Swapping Ideas
October 22, 2008
Crafters make a game out of swapping creations, and DIY and pro artists are creating pieces for each other via challenges on Swap-Bot.com. The swaps are based on assignments that usually have a designated theme (i.e. summer fun), medium (i.e. a matchbox) or technique (i.e. knitting).
Once contributors pick a swap project, they’re partnered up with another artist or crafter to exchange final results. There’s no fee to participate, just the postage needed to send the completed item to the partner.
Online forums that provide fun project ideas, and the opportunity to share work help artists and crafters expose their own work, while discovering the creativity of others.
As a bonus, art sharing programs give artists and crafters a savvy way to build their own art collections.
Crafters make sustainable art from SCRAP (Scroungers’ Center for Reusable Art Parts) and San Francisco’s SCRAP shop is proof (once again) that one man’s trash is another’s treasure. The warehouse sells donated items like yarn, buttons, old letters and art supplies.
Savvy shoppers rework the throwaway scraps into arts and crafts pieces.
Upcycling (recycling via enhancements) old dental molds and fabric swatches may require an artistic mind, but it keeps otherwise unwanted items from wasting away in landfills.
Crafters and artists have long used found objects for their projects.
Whether for the uniqueness of the item, its backstory or the sustainability aspect, these indie consumers are conscious of the many benefits of reusing materials.
Stores like SCRAP make it easier for consumers to locate these items. Instead of scrounging flea markets and thrift stores, they have the convenience of centrally located supplies.
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