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Molly Block

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Jeans repurposed as planters — awesome sight to see in San Francisco. ❤ 

Jeans repurposed as planters — awesome sight to see in San Francisco. ❤ 

October 9, 2013
Tags repurpose, repurposed, reuse, gardening, garden, upcycle, upcycled, upcycling, San Francisco, California, container gardening, jeans, planters, jeans planters, nature, eco, green, art, blue jeans, DIY, DIY projects, crafts
Old Styrofoam packing peanuts = new garland for City of Houston’s “Holiday Trees: Artistically Upcycled” exhibit.

Old Styrofoam packing peanuts = new garland for City of Houston’s “Holiday Trees: Artistically Upcycled” exhibit.

December 2, 2012
Tags upcycle, upcycling, repurpose, repurposed, in progress -- on my kitchen table!, holiday, garland, decoration, Houston, DIY, crafts
Via unconsumption:

For a project known as Scrapheap Orchestra, some top instrument makers in the UK transformed junk, including pieces of broken furniture, into 44 instruments for members of the BBC Concert Orchestra to play.

The quest to build an…

Via unconsumption:

For a project known as Scrapheap Orchestra, some top instrument makers in the UK transformed junk, including pieces of broken furniture, into 44 instruments for members of the BBC Concert Orchestra to play.

The quest to build an orchestra of instruments out of rubbish is more than just a musical spectacle - in the construction of these instruments we delve into the history of instrument making and the science of music, why different instruments are made the way they are, why some designs haven’t changed for hundreds of years and why, when played together, the sound of an orchestra is unlike anything else on earth.  (via BBC Four)

Next week, BBC Four will broadcast a 90-minute documentary that follows the project, which features the orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture on the scrap instruments at the 2011 BBC Proms. (Click here for broadcast info.)

For project photos, see Gramophone’s gallery, source of the above photo of orchestra members with instruments and conductor Charles Hazlewood. (Photo credit: BBC/Chris Christodoulou)

On a similar (instruments-made-from-junk) note, check out the Unconsumption posts on San Francisco’s Junkestra and New York Philharmonic’s percussion-from-junk exploration.

December 8, 2011
Source: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/galle...
Tags music, classical music, musicians, junk, upcycled, upcycling, BBC Concert Orchestra, Scrapheap Orchestra, art, arts, performing arts, BBC, musical instruments
unconsumption:

Vending machines that promote a healthy habit?
In 1997, North Carolina artist Clark Whittington refurbished a vintage cigarette vending machine; however, instead of using it to dispense cigarettes, he filled it with small items creat…

unconsumption:

Vending machines that promote a healthy habit?

In 1997, North Carolina artist Clark Whittington refurbished a vintage cigarette vending machine; however, instead of using it to dispense cigarettes, he filled it with small items created by local artists. Since then, in an admirable effort to help increase the accessibility of art, Whittington has set up 99 Art-o- mat machines throughout the country. The machines, housed in museums, art galleries, bars, and Whole Foods Market stores, among other spots, vend $5 mini-works of art. 

For additional information, check out this video clip, or visit Artomat.org.

The Art-o-mat folks are on the lookout for new artists to participate. If you or someone you know is interested, read the artist guidelines here.

(Pictured: Art-o-mats in Milwaukee, above, and Houston, below.)

That’s my Houston Whole Foods Art-o-mat there. When I visit the store, I check out the available art selections. Love them.

November 28, 2011
Source: http://www.artomat.org/history.html
Tags upcycled, upcycling, refurbished, vending machine, cigarette vending machine, Art-o-Mat, art
Via unconsumption:

Why not use vintage rulers and yardsticks to dress up an old table?
(via Beth Schaleben’s Patina White blog)
For other ruler-repurposing ideas, see: http://unconsumption.tumblr.com/tagged/rulers.

Today, in “things I love.&…

Via unconsumption:

Why not use vintage rulers and yardsticks to dress up an old table?

(via Beth Schaleben’s Patina White blog)

For other ruler-repurposing ideas, see: http://unconsumption.tumblr.com/tagged/rulers.

Today, in “things I love.”

June 15, 2011
Tags vintage, rulers, yardsticks, table, furniture, upcycling, repurposing, DIY, crafts, today in things i love

June 12, 2011

Via unconsumption:

Twenty-year-old David Rocha dreams of one day becoming a professional violinist, but for now he plays for the community of Sao Miguel, a poor neighborhood outside Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paolo.

The violin he uses is fashioned out of old wood that he found at a garbage dump. The drawers of an old closet are now being used to play symphonies by Bach and Beethoven.

Rocha learned to make string instruments at a free workshop in his neighborhood’s social center.

With no money to buy good quality wood, Rocha began scavenging through the dumps near his home.

He has inspired other students to do the same.

Now, Rocha’s hand-made instruments are selling for up to $500 dollars and he says he feels honored to be able to help the environment by recycling trash into art.

(via Classical music made from garbage — CBS News)

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-200...
Tags music, musical instruments, upcycling, trash, Sao Paolo, Brazil, inspiration

View a favorite vintage sign photo series:

Texas Vintage Neon Signs
92 dpi screen Texas Neon Now Gone.jpg
92 dpi screen Texas Favorite Study 2.jpg
92 dpi screen Oak Forest Shoe Shop.jpg
92 dpi screen Cafe Neon Sign 4.jpg
Holiday Plaza Motel 148  n 92 dpi.JPG
Landmark Lodge 52 n 92 dpi.JPG
92 dpi screen Landmark in Fort Worth.jpg
Clock Coffee Shop in El Paso 92 dpi.JPG

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