02/26/2026
One of my family's heirlooms is a pizza box painted by Grandpa Alex. Grandpa was always finding canvases in the most surprising materials. For him, the underside of a pizza takeout box was the perfect blank space for a pastel drawing or cheeky acrylic painting.
My earliest and best memories of my grandpa involved turning trash into treasure through artworks. I remember he used recycled milk jugs and junk paper to build a towering, bright yellow Big Bird for me and my wee cousins.
Unwrapping birthday and Christmas gifts would take forever because he and my Grandma would meticulously unwrap to preserve the gorgeous wrapping papers and ribbons, which were preserved for projects.
He would make milk carton villages, charcoal sketches on paper bags and as a kid, I was always in wonder of what he could do with such humble materials.
With this project, my goal is to continue my Grandpa Alex's legacy and act as a pipeline for secondhand and well-loved items and ensure the materials are spread around to makers of all ages, skill-levels, and mediums in need.
With the way our lives are, things build up around us overtime. Our hard work, evolving needs, and a mix of practicality and sentimentality finds us and our loved ones with full houses.
Many of our things are worthy of passing along or even selling in estate sales. Others are in what I call the "Sweet Spot."
These are things that are often sold in bulk at sales or wasted when left unpurchased or taken. Things like:
- wrapping paper
- half used art and supply crafts
- menus
- jars, cans, cups
- newspapers and magazines
- junk mail
- picture frames
- embroidery materials
- torn or stained clothing
- lace doilies
- spent writing implements
- damaged and costume jewelry
- egg cartons
- scarves
Thank you for your interest! DM with questions and be on the lookout for our first drop-off opportunity in March 2026.
