the creativity of recycling

It’s funny how things become so much more valuable the older they get. I'm not sure if my very English mother-in-law saved these marmalade jars out of necessity or because they were pretty, but either way they do indeed make fabulous paintbrush holders.

Recycling is often using a thing for an alternate purpose than it was originally intended. It can be a fun challenge to come up with a way to use something that is simply too pretty to throw away. Like marmalade jars as paintbrush holders. And sometimes you just have a need for something that you've got to figure out a way to make from the materials that you already have on hand. Now that seems like even more of a creative challenge.

But this is a world where we can buy just about anything at just about any time. It’s one in which things are discarded sometimes as easily as they were acquired. So I wonder if perhaps we've lost our ability to think creatively. Can we still problem solve? Can we think outside of the box?

Back in the old days it wasn't so easy to buy things that you wanted and sometimes not even things you needed. You had to learn to love the color of the items that were available in the shops because those were the only choices available. No chance to change that purple to orange. Unless you figured out how to alter it yourself. I doubt if today's youths can even imagine that.

Creativity can be learned. But its definitely a skill that requires a certain environment to grow and develop. I remember reading a great article a few years ago by Amy Dacyczyn about how to be more creatively in The Complete Tightwad Gazette. But I'm starting to wonder if folks today have access to that creativity stimulating environment? Or are they too inundated by the constant barrage of media messages at every turn?

Back in the old days we were either forced to make do or to think of a way to use stuff to make over things into something pleasing. Nowadays of course you can buy anything. Really. You can buy anything. Sometimes that just boggles my mind. To think that you can surf the internet and shop the nooks and crannies of the world to buy stuff! Incredible. Globalization seems practically a given. No way round it and why would you want to?

But another idea has been trickling into the online world; one where supporting your own local community is very important. Notice I didn't say your local economy although that is certainly part of it. But I'm having a hard time figuring out where and how to fit it all together.

I know I don't buy as much stuff as a lot of folks but I do like the option of buying what I want. I try to buy things locally as often as I can but I love to support the independent crafters around the world too. And on yet other hand, recently my awesome neighbors shared some of their garden bounty with me. And I'm planning to share some of my peach crop with them.

So I guess this middle ground is where I'll keep standing. And maybe I'll make some new stuff from the old stuff that I already have. Because after all, there is a certain thrill that you get when you figure out how to solve a problem with the stuff you've already got. That excitement puts a smile on your face and gives you a deep sense of self satisfaction not easily acquired in a world where so much of the thinking is done for us.

Comments

[Steph]

It took forever for the internet to recognise this post even exists outside of bloglines and all I wanted to say was OMG those marmalade jars are freaking awesome! I've just bought a little cake dish and been given some other ones that belonged to a women who was probably in her 70s. They look like the sort my grandma has been using for 40+ years. I love how much of the older stuff we are turning to is still going strong - often stronger than the modern version.

[Victoria]

Those marmalade jars are look so pretty with the paintbrushes in them. Lovely!

[Kim]

I love the jars as well!

This is a fantastic post!

I am standing in that same middle ground as you....trying to support independent artistians, local growers, and definitely trying to reuse what I have in different ways instead of just tossing things out to get more things. But, I as well am still trying to fit in the whole buying-what-I-want thing into all of that. (Although I am finding what I want to buy is actually changing as well.)

Best wishes!

[Bejeweled]

Very well said.

And those paintbrushes look great in those old marmalade jars.

[BumbleVee]

My sister has a couple of great old cookie jars that lost lids to breakage...they are now utensil holders...one of them is about 60 years old.

I, too, love to re-use "things" to make other "things" .... I think you hit the nail on the head in a few spots... (like people just not being in a creativity stimulating environment... ) most people don't even know what that is never mind encouraging it in themselves and their children.

and... of course, being able to buy anything is so much easier ... most can't be bothered making much at all anymore either....but buying new is not necessarily buying better, or nicer or long lasting... some of the vintage "stuff" is so great. I guess it all boils down to what we prefer to see in our homes...what we prefer to enjoy when we walk past a little loved or beloved object on a shelf or in the curio cabinet.... ...

[Penny]

those jars are really cool, it looks like they were meant to house your paintbrushes! I am a recycler at heart. I can't say that I'm a full fledged tree hugger (I still use deodorant and wash my hair) but I'm definitely somewhere between most people and the treehuggers!

[Beth]

I love the marmalade jars.. very creative!

[april]

I love the jars. I have been so guilty of just buying. I completely agree with supporting the little guys/gals. I think maybe this was the eye opener I needed to get motivated to becoming organized and getting back to doing what I love. Which means no more excuses about my website. :-)

[Deanna]

Those jars are incredibly cool! I'm a little bit jealous....

[farmerjulie]

those are darling Felicia!

[spyderkl]

Those marmalade jars are awfully cute!

I do understand the dilemma between supporting the local community and the local economy. If I were to buy things completely "locally" here, I would be supporting large chain corporations. All of the things in our, um, local environment are franchises of national chains. I think I'd rather support the community of *really* local artisans/community dwellers, and not so much our local economy - where the money goes somewhere far, far away.

[Robyn]

I love the idea of reusing things as well, but can never seem to find anything nearly as cool as those freakin jars.

I'm on the middle ground too - while I love to eat locally, I also think it's awesome that I can buy a print from an artist half the world away with just one click.

[apple cyder]

wow--I love those jars. So nice that they have seen so much use over the years.

[Jennifer Rose]

Great jars and good idea using them for your paintbrushes :) I use empty sauce jars to hold my pencils and its the easiest and cheapest way I have found to keep them organised. I wish there were more independent stores around here, but the big names are really starting to take over in this town :( I would much rather support an independent crafter/tradesperson than spend money on mass marketed things. And while I do love the fact that I can order things from half way across the world I like the personal touch better that I can get with people like the sellers on Etsy. I have found that people only a few years younger than me have no idea how to do basic things as they can buy something instead of trying to make it themselves. And I'm talking simple things like sew a button, make a simple pasta dish, wash clothes (seriously!), and now because people are use to typing, some people have a really hard time writing. Which is sad and if I keep thinking of that I will go off on a rant :p

[Jennifer Rose]

oops there were supposed to be paragraphs there, kinda hard to read :/

[Carrie K]

Those marmalade jars are to DIE FOR.

I like to support my local community but I also like to support the handwork community at large.

[Chara Michele]

Felicia this post is absolutely wonderful! The thing I find kind of frustrating is that things are also becoming so much more disposable. So that items made more recently will not have the same sort of history that those marmalade jars have, because things fall apart so quickly now...

[Angela]

I'm with you on that middle road. There has to be some way to maintain the creativity, the ability to use what you have, and STILL have the ability to look beyond the immediate area for products you want. It is a fine line though -- and it is something to think about. Thanks for the thoughts! (and as for the summer reading, I'll admit to Nora Roberts as well -- but, well, I really shouldn't)

[Jennifer]

What a wonderful post! And although the internet can indeed be the endless mecca of shopping, it can ALSO be the motherlode of re-using and recycling -- ala Craigslist and Freecycle -- it's all in how you use it!

[Sharon]

Well said! It definetly adds to creativity to reuse what's around, rather than buying new all the time!

[Nicole R]

I used to buy things for one season knowing I would throw it out and not need to store it. I now loath the wasteful, busy life I lived! I think one reason we love the old things is knowing they were cared for, cherished and used many ways. I LOVE this way of life! :)