2013 Recycling Challenge

The results of the fourth annual Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild Challenge were displayed at the November guild meeting. With the theme of "Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose," five clever and crafty guild members repurposed, recycled and created their entries from various discarded items that might otherwise have been destined for the trash bin.

A Challenge requirement was that entries were comprised of at least 80% recycled materials. Photos of these materials—in their original state—were shown alongside the final reincarnations. Through a vote by those in attendance, ribbons were awarded in two categories, "Wearable or Accessory" and "Household Item" along with a Viewer's Choice award.

"Kiss the Cook" apron made from a ink-stained man's shirt.
Ribbon winner in the Wearable/Accessory category.

Left: a dog jacket made from a pair of long leather gloves. Viewer's Choice ribbon.
Right: vase made from old license plate and computer components.
Ribbon winner in the Household Item category.

Old blue jeans and embellished scarf were converted into a purse. 

Painted and embellished dryer sheets made into a prayer flag.

The first annual Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild Challenge event was held in 2010 with a wearable art exhibit entitled, "The Power of the Pocket." Several of these textile art garments went on to a special exhibit in Tennessee Presents Textiles, a regional fiber arts runway show.

That premiere event was followed by the "Fiber and Caffeine get me going..." Guild Challenge in 2011 with an exhibit of fiber art tote bags inspired by a favorite coffee mug.

The 2012 Challenge, "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?" was an exhibit of 3-dimensional fiber art pieces inspired by something in nature.