n UPCYCLING continued from page 5 into coat hangers. Another favorite this time of the year is adding an insulator to an old bed spring and using it as a planter for a spring flower. Cammie’s start in upcycling began at the former Iron Springs store in Yankton, where her repurposing skills were put to work making crafts. Then a few years ago, she and David attended a sale in Minneapolis that consisted entirely of upcycled items. The sale was so exclusive that it took two years for the Methenys to gain the opportunity to become a vendor. Their first sale was successful enough to land them a contract to be part of a sale every three months. Cammie and David had made the transition from a hobby to a full-fledged business. “It’s about following what your passion is and doing what you love,” Cammie said. “If you do that, it works really well, because that’s what drives you, because it’s not like a job then. Yes, you need to get a paycheck, but it’s nice to do what you love and get paid for it.” In addition to her and David’s business, Cammie is a contributor to Flea Market Style magazine, where she creates the projects for the project stories. Attending sales throughout the year puts her in a good position to see what people are buying. Cammie and David just attended a sale on April 10-12 in Minneapolis that attracted 17,000 people. “It’s huge,” Cammie said. “It’s a movement, really.” Virtually anything could be repurposed, from keys to a windmill, though some items are trendier than others. Depression and carnival glass is no longer as valuable as it once was. Another item that Cammie avoids for upcycling projects is fake flowers. Materials that are proving to be very popular lately include architectural items, keys, picture frames, furniture, maps, globes, anatomy and other charts, and anything rusty or made of wire. Seasonal items, like gardening items in the spring or holiday items in the fall, are also recurring favorites. “You have to evolve with what people want and how trends change,” Cammie said. “What was worth huge amounts of money 20 years ago may not be worth anything now.” While repurposing is nothing new, upcycling seems to be growing in popularity in last few years. Cammie thinks it may be partly due to the Green and Sustainable Living movements, but also because older items are simply harder to find. “People are realizing that if we keep destroying old things, we won’t have them anymore,” she said. For many people, vintage items have invaluable sentimental value. “Part of it is the history connected to the item,” Cammie said. “It reminds people of their grandma or maybe something from their childhood.” Even for items not tied to a specific memory, most antiques make one-of-a-kind upcycling projects. Each has weathered and worn a little differently. “Think about an old, blue bottle all cloudy inside,” Cammie said. “It took 100 years of being buried in the dirt to create that color.” Finally, upcycled vintage materials are often more durable than what can be found in the store. “You can’t buy anything now that will last that long,” Cammie said. “What you find in the stores now, those things aren’t made to last for years and years. When these older items were made, they were each crafted by hand with great care put into the design and workmanship. They were made to last.” Looking for more examples of upcycling in the Yankton area? Look no further than local county 4-H fairs this summer where youth will be exhibiting many projects with repurposing in mind, from recycled clothing to refurnished furniture to remade home and outdoor items. “While it might not be termed ‘upcycling’ to us, it is for the most part what the kids are doing with their projects,” said Andrew Jensen, 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Yankton, Clay and Union counties. “I have seen some really great ideas from our 4-H youth, everything from recycled cups and plates made into bird feeders to giant dragonflies made from stair banisters and license plates to even a wind chime made from snowmobile parts.” n By Rita Brhel Willcockson Eye Associates, P . .C 415 W. 3rd.,Yankton, South Dakota The physicians of Willcockson Eye Associates, P.C. are dedicated to providing the best possible medical and surgical eye care for you and your entire family. In addition to comprehensive eye exams and contact lens fittings, our physicians perform state of the art small-incision cataract and implant surgery. Our physicians are the regional experts in the diagnosis and management of sight threatening conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, and macular degeneration. Paula Hicks, MD For all your eyewear needs visit the Spectacle Shop next door. They offer an extensive selection of frames from traditional styles to the latest fashion design with frames to meet every family’s budget. The Spectacle Shop, L.L.C. 6 v HERVOICE MAY/JUNE 2014 New patients welcome! Call 605-665-9638 Karen Dickes, DO Greg Kouri, OD