This conference has surpassed my expectations with creative people in the business of reuse from all over the US and beyond.

Keynote speaker, Garth Johnson, wowed us with an art history lesson, citing examples of early reuse. Sarah Findlay has stolen our hearts and wins the award for furthest reuse conference attendee since she’s come all the way from Scotland. Ruth’s Reusable Resources provides such a great service in Portland, Maine.  

The Re-Artists were inspirational, all using reuse material, of course. Anni Frohlich makes jewelry, belt buckles and whimsical three-dimensional vignettes…

…NC State design department had a presence as well…

…soda cans with a second life…

…and clothes with a “repurpose” (here with “Scottish Sarah”)…

…and what’s not to like about upcycled bags made from billboard material..

Beautiful glass work…

…this artist creates incredible shrines…

…bootlecaps and dryer sheets are this artists’ raw materials…

…and finally, a textile artist who reuses everything…look closely at the tag…

In addition to the expo there were speaker panels discussing Creative Reuse, How to Promote your Reuse Business, and Reuse 101, to name a few. The day ended with a reception and a Refashion Show…photos tomorrow. Feels good to be with so many dedicated folks.