Lost But Found: Our Upcycled World

Already loving 2012!

2012-02-24T13:41:00.000-05:00

Already loving 2012!

Oh my sweet paper puppy!

2011-09-24T16:39:00.000-04:00

Let's Keep the Dream Alive.....

2011-08-10T11:14:00.000-04:00

Show some love and vote for Foundry under the category

"Hunting and Gathering", then "Gift Shops".

Thank you!!!

The Refinery of Katie Chen and Dawn Lustig

2011-07-28T12:47:00.000-04:00

In July and August we are hosting the work of Katie Chen and Dawn Lustig. Both ladies create amazing work out of everyday items- the ultimate in upcycling!

Katie uses tiny magazine clippings to create undulating abstract work. All pieces are on recycled boards like cabinet doors, cigar boxes, etc. They are just magical in person!

"Sarcoidosis", magazine clippings on wood

Detail of "Sarcoidosis"

Detail of "Blue"

"Blue"

"Small #2"

Detail of "Negro Verde"

And if you're not sure what to do with those plastic grocery bags...well do you know how to knit?
Dawn Lustig creates one-of-a-kind knit bags out of locally-spun yarn and strips of plastic bags. Closures are made from pottery pieces, rocks, or recycled paper beads.

Yarn and plastic grocery bags knitted together. Dyed agate closure.

Dawn is also making bracelets and necklaces with stones, wire and recycled paper beads from Bead for Life.

So come by Foundry soon to see these exciting pieces, created by two wonderfully talented women!

May Day, 2011

2011-05-31T11:19:00.001-04:00

THANK YOU everyone who came out on May 1st for the Big Love Fest! We met tons of people, and had a really good response, which was great because this is the first time we've taken everything "on the road". We'd love to do it again next year, so thanks Asheville Grown for organizing, and Lisa Martinez for taking the photos!

Almost finished setting up, and I actually don't think we forgot to bring anything. Oh yeah- that's because we practically brought EVERYTHING in the store.

We also had Sarah Keister of Love and Light Organics come do sugar scrubs for people.
She is in the back left setting up.

Yes....computer board bird houses, tea cup plants, wine bottle bows.

Knitted bags, jewelry cards, upholstery bags, and a very cute bear made from sweaters!!

Inner tube messenger bag, tree-free notebooks, thermos lamps, and everyone's favorite...
poo poo paper!

And yes, we even lugged in some of our craft books. Jesse Lee's copper wall hangings
are along the back wall.

The cards were a big hit at the festival, and of course who can resist the bicycle chain bottle openers?

Thanks Asheville!!

The Birth of an Owl

2011-02-17T13:19:00.000-05:00

Our paper birds were a big hit, so we made an owl on request, and here are the photos. Enjoy!

He has a paper body that is wrapped with masking tape to give it shape.
Masking tape was actually a great material for sculpting that signature owl brow.

The eyes had to come first so it would really have some personality.

The papers used to cover him were from The Laurel of Asheville, a Crate and Barrel catalog,
and various other craft magazines.

Here he is on his perch (in progress) and with some tail feathers.

The tail feathers were made out of magazine paper strips, along with plastic grocery bag pieces.
The bag pieces actually have a nice, transparent, wispy look.

Finished! His perch is covered with plastic bag pieces and painted.
And I'd also like to give a shout out to Mod Podge!

Our November/December special offer!

2010-11-24T20:40:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! We've come up with a very easy offer for our special customers. When you spend $25 or more any time between now (Nov 25th) and December 6th, you will automatically be entered to win a Harvey's Seatbeltbag, valued at $118. It's a Large Satchel in Turquoise, and a very hard to find bag.
Hope to see you soon!!

PLUS... we'll be open on Sundays until Christmas, so after you've gotten your coffee and scones at City Bakery next door, come on by! We'll be open from 10am-2pm.

Swinging Into Fall

2010-11-18T10:29:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! We've put up a very simple yet unique window display for fall, so we wanted to share it. It's made completely from found objects - think mailing tubes, packing material old magazines and those millions of leaves that you're constantly sweeping up this time of year!

Stay tuned, because you just might see snow very soon...

Our first feature article!

2010-11-08T10:08:00.000-05:00

Foundry in the Asheville Citizen Times!

Plush-o-Rama

2010-11-01T12:12:00.000-04:00

Amidst Halloween crafts and decorating, ordering merchandise for Christmas, unpacking boxes, designing ads and rack cards, we managed to find time to make a plushie. His name is "Snuggles" and he was one of the projects in our kit, Plush-o-Rama: Curious Creatures for Immature Adults. Well, this immature adult joined forces with a five year old, and here is the result! This kit was a great activity for both of us, and there are dozens more stuffed creatures to make. It's going to be a long winter....

Get Your Spook On

2010-10-19T12:43:00.000-04:00

My favorite holiday has always been Halloween. I was always jealous of those people who were lucky enough to have their birthday on Halloween (you know who you are!). Maybe next year we'll be able to make a mini haunted house, but for this year, we have the ominous Oogie Boogie* overseeing Charlotte St, and some additional treats for you.
*note that for those in search of that perfect costume, Oogie Boogie can be yours! That cold Halloween North Carolina night will be so much warmer inside your soft pillow of cotton goodness (see last photo).

There are a lot of delicious projects in here (yes, glue and scraps can be delicious)! But by far, our favorite artist featured is Ann Wood.

Check out her blog at http://www.annwood.net/blog/
We love her use of vintage textiles and garments, buttons, wire, lace. And even the tiniest remnants are useful.

Do you know where your children are........?
Why yes, they are collecting milk jugs, grocery bags and plastic water bottles for their masks, scary signs and hanging spiders!
One thing we like about this magazine is that since there are so many projects, after this years' fall holidays you can put it away with your decorations and use it again next year.

