BRINGfest

A new year, a new BRINGfest!

2010-04-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

BRINGfest 2010 is looking good! We've got our fantastic reuse arts vendors returning from last year. We've got plant starts, food carts, and music. We've got the PlantMobile, with Jim Gilbert of One Green World speaking about fruiting plants. All this is happening May 2nd, the first Sunday of May, at BRING from 10am to 4pm.
One exciting change is that we've moved BRINGfest to the Garden of Earthly Delights, the new courtyard north of the BRING Recycling warehouse. I have a mental picture of the courtyard as it will look May 2nd: arts/crafts, greenery, cookies, educational posters, customers sipping coffee from their non-disposable mugs, kids looking through our freebie magazines . . . . And of course, my mental image has all this activity taking place in sunshine; no rain allowed!
Other than that uncontrollable spring weather, all us volunteers and BRING staff involved with BRINGfest are working hard to make this our best BRINGfest yet! Join us on the day, and if you're a reuse artisan or sustainable living nonprofit and want to have a booth, email to bringrecycling@gmail.com.

Lani & Alex at the One Cup

2009-11-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

Lani and I met today at my favorite coffee shop to discuss the ins and outs of volunteer blogging. We figured out how to log on, how to add interesting links to our blog profile, and how to follow other blogs of interest. Lani is interested in a slight update of the blog before BRINGfest 2010 rolls around. I have awesome pictures from 2008 and maybe a few from 2009, and Lani assures me that BRINGfest 2009 was properly documented by the fabulous BRING volunteer duo, Dan and Linda Howes. Linda's recycled glass creations have been featured at nearly every BRINGfest since we started in 2008.

Hopefully, we can expect a mostly visual recap of our past BRINGfests and updates on the planning for BRINGfest 2010. For example, will we continue to use the last Sunday of the month???

Meanwhile, BRING and MECCA are gearing up for this season's Less is Best Fair. In the past, we've held Less is Best at BRING's Planet Improvement Center, but this year, we're bringing less to the Holiday Market. December 5th, and 6th, volunteers from MECCA and BRING will encourage less consumption for the holidays with DIY craft workshops and gifts with recycled/reuse content for sale by local artisans.

Also check BRING Gallery's website for updates on the upcoming holiday 're-craft' exhibit.

three flyer day

2008-06-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

I got a list of the call-only BRINGfest vendors (4), the confirmed emailable vendors (6), and the fence-sitting vendors (2). So that brings the grand total to 10-12, which is not bad, considering four of my most enthusiastic May vendors have other commitments this month, one May vendor decided not to come back, and two of BRING's artsy volunteer/vendors are currently having health issues. I need to send out an email to my confirmed and maybe vendors, reaffirming the time (11-4 on June 29th, set up 10-11, break down 4-5), and make some calls to my other vendors, some of whom have only spoken with Michele P, BRING's volunteer coor dinator, to make sure all my awesome vendors are on the same page.

I made a few happy connections at the Wandering Goa t. My friend Dave from the Gallery Obscura had brought his chef buddy out to try a budaccino (a shot of espresso in a glass of Ninkasi's Oatis oatmeal stout). Verdict: hot at the top, cold at the bottom, and delicious all over! Not only does he broker mushrooms and co-run a sweet gallery, but Dave also has a band, and he expressed interest in playing at an upcoming BRINGfest! I also saw my friends Chance and Amanda who may come out to BRING looking for lexan or glass to build a solar...what was it...a water heater, maybe? We obviously had this conversation before the iced cafe au lait kicked in. Amanda also told me about Zecc Architecten, an outfit responsible for some of the most high-style recycled urban architecture in Europe, like this conversion of a water tower. I wish I understood more dutch, so I could more easily navigate the site and understand what sort of construction materials go into their projects. I'm pretty sure they're working with salvaged materials, but I'd like verbal confirmation to go along with the pretty pictures.

As we were discussing the prices of BRING's rare and desirable pieces, and whether it was wise/fair for BRING to charge rates more in line with an architectural salvage for-profit business than a "rescued from the dump" recycling nonprofit, a gentleman interrupted with a question as to where the new BRING location was. I handed him one of my BRINGfest handouts with the map in the righthand corner, and pointed out BRING. Whee! Informational marketing. I love being able to answer questions much better than passing out event flyers, but it was fun being able to combine both.

