LB o J'zazz-ers and REUSE 5.0

A "Decopatch-ed" watering can by Bettina Al-Bakhit

Spring is upon us.  What better time to explore Kuwait's Friday Market.

Scouting the secondhand area of the Friday Market

And that is precisely what Lubna and I did on an April early Friday morning while Kuwait sleeps.

Mission: 

To purchase someone else's throwaways (a.k.a secondhand) at bargain prices and minimal budget so we can convert and up cycle someone else's trash into anothers' treasure through the creative energies of our team and the use of Decopatch!

Objective:  

Giving the old, scratched, abandoned, broken and compromised objects a new heart and Soul and prepare it for their new homes.

2 mirrors to be upcycled with Decopatch

Chaminda will work wonders on these items

Inspirations:  3-fold.  

1)  Mother Earth

2)  Decopatch

3)  REUSE 5.0

Although we did partake in REUSE last year, this is our 1st year in the name of LB o J'zazz.  And what makes it even more special is that we are participating alongside family (LB o J'zazz-ers):

• Little Beads  (Hana Al-Shaya)  
• Karkoosha Bint Yagout  (Madhawi Bint Yagout) 
• Nerissa Alford Designs  (Nerissa Alford)

So do come over and browse through the "Garage Sale" zone and see what magic can be done with someone's... dare i say... trash! :)

Where: Australian College of Kuwait
When:  April 19-22, 2012
Timing:

Until then..
<3 n Peace

From BBQ Grill to Planter

Planting to kick start Earth Month

With Earth Hour approaching, it was no longer fair that I postpone putting plants outside the shop.  Doing things practically, with form and function a priority, while maintaining the spirit of Earth Month at our shop meant that I needed to allow myself to go beyond the typical. On the day before the event, Lubna and I headed to the Friday market looking to up-cycle secondhand items and planter pots was on our list, but nothing suitable was found.

Literally, out of the stillness of my mind, an idea of heading to the tin market emerged.  Now this market largely specializes in large trunks for which many expats would pack items in and ship to their home countries.

Trunks and more

Chaminda planting

Now what I wanted to do was to block off the parking area in front of our shop to make room for the Earth Hour event planned for the next day.  Yet it was important that whatever is placed there was high enough to be visible to someone sitting in their car, that it was light enough to lift and move, and that beautiful succulents, creepers, and flowers can grow in.

As we browsed through the market scouting, the perfect yet least likely solution dawned to me... a barbeque grill! Yes.. yes.. and why not?  The unconventional always thrilled me.  Besides, it covered every aspect of concern- height, weight, function and practicality.

A stroll through the market

And what made this process well worth sharing is that on the afternoon of Earth Hour, Lubna, Chaminda and I planted.  The sense of touch and connection Earth while smoothing soil around the base of the new planters coupled with being outdoors and the thrill of finally getting to planting at the shop were all a part of a milestone for LB o J'zazz.

Our BBQ planters

What a perfect way to salute and welcome Earth Month at our shop.

REUSE 4.0, Rethink, Recreate, Redecopatch

Upcycled Helmet by LSA

We will be exhibiting at the Gallery Tilal Booth our Collectors Range of bikers helmets upcycled and recreated at REUSE this January 11-13th at ACK.  Motor Bikers and bicycle riders can get their helmet personalized and hippified so to speak as Lubna transforms these mass produced items into something with a twist and burst of vibrant colors and patterning.  
Other like minded participants will be there where the focus is on art and creativity that promotes and embodies eco-friendly living.  For more information on the event please visit www.projectreuseme.com.  

Redesign your life with Decopatch on Sabah Al Watan tomorrow at 8:30 AM

Take an item that you have moved to your storage area, dust it off and get ready to transform your object in an artful piece with Decopatch!
Tomorrow, Lubna will be showing how affordable, safe and creative you can transform your everyday objects in a relatively short amount of time.  Join us as we get to reap the rewards of recycling and upcyling in more ways than one. 

The show kicks off on Al Watan TV at 8:00 AM, our segment will begin at 8:30 and we'll be Decopatching throughout the segment.