline Beghin-Kircher – ocean-inspired artist – fish from driftwood and sea debris in San Pedro
- Maranoni – Quilter and home goods designer Lorena Marañon in Los Angeles
- Mariana Nelson – creative reuse artists focusing on plastic, rope, thread – in Laguna Beach
- Marty Ornish – wearable art designer in San
Diego - Mbukii Bags – from recycled leather – in San Fransisco
- People Towels – I have given these gifts so many times – I would love to meet Mary Wallace and Linda Lannon in Monterey
- Rare Hare Studio – They host fairs that encourage creative recycling around the San Diego area.
- Recology – San Francisco’s waste management facility with artist-in-residence program and past artwork
- Re-Create – Less trash & more art – great slogan – in Roseville
- ReCruz – Rents glasses and dishes at events to reduce waste – in Santa Cruz
- Rediscover Center – Connecting educators & caregivers with recycled materials in Los Angeles
- Renga Arts – In Sebastapol, furniture and random sculptures from recycled materials
- Resource Area for Teaching – At a warehouse in San Jose, teachers can get recycled materials and curriculum ideas.
- Ruth’s Table – A place for creative people to come together in San Fransisco
- Scrap – The first of the “scrap” places which turn factory ends into art materials, located in San Fransisco
- Sherri Lynn Wood – This incredible creative reuse fiber artist lives in Oakland
- Sticky Art Lab – In Berkeley, a place for makers to get together
- This Into That – Artist Jim Rosenau makes shelves & furniture from books in Berkeley.
- Tila and the Textiles – incredible skirts by Amber Frigaard – in Los Angeles
- Tinkering Studio, Exploratorium – In San Fransisco, a group of inventors and creators
- Trash Amps – Speakers made from recycled materials like aluminum cans – in the Bay area
- Trash for Teaching at Two Bit Circus Foundation – In Fresno
- Wishi Washi Studio – I would love to meet bookmaker and quilter Jody Alexander in Santa Cruz
- Woven Grey – Kathleen Heafey – storage containers made from sustainable cotton – in Oakland
CHILE
- Artenosanas – beautiful jewelry from recycled CDs by Vanessa Silva
- Valeria Lovezzano – plastic bag crochet artist in Coinco
COLORADO
- Green Guru Gear – Upcycled bicycle parts and climbing ropes in Boulder
- Moore Family Folk Art – metal bottle cap and aluminum can art in Denver
- Rebecca Mezoff Tapestry – I would love to meet weaver Rebecca in Fort Collins
- Reframe Creative Reuse Center – in Lakewood
- Repurposed Materials – In Henderson, Damon Carson connects industrial waste with new uses
- The Makerie – A place for artists and makers to come together in Boulder
- Who Gives a Scrap – creative reuse centers in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs
CONNECTICUT
- Birdseed Collective – community building organization in Denver which focuses on public art such as dumpster painting and murals
- Blaze and Bloom Vintage – vintage and recycled items – in West Hartford
- KZStevens (Karen Stevens) – wonderful stitcher in Kent
- Whole Circle Studio – I would like to meet quilter Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill in New Haven.
DENMARK
- Thomas Dambo – This creative reuse artist lives in Copenhagen
DISTRICT of COLUMBIA
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- Fab Lab DC – A place where you can make just about anything related to technology
- In-jeen-yuhs – features art made from sustainable materials
- Texiles – A company that takes unwanted clothing and other textiles – can be damaged
FINLAND
- Aalto University School of Art and Design – trash fashion inspiration – in Helsinki
- matkailijakirppu – Thrift and sewing enthusiast who makes items I love
- Outi Les Pyy – Trash fashion designer
- Ragmate, Martta Leskelä – This company hires Syrian refugees to make chair covers from recycled materials – in Oulu
- Tuija Heikkinen – Fun designer and crochet artist – in Rovaniemi
FLORIDA
- Garbage Gone Glam – Designs dresses from trash for corporate sponsorship – in Stuart
- Repurpose Project – in Gainesville
- Rethreaded – makes scarves and other fashion items from recycled materials, employs survivors of human trafficking – in Jacksonville
- Francisco Sheuat – art from recycled aluminum cans – in Fort Lauderdale
- Trash to Treasure Creative Reuse Center – in Fort Lauderdale
- Upcycle Exchange – in St. Petersburg
GEORGIA
- Vita Marie Lovett – This artist stitches layers on to canvas to make it look like old barn doors, in Marietta
GERMANY
- FM Unique Designs – furniture made from recycled materials such as suitcases – in Wallerfing
- Diedel Klöver – art from recycled metal – in Varel
- Little Herb Bouquet – I would love to meet innovative embroidery design Veselka Bulkan in Munich
- raubdruckerin – Make prints from manhole covers – in Berlin
GREECE
HAWAII
- Attainable Sustainable by Kris Bordessa – writes about all the good stuff!
