Favorite Materials

As an avid upcycler, I love experimenting with a broad spectrum of different materials from candy wrappers to bicycle inner tubes. I have overwhelming resources, and it’s such an awesome creative challenge. Still, I can’t help but have my favorites.

Here are my top 3 materials to work with:

So many colors!

1.) BUTTONS~~ Dear goodness, I could write about buttons all day. Buttons are by far my favorite material ever. Ever. I have a collection of them sorted by color (amongst other things). Why are they my favorite thing to work with from a creator’s perspective?
• Buttons can be so unique. They come in all shapes, sizes, materials, and colors, making so many possibilities for me to work with. Metal round brass button with a military emblem? Got it. Tiny mother of pearl button? Got it. Brown plastic button shaped like a pretzel? Got it.
• Buttons are also incredibly versatile. They can be used as decorative or functional elements in a wide variety of creations. In one purse I create, I may use some buttons to hold the purse closed while others embellish the outside of the purse.
• Buttons are so timeless. I only use vintage buttons in my work, whether given to me from my great great grandmother’s collection or found at a flea market. Buttons span so many centuries that it’s difficult not to imagine the stories behind each one—what article of clothing it came from? Who owned it? It’s crazy.

This is a small selection of my collection.

2.) Antique odds and ends~~ This is a pretty broad category, but I couldn’t bring myself to narrow it down. I encounter many beautiful antique materials in my ventures, sometimes as found treasures or sometimes as “donations.” I appreciate the artistry of times past, and I am an old soul at heart. Who knew I would find myself freaking out over old silverware and rusty keys? Materials like antique watch parts have beauty and stories within themselves, so working with them is incredibly special to me.

So many plastic materials in various stages of being altered

3.) Plastics~~ I love working with plastic because doing so really feels like I’m truly recycling. Most of the plastic I use would have been otherwise discarded. Not only are they a classic example of “lost causes,” plastics come in all sorts of textures and thicknesses from plastic bags to shampoo bottles to gift cards. I’m all about experimenting with variety! I also feel like I have more control and ability to manipulate them creatively. Plastics can be cut, burned, or twisted to my liking without harming the integrity of the material.