WORK FROM BRING RECYCLING’S “VISION/REVISION” SHOW
Reduce,
Reconnect,
Rejoice!
MORE IDEAS THAN JUST
“COUPON GOOD
FOR ONE MASSAGE”
by Zanne Miller
N
ot to put a damper on things, but
according to Consumer Reports, 13.9
million Americans are still paying
off last year’s holiday spending sprees. And
then there’s the oft-cited statistic about holiday
waste from recycleworks.org: Between
Thanksgiving and Christmas, we generate 25
percent more waste per week than during the
rest of the year — an additional six million
tons overall.
If those aren’t good enough reasons for
you to get into a less consumptive spirit
this season, consider this: One-of-a-kind,
handmade gifts from recycled items not
only reduce the impact on the planet (and in
certain cases, your wallet), but they are gifts
your friends and loved ones will cherish
because they are made (or found) by you.
Seriously, there’s a good chance your
mom still has that yarn you glued on
cardboard to make her an ornament in
preschool, but can she remember all of the
sweaters and scarves? Probably not.
Let’s assume we believe you when you
say you’re not creative or don’t have time.
www.eugeneweekly.com
In that case, consider a recycled item or a
handmade gift (or even just some wrapping
paper) made by someone else.
Less Is Best
At the Materials Exchange Center for
the Community Arts (MECCA)’s Less is
Best Fair on Dec. 3 and 4, you can view
and purchase work from local artists who
reuse materials to make everything from
shadowboxes and mixed-media mirrors to
painting and sculpture. You can also create
some of your own art, decorations or gift
wrap. According to Mija Andrade, MECCA’s
executive director, 10 to 15 local artists will
gather for the fair. Past years’ demonstrations
have included tin can luminaries, juice-
can lid ornaments and origami gift boxes,
to name a few. The event is also a great
opportunity for children to make a few gifts
(defi nitely a cut above the yarn-on-cardboard
variety), including rag dolls or potholders
from T-shirt scraps. Craft kits for purchase
($2 to $5) include magnetic poetry kits, no-
sew fl eece hats and a tambourine made from
bottle caps (you may choose to make the gift
from the kit or just give the kit as a gift).
MECCA’s studio is always open to the
public by donation (10 am-3 pm Tues., Wed.
and Thurs.; 6 pm-9 pm Thurs.; 11 am-3 pm
Sat.) and, according to Andrade, there’s
usually someone available to help you
assemble and work on your project as well
as a library of art books and a collection of
reuse ideas. Some of the many suggestions
from Andrade include tote bags and purses
or placemats and napkins from upholstery
fabric (MECCA has sewing machines for
This is Ryan, the Provisions wine guy. He
spends his days obsessing about wine
and food. We like him because
he brings in the BEST DEALS
on FOOD FRIENDLY wine
with a SENSE OF PLACE &
a natural, unmanipulated
state. He runs an
exceptional WINE CLUB,
(great gift, by the way) offers
screaming-good prices on
rare bottles & picks BOXED
WINE that will make you forget the
bad rap. Seriously, come in and find
something unexpected.
shop online & sign up for the wine club
www.marcheprovisions.com
NEXT TO THE FOUNTAIN
5TH STREET PUBLIC MARKET
541.743.0660
7 DAYS
Eugene Weekly’s GIFT GUIDE 2010 3