Upcyclers Social - Featuring Pallets!

How many times have you come across amazing ideas on Pinterest for pallets?  It seems like there's always some new way to upcycle and repurpose them.  They are so versatile, and they work with any decor theme or style!

Well, we just happen to be getting a HUGE load of pallets in this weekend, and we want to get crafty with them!  We're inviting people to come out and take however many they'd like and turn them into something great!  We can all brainstorm together for uses, and I'll post some links to my favorite pallet projects.

On Monday, September 3, we're going to have our second Upcyclers Social, and we want to feature these pallet creations that night!  We're going to invite everyone out to the shop, and whoever did a pallet project can bring theirs to showcase and sell!

I'll post more information and ideas over the next couple of days, but mark your calendar and clear some space in your schedule the next couple weekends!  The good thing about pallets is that it doesn't take long to turn them into something great!

Set some time aside, get creative, and upcycle!

Visit our Facebook Event page for more details:

https://www.facebook.com/events/424123897634551/

Our first team piece!

A couple of weeks ago, Tyler and I bought 21 dressers (/armoirs/endtables) to start working on with our artists so that we can become the upcycled showroom we envision.

We started working with artist Rich O'Keefe this weekend to transform these junky dressers into modern, desirable furnishings.  Rich has been working on furniture for the past several years, and his work was featured in the store already when he brought in this piece:

A couple of artists have come in to take some pieces, but since there are so many, we decided to do a couple ourselves as well.  Tyler and Rich did most of the work with mine and Dustin's help on some of the painting.  My step-son, Jax, even got involved. :)

Unfortunately, that's the only picture we have of the regeneration process, haha.  We're going to be better about taking pictures of the pieces and telling the transformation story.

Here's what we started with:

Yeah, not the best picture, but like I said, we promise to be better. ;)

The dresser was in pretty nasty shape when we got it.  Cleaning it was quite a chore...  When we got it all cleaned out, we still noticed a musty smell (likely due to it being in a barn for the last 20-30 years...).  Rich gave us this awesome tip and told us to use coffee grinds and apple cider vinegar to get the smell out.  You line the drawers with coffee grinds and then spritz them with apple cider vinegar.  Let it sit for 24-48 hrs (depending on how bad the smell is), and the coffee grinds absorb the smell.  Then you just vacuum it all out and, voila, no more musty smell!

Even though it was dirty and smelly, the structure of the dresser was actually great.  It's very strong and sturdy.  We decided to keep the piece pretty simple.  We painted the drawers with an undercoat of olive green and then added the ivory topcoat.  We knew we wanted to distress it and our goal was for the olive green to show through.  It didn't end up showing as much as we would have liked, but we're still very happy with the finished product! (You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.)

I LOVE the distressing on the drawers!

Carved, Distressed Inlays

Original Brass Hardware

I think it's safe to say that everyone had a blast working on this piece! It's exciting to see the vision and dream become a reality.  Stay tuned for more Upcycled Showcase pieces from Junk Recyclers and The Regeneration Station! :)

- Kim

Upcyclers Social!

Tuesday, August 14th @ 7pm

Come to The Regeneration Station for an Upcyclers Social where you'll get to meet other artists and craftsman and learn about how to participate in Junk Recyclers' Upcycled Showcase!

Light refreshments will be served

Vintage furniture will be available for pick up (with a paid deposit)

Come learn what we're about and how you can get involved!!

For more info, call Kim at 828.505.1108

On Facebook? Join our event: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/507448649271707/

For all of you who have been interested in upcycling or refinishing a piece of furniture to sell in the shop, we finally have some AWESOME pieces for you to choose from!  We're so excited about it all that we're having a little social get together.  This will allow all the artists and upcyclers to meet and mingle, and it will also give us a chance to explain more in detail how the whole Upcycle Showcase works.

We just got a load of 21 vintage dressers, coffee tables, and armoirs, and we want to invite all the artists who are interested in upcycling a piece to come in and pick one out!  They're just sitting here waiting!

If you want to get started right away, you don't have to wait till Tuesday!  You can go ahead and claim your piece by stopping by and paying the deposit starting today!

We'll get the second lot in on Monday, so there will be new ones to choose from after the weekend.

If you're not sure how much time you'll have to work on a piece, please wait until you are ready before picking out a piece.  We like to see a 2-3 week turnaround.  If you don't think you can get it done in that amount of time, talk to us about your plan for the piece, and we'll go from there.

Unfortunately, we can't hold a piece unless the deposit is paid.  All are on a first come, first serve basis.  I hope you understand.

I hope that answers all the basic questions about the event that you may have.  Feel free to call or email anytime if you other questions.  Otherwise, I hope to see you all Tuesday night!  It will be great to put faces to names! :)

Kim Allen
Store Manager
The Regeneration Station
(828) 505-1108
theregenerationstation@gmail.com