Bring out your dead? No, this isn’t an out of season Halloween post ….
A couple of times a year, our local councils do a Bulk rubbish / Kerbside Collection, or as my friend Jane likes to call it “Bring out your dead week”. The idea is that larger items which are too big for the regular weekly pick up can be put out for collection.
We’re supposed to put out our unwanted goods just before the pick up day, but most people start putting out their stuff early. The downside is the suburb can look a little like a rubbish dump until collection day – the good thing is that it gives people a chance to drive around the area and take any discarded goods they want. It’s a win win really, as instead of going to landfill many unwanted items get taken to a new home and are given a new life. Recyling/Upcycling at it’s best!
We had a little cruise around the neighbourhood and in the space of less than an hour, we filled the car. Here’s the spoils from our scavenger hunt upcycling mission before we unpacked the car.
We have big plans to inject a new lease of life into these things and by writing this post I’m making myself accountable (Ha Ha!) and also adding some crafty/DIY posts to my site.
Here they are – all unpacked.
- The wicker basket is in great condition – I’ll just give this a simple paint job. Our dog agreed!
- The table base – well, I wanted it for an oversized candle holder – Murray has other ideas – like a table! hmmm?
- The Bar Stool needs no work and is in the shed already at my metal soldering bench. It’s just the right height and comfy!
- The bike wheels will be salvaged and painted and become Art …or something!
- The Finials will get cut up and may become tassel heads.
- The Bed posts will make bases for a project I have in mind or they’ll end up as candle holders.
- Not sure about the cabinet doors yet – it’s a nice hardwood with glass. Probably make frames.
- I loved this chair and the shape of the legs. Have to replace the seat and the wicker’s in poor condition – not sure if it’s salvagable actually but we’ll give it a try.
- and I just couldn’t go past some pallet type wood!
And in the interests of uncluttering and not just hoarding, I’m happy to report that when I put out my perfectly good (& hardly used!) exercise bike, it disappeared from our verge overnight. The most excercise I ever got with it, was moving it from our family room, to the spare room, to the garage, and finally to the verge and now it’s gone to a new home – hopefully (unlike me), the new owner will use it for it’s intended purpose, if not it’ll probably end up on their verge in 6 months time!
Stay tuned for the transformation blog posts over the coming months.
What have you been transforming lately?
Wow! terrific finds – loving that wicker chair!! The candle holders sound like a plan too 🙂 We made some huge dream catchers out of bike rims for a display project that turned out pretty well – can’t wait to see all these things upcycled…….we have a verge collection going on too so as you’ve got me so inspired, I’m off now to resurrect some of the dead in our suburb……….
Ha Ha – Thanks Elaine! I like the term resurrect! Have fun! The bike rim dreamcatchers sound awesome 🙂