Ok, first of all: a BIG thank you to all my friends, acquaintances and their friends and acquaintances and everyone who visited – and will return to visit – my blog after I first “unveiled” it on Facebook (and special thanks to the girls who commented and encouraged on Facebook – you give me more courage!). That was a big step for me (we are all afraid – or at least anxious – about all possible criticism, right?) and a great commitment. I hope to be able to keep your interest and to provide fun reads with some information now and then. Also, if you have any suggestions, please leave comments – they make me very happy 🙂
Now let’s get back for a very short while to Kierrätystehdas (aka Recycling Factory) because I still didn’t tell you anything about the workshops – and they were really most interesting!
There was a Sewing Club, where everyone could go find some interesting discarded clothes and remake them for themselves or any other purpose. There were sewing machines ready for the participants and professional instructors from Defender, who helped to make visions come true. By the way, check out Defender Redesign page where they’re now showing their latest collection made from repurposed/upcycled clothes. The designs are great!
There was also a woodwork workshop where participants created birdhouses and flower boxes, and bicycle workshop where anyone could get advise and help with fixing their bike and getting it ready for the summer season (you might not be aware, but it’s a real challenge to get into any bicycle service here in Helsinki! They’re booked right up to the end of June!). Then there was a UFF workshop where participants could learn about the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and print texts on recycled t-shirts related to those objectives; and rag flowers workshop; and Vinteco workshop, where everyone could see and learn how to renovate furniture, especially with different coverage techniques; and crafts workshop were you could learn to braid empty coffee packages into purses, for example, or something else. And the best part of all this was that all the activities were completely free (well, except for the sewing club, but there the fee was only 5 euros for using the discarded clothes so you wouldn’t need to bring any)! There was no registration, no fees and no other obstacles to join any workshop at anytime and just try whatever caught your fancy!
Now two most interesting things for me were Art Book Workshop and Mosaic workshop. I didn’t have time to create an art book myself, but the idea itself is amazing! You take any old unwanted book and just use it as an album, for example, for your art. Maybe some word in a page caught your attention and you got an idea for an illustration or design, maybe you use only the cover of the book, or you use the pages to frame something… The possibilities are endless! Here are some pictures I took of the sample books that were there on display. How lovely is the “earth” book?.. And those violets! I’d love to try this sometime.
And last (but not least, as they say) – the Mosaic Workshop. This I got to try myself! 🙂 And it was great great fun! The organizers provided all participants with small wooden boards, ceramic-tile-glue and pieces of glass (I wonder, where could they fave found so many broken things like cups and glasses and plates and teapots?), and all who wanted could make their own mosaic. I once again found that I love to see colourful, “busy” designs but when its time for me to do something on my own, I’m a real minimalist! Just look at the difference between what my friend created (you can see her mosaic beside the glue bucket) 
and my own “masterpiece” 😀 But all in all it was a really fun experience and I’m very happy I had a chance to participate.
And this concludes my account of the Recycling Factory. Have you found any ideas you’d like to try at home? Please share in the comments, I’d love to hear them!
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And now for my little joy: I got a sewing machine! I was obsessing about it for several months now, so with my birthday coming – and having finally chosen what I really want (and what I want inside the price range we can actually afford… more or less) – yesterday we agreed with my wonderful husband that I go and buy it. He was a bit unhappy that the present won’t be a surprise (he likes preparing surprises for me. And he’s real good at them! 🙂 ), but as I wanted the machine soooo much, what else was there to do? On the other hand, this freed him from having to come up with some awesome present for me because it’s not an “ordinary” birthday – I’m turning 30! (OMG… Ok, let’s not think about that for a week more…) So I guess he was at least a bit happy and relieved as well. And my happiness will be extended, because my great machine is now hidden from me and I’m not allowed to touch it until my actual birthday. Then I will be excited and happy all over again! But for now I can line up the myriad projects I’d “really like to make” 😀 You can look at the amazing assembly of online tutorials I’ve gathered on my Pinterest Crafts board anticipating “the time when I have a sewing machine”. The time has nearly come! Do you have any cool tutorials you’d share? I’d be very glad to add them to my line.
IeVa Janus 