art from scrap

On our way home from camping I was so excited to stop at Art From Scrap. I had heard about this store from friends Syd and Mary, and remembered being tortured by their tales of crepe paper piles. Art From Scrap Reuse store is such a great concept: a place where people can donate all their unused art supplies, then the non-profit store sorts, stores, and sells it,  providing the community with an education center and an Arts Center with the profits, among other things. I filled a big bag full of various things from paper and fabric and lots more, including the wooden beads above and the millinery fruit below, all for $25.00. (No, there wasn't any crepe paper.)

What I'd like to know is; is there a place like this in L.A. or Orange County? A place for odd art supplies? Random things, little things, things that just the right person would love, but even Goodwill might pitch. Things that if  donated to a school they'd be a pain for them to sort through, store, or use because they are specific to one certain type of art. Scraps.  Stuff that otherwise would end up in a landfill. It's like the art asylum that Teesha used to have at all her events; a place to donate all your craft oddities so that someone else can make art from them, but this is instead at a permanent location. Anyone know of a more places like that? Feel free to mention them in the comments- even if they are in a different state, I'm sure readers would want to know about shops like this wherever they are. As it says on the Art From Scrap website:
"Everything is connected, everything ends up somewhere, we have options and we make choices. Art From Scrap. Encouraging creative expression in the arts and promoting a greater understanding of environmental issues." Cool.

Comments

[Dawn E. Shepherd]

Hi Pam!
There's a store in Lynnwood, WA called the Creation Station that recycles stuff form businesses and sells it for making whatever you like - not so much used art supplies, but other things that might otherwise end up in the landfill…
Here's their link: http://www.creationstationinc.com/

I hope this helps...
Love your fruits and your camping tablecloth =)
hugs to you,
Dawn

[Romy Tam]

Hi Pam,

http://www.scrap-sf.org/ located in San Francisco CA

Romy

[Pink Trees and Sunshine]

That's great! There's a store like that here in Portland called SCRAP! You'll have to visit next time you're here! :~)
{Elaine}

[diane]

the san francisco bay area has TWO such places:
SCRAP in the baypoint area - south of down town SF - http://www.scrap-sf.org/
In Oakland there is another one:
http://www.creativereuse.org/

Both places are a treasure trove of cool stuff.

[Jennifer]

those kind of stores sound great!! I wish more areas had a place like that... artists are so resourceful at thinking of ways to use things that even a thrift store might throw out.

[patti mullican]

The one in our community is called, The Leftover Store. Thanks for reminding me that I wanted to try and visit there this summer. One of my 3rd graders told me about it last year. He was flabergasted that I had not heard of it. I was too! Hope you find on in your area. What a wonderful idea!

[Heather]

I see the Bay Area gals have already mentioned SCRAP in San Francisco. I have been a couple of times and always find some fun treasures. Wanted to go last time I was in the city but didn't make it... next time you are up this way you should check it out.. and call me ;)

[Jill Sibbald]

Hi Pam - We have one in Eugene OR that i just found out about this spring - it's called M.E.C.C.A. (Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts) http://www.materials-exchange.org
They just announced a new location by the train station downtown and are in the process of moving - they'll reopen at the first of August.
I love this place and they even now know me by name.

[ann]

Don't know about LA, but I've been to the one mentioned in Oakland ( http://www.east-bay-depot.org/ ) It's great! You never know what you'll find. Very inspiring.

[Francesca Di Leo]

If there are any in the Toronto area (Canada) I'd LOVE to know. I have so much stuff I'd love to give away - I just can't/won't bear to toss it.

If anyone knows, please share!!

Thanks
Francesca

[katie runnels]

Love your finds, Pam!

I'm also completely enamored with with your sampler work of late...I had to blog about it today....you are an inspiration! Thank you! xoxo

[Colette]

I went a little nuts in Art from Scrap when I was in Santa Barbara last March. What a fabulous place to spend a few hours in!

[connie]

hi sweets, just wanted to come over and say HI to you xo ~cOnNie

[patti mullican]

I made it over to our leftover store today. YIPPEE! it was SO fun! My mind was racing w/ all kinds of ways to use stuff they had. Check out my blog post to see what I got for only $2.

[Deborah Non Blogger]

We have Reverse Garbage locally here in Brisbane Oz.
Not all craft but larger items too, great for the home handyman and crafter!
http://www.reversegarbage.com.au/index.htm

[Maryann Gastaldo]

This was just the boost I needed to get me to start gathering some art supplies that I am not using and give them away. Thank you so much!!!!

[Mary Stanley]

Hi Pam...great resources posted here! My son, Justin works at Art From Scrap on Saturdays!
Love your colors....did you see the wall paper books at AFS?
mary

[Marci Glenn]

Here is the link to the one in Portland, OR.
http://scrapaction.org/

[rug cleaning Los Angeles]

Wow! That’s amazing! How did you manage to make those beads to look like decorative fruits? Fantastic, I’m impressed.

[Australian made fabric]

It’s beautiful, I’m really interested how you make these scrap beads into a beautiful artificial fruits. I hope you can post a tutorial how to make this fabulous art.

[M Schrock]

Creative Resources in Franklin, Indiana. Open two days each month - my FAVORITE two days of the month.

[Hélène]

I wish there was a place like that in Montreal Canada!