Rags to Riches

I hate to throw away anything that can be used again, so being able to take used textiles --old clothes that aren't good enough for a thrift shop, worn sheets and towels, and similar items--to Ragfinery in downtown Bellingham makes me very happy.

I had several bags of such items to drop off today, and was delighted to see that Ragfinery now has a retail shop, offering an interesting range of handmade products made by people far more creative than I am, as well as offering a variety of classes.

These cute kitty hats for small children are just the thing for the cold weather now upon us, and this lovely small purse/bag caught my eye, as did the materials it was made from--donated satin upholstery material, drapery material, and a single earring. The vibrant quilt in today's blip, as well as the three blue pillows--the middle of which I purchased--were all made of donated material.

Ragfinery began in April 2014, with the goal of diverting "unwanted textiles from the waste stream" and upcycling them in "a training business that provides transitional jobs for low income clients of [Ragfinery's] partner social service agencies and schools." Collaboration with local artisans and community members leads to the repurposing of "unwanted garments and textiles into a variety of upcycled goods that showcase the skills and talent of our collective."

There's lots more interesting information on the Ragfinery website, linked in the first paragraph. I love everything about this nonprofit and wish that every city had a Ragfinery!

Blip 1088

[P.S. Thanks for sending my bizarre duck photo to the Spotlight today--she'd be pleased!]