- Nurdle in the Rough, Kat Crabill – She shapes marine plastic into jewelry
- Soda2Art, Candelaria Onyeabor – Jewelry from aluminum cans – in Hilo
- Upcycle Hawaii – Mattie Mae Larson makes wallets from inner tubes, as well as earrings and zipper pouches from fused plastic. She also makes trash fashion.
HONG KONG
- Liina Klauss – Art awareness activist who makes installations with used flip flops
HUNGARY
- Felvarrom – makes belts, wallets and other items from bicycle inner tubes – in Leányfalu
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
- Community Art Cart – an organization that encourages people to create art carts of recycled craft materials, like the Little Free Library movement
- Creative Reuse Warehouse – In Chicago, connected with a lot of other cool resources such as urban farming
- Growing Power – Very cool program that teaches people urban farming – Will and Erika Allen are super inspiring human beings
- Morton Arboretum – Thomas Dambo’s sculptures
- Resweater – She makes lots of things from old sweaters in Geneva
- Sarah Nishiura Quilts – So yummy – I read about her in Martha Stewart magazine – she is in Chicago
INDIANA
- Kotah Moon – makes metal art from reclaimed materials – in Evansville
- Martina Celerin – She upcycles fibers into wondrous three-dimensional tapestries – in Bloomington – She also remakes shirts into new clothing at her company Re-Shirts
- Pattern Workshop – Lauren Dahl offers courses on how to design patterns
- Sayaka Ganz – a recycling artist in Fort Wayne
- Teachers’ Treasures – Allows teachers from schools with low-income students to get free supplies
IOWA
- Beki Biesterfelt – sews clothing from recycled textiles in Waterloo
- Make It Yours Upcycle Center – in Welton Iowa
ITALY
- Pangaea Bags – made from recycled soccer balls – also suspenders with a piece of soccer ball incorporated
JAPAN
- Chinami Mori – a weaver (1000wave)
- The town of Kamikatsu – I would love to visit this town which produces almost no waste
- Natsumi Tomita – Animal and people sculptor from recycled materials
KENTUCKY
- Good Garbage – a creative reuse center in Louisville
MAINE
- A Gathering of Stitches – A making space for fiber and textile artists in Portland
- Anne Riggs Designs – She makes wonderful items that reduce trash use in the home
- Cobalt Sky Studio – lobster buoy pillows in Monroe
- EcoSeaTile – Tiles made from recycled materials at Mount Desert
- Trisha Griffith – cardboard sculpture – in Orono
- Haystack Mountain School of Crafts – In Deer Isle, you can take craft classes in so many topics.
- One Woman Studio – Makes awesome skirts from recycled t-shirts and other recycled fiber awesomeness in Ellsworth
- Parris House Wool Works – rug hooking artist Beth Miller in South Paris
- Mariah Reading – paints landscapes on salvaged materials
- Sea Bags – handmade tote bags from recycled sails in Portland
- Scrapwood Renaissance – Metal sculpture in Biddeford
- Swallowfield – Shop in Northeast Harbor who carries many pieces by artists I admire – Jennifer Judd-McGee
- Weaving a Life – In Brookville, Susan teaches people how to become weaving instructors so they can return to their own communities and share the fun.
MANITOBA
- dconstruct jewellery from recycled resin – the recycled content would otherwise be waste from producers of sky lights, store fixtures and vending machine covers- in Winnipeg
MARYLAND
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- Broken Plates Pendant Company – In Baltimore, she makes jewelry from broken plates.