Then on my way home, I stopped by the Ninkasi Brewing facility to hang a flyer, and caught the gentlemen of Ninkasi unwinding after a long hard day of bottling. I caught up with Dan, Mike told me about starting his tattooing apprenticeship at Skullfly, and I secured Scrapyard Swag's new album from Jeff. Scrapyard Swag seems perfectly named to play at BRINGfest, though their gypsy growlpunk may be a little too high energy for a daytime craft market.

One block from my house, I visited with Jim from Clayspace and got permission to hang a flyer in their community postings board. I also realized I missed a slide lecture on woodfired kilns. Shucks! So only three flyers hung today, but I think they'll get some quality traffic!

refab poster

2008-06-21T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the reconfabulated posters/handouts for BRINGfest. I'm pretty happy with the addition of the map, and while my lettering is not quite as snazzy as Larry's, it'll do. I got the library (which I'll have to reposter on Monday), DIVA, New Zone, Savona's, and Venture Data. I handed out several at the Saturday Market. Tyler posted a few in his booth and Novena put a few miniflyers in one of her strategically placed record bowls. Pam, Susan, and Catherine got several to put up around town, and the Patchwork Underground ladies grabbed a fat stack of flyers to cover the Friendly Street area. A brief chat and a flyer handoff was all Candice and Anthony had time for between caricaturing and balloon twisting. I've got my Sunday plan to hit all the Whiteaker hotspots, though I have to say an unexpected nap ambushed my Saturday craft fair plan. I obviously did not have enough coffee today. I won't be making that mistake again, I'm starting Sunday out with an early visit to the Wandering Goat.

An Indie Craft Experience

2008-06-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

I'll be scoping this fair out for possible BRINGfest vendors, get a few ideas on the running of a crafts fair, and perhaps locally spend a little of that economic stimulus I just got in the mail!

getting posterized

2008-06-17T14:43:00.001-07:00

So this is our preliminary poster for the June BRINGfest created by Larry Joyce Engels (also known as Dr Fixall). I'm happy with the hands, but we're scheduled from 11-4...and the sales are not quite right. Warehouse manager Greg just came up with them this morning, and they're sweet:

3-foot and under wood frame windows - 50% off (great for cold frames)
All doors - 25% off
Granite - 50% off
Granite pieces (4-8 inches) - $1 each
Concrete roofing tiles - 3 for $1 (great for landscaping borders)

Also, I'm probably being picky, but I prefer boulevard to be blvd when shortened....And since I can't find find Larry's phone number and poster design over email sounds excruciating, looks like I'm going to be making the corrected sign!

May BRINGfest photorama, part three

2008-06-16T14:24:00.001-07:00

May BRINGfest photorama, part two

2008-06-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

BRING volunteer, Marie Livie crafted these beauties with felted wool from discarded sweaters.

Unfortunately, she won't be able to attend the June 29th BRINGfest, so you'll have to visit her etsy shop if you want your THINGS WITH WINGS fix.

Novena's Castaways booth featured bowls, cuffs, and purses made from abandoned vinyl records.

The Castaways repurposed record purse collection was featured on KMTR on May 25th, 2008.

Trust a smart repurposer like Novena to skirt the cute/creepy line with her baby doll coat rack. As a prolific crocheter, she surely enjoys the vast array of yarn available at MECCA

Yard Sale Cart

2008-06-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

Alex D, Rick, and new BRING volunteer Alex P helped Michele, BRING's volunteer coordinator, implement the "Yard Sale" cart today. We cleared out a storage space, and started collecting items that BRING normally does not accept, but that the Friends of BRING (FOB) would love to keep out of the landfill. FOB will be responsible for collecting yard sale items on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the Planet Improvement Center, moving items to the storage space, and pricing items. On the day of BRINGfest, June 29th, the FOBs will roll out the cart and sell these items, at rock bottom prices, of course, to fund the BRING resource library. After the sale, unsold items will be donated to St. Vincent De Paul thrift stores. I'll be happy if we make enough for a subscription to ReadyMade magazine!

Catchy PR?

2008-06-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

This was our calender blurb in the Eugene Weekly.

BRING Fest, feat. music, craft vendors, bake sale, yard sale & demos, 11am-3pm, BRING, 4446 Franklin. 746-3023. FREE.

