One of my favorite things to do since making the move to Portland is volunteering at SCRAP PDX.  SCRAP is a donation-based creative reuse store and donation center. SCRAP’s mission is to “inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community.”

Volunteers help in variety of ways all over the store. There are always bins of ‘new’ items that need to go out on the floor. If you’re a little OCD like me, you’d love organizing different sections of the store. Volunteers take bits of random materials, sorted by color or them, to create all the To Go Kits and Collage Packs that are for sale. If you have a special interest in one of the many areas of the store, there is usually plenty of back stock to sort. My favorite task is prepping fabric to go out on the floor.

One of the perks for volunteers is to be included in gallery shows that highlight works made with reused materials. This winter several of my pieces were included in Works by SCRAP PDX Staff and Volunteers.

Most, if not all, of the materials for these pieces were used/secondhand. My materials collection includes items from yard sales, thrift stores, friends, family, and things I find on the side of the road. I’m always on the lookout for fabric, threads, small objects (like the cameos and game pieces), and especially unique frames. I enjoy putting the pieces together and adding embroidery or sewing techniques to make piece that are one of a kind.