Where did March go? I vaguely recall it coming in like a lion, but after that it’s all a blur. Fortunately, I snapped a few pictures here and there, so I can piece together some of what went on. It certainly looks like I had fun!

I spent a good portion of my time crowd-sourcing materials for more “teaching the art of upcycling” projects.

I approached our local Half Price Books store and our county library about donating unusable or outdated books for creative reuse projects. Both were incredibly generous and sent me home with 175+ books to gut and repurpose. The covers will serve as “canvases” for one set of projects and the pages will be saved for something else. As always, nothing will go to waste.

 

Friends have been great about sending me odds and ends for future projects, but I’m going to have to up my game and find some new sources. Art students are like creative little locusts, descending on the supplies I bring with such enthusiasm that I’m left with only remnants of my remnants.

I wish I could bottle that moment when they start looking through the materials – the way they gasp and smile at the idea of using my collection of tiny treasures to make art. I find it impossible to restrain them or put a limit on how many objects they can use. I’ll just have to rise to the challenge!

 

Oh, don’t worry about me too much. My attic is still operating like a clown car these days – providing a seemingly endless stream or resources no matter how many times I visit it. I had more than enough materials for 60 students at North Oldham High School to create three-dimensional self-portraits. Then I set up shop at Crestwood Elementary, teaching 75 third, fourth and fifth graders how to make upcycled storybooks.

I’ll go back and lead that project weekly, through the end of April, followed by a series of Pinterest-inspired projects at Harmony Elementary.

 

I think the storybooks might be my favorite project, thus far, because that’s where I’ve seen even the least art-inclined students shine – after all, there’s no wrong way to tell your story. Last week’s students listened with such reverence as I told them about parts of my collection: the 20+ years of stamps my great uncle saved; supplies salvaged from an elementary school that closed last year; the random game pieces I found under our couch, long after the rest of the game had been given away.

And then I get to see these students incorporate these materials into their story, much the way I’m hoping they incorporate upcycling and creative reuse into their lives. How blessed am I?!