- Close Call Studio, Amanda Adams – fiber artist in Baltimore – wonderful succulents and mushrooms
- Cotton Monster, Jennifer Strunge – Monster toys from recycled clothing – in Baltimore
- Green Upward, Gabriella Jacobsen – Bags to reduce plastic bag use
- ManneqART – A wearable art contest based in Laurel
- SchlegelBagelDesign – upcycled art and jewellery from Pyrex containers and costume jewellery – in Bel Air South
- Scrap B-More – creative reuse center in Baltimore
- Silver Spring Creative Reuse – This program collects craft and art supplies for teachers
MASSACHUSETTS
- Alchemy Initiative – Located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, some folks transformed a church into an arts collective, with classes around the Berkshires.
- Gather Here Stitch Lounge – In Cambridge, a place where people who love fiber can work
- Green Art Workshop – classes offered on both the east and west coast of the US
- Jess Wrobel – Textile artist in Rowley
- Laura Bundesen – Mixed-media artists who focuses on “neuro art” – in Huntington
- Mimi Kirchner – I would love to visit this innovative dollmaker in the Boston area.
- The Beautiful Stuff Project – free materials for creative reuse by teachers & students – in Somerville
- Sharon McCartney – love her fiber work, especially when it looks so true to nature – in Belcherville
MEXICO
- The Future Forest – Thomas Dambo’s plastic forest in Mexico City at the botanical garden of Chapultepec
- Mariana Acosta Contreras – She teaches a course at the Universidad Gestalt de Diseño called “Precious Waste, The Art of Rubbish Transformation” where her students design incredible jewelry from trash – in Xalapa
MICHIGAN
- Arts and Scraps – In Detroit, a place for artists to get inexpensive supplies
- Boots N’ Gus – Lighting from glass jars and kitchen ware in Grand Haven
- Figjam Studio – I would love to meet creative reuse artist Kerry Heath in Coldwater
- Green Sheep – She takes wool sweaters and makes them into blankets
- Green Sheep Felt – She also takes woolen sweaters and makes them into fun stuff, in Dearborn
- Scrap Box – In Ann Arbor, they gather factory ends and other bits for artists, as well as offering classes.
- Thing Thing – These designers grind up plastic and melt it into many objects such as clocks and furniture – in Detroit
- Tinygami, Stacie Tamaki – Tiny origami folder
MINNESOTA
- Combed Thunder – I would love to meet weaver Natalie Novak.
- Creative Chicks Cafe and the Old School Art Studio – In Afton, a group of people who do creative things together
- Smooth Hills Weaving – I would love to meet weaver Mandi Smethells in St. Paul.
- Textile Center of Minnesota – I love to see all the classes they develop.
MISSOURI
- Leftovers Etc – a creative reuse center in Maryland Heights
- Lily & Gus – Adorable stuffed toys from recycled fibers – love the whales!
- Perennial Community Workshop using all salvaged materials – in St. Louis
- St. Louis Teacher Recycle Center – I love this trend of gathering materials for teachers.
- Upcycle Exchange – In St. Louis
MOLDOVA
- From Babushka, Svetlana Mititelu – superb crochet artist specializing in plastic bags – in Chișinău
MONTANA
NETHERLANDS
- Justien van der Winkel – Exquisite hand-sewn birds – in Amsterdam
- Ingrid van Willenswaard – crochet artist – in Amsterdam
NEVADA
- The Teacher’s Exchange – This program is run by the Public Education Foundation in Las Vegas and connects teachers with materials.
NEWFOUNDLAND
- Norton’s Cove Studio – Janet Davis’ studio – I love her work, expecially her hooked rugs – especially Clifford’s Educational Fund – in Brookfield
NEW HAMPSHIRE
- Dorr Mill Store – In Newport, a Mecca for rug hooking artists
- PortSwap – Jennifer Moore writes about sustainable fashion and upcycling. She founded an annual clothing swap in Portsmouth
- Sarah K. Benning – I would love to meet this illustrious embroidery designer in Hillsborough
NEW JERSEY
- Lisa Bagwell – plastic trash sculptures – in Red Bank
- dordesign – In Rumson, she makes furniture from recycled billboards.
- Group Hug Quilts – Handmade quilts, personalized, in Cranbury
- Middle Brook Fiberworks – I would love to meet spinner and weaver Anne Choi and take classes in her beautiful studio.