Call the exterminator: bats and rats abound, but this rat is made out of a sweater, so it's a cute furry rat!
No black plague to worry about here!

Rats, Bats and lanterns, oh my!

I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright.

Our First Featured Artist: Bradley Barrett

2010-10-15T12:14:00.000-04:00

Foundry is now featuring the sculpture of Bradley Barrett. We met Bradley through a friend who knew we were looking for old doors, windows, and basically anything old and unique to use as display furniture. After a few minutes in his backyard wonderland of wooden and metal salvage, we knew we had discovered the right place! Not only does he save materials that would normally be tossed and forgotten, but he creates art out of them. We have welcomed into our family, Carl, Joe and Jack, and they would be so happy in your home above your mantle, in your cabin, your man-cave, your front porch....

This is Carl, the serious one. He oversees the store with confidence and ease, which you can tell by his serious brow and pout. He is crafted out of tractor parts, theater seat pieces, a hinge and various others salvaged metal pieces.

Joe is the rebellious one, and he has grown his hair out to show it. Oh no, I think he also pierced his left ear. He is made up of pieces similar to Carl, so perhaps Carl is the responsible older brother.

Jack and Carl make a good team, and how about those recycled metal and glass wall sconces in between?

The star of the show is Jack. His cylinder shaped head is crafted from an oxygen tank, and the horns are beautifully bent metal tubes that flow like tree branches.

Bradley Barrett has been creating whimsical animal heads using 100% recycled and found materials for 15 years, with a focus on steer heads. His inspiration comes from the materials salvaged while deconstructing old homes and barns in the Western Carolina mountains. Bradley started his own architectural salvage business in 1996 in an effort to save the parts and pieces of old homes and barns and find a new use for these materials. What started as an idea to save valuable resources from being thrown away or burned has now grown into a successful architectural business and a resource for local artists.

It's a sign....

2010-10-08T11:58:00.002-04:00

Our amazing sign arrived this week! It was designed, created and installed by Warren Perdue, of Perdue Studios: www.perduestudios.com

Here are some photos of the rather treacherous installation. Lifting a 150lb sign 10 feet in the air next to a busy street is not easy!

Here is the sign on the ground prior to installation.
It's comprised of a "junk layer" in the middle, and the green panels with the logo are part of an old car.

Close up of the junk layer with dozens of scrapped parts welded together

I didn't want to make the guys nervous by being obvious about taking the photos...
so I had to do it from inside! They removed the green panels so it would be lighter.

View from below. And just in case you wanted to know the pressure of something or other, there is a gauge...

Thank you Warren!!

NOW OPEN!!

2010-10-04T10:49:00.000-04:00

We have some fantastic fall items: pumpkin and bat buckets made out of reclaimed metal - great for lanterns, and scary bats made from reclaimed tin and wooden spindles. There are also quite a few craft magazines with spooooooky ideas, not to mention the scariest guy in town.... Oogie Boogie!

See you soon!

We're open!!

2010-10-03T22:24:00.000-04:00

Come on by to see what we've been slaving over for, ummm about a year now?!!

Just a few more

2010-09-28T13:36:00.000-04:00

We did some finishing touches yesterday, so I think we're all set. Now all the work is behind the computer making sure everything will run smoothly!

Here are some wine bottle bowls made by my wonderful husband, Sean. He calls them "Asheville Flatz".

Recycled glass night lights!

These large votives are covered with rolled up magazine paper.

Everyone needs a vase made out of a wine bottle and bed springs, right?

See you soon!

Welcome....

2010-09-27T14:26:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone! For the last two weeks we've sequestered ourselves doing nothing but painting and re-habbing furniture, unpacking, cleaning, and then painting and unpacking some more. Here is a preview of what you'll see when you're here:

Temporary window display during set-up

We call this the "cake table". We decoupaged map pages to the edges. (Apologies to the sacrificial 2002 Thomas Guide.) You'll find Harvey's Seatbelt bags, and other bags and wallets made from bicycle tire rubber. Also wallets from ties, and the infamous seatbelt closure bottle opener! Oh, and those scissors aren't for sale.

Sweater animals, kits for kids, wine cork projects and craft magazines

Here are some notebooks made from discarded book covers, a group of thermos lamps and a barnwood mirror. Not to mention the $10 Goodwill bookcase that we painted, slanted the shelving and added yard sticks to!

This is our "book nook"

Get your Harvey's! The Lola Satchel here on top is my favorite.

This is Rowan, our unofficial mascot and official unpacker

Jewelry corner with cypress knees to hang pieces and rubber tire barrels underneath

Who would have thought that cypress knees made such cool display items!

Candles (yes, we found soy candles in recycled material!) motherboard boxes, ceiling tin picture frames and an area for the kids to entertain themselves.

Thanks everyone for sticking with us during these months while we've been building our business. We are so glad to finally be sharing all our wonderful things with you and hope to see you very soon!

Before

2010-09-06T17:46:00.001-04:00

I thought I'd post some pre-renovation photos. The transformation from dark and dingy to bright and fun is very clear!

So far...

2010-09-06T17:37:00.004-04:00

Well, as of last week we had the floors installed and polished, and the ceiling and walls painted. Who would have thought a purple wall would look so cool with those floors? I have to thank Frank the building Super for choosing the floors actually. My creative energies were completely spent by the time he swooped in with this fantastic solution... plaid!

And then......I waited four hours for an AT&T installation that never happened (haven't we all??) and actually enjoyed seeing the morning light come in. It was so pretty!

Test

2010-08-20T22:41:00.000-04:00

Diving into blogging