Upcycling

So today we’re talking all about the wonderful world of upcycling. I’m sure many of you, like myself, hoard things because you can’t bear to throw them away or you’ll find something to make with them, yanno, someday. Keep hoarding, my friends. Hopefully today’s finds will inspire you in your next upcycling project.

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Upcycled PS2 Controller Pen Caddy with USB Extension (Black) by GreenCub

When I first came across this, my initial thought was, “WHAT THE CRAP?” In a good way. In a why-don’t-I-own-this kind of way. Not only am I always looking for unique ways to stay organized, but the PS2 is hands down my favourite gaming platform. If you’re a Nintendo or a (dare I say it) Microsoft kid, GreenCub has you covered! These pen caddies are available in a variety of controllers

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The Meridian 37 inch Modern Steel Firebowl by John T. Unger

Man. I need to buy a house stat so I can have this in my yard. John T. Unger is a sculptor with incredible vision in metal working. The simple complexity of this piece has me in awe every time I look at it. Not only do the shapes within it change as you move around it (to correspond with the phases of the moon), but it has one of my favourite elements in an art piece.

Deception and contradiction.

Yes, the smooth, tilted bowl shape looks, at the first glace, that it may just be a chair. Nay my friend. It may look cozy and inviting, but that is one hot seat you would not be to keen on sitting in. As I have a personal aversion (bordering on fear) to fire,  I do not connect the flames to warmth and comfort, but pain and warning. To couple with that with something so gentle as the moon is really incredible.

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spider skeleton: creepy taxidermy spider monkey articulated mount by resonanteyes

If you really want to go for a stellar upcycle, why not take it to an extreme? Anji of resonanteyes is one of my favourite sculptors for this reason. She works with no reservations and no fear, as I aspire to do.

This piece is my personal favourite. I love spiders, I really do. I also love taxidermy, and everything that goes with it. That an artist thought to take the bones of one animal to simulate a skeletal structure of another (especially one that has no skeletal structure) blows my mind. I love it.

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Looking for more upcycled goods? Check out the extra finds.

Dont forget about the contest to win a free pair of ballet flats! There aren’t many entries yet, so get on it, people!

CONTEST

Alright, so this isn’t the finds. I apologize for that. Except not really because I’m giving you all a chance to win something. This is a public contest and anyone and everyone is eligible to enter.

I love to quote movies. This could be because I have movies on constantly throughout the day and often have random tidbits from them stuck in my head. I’ve also wanted to do a giveaway of some sort, so I thought: why not combine the two?

Before we get going into the details of the contest, what are you going to win? Why, a pair of ballet flats from my shop, that’s what!

Many of my heels can be made as flats as well, but we can work out the details later. You need to know how to win, don’t you?

Here’s the skinny. I have come up with a list of 28 movie quotes and it is your job to identify them. You may earn multiple points per quote by this point system:

Identifying the film – 1 point

Identifying the film & character – 2 points

Identifying the film, character & scene – 3 points

Several quotes have a double point value, giving you the opportunity to earn 6 total points on certain lines. You won’t know which ones these are. That’s a surprise.

Some are obscure, some are quite obvious. For the sake of fairness and sportsmanship, please, no cheating. Be honest and stay away from internet searches.

Contest ends February 29th. Please e-mail all entries to merlo.and.me@gmail.com

Are we ready?

HERE WE GO!

QUOTE LIST

1. “You can’t even let it go, not even on your birthday.”

2. “Two didn’t come back, sir!”

3. “If nothing else, it’s. . . flashy.”

4. “I learned a new word today. … Dude, D-O-O-D. Dude.”

5. “Hot air balloon? Too expensive. Giant slingshot? Too conspicuous. Enormous wooden horse? Too Greek!”

6. “You people make my ass twitch.”

7. “The first album was better than the first album.”

8. “Well you find any more of that you can make yourself a nice little hankie.”

9. “Sorry to invade your space, but I needed that.”

10. “Pray they’re that stupid. Pray we’re that lucky.”

11. “You should have seen it before your hoard of camel ridding illiterates descended upon it.”

12. “See old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did.”

13. “Okie slash dokie!”

14. “Hold your tongue sir, or lose it.”

15. “The purpose of university is to find a suitable husband.”

16. “Darling, nothing is final until you are dead. Even then I’m sure God negotiates.”

17. “S-so which is it? The-the moth or the butterfly?”

18. “Not today!”

19. “I’ll have your leg!”

20. “If it’s not Baroque, don’t fix it.”

21. “I think you underestimate the convenience of a pocket.”

22. “You say you’re under a curse? Well so what; so is the whole damn world.”

23. “It’s just a circus! A peanut operation.”

24. “A single raindrop raises the sea.”

25. “Heads you live, tails you die.”

26. “My mother is, in her own socially acceptable way, also a drug addict.”

27. “I make my own luck.”

28. “I’ve seen that. A ferret on crystal meth.”

Good luck everyone!