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

• 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

• Polykatoikia – embroidery artist in Athens

 

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

• The Red Penguin – Ann Winters – recycled metal art – in Emmett

 

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

• 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

• Holliday Glass – recycled glass art by Holliday Jeremiassen – in Missoula

 

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

• 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

• Rachel Hayes – Fabric artist who builds huge canopies – in Tulsa

 

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

• Cecile’s Upcycling Project – folded containers made from tetrapack packaging in Belgrade

 

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

• 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

• 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
• Tweedle Dee Designs – Abby Hicks – quilt designs painted on reclaimed wood – in Arlington

 

THAILAND

• Michelle Doherty, Ocean Alien – art from beach trash such as plastic lighter components – in Phuket

 

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