20-22 February 2013 - Pick Pack and Store

Today more fun and games. Robin and I tackled her studio which was buried in boxes, bins and huge canvas bags full of stuff. Much of it was material for her annual memory books that were yet to be completed. We found room in bookcases where train books used to be to store many of the binders. Then we spent several hours distilling file after file of information gathered on their trips. This incurred many trips to the recycle bin. After we had downsized the materials to a more reasonable amount, I suggested that she store what she wasn't going to use anytime soon in her storage area. 

After she quit laughing hysterically, she took me down to see the storage she has in the garage. YIKES!  A locked closet full from floor to ceiling. Fibber McGee and Molly would have been proud--as Robin slowly pulled the door open she had one hand up inside the closet to keep boxes from falling out.  What is all this stuff? And better yet-- why did I not take pictures?  It was spectacular.

We pretty much emptied everything out and sorted it into piles.  All the camping gear went into a pile for the Home Away kids. Tools and other odd things went in a pile for SCRAP, and yet even more went into a pile for Good Will. We hauled it all upstairs, cleaned it up and did more sorting. Then hauled it down to the car and loaded it to the gills. 

21 February
After a leisurely morning we started out to deliver all the giveaways. Home Away for the Homeless was thrilled to get the camping equipment. It felt really good to donate things where you knew it would be really appreciated and put to good use.  We wandered back across town to get to SCRAP. Robin has been telling me about this place for years, so I was happy to get to see it. First, SCRAP is an acronmyn for Scrongers' Center for Reusable Art Parts. It was amazing and such a hoot to poke around in that warehouse. They get lots of donations from businesses as well as people like Robin. 

I loved their swinging hand side outside the donation door. One whole section was filled with tile samples like you would see at Lowes or HD. Major Lust!  I could think of so many interesting mosaic projects and/or garden art that could happen with those gorgeous glass tiles.  I ended up buying a four inch high stack of metal samples. Yep, ooh shiny! Don't ask. I have no idea, but $5? What a deal! 

Many artists, art teachers, preschool teachers come here to get inexpensive stuff for kid's projects. The warehouse is filled with opportunities waiting to happen. And in case you don't have any ideas, they have some for you. Here is a room divider or hanging screen made of balls of leftover yarn. Not really for me, but why not? 

I liked a sample wreath made from book pages that were rolled into cones. I could see lots of possiblities with this concept, adding color or using magazine pages for example. 


 They had boxes of buttons sorted by color! And this was just a small part of the button boxes. It was a marvelous and overwhelming experience.

Robin and I were exhausted, cold and hungry so we ended our day with dinner out at a fish joint right on the water with a great view of the shipyards. 

Even though it was a fish place, I had a big fat burger and it was wonderful.  

 On the way home we passed a pilot boat docking area. It was fun to see all them all lined up.