Scrap DC: A Crafty Way To Reuse

by Barbara Cline

I collect craft stuff. I love working with many different kinds of crafts, and my “stuff” has now taken over six drawers, an entire storage unit, and two shelves in a closet.

And my stuff continues to accumulate. This spring I went to the Sheep and Wool Festival and now have a lovely collection of colorful felt. In the summer I took a collage class using cigar boxes, which resulted in 10 cigar boxes now sitting in my closet waiting for my next artistic endeavor.

As a high-riser with limited storage space, I occasionally have to go through my stuff to clean and make some space.

But even my rejects deserve a good home — and I have found one in Scrap DC (www.scrapdc.org), a place for “creative reuse.”

Scrap DC is located at 52 O Street, NW, #L2, a tiny but inviting space near Galludet University (Red Line-NOMA-Galludet) decorated with samples of their “creative reuse” crafts, including a soda-can airplane suspended from the ceiling and a posterboard display of candy wrapper art, just in time for Halloween.

Scrap DC feels like I have arrived at a craft rummage sale. It overflows with boxes and drawers and shelves of undiscovered treasures. I had to fight the impulse to cancel all plans for the rest of the day and just nest for several hours.

Heather Bouley, one of the directors and currently a volunteer like the rest of the staff, was there the day I stopped in. Architects, interior designers, quilters and artists cleaning out their studios are just some of the folks who donate to Scrap DC. Donations of yarn, beads and fabric (particularly more than one yard) are always welcome. For a complete wish list of donations, check the Scrap DC website.

Scrap DC was created in 2010 and moved to this rented retail store space in August 2011. The retail store has limited hours and the space is already too small to display all of their inventory. Heather hopes Scrap DC can eventually find donated space of 1,000-2,000 square feet. Their goal is to have enough funds to hire two to three full-time staff and offer more creative use programs to the community.

How were the prices? I was pleased. I purchased two metal potholder looms for 50 cents each. A local toy stores sells a similar metal loom, along with a metal hook (don’t use) and a small bag of nylon loops for $16.99.

So, did I create more storage space in my high-rise unit with my donation to Scrap DC? Of course not!

I brought back twice as much as I donated, including a bag full of glass tiles… hmmm… and did I forget to mention I am taking my first mosaics class this month?