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The past few months have been a whirlwind of art, frustration, pleasure, problem-solving, and a whole lot of plaster and plastic. The Recycling Project has taken shape in ways I couldn’t have predicted, and I’m beyond excited to finally share some of the progress. This project isn’t just about making art—it’s about rethinking waste – basically, I’m just sick of waste :P And how easy and fun  SO MANY projects art that can reduce the waste we send to the dumps.

The Process: Experimenting & Creating

I’ve been focusing on prep mainly, like getting the waste bins, shedding and composting sorted out (no small task it seems!!) but I have also been able to play with my rock frames and some more smooth frames – that’s been really interesting! I learned that a little packing tape and some upcycled plastic wrap can really save a printed picture from wrinkling while plaster dries! VERY COOL!

I’ve been testing different methods for incorporating plastic waste into plaster, some cement mixes (total fail so far by the way but we’ll see!), refining photo transfer techniques, and figuring out how to make each piece both beautiful and at least a little functional. Some experiments have worked better than others, but that’s the fun and frustration of it—seeing what’s possible and that rush when an idea works out well.

It has become my obsession! Whether I like it or not 😉 (luckily, I do like it … so far :P)

Working with the Community Arts Gallery
One of the most exciting parts of this journey has been collaborating with The Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley & The Grove Gallery. They’ve been incredibly welcoming, supportive, and enthusiastic about The Recycling Project. My stuff is up for sale and that feels REALLY cool and weird! They are displaying and selling my frames, rock frames, clover jewelry and dirty tree magnets and stickers, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s such a great feeling to be part of a community that values sustainability and creativity as much as I do.

Looking Ahead: Farmers Market, Social Media & Education
In just a couple of weeks, we’re kicking off the first The Recycling Project Farmers Market setup! The plan is to approach it like a mini-gallery—testing out different ways to display and present the work. This is going to be a learning experience, and I’m excited to see how people engage with it.

Beyond the market, I’ll be diving deeper into social media, sharing more behind-the-scenes content, and developing educational pieces to help others explore their own upcycling potential. There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to keep building on this momentum.

The social media stuff because it is NOT in my nature, it completely freaks me out, so please wish me luck 😉

Exciting News: Newspaper Feature Coming Soon!
Oh, and keep an eye out for an upcoming newspaper article about The Recycling Project! I’ll be sharing more details soon, but it’s another fantastic opportunity to spread the word about this project and the impact it can have.

Final Thoughts
This is just the beginning. There’s still so much to explore, refine, and share. But right now, I just want to take a moment to appreciate how far this has already come and celebrate the people and places that have supported this journey. Here’s to the next stage—let’s see where it takes us!