Recycling Artistically!

"Thanks to my mother,

not a single cardboard box

has found its way back into society.

We receive gifts in boxes from stores

that went out of business twenty years ago."

-Erma Bombeck

Recycling does seem to be the word of choice lately....and a commitment my household is attempting to do, but sometimes in my definition of 'recycling', I always think of crushing or changing the content or consistency of the discarded object. (i.e. plastic bottles crushed and made into playground mulch) Often you don't really have to change it, to re-use it....only alter the purpose. Thus, recycling has occurred. Mixed Media Art...like most all of my art, had a previous purpose prior to me globbing it on a canvas. I love seeing quirky little pieces of _______(most anything) re-purposed in an aesthetic way. I keep a book of clever ideas and projects I would like to make some day....and this one below came from that scrapbook. I'm sorry I can't give credit where credit is due regarding this idea, but I found it in a DIY type magazine about three years ago. Finally purchased two accordion styled measuring tools (I'm sure they have a professional name) at an estate sale about three weeks ago. The original idea was slices of the tool on a leatherette cord. In my version I added the great word, added a vintage bauble and strung it on ball chain.

The cross is created from the joints of the accordion measuring tool....I thought it looked so industrial, but interesting. Once again, I added the spiritual wording.

I thought these turned out great. Not my idea, but a variation of some one's brilliance. Thank you...Someone! Just another form of recycling artistically.