We didn't end up having a yard sale, though we had sales at the warehouse, so that's pretty close. We also didn't have demos, which made me sad because with a place like BRING, which attracts all sorts of creative and resourceful types, you'd think it wouldn't be that hard to wrangle up a few DIY demonstrations. To be fair, you have to be well prepared with your object in various stages of doneness (like a cooking show), otherwise watching some demos can be like watching paint dry.

I think I won't worry about putting 'demos' on the PR...at least this time around.

Sunday June 29th,

BRINGfest, featuring live entertainment, recycled craft vendors, bake sale, and warehouse deals. BRING, 4446 Franklin. 746-3023. FREE.

I have a wordsmithing dilemma. 'Recycled craft' can sound a little messy and careless, and almost all of our vendors at the previous BRINGfest had exquisitely crafted items. Of course we had some wierd and wacky reuse objects, and that's part of what can be done with "throw-away" materials, but I'm not sure it's representative of everything our vendors have to offer.

Upcycled? Reuse craftistry? Repurposed? Or am I overthinking the issue?

May BRINGfest photorama, part one

2008-06-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

From left to right, Tyler and son, Ram, Dr Fixall, and BRING volunteer Terry. Ram brought his stylish line of silverware-to-jewelry, and Dr Fixall is true to his name. His industrial design background cleverly applied to materials destined for the landfill is what BRING is all about!

Tyler is a single parent who's flair for turning innertubes into accessories landed him a coveted spot in the BRING Gallery's re: ART group exhibit.

BRINGfest organizers hoped for sunny weather on May 25th, and while the overcast conditions were not ideal, we were spared the dreaded rain!

BRING volunteer Rick masterminded the bake and organic seed sale to fund Friends of Bring projects. Volunteer Lois obviously forgot her pith helmet!

new address

2008-06-10T00:30:00.000-07:00

I set up a dedicated BRING gmail address (BRINGrecycling@gmail.com) to have a semiofficial address, as well as set up a resource for eventual BRINGfest planners who might not be me. The other motivation was to start a facebook profile for BRING Recycling, where I've posted some photos of the May BRINGfest, and already friended BRING volunteers with facebook profiles. As a recent facebook convert, I've noticed the excellent venue it provides for contemporary communication, and I hope it might prove beneficial to BRING's continued success.

Currently, BRING's (unofficial) facebook presence has the look of an individual profile, and not the group page format like the Humane Society, nor the nonprofit company page like NPR. I'm sure the nonprofit format is the best set-up, but it's probably for the best that I haven't quite figured out how to do that. Perhaps the profile I've started will morph into a BRING volunteering profile or disappear totally in the wake of our impending official facebook presence.

In my social networking explorations, I noticed that BRING recycling is on myspace, so I'm not the only BRINGer who feels the social networking wave is one worth riding....

Saturday Market schmooze

2008-06-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

I handed out some thank-yous and BRINGs bucks to our recycled vendor friends at the Saturday Market. Castaways and Sehwhat told me of their plans to take a Vancouver recycled crafts fair by storm at the end of the month...and to return with awesome ideas. Also Sehwhat's Susan introduced me to Imo of bobcatbeads, whose recycled fabric beadwork should fit quite nicely at BRINGfest. Pam from Dinglewear committed to vending on June 29th. Candice Westberg was busy caricature-ing, but is excited about bringing her purse line back to BRINGfest. A big thank you to Candice for her awesome (and timely) blogging of the May BRINGfest. New to Saturday Market, Tracey of Firefly Jewelry Design showed off her finely detailed line of reclaimed copper bracelets and urban jewels, and Ram's repurposed silverwear jewelry was as elegantly laid out as usual. Unfortunately, I missed Carol of Waste Knot Woodworks and Tyler of Twylyte Hour Products, but I hold out hope that one or both of these characters find the time and inclination to join us again. June 29th will get here faster than I think, but I already feel like I have a pretty solid vendor contingent!

Blogging and event planning

2008-06-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

BRINGfest is a monthly volunteer-run recycled craft fair held at BRING's Planet Improvement Center. Hopefully, blogging will help us form a great event, provide a forum for planning and logistics, as well as document what just may turn out to be a great Eugene event!