- Peters Valley Craft Center – In Layton, there are 2-5 day classes that make me swoon
- Terracycle – Some day I would really love to visit the design headquarters for this company I have admired for years, in Trenton – their goal is to “eliminate the idea of waste”
- TurnSTYLE Art – Christine Tischio – art teacher who makes collages from security envelopes – in Maplewood
NEW YORK
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- Adirondack Folk School – At Lake Luzerne, workshops in all the crafts you want to learn.
- Victoria Angelini – wood cut art in Westchester
- Aly Parrott – I would love to meet embroidery artist Aly Parrott in Albany
- Aurora Robson – one of my favorite plastic sculpture artists – in the Hudson Valley
- Aurora Shoe Company – Leather is all from the United States, shoes are all handmade – in Aurora
- Buffalo ShopCraft – store that sells work by local artists in Buffalo
- Ken Butler – Hybrid Luthery – makes instruments from recycled materials in Brooklyn
- Cindy Pease Roe – Sculptor who makes whales and other marine life from beach trash – in Greenport – she also leads workshops in upsculpting, or making environmentally conscious art – she also sells DIY kits
- Crazy As A Loom – I visited this amazing weaving school & recycled fiber artist – she is phenomenal outside Glens Falls.
- Keith Decent – woodworker & upcycler with podcast From the Ground Up – in Beacon
- Eco-Bags USA classic string reusable bags – in Ossining
- Elle.Ewaste, Marcele Godoy – Necklaces from recycled computer cables – her store is in Brooklyn, although I think she lives in Switzerland
- FabScrap – textile waste recycler in Brooklyn
- Finger Lakes Re-Use – In Ithaca, they have a ReUse Art Show and a center where you can get materials.
- First World Trash – bags from billboards, seat belts, inner tubes in Queens
- Fish Museum and Circus – Deborah Fisher makes dolls to send to Haiti and I love her designs, whether pottery or fabric – in Stony Brook
- Glenn Fischer – Geometric designs from recycled papers
- Haptic Lab – In Brooklyn, Emily Fischer makes quilts I want to touch.
- Katrina Rodabaugh – Slow Fashion activist in the Hudson Valley
- Camille Labarre – fiber artist, punch needle, basket maker – in NYC
- Lexy Ho-Tai – Awesome “monsters” from recycled materials called Kookers, lots of community art and murals – in NYC
- Will Kurtz, Papier mache portraitist in Brooklyn
- Materials for the Arts – In New York, run by the New York Department of Cultural Affairs, this connects artists with stuff, and a group called “Friends of Materials for the Arts” teach classes with that re-used stuff.
- Nic Annette Miller – a printmaker in Brooklyn and I just love her salmon and bats – She made the coolest craft sales table that looked like a fish market using fake ice made from water encapsulated rubber
- NYC Wastematch – Run by the Department of Sanitation, this site matches waste to people who want it. This should exist everywhere!
- Lara Padilla – paints on clothing – trash fashion inspiration – lives in NYC and Madrid
- Paisley Studio – I would like to meet rug hooking artist Sarah McNamara
- Patricia Field ArtFashion – fashion gallery / costume design – in NYC – trash fashion inspiration
- RISE Products – upcycled barley grains from beer into flour products – in Queens
- Rose Pearlman – I would love to meet this rug hooking artist in New York City.
- Ruby Silvious – Paints on many recycled materials, but especially tea bags – in Coxsackie
- Skraptacular – A community group that hosts events encouraging recycling, especially weaving items, in New York
- Snuggly Ugly – Stuffed toys from sweaters in Brooklyn
- SSIK Designs – Kristina Kiss designs clothing from drips of latex – great trash fashion inspiration – in NYC
- StudMuffin NYC – Clothing designer Kyle Brincefield who does amazing stuff with studs – in NYC – great trash fashion inspiration
- Textile Arts Center – Lots of great fiber classes in Brooklyn & Manhattan
- Thompson Street Studio – I would like to visit this studio in New York.
- Vaya Bags – In Queens, she makes bags from recycled bicycle tubes, sails and billboards.
