What's Up Wednesday: The Creative Block & Junksmith

With spring in the air, members of the etsy trashion team are busy!

Look for Leslie Sirag of TheCreativeBlock at the Olympia, WA,

citywide annual Artists' Garage Sale this weekend.

Hummingbird Necklace ©Leslie Sirag

The sale is sponsored by POSSCA, Patrons of South Sound Cultural Arts, a local arts organization that gives music scholarships and provides and/or repairs instruments for students who can't afford them.

Leslie will be taking vintage "junque", finds from her supply shop FindingsbyLeslietsy, and maybe some older work at bargain prices. Plus magazines, sewing supplies, & who knows what else!  Leslie says it's a "great place to sell and/or buy." The sale will be held at the Olympia Armory, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nancy Kingsbury, of Junksmith, will be talking about the connection between making upcycled jewelry and her spiritual life this Saturday, May 19,  at St. John Lutheran Church Women's Brunch, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.  She will be giving a talk entitled " From Trash to Treasure: Finding Hope and Healing through God's Creative Heart".  Nancy says, "Turning trash to treasure ties in so well to my own life experiences, that it has been a natural evolution, from being broken, to being made whole".  She explains, "I was headed for a career in music but was unable to continue when I developed a medical condition and was no longer able to play my instrument.  It has been a process, but God has used jewelry making and art to help me recover and find joy in my daily life.  My parents were also raised during the Depression, and we saved everything growing up.  Whenever our clothes wore out, we always cut out the zippers and buttons before turning them into rags. It's only natural for me to use upcycled trash in my work now."  

Pull Tab and Zipper Earrings ©Junksmith

St. John Lutheran Church is located at  305 Circle Ave.,  Forest Park, IL.  

Admission is free and open to the public.  

Call the church office 708-366-3226 to register.