Have a box full of buttons or a drawer full of costume jewelry taking up space? Don’t toss it repurpose it.
LAMBERTVILLE Have a box full of buttons or a drawer full of costume jewelry taking up space?
Don’t toss it repurpose it.
A new store, called Don’t Toss It, has opened at 204 N. Union St. It calls itself a “creative reuse marketplace” dedicated to diverting used and surplus materials from landfills by redirecting them to artists and the community at large.
The storefront features a boutique stocked with items made from upcycled materials, a gallery showcasing eco-friendly artists and workshops in painting, sewing, jewelry making and more.
”Our community of artisans represents the best in repurposed art and fine crafts,” said Pamela Chamberlain, co-founder. “Their commitment to helping the planet as well as the sustainable impact materials and production have on our environment are prerequisite to being featured in our store.”
At Don’t Toss It, environmentally-conscious customers can find both objects from these artisans and the materials and know-how to create repurposed art and objects themselves in workshops taught by local artists.
The marketplace portion of the store sells affordable craft supplies and accepts donations of materials such as papers, fabric, metals, glass, costume jewelry and more while onsite workshops and classes let customers express themselves artistically using these raw materials.
”Once they find a home, we hope these works of art will spur conversations and spread awareness of how upcycling can improve our environment,” said Nora Mathews, co-founder.
Don’t Toss It’s premier gallery exhibition, which runs through Jan. 15, will feature a series of paintings by North Carolina-based artist Robb Damman. In addition to showcasing artists dedicated to creating works from used and disposable items, Don’t Toss It aims to advance the cause by donating 5 percent of its profits to such artists.
Prior to opening a physical location, the founders of Don’t Toss It launched ArftullyReimagined.com, an online store featuring eco-friendly collections of furnishings, art, décor, clothing and jewelry repurposed by U.S. artists.
Learn about Don’t Toss It at www.donttossit.com, or by calling 609-397-3030.
Store hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, the store will be open Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.