NORTH CAROLINA
- Earth Guild – Selling everything you need to make anything – in Asheville
- Freeman’s Creative – Durham’s source for yarn, fabric and other handcraft supplies
- Glass Eco Surfaces – recycled class counter tops – in North Charleston
- Gökotta – Jenny Vallimont – community activism and art – in Charlotte
- Bryant Holsenbeck environmental artist who makes mandalas from plastic caps and birds from found materials – in Durham
- John C. Campbell Folk School – It is my dream to take a class here in Brasstown. Or maybe to teach a class here?
- Jujujust – I would love to meet weaver Judit Just in Asheville.
- Paperhand Puppet Intervention – They make giant puppets from incredible stuff in Saxapahaw – some summer, we must go for a show.
- Penland School of Crafts – Founded in 1929, the heart and soul of American craft history
- Scrap Exchange – In Durham, this organization encourages re-use by gathering donations and re-selling to makers.
- Screen Door – Variety shop with more than 100 vendors, many doing creative reuse – in Asheville
- Snuggly Monkey – I would like to meet crafter and quilter Claudia Martinez in Durham.
- Trendefemme – Women’s clothing from recycled fibers in Raleigh
NORWAY
- Kari Prestgaard and Astor Andersen – create beach plastic art for museums/galleries and workshops for kids.
- Maja Stabel – Maja designs clothing sewing patterns that use all the yardage so there is no waste – I particularly love her designs from blankets and tablecloths – I also love her embroidered portraits
- Pippip Ferner – beach plastic sculptures, including braided plastic bags – sometimes shaped into large tree-sized cones or hanging in vertical stripes
NOVA SCOTIA
- A Twist of Iron – Recycled metal art, specializing in making fire pits from old propane tanks, by Kevin, Noreen and Loreen Nicholson in Cape Breton
- Blue Cottage Rugs – recycled fiber rugs in Bedford
- Faire Child – children’s rain clothing with green initiatives – in Dartmouth
- Nika Feldman – a fellow Nova Scotian and textile recycler
- Lunenberg Makery
- Martine Vermeulen – She makes collages from recycled linoleum in Port Medway.
- Shad Bay Weaving, Allison Pinsent Baker
- Trainyard Store – I have visited this awesome store in Dartmouth which features artwork made by people across the province. It rocks! Here’s my podcast episode about creative reuse in Nova Scotia, where I mention this store.
- Andrea Tsang Jackson, 3rd Story Workshop – Quilter in Halifax doing collaborative community work
OHIO
- Art Grange – Michelle Stitzlein, queen of plastic caps and one of my favorite Trashmagination artists, in Baltimore
- BuildMore Workshop – A maker space in Dublin
- Columbus Idea Foundry – A maker space in Columbus
- Forest City Portage – Awesome messenger bags from upcycled materials in Lakewood
- Indigo Hippo – Art supply creative reuse center in Cincinnati
- Joy Did It – Fiber artist in Pickerington
- Needle, Ink and Thread – Jesy Anderson in Beavercreek – a sewing teacher
- Recyclabowls – Swirly bowls made from recycled fabric in Cincinnati
- Reincarnations – They paint furniture that would get tossed into art pieces in Fostoria.
- Reuse Industries – in Athens and Albany
- Team Chipmunk – Children’s clothing from recycled fibers in Columbus
- Upcycle Parts Shop – creative reuse center in Cleveland
- Zero Landfill Cleveland – upcycling program for artists and art educators
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
- Art by LauraTK – Awesome feather earrings from inner tubes – in Portland
- Dropcloth – I would love to meet embroidery innovator Rebecca Ringquist in Portland
- Eugene Textile Center – Wonderful fiber arts classes
- Hilde Morin Fiber Art – I would love to meet quilter Hilde Morin.
- Latimer Quilt and Textile Center – In Tillamook, this center was built in a restored school. My mom visited and said it was awesome.
- MECCA or Materials Exchange Center for the Creative Arts – I have heard that once you live with MECCA, it’s difficult to live without it – located in Eugene.
- Rebuilding Center – donated building supplies and many classes – in Portland
- Relevant Buildings – shipping container buildings – in East Canby
- Resource Revival – They make cool stuff from bicycle parts in Mosier.
