A weekend visit to Construction Junction, one of the Pittsburgh area's main architectural salvage stores, illuminated more this time than your standard house parts salvage and furnishings.It seems there is now a second and third floor loft area devoted entirely to offering reused items artists and other creative folks can use for projects.
It's called Creative Reuse Pittsburgh, and according to the nice, informative cashier I spoke with, the place has been in operation for a while but only had been open on Wednesdays until recently.
Me, I got this awesome discontinued Royal Dalton wallpaper sample book filled to the brim with rose patterns and papers I can use for decoupaging, scrapbooking, or what-have-you.
But there was far more among the aisles of this attic treasure trove than that. Think office supplies, fabrics, yarns, paints, modeling clays, various decorative papers, picture matting, unused canvases, CDs, old magazines, prints, novelty items and so much more.
All of the items were donations to this non-profit organization. So if you have some items that might make innovative craft supplies, you might want to consider donating it their way.
But there was far more among the aisles of this attic treasure trove than that. Think office supplies, fabrics, yarns, paints, modeling clays, various decorative papers, picture matting, unused canvases, CDs, old magazines, prints, novelty items and so much more.
All of the items were donations to this non-profit organization. So if you have some items that might make innovative craft supplies, you might want to consider donating it their way.
Store hours are: Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
And Sunday from noon to 4:00 PM.
One other thing of note, they're cash only. But the prices are good, so even if you only have a few bucks on you, you can still come away with some artistic goodies. While I was there, my brain actually imploded a little over all the possibilities, so once I have a better what I need for my next project, I will definitely be back.Their contact information is below, and it looks like they're on Facebook, too.
Creative Reuse Pittsburgh
Inside Construction Junction
214 North Lexington Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
(412) 202-4036
Happy rummaging!
14 comments:
Excellent usage of all thing 'tion' hehe
This place sounds amazing! Such a great idea. Encouraging people to handover craft stuff that they no longer want/need is cool. Then people like me can buy it. It's funny because I was just looking at 2nd watercolour stuff yesterday and wishing more people would sell their old stuff instead of hoarding it.
Claire- It really is because a lot of folks decide to try certain crafts and then realize that particular project isn't really for them. Why not send, say, the extra glass paint along to the store for someone who needs it to pick up?
There were also just weird buckets of bit and bobs-- metal hardwarey bits and quirky things that might just work for the right project.
I didn't notice watercolors, but I imagine they had some.
wow, that would really make for some fabulous scrapbooking!
Those are some lovely flowers and they would make for some great paper craft!
I am so envious of you! I wish they had something like that out here where I live (San Francisco). I am all for crafting using things that would normally be discarded. This is a topic I am passionate about. I find things at local thrift stores that I buy cheaply for use in future projects. Don't get me wrong - I love the convenience and quality of the supplies available at the local craft store, but in this day and age when so many craft supplies are mass-marketed, it's nice to use something different and unexpected to give one's craft projects a unique, one-of-a-kind look.
Jenn, thanks for spreading the word abour our Creative Reuse Pittsburgh! To Serena in San Francisco: SF does has at least 2 creative reuse centers that I know of -- SCRAP http://www.scrap-sf.org/ and the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse http://www.creativereuse.org/. Happy reusing!
Meleah- I'm leaning that direction, but some other thing may pop into my head.
Jackie- I felt really lucky to find it, and it was fun rummaging.
Serena- Ah! So you're in luck, since our kind Creative Reuse Pittsburgh rep above was nice enough to share some San Fran resources. I couldn't imagine a place as artsy as San Fran wouldn't have SOMETHING.
Mission: Thanks muchly for chiming in here! I'm glad to help promote it. It's right up this blog's alley.
Glad you found that store! I've shopped at a similar place, The Scrapbox, in Ann Arbor, MI for several years now. As you commented, rock-bottom prices, and one can find one-of-a-kind supplies. The "weird buckets of bits and bobs" may have been some factory's leftovers - creative reuse places often accept items from the commercial sector as well. Please do report on any future finds from this store!
I wish I lived near Pittsburgh!
Tracy @urbanpicker.blogspot.com
Thanks for the information about similar places out west! I will be sure to check them out :0)
Aimee- Will do!
Serena- YES! I love it when readers get new helpful info! Woo-hoo!!
How exquisite. I am a paper crafter and would love a find like this!
Oh My Gosh Jenn!!!
What an awesome score on the wallpaper sample book. The samples look absolutely gorgeous!
Lucky you!
The closest I ever came to something like that was finding a huge bag of wallpaper cut outs. There were over 200 pieces cut out of old WP. Everything from roses to bunnies. Whoever did that had way too much time on their hands. Lucky me!
As always, thanks for sharing Jenn. Have a great weekend.
Lois
I love, love, LOVE Contruction Junction and now I have the bug to make the 60 mile trip TODAY!!! I have never been to the Creative Reuse section, alway there on the weekends...oh really, what do I HAVE to do today?
Thanks for sharing!
Cathy
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