What keeps me busy.

In my "spare time" when I'm not working my day job, I have done many craft shows. One summer show in particular that I have done for the past three years is part of our local 4th of July celebration and it draws thousands of people.

It seems as though every year the 4th of July weekend is the hottest weekend of the summer and after three years of running my booth in the 100+ degree heat, I've observed and learned something very valuable: The people come for the food, they come for the music, and they come for the social scene, but they do not come to buy crafts. Hardly any of the people walking up and down the street are carrying purchases! So, I will not be attending this fair as a vendor again.

After making this decision many weeks ago, I was feeling sort of relieved that I had no summer shows planned and I could work on personal projects... maybe some Christmas presents. I could also get ahead on my stock for the fall shows I might want to do.

But then I was approached by someone offering me a great opportunity. It took me some time to come to a decision because there were some conflicts to work out and some questions I needed answered, but in the end I committed myself to being a vendor at a Farmers' Market a few towns away from where I live. The market runs every Friday evening for 12 weeks throughout the summer and I've signed up for nine of those weeks. I've been asked to feature my items that are made from recycled and up-cycled materials.

Yes, I know I've only given you a peek at the many items I make and sell, but be patient and I'll share them all with you eventually. For now, here is another peek: my earrings made from recycled aluminum cans.

A coffee flavored Monster drink.

I've had much fun creating these earrings. Some are more subtle and you would never guess they were made from an aluminum drink can.

A Coors Light can.

Others are more obvious and sort of kitschy.

Pepsi, of course.

Sometimes I spy an unusual can that I just have to have. A co-worker's son & his friend were drinking from root beer cans when I made my (somewhat creepy) request for the cans when they were finished with them.

There's a photo of this can at the end of the post.

Using different areas of a can will create earrings that look very different. Both the pairs below are made from the same can, one pair with more yellow than the other.

They are from an iced tea can I begged off a superior of mine at work.

Some cans are just so easy to be creative with!

These are from Arizona drinks.

Sometimes I like to make the two earrings a bit different; or maybe I do it because I can't find two areas of the can to match. Anyway, I like the funky look.

Here's a peek at that root beer can and a couple of others I've yet to create with. I must confess, I picked the red Tilt can out of someone's recycling bin while walking on the streets of Baltimore! This gives true meaning to the old saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure!"