Wabi Sabi Upcycling

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Wabi Sabi Upcycling

Wabi Sabi Upcycling is a 501(c)3 nonprofit makerspace using discarded and recyclable goods for raw materials. Imagine a community brought together by waste.

We will host classes and events until funding goals are met to have a physical location. Wabi Sabi Upcycling is a nonprofit makerspace using waste and recyclables as our raw materials. Aluminum cans become roofing tiles. Cardboard boxes become bookshelves. Plastic bottles printed into fidget toys and replacement refrigerator parts. Together, we will find the right methods, materials, and equipment

to build anything, right in our own community, with our own trash and recyclables. Follow our progress to acquiring a space! Volunteer to help us fundraise or contribute your knowledge to help us host classes.

06/12/2026

Unfortunately, our monthly info session tomorrow (6/13) at the Crafton Library is canceled.

We hope you're all enjoying your summer!

04/29/2026

Welcome to another edition of ✨Reclaimed on Display✨.

This week we are focusing on the art of 🎨Thomas Dambo🎨.
Dambo builds larger‑than‑life sculptures—often his famous trolls—using reclaimed wood (like pallet wood) and discarded materials. By transforming construction scraps into playful, story‑driven installations, his work invites people to explore, reconnect with nature, and rethink the value of what we throw away. 🌲🌿

Check out this video for an inside look on Dambo and his trolls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nMueP3sQzA

Find Dambo Troll locations: https://trollmap.com/

PA is getting its own Dambo Trolls in 2027!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/giant-troll-sculptures-will-lurk-in-pa-national-forest/ar-AA1Z70LT

Thomas Dambo

04/23/2026

🌍 Happy Earth Day! 🌱

Earth Day is basically our version of Christmas. So, today we’re celebrating all the beautiful, imperfect, creative ways we give old things new life.

Upcycling is more than a project—it’s a mindset. It’s seeing possibility where others see waste, and turning “worn” into wonderful.

✨ We’d LOVE to see what you’ve made! ✨
Share photos or stories of your favorite upcycling projects in the comments below—past or present, big or small. Furniture flips, art, clothing, garden treasures… if it was saved, reused, or reimagined, it belongs here! (We'll start. Check-out these pop can projects!)

Let’s inspire each other and show just how creative sustainability can be. 💚

04/17/2026

Welcome to our new series: ✨ Reclaimed on Display ✨

🎨♻️What happens when creativity meets sustainability? ♻️🎨
We'll show you as we spotlight an artist whose work—made from repurposed materials—is on display in museums around the world. From found objects to reclaimed materials, these artists are reimagining waste as art.
Our hope? To spark ideas, start conversations, and inspire you to create sustainable art of your own.
✨ Follow along and get inspired to