Recyclepedia! Check it out!!

Recyclepedia.org is a wiki site for the world of recycling. It was started by some folks who had trouble recycling their CD jewel cases (a problem we only know too much about!) We have created a page for the Scrap Exchange and we encourage you to make / edit pages for your community, service or nonprofit. It seems to be just getting off the ground so check it out and add you own info!

My Creative Reuse Hero

Dan Phillips works in Huntsville, Texas to build low-income housing out of reclaimed materials.  He uses everything from bones to frame corners to glass bottles to create beautiful, unique and quirky houses.  If I didn't love Durham so much, I'd move to Texas and try to join his crew!  

But the great news is that we have just as many materials at our fingertips for creative home renovations right here in Durham.  At The Scrap Exchange we have some items in very large quantities; if you are interested in doing a large-scale project please talk to us and we'll help you make your project affordable! Let's spread these crazy-cool home installations around!

Make sure to check out the slideshow, too!

Books Books Books Books!

We just got in some great (brand new) creative reuse craft books. We just figured a little extra inspiration could go a long way when surrounded by so much great material. Our good friend Bryant Holsenbeck is even featured in not one but TWO of them! Check out her bird on the COVER below.
1000 Ideas For Creative Reuse by Garth Johnson, Quarry Books 2009 (Softcover)



Re-bound by Jennine Stein, Quarry Books, 2009 (Softcover)


Sweater Surgery by Stefanie Girard, Quarry Books 2008 (Hardback with lay flat wire binding)



Green Guide for Artists, by Karen Michel, Quarry Books 2009 (Softcover) Remember to check out Bryant's work on page 106...

Also check out our revamped and spiffed up Artist Marketplace, it's like a whole new store!

Third Friday brings new art to our Green Gallery!

Third Friday comes early this January! And Third Friday in Durham each month brings art gallery openings across the city. Here at The Scrap Exchange, we are kicking off 2010 with a great new gallery show titled "Heironymus Bosch Meets Three Artists", featuring the works of three local artists: Charron Andrews, Sara (No H) McCreary, and Leigh Werrell.

This exhibit promises a world of dazzle, paintings that dance, and the everyday. Charron Andrews’ shrine assemblages are a garden of earthly delights made from the cast-offs of daily life. Leigh Werrell offers a strong line-up of riveting portraits that are quietly compelling studies of ordinary people. And The Scrap Exchange’s own Sara McCreary turns discarded house paint and recycled canvas into wildly undulating patterns of color that make you want to dance.

We open this exhibit on Friday, January 15 from 6-9 pm with live electronic music provided by the Mystic Minstrels duo of Matt Gantt and Patrick Brown. As always, the public is invited to attend the opening for an evening of art, music, food, drink and friendship. We look forward to see you Friday evening, January 15th, at The Scrap Exchange!

Floppy Disk Bag

Check out this Floppy Disk Bag made by the super talented Cat Manolis! She followed the directions from Instructables.com to make this amazing computer bag. Fancy!

End of the Holiday Madness

Greetings Scrap Exchangers!

Here's a sweet CD Christmas tree made by Howard McAdams using Scrap Exchange CDs!  Hope that everyone had a lovely holiday and a snazzy new year! Keep sending in pictures of what you're making with Scrap Goodies!