- Scrap Portland – Like Scrap DC and Scrap San Fransisco – connecting people with unwanted stuff
ONTARIO
- 2nd Shot Recycled Skateboards – makes knives, watches, sunglasses and more in Orangeville
- Bookhou – I would love to meet designers Arounna Khounnoraj and John Booth in Toronto.
- Fish Eye Sisters – I would like to meet quilter and rug hooker Jen Manuell in Huntsville
- Karen D. Miller Studio – In Ottawa, I would like to visit this rug hooking artist.
- Minga Skillbuilding – hands-on workshops where you learn how to create more of the products you consume – in Guelph
- Northern Smittens, Josée Huard – Mittens and pillows from recycled sweaters – in North Bay
- Terracycle Canada – I would love to visit their Toronto office in person.
- Textile Museum of Canada – In Toronto
- The Workroom – In Toronto, a place where people can get together to learn how to sew or rent sewing machines
OREGON
- Attic Journals – recycling old hardcover books into journals and library cards into jewellery – in Portland
- Cartwright Design – Matt makes sculptures from recycled metal and wood in Portland.
- Lolivia Gifts – They plant succulent gardens in found objects in Nehalem.
- MapleXO – recycled skateboard work in Portland – jewellry, bottle openers, kitchen gear, ornaments, screwdrivers, skatelamp
- Vibe Studio – a creative arts education space – in Portland
PENNSYLVANIA
- Aftyn Shah, Rise and Wander – Awesome printmaker and painter near Philadelphia
- Deckstool – Furniture made from recycled skateboards, located in Clifton Heights, west of Philadelphia
- Drew Leshko – builds miniature urban landscape sculptures – in Philadelphia
- Franssim Stuff – Nicole crochets with plastic bags – in Pittsburgh
- Hatch Arts Studio – in Pittsburgh – lots of creative reuse projects for adults & kids
- Lydia Ricci – Makes sculptures of everyday items from paper scraps and other found objects – in Philadelphia
- My Paper Crane – I would love to visit Heidi Kenney who does many things and I love them all.
- Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens – Mosaics made from amazing things
- Pittsburgh’s Center for Creative Reuse – Open 7 days a week, amazing art supplies!
- Pittsburgh Paper Girl – Erin Gardner – Ornaments and other items from recycled books
- Reconstruct Wood – Shelves and furnished from reclaimed wood – in Port Matilda
- Resource Exchange – In Philadelphia, connecting people with unwanted stuff
- Sardine Clothing – Maryanne Petrus-Gilbert upcycles old clothes into new embroidered super-fun designs – in Philadelphia
- Stacy Levy – environmental artist in Spring Mills – won the ManneqART contest in 2017
- Jennifer Savo – license plate art
- These Pink Lips – clothing designer who paints on clothes – Iris Barbee Bonner – great trash fashion inspiration from Philadelphia
- TrashN2Tees – Her t-shirts designs are adorable, all from recycled textiles located in Easton, east of Allentown.
- Victoria Gertenbach – In Lancaster, her quilts are all about using scraps and I love her Mend series.
PORTUGAL
- Bordalo II – an artist who makes huge sculptures from plastic trash – in Lisbon
- Vanessa Barragão – fiber artist in Porto
- Catarina Glam – urban artist – uses reclaimed wood and cardboard – in Lisbon
- Woometry – Misha and Kate Gumanenko – recycled wood geometric art – in Lisbon
- Xicogaivota – Ricardo Ramos – beach trash artist in Lisbon
QUEBEC
- Allyson Rousseau – weaver in Montreal
- Raku Inoue – He makes incredible sculptures from natural items such as leaves and flowers in Montreal
- Laurence Vallières – giant sculptures from cardboard and paper – in Montreal
RHODE ISLAND
- Loop by Loop Studios – Sharon & Hayley Perry are rug hooking artists in Warren
- Squam Art Workshops – Retreats for artists and makers in Providence and nearby locations
RUSSIA
