Tara: Seatlle, WA

Tara is someone who I just am not sure where to start with a description.   She's just been a best friend to me--and it's a funny story how we became friends, if you (reader) and I are in a small group sometime, I'll tell it to you. She is working at World Vision up in Seattle and you want to know a couple of things I love about Tara?   She's glue for a group, feeds me all meals when I visit Seattle, communicates and articulates well, she's got this wild and beautiful hair that if you ask her to back-comb it, she might, and you WILL be impressed.  I love her so much.  Meet Tara.

"I took all of my yarn scraps from other projects and crocheted them into a laptop case."

Laura: Portland, OR

Laura is my dear, sweet, awesome, creative sister (in-law)!   She and my brother both spent time in Ethiopia; Laura working at an orphanage and Fletcher at a hospital, so they really get this idea of re-purposing.  They got married about 4 months ago and live in Portland, OR where she is finishing up nursing school this year.   Meet Laura.

"I took an old painting I had, put some burlap strips on it, put nails in the frame and now use it to hang jewelry off of."

Jordan: Boise, ID

Jordan is a bit of a cool mystery to me--I mean, he's studying to be a doctor, but if you watch any movies Jordan has been in, you'll think he should act.  Or write scripts.  Or edit and direct films--he's super creative. Jordan is finishing college this year, applying to med-school and wants to be a family practitioner.   Meet Jordan.

"I use containers from peanut butter, nuts, tomato sauce, etc. and use them to store bulk food like rice, popcorn, and various seeds and nuts."

Dan: Bothell, WA

I met Dan a couple of years ago when I worked at the Walla Walla Clinic.   He's been working up near Seattle for some time, taking pictures of people--he's a Rad Tech.   Dan loves the outdoors and when I saw him last, he shared these pictures with me, and I couldn't help but share one with you!   Meet Dan. And the Enchantments where he back-packed.

" I like to re-use plastic grocery sacks as garbage bags for my car and work van. Additionally, when I get Gatorade (or something similar) I will keep the bottle and use it for water. All my junk mail goes towards fire starting fuel for the fireplace. When I worked at a vet clinic, we used our shredded paper (and donated) to fill cat litter boxes for post-surgical recovery cats."

Erik: Abbotsford, B.C.

Erik is an engineer and a Canadian.   I've heard rumors about Erik's group of friends--the way they trek around the mountains and streams, and paddle with the sharks on the OR coast.   I found this picture of he and his buddies from a New Year's part about a year ago.  A crazy bunch!  Meet Erik.

"I repurpose old coffee cans to store stuff, like pens and change."

Audrey: Troutdale, OR

Susan Windham, my symphony conductor's (Verne) wife, told both Audrey and I that we needed to meet!  Haha, Audrey is a student at Whitworth who spent time in Tanzania.  We just spent the morning sipping tea and coffee at Pleasant Blends Coffee House, and it's been a long time since I've met a stranger who I could talk to so easily with!  She loves theatre, grew up in OR, and is a political science major.  I didn't give Audrey any warning that upon our first meeting, I'd be photographing her....haha, but here she is.  Meet Audrey!

"When i was little my family didn't have a ton of money so we used the lids of glass jars, decorated them and used them as christmas ornaments for the tree!"

Ashley and Nolan: LL, CA and Walla Walla, WA

These are some of my best friends Nolan and Ashley, and they are getting married next June!  Ashley is in nursing school in Loma Linda and Nolan will be heading down to med-school next year.   Though Ashley is from Southern California, the northwest has claimed her--we have claimed them, and after Nolan is done with medical school, we want them back!  Love you both and so excited for June to come!  Meet Ashley and Nolan.

Nolan:  "I re-purpose smiles by passing them on."   (He was having a hard time thinking of something!)
Ashley: "I re-purpose old toothbrushes for cleaning house."

Tina: Rathrdum, ID

This is Tina, a best friend and girl up for anything.  One time, we painted our whole bodies, ran and hit a wall, leaving a body print!   Tina has spent so much time in India living there and visiting the people she loves--she gravitates towards things that are simple, living that is meaningful, and she inspires me all the time.  She is going to be a teacher when she grows up. :)   Meet Tina.

"I re-purpose a lot of things that probably shouldn't be re-purposed.  Haha, like plastic water bottles, toothbrushes, brown paper bags, zip lock bags, homework papers, mascara brushes, peanut butter jars, and gum....!"  


(I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU RE-PURPOSE SOME OF THOSE TIHNGS.  DARN PROUD OF YOU TINA! -EM)

Katie: Seattle, WA

This is Katie.  I met her not to long ago and she's originally from the east coast, but lives in Seattle and is getting her masters in Counseling.  Katie is genuine as ever, and took me up to this park in Seattle where we could take these pictures.   Meet Katie!

"I stood a dish-drying rack up and use it to hang my earrings on. It works like a charm."

Alexandra: Puyallup, WA

Alexandra is a soul mate to me.  She went to Chad the second time with me and on so many levels I feel like we understand each other.  This girl will make stuff happen, make people feel included, cared about and loved.  I mostly want to post a million pictures of Alexandra in Chad here, but I'll refrain, and just post a few! Meet Alexandra.

"I took an old blue pillow case and embroidered a picture of a sailboat at sea and sewed in Happy Birthday, for a pillow case turned birthday card."

Kevin and Danelle: Spokane, WA

Danelle and Kevin are some of my close, close friends.  In fact, Danelle is my bestie from way back in highschool!  She married Kevin and he's pretty awesome, too.  :)   Danelle is a nurse, and Kevin works as the Outreach Pastor at our church.  These two spent time working in the Philippines at a small clinic in the mountains. Danelle hates spiders, but slept with them every night, and for that kind of strength, she is my hero.  Meet Kevin and Danelle.

"We re-purpose old mason jars and use them as our water glasses."

Shaun: Wuxi, China

This is my cousin Shaun. He's actually in China right now, and you should go check out his BLOG.  Before Shaun left, he modeled these shirts for me and took the tree one with him. Shaun is a king at re-purposing and has a innate skill (got it from his dad) of rigging contraptions up out of whatever is available. So yes, meet my cousin Shaun.  He's a super awesome guy--I miss him.

"A year ago I took a cigar box that my grandma must of had for many years and I started using it to keep important receipts and certificates. I didn't plan for the cigar box to serve that purpose, I just started putting stuff in it when I had no where else to put them." -Shaun Wilkens

Evan: Walla Walla, WA

Evan is my close childhood friend.   Our families skied together at Silver Mountain in Idaho, we competed for grades in highschool, and we spent hours in Starbucks filling out job applications post college together.   There are so many things I'd like to say about Evan, but to save space, just know that if you want something done, or you want to know something, ask Evan--he will be capable.  Maybe inventive is the word I'd like to use to describe him, and that might explain why he is such a good re-purpose-er.   Meet my friend, Evan.

"I re-purpose Lithium Ion batteries from laptops, etc, and use them in my projects instead of buying new ones!"

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