By Maria F.
My name is Maria, I am a native of Malaysia and I am 85 years old. I lived in Trinidad and then London, where I met my second husband. We came to Ann Arbor in 1984.
As a teenager in Malaysia I collected old records and painted them. I painted old pickle jars and turned cigarette boxes into doll houses.
In Trinidad I learned macramé. I started to recycle lamp shades, frames and anything that I can use with macramé.
When I came to Ann Arbor I volunteered at Scrap Box making puppets and different art with recycled materials. Karan, the director of Scrap Box, took me to do workshops for teachers and students. I designed puppets for the story of the princess and the frog and did a show at Scrap Box and Pound House Children’s Center using materials from Scrap Box.
After retiring as Dance Fitness Instructor at Washtenaw College, Water Aerobics Instructor at Bally Health club, and Senior Chair Exercise instructor at Burns Park and Jewish Community Center, I continue to explore my creativity through recycling and upcycling.
I was very much interested in crazy quilting. I did try to start on my own when I first arrived in Ann Arbor but never completed it. I started watching YouTube and I had an idea to design my own. I chopped up all my old clothes and started enjoying myself. It was exciting to create. It gave me so much energy with all the bright colors. I traded my plants from my plant exchange group for scrap material the members were willing to exchange. I love my projects.
When I joined International Neighbors I met a lovely lady named Ernestina who collected a lot of neckties. She gave them to me to recycle. I washed them and chopped them and designed them into crazy quilting and into a long shawl. I made them into a skirt, a top, a jacket, flowers, eye glass cover and handbags.
I believe every small effort counts in preserving Mother Earth for future generations.
All photos are used here with the permission of the author and the author retains all rights.
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