[item] A huge lot of fabric scraps and 3 painted sheets
[purchase info] The sheets came from an art project at work and the fabric scraps are mostly old clothing.
[time in my possession] Not sure, but many years.
[last used] Several years ago.
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] I have lots of stuff like this. I needed to purge some of it.
[item] A painted canvas and some vintage pins / broaches.
[purchase info] Purchased at a thrift store.
[time in my possession] Approximately 4 years
[last used] 4 years ago
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] I bought this canvas half painted. I finished the painting and pinned vintage flower pins all over it. It’s been in my garage and some of the pins broke off.
[item] Box of dolls, some new, some vintage.
[purchase info] Purchased mostly on eBay and at thrift stores.
[time in my possession] Approximately 6 years.
[last used] A few months ago.
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Difficult.
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] I bought these to use in a photographic art project for an altered book. I like taking random photos of them and using them for art projects. Interesting conversation pieces too when you set them out around the house or bring them to meetings.
[item] Archival plastic art sleeves
[purchase info] Purchased new online
[time in my possession] Approximately 7 years
[last used] Never
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] It was a bit painful to get rid of these, just because I spent a lot for them. I had great intentions of selling some of my artwork in a local art show. Never happened.
[item] A tin tile and pieces of MDF
[purchase info] Purchased the tile in Canton, MDF was leftovers from projects at work
[time in my possession] Approximately 4 years
[last used] Tin, never. MDF, several months ago for kids to paint on.
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] I just don’t need these anymore. I have a garage full of “art ideas” and supplies I’ll never have time to use.
[item] Spuds MacKenzie bobble head dog & several beer boxes
[purchase info] Purchased the dog on eBay, the boxes obviously came with beer bottles in them.
[time in my possession] The dog, 8 years. The boxes, many months.
[last used] A long time ago.
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy
[destination] Freecycle & recycle
[replacement item] None
[info] The dog, I bought as a joke for my ex. He was weird about the plastic coverings on the metal pieces in his car, you know, the ones that are made to peel off after you buy something? Anyway, that reminded me of my grandpa’s Impala. The one with the olive green cloth seats, covered in heavy-duty fitted plastic covers, complete with the bobble-head dog in the back window. The beer boxes I cut up to make business cards.
[item] A bucket full of extra tile and broken dishes
[purchase info] Purchased tiles & dishes new
[time in my possession] Up to 13 years
[last used] Well over 5 years
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] Okay, so there’s a lot of stories in this bucket…
Story #1: VanGogh dishes. Does anyone really ever use those tiny little coffee cups and saucers that come with china sets? That’s a coffee tease! I decided to take the 8 cups and saucers and make them into mosaic tiles. Why? I was going through my divorce and he had given me these dishes as a Christmas gift. I threw them at the bricks on the side of the house to break them. It’s a good anger release, but also just a lot of fun to do. What? My therapist said it’s only unhealthy if you break stuff you still need of plan to replace. I didn’t need or want these.
Story #2: My favorite plate. The green plate is part of my new (used) mismatched dishes. I had two, this one broke in the microwave. I guess it’s not microwave safe?? The one green one I have left? I keep it at the bottom of the dish stack and only use it myself. LOL!
Story #3: The cat did it. There are some glass vases in here from just a few months ago. My friend was housesitting while I was on vacation and my cat took down the fireplace mantel, which was full of glass vases. Sorry Christina! She got stuck cleaning up the mess.
There’s more stories, but those are the three best. I’m just never going to get around to making anything out of this, so I passed it on to someone that would.
[item] 3 Ikea art stools
[purchase info] Purchased new at Ikea for $12.99 each
[time in my possession] Approximately 8 years
[last used] A long time ago…
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] I actually have one more to give to a neighbor. I made these for my old house and they’ve been in the garage here for 5 years. I have used them in the garage a few times and also brought them out for a few parties. I painted them and did the design collage on top. That’s a lot of work to give away. #ridiculousattachmenttostuff
I found a place of business a few days ago that models everything I believe in. The Grass Roots Eco Cleaners & Market is a wonderful place in Frisco that everyone should know about. So why is this place so great?
Their slogan is “clean green & shop local.” I not only love this because it’s great for the physical environment, it’s also good for the mental and humanitarian environment. Choosing to support local artists is a great way to build community. As for the mental part? I could tell from the minute I met Courtney that she loves what she’s doing here. This place is not close to my house (relatively speaking from my ‘I want to walk there’ mentality), but I’m sold. I don’t do much dry cleaning, but when I do, I will be taking it here.
What if all small businesses did something like this? Even on a small scale? Now I’m aware that the first thing you learn in entrepreneurial business school is to do one thing, stick to it and do it well. 
Don’t deviate. But what if that one thing was a broadened horizon of meeting several community needs in one place? Yes, Grass Roots has done well here! There’s a lot to learn from this business model. Being different is good. Supporting local community is good. Repurposing materials is good. Doing something you love is great. Doing all of it together is priceless.
Did I also mention how I found this place? They were already supporting projectwarm.us by collecting coats and blankets for the homeless. On this one, they’re supporting a community in need. I just can’t say enough good things about Grass Roots, but I can say, “thank you!” Grass Roots is a drop spot for project warm us. Stop by and check out their place. Also, get 10% off your dry cleaning by making a donation.
| “We are taking donations at our store! When you donate, we will give you 10% off your dry cleaning bill and big “High 5″ for being awesome and making someone’s life a little better! We are at: 5999 Custer Rd @121 next to Starbucks!” |
[item] Black/brown Ikea wall shelf that was my fireplace mantle
[purchase info] Purchased new at Ikea
[time in my possession] Approximately 2 years
[last used] A couple of months ago until my cat knocked it off the wall
[difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium
[destination] Freecycle
[replacement item] None
[info] I had to modify this shelf to place it on the wall without drilling holes in the middle of the tile. In doing that, I messed up the integrity of the shelf. When my cat decided she needed to jump way up there, it all came tumbling down. Surprisingly, the shelf was still okay. Problem was, I put it in the garage. Ikea stuff does not fair well in extreme heat. The veneer started coming off. I could have probably fixed it, but in that small room, I decided not to put it back up. I had an extra large art piece that was needing a new location in the house.