What is the difference between “recycling” and “upcycling”? Both are good–but they are two very different methods of waste management. We are familiar with recycling–we automatically throw cereal boxes or soda cans in the recycle bin. . Recycled bottles, etc. are sorted and eventually broken down to their raw form for remanufacturing. I have tights made from recycled plastic bottles and our deck flooring is a composite of recycled wood and recycled plastic that required mass-processing. The aim of recycling is to keep the value by regenerating an old product.
So what is “Upcycling”? It is defined as the “reuse of discarded objects or materials in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original”. Usually upcycling is done by individuals with little processing and a lot of creativity. And by less processing, less energy is used. The aim of up cycling is to add value by repurposing an old product.
I have written quite a bit about using scraps to make quilts and that I am on a fabric diet. The quilters are planning on having a “galley” of quilts at the sale made entirely from our stash in our effort to keep fabric out of the landfill.
All these were made by from scraps or left overs. This is not new; most of the quilts made by our grandmothers and great grandmothers were from scraps.
But this week I worked on a different “up cycling” project. I cut or torn 2 or 1.5 inch strips from old sheets and out of style fabric; sewed them together and rolled them in to very tight balls.
I packed them into a “Chewy” box as close as I could and shipped them to San Antonio.
My brother uses a very thick crochet hook to make very sturdy and long lasting rugs. See the strip being used? I bought it when we had a vineyard (over 20 years ago) and I had some notion of making something wine related. Didn’t happen. This is a better use.
Sheets that were not candidates for re-sale in a thrift store were rescued by Elaine to be upcycled–their value has increased!
I have several of these rugs in my home.
One is outside the deck door. It has been left outside for several years and washed over and over. Still looks great and is heavy enough to stay put in the fierce winds we have been experiencing.
(This is not the composite deck floor!
We have “upcycled’ rugs for sale–you may purchase one now or wait for the October Sale.
What do we have new to offer this week–new or upcycled?
Of course, there are new tea towels! $9 each
Why should cardinals get all the glory? Blue jays add a beautiful flash of color to the outdoors. This table topper or wall hanging is 20″ x 20″. The quilting is a cross hatch. $30
You cannot prepare for the winter holidays too early– these two table runners would be a great addition to your Christmas decorations.
Appliquéd trees grace both ends of the 13″ x 30″ table runner. This is a good size for a coffee table as well as the dining table. It is machine quilted “in the ditch”. $40
Various holiday prints in red and green were made into half square triangles to create this pattern. The white background is white on white snowflakes. It is machine quilted and hand bound. The backing would serve as a cheerful scene setter also. 14″ x 30″ $40
The block is “Bow Tie”. The darker 30’s and 40’s reproduction fabric were used to form the bow ties.
The backing is also a depression era reproduction fabric. The table topper measures 21″ x 21″. Machine quilted and hand bound. Washable. $40
And we have two new quilts–
Coffee and teal? Chocolate and turquoise? Whatever, it is a winning combination in a multitude of prints. The quilt is machine quilted in a large swirling pattern. A good size for a child’s bed or for napping under-52″ x 62″. $125
I am fascinated how colors are combined; how various prints can be pulled together by adding just one focus fabric. The inner border stripe on this quilt is the focal point. The quilt is 62″ x 75″. The larger quilting pattern allows the quilt to drape well. The backing is a medium size floral print. $150
I will continue both to recycle and to upcycle–but in my opinion, it is much more interesting and creative to upcycle. I want to get into the habit of looking at something that has served its original purpose and come up with an entirely new reason for its being.
I used information from the EcoCation site.
Quilts, Etc. 