Waking up today in Los Angeles was eerie. I’m quite deep into south Los Angeles but in the sky hangs an orange glowing cloud of ash, and in the air the sweet smell of smoke lingers even here this far south. Ash falling from the sky. Precious land and lives threatened. It’s devastating to witness no matter where you’re located, but if you or yours are located in the area, please stay safe.

In these times of tragedy, uncertainty, and anxiety I find turning to creative projects can be cathartic. I let go of control easier when it’s so difficult to have any in the first place. Suddenly I’m lost in a project, feeling relaxation set in as a I make art come to life. Lately, I’ve been getting lost in paper mache. There’s something so wonderful about making junk mail into something useful and beautiful. There’s so much we can make with what’s already around us… Right now, I’m working on making mushrooms—a choice that was made by our last upcycle meetup group when I left it to them to choose what I’d create:

I can’t wait to share more about how this ends up coming together. So far it’s slightly less chaotic than the snowman.

To everyone creating as a way to find peace or joy amid uncertainty: I see you, and I’m right there with you. Let’s keep making. ❤️

🌟Monthly Project Theme: New Beginnings

Let’s start the year with creativity and a challenge! January’s project theme, New Beginnings, invites you to try something new—embark on an upcycle experiment with new materials, techniques, or ideas you’ve never tackled before.

Share your projects with the Peo Vee community by posting photos and updates in our Activity Feed. Who knows? Your creativity might inspire someone else to try their own new beginning!

A few ideas:

Make earring studs out of virtually anything

Lydiaswannartist on Etsy makes these unique chopped pencil studs. For the sake of trying something new, try to imagine: What things could you into wearable studs?

Turn scraps of fabric into wall art

In this simple DIY, Heather of BluKatDesign guides you through an easy way to make beautiful art from scrap. How could you rethink your trimmings to become wall art?

Make your own patches

In yet another winner from SwoodsonSays, you can learn how to make patches from old t-shirts. Use printed scrap, or… what if you block carved your own prints and printed the scrap to be used as patches? 🤔

🛍️What’s New on Remnants

Featured Vendor: Magpie’s Treasures

Magpie’s Treasures is here! Explore a stunning collection of 20th-century vintage beads, embellishments, genuine stones, and more. These unique finds are perfect for your next project.

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🤗New From the Community

Last week, our members shared so many inspiring projects:

Tanya shared visible mending projects with the Mender’s Group

As well as a great denim project idea with our Denim Upcyclers.

Betty shared tea bag wallets made from leftover fibers (need).

Celeste joined our new Costume Makers Group to share a steampunk Jedi!

💬Community Meetup

Cheers to connection and creativity! Our next virtual meetup is January Zoom Meetup on Sunday, Jan 26th at 11am PT. Join a casual chat with fellow makers, this is your space to connect. Bring your coffee (or tea!) and your favorite upcycle from the month—can’t wait to see you there!

RSVP and save the date →

Stay safe out there,