- Eira Teufel – Embroidery artist who makes the most awesome sequined fish in Saint Petersburg
- Kry Embroidery – famous paintings embroidered in pins – in Belaya Kholunitsa
SASKATCHEWAN
- Freedom Rugs – rugs woven from recycled materials in Wadena
- Hooked on the Prairies – I would like to meet rug hooking artist Shelly Nicolle-Phillips
- Monika Kinner-Whalen – Threadpainting artist in Saskatchewan
SERBIA
SINGAPORE
- Kelly Limerick, Crochet Artist – I would love to see any exhibits by Kelly
SOUTH AFRICA
- Gina Niederhumer textile artist, mending philosopher – in Cape Town
SOUTH CAROLINA
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- Airtight Artwork – Matt Wilson makes incredible birds from metal silverware in Charleston
- Deane V. Bowers Art – sculptures from recycled materials – in Seabrook Island
- Fisher Recycling – glass recycling in North Charleston
- Makers Collective – Greenville – Indie Craft Parade each September
- Miner Metal – Sculptures from recycled metal in Mount Pleasant
- Overton Ironworks – Furnishings from recycled wood – in Greenville
- Reaves Woodworks – Larry Reaves – recycled skateboards – in Columbia
- Shop-Keep – Handmade quilts with sashiko thread in Greenville
SPAIN
- Basurama – Design company that installs imaginative installations related to consumerism and trash – in Madrid, Milan & Bilbao – they have so many ingenious projects
- Paola Idrontino – costume designer and absurd photographer inspired by the ocean and coral reefs – in Barcelona – trash fashion inspiration, especially necklaces
SWEDEN
- HV Textile / The Friends of Handwork – textile school in Stockholm
- Johanna Törnqvist – trash fashion artist, designed necklaces from blister packs and beautiful layered dresses
- Recreate Design Company – interior designers who specialize in creative reuse – they also help businesses who want to get rid of surplus furniture – in Gothenberg
- ReTuna Återbruksgalleria – check about my podcast episode about this wonderful shopping mall with all recycled products
- Ulla-Stina Wikander – needlepoint artist who covers every-day and vintage items like headphones, suitcases and shoes – in Stockholm
TENNESSEE
- Churp Modern, Matt Estrada – Awesome birdhouses in Murfreesboro
- Fiber Farm – a farm where they deconstruct old sweaters to make skeins of yarn for reuse (while also raising animals) in Tracy City
- Hollie Chastain – collage artist in Chattanooga
- The Mending Space – Krista – textile artist focusing on mending – in Nashville
- Reunion Yarn – Emily and Mike Felix rescue yarn of many fibers from unwanted items in Chattanooga
- Salvage Goods – amazing bags made from recycled seatbelts – in Nashville
- Turnip Green Creative Reuse – in Nashville, creative reuse center
- Zipperworks, Janet Petrell – making art from creatively reused zippers in Kingston Springs
TEXAS
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- Austin Creative Reuse – I love all creative reuse centers!
- Austin Tinkering School – Looking at the photos from their events makes you want to collect a whole bunch of scrap wood and other bits, place them on picnic tables in the backyard of a school, and have the kids build whatever their heart desires.
- Cathedral of Junk – In Austin, artist Vince Hannemann built a sculpture in his yard from trash.
- Dumpster Project – A professor who is doing an annual project living in a dumpster to see how one can live with fewer resources, in Austin
- Magpies and Peacocks – Designers working to reduce textile waste in Houston
- MetalAmalgamation – Leif Price – art from recycled metal including motorcycle parts
- Folk Fibers – I would love to meet Maura Grace Ambrose near Austin
- Pheonix Commotion – Dan & Marsha Phillips teach people how to make their own homes with recycled materials near Houston – great TEDx talk!
- Rubbish to Runway Houston – a trash fashion show that fundraises for a community development organization called the Long Way Home
- Spare Parts – In San Antonio – Save the Arts Spare Parts creative reuse center
- Christine Terrell – making jewellery from recycled tin containers – in San Marcos
- Texas Art Asylum – creative reuse center in Houston
- Tweedle Dee Designs – Abby Hicks – quilt designs painted on reclaimed wood – in Arlington
THAILAND
UNITED KINGDOM
- Jo Atherton – Beach trash artist
- Beach Shack Project, Hannah Elspeth Marshall – art made from beach trash finds
- Candice Bees – wildlife sculptor with wires
- Kirsty Elson – Tiny English seaside town sculptures made from driftwood and other beach trash – in Cornwall
- Chris English – sews “crumb blocks” from recycled fabrics
- crackpacs – backpacks and chalk bags (for climbing) made from recycled tents
- DewLeaf – Creative reuse artist Julie Alice Chappell in Portsmouth
- Barbara Franc – Sculptor from recycled materials – intricate animals – in London
- The Ideas Lab – Place where people make stuff from recycled materials – make chairs from bathtubs cut in half – in Brighton
- Institute of Making – in London – holds an annual Festival of Stuff in the summer
- Joining Bottles – Micaella Pedros uses a heat gun to melt plastic bottles so they connect pieces of wood and other items to make furniture
- Katfish Designs – wonderful bird ornaments from recycled materials – in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire
- Kittie Kipper – A fiber artist who weaves ghost nets and other beach trash
- Littlefly, Jeremy May Jewels – made from recycled books
- Lucy Sparrow, Sew Your Soul – sews incredible worlds from felt
- Mango Mosaics – Caroline Jariwala makes mosaics from old dishes in Bearwood, West Midlands
- Naughty Dog, Diane Watson – makes beach trash mandalas and tea holder from driftwood – in Hartlepool
- Pillar Box Blue, Claire Armstrong – Upcycling crafter in Bedford
- Reclaim Bags – Made from recycled rubber by Sophie Postma
- Rehash Panache, Bee Yasko – lighting made from recycled materials – in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
- Michelle Costello – Smartie Lids on the Beach – She makes art from trash she finds on the beach.
- Upcycled Hour – agency for pro furniture upcyclers
- Working Cloth – a textile studio in London
UTAH
- Clever Octopus Creative Reuse – in Murray
- Joy Craft and Design – A boutique of upcycled sweet items in Springdale
- Loom Shakalaka – Emily Primbs makes cool textiles with tufting guns
VERMONT
- Amy Oxford, Oxford Rug Hooking School – Maker of the super-popular punch needle – in Cornwall
- Resource Vermont – While it is like many other thrift stores, I admire how they train folks who have dropped out of high school in various trades – located in Burlington
- Seal Harbor Rug Company – A great resource for rug hooking artists like me – in Manchester
VIRGINIA
- Artistic Artifacts – Mixed Media classes and materials in Alexandria
- Barb Boatman – Weaves strips of aluminum cans – in Alexandria
- Barrel-Art – Mike Prieto – reusing barrels – in Hampton
- CapWorks – Josh Stolberg designs decor from recycled metal bottle caps, especially from craft beers – in Richmond
- Christina Boy – woodworker who makes items from reclaimed wood – in Madison
- Creatiate – Sarah Kathryn makes customized rubber stamps for small businesses in Richmond
- Fibre Space – The best locally produced yarn ever, and a great place to knit
- Finch Sewing Studio – In Leesburg, not far from me – I’ll have to get there asap!
- Jen-A-Fusion – Bags and clothing from recycled fibers in Alexandria – I met Jen and she super-inspired me!
- Laura Davis – upcycling textile artist in Virginia Beach
- Living Earth School – teaches outdoor activities in Afton
- Reunion Yarn – Emily Felix unravels sweaters to reuse the yarn in Richmond
- Schimmel Art – Sandy makes very nifty art from junk mail – and she lives not far from me!
- Troika Contemporary Crafts, including many by regional artists creatively reusing materials – in Floyd
- The Violet Fox – upcycling furniture in Virginia Beach
- Wild Hare Fiber Studio – in Front Royal – makes yarn from men’s ties?
WASHINGTON
- Art Salvage – creative reuse organization in Spokane
- Bedrock Industries – recycled glass art – in Seattle
- The Handmade Showroom – featuring artists from the Pacific Northwest, many doing creative reuse – in Seattle
- Made by Skateboarding – recycled skateboards in pens, knives, plates etc. – in Seattle
- Maker Haus – A collaborate space for makers in Seattle
- Okan Arts – Japanese textiles – in Seattle
- Seattle ReCreative
- Wise Craft Handmade – I would love to meet creative reuse fiber artist Blair Stocker in Seattle
WISCONSIN
- Forevertron – A large sculpture from recycled metal in North Freedom.
- Growing Power – Very cool program that teaches people urban farming – Will and Erika Allen are super inspiring human beings
- Sew Much Style – iPad and bowl covers from recycled fabrics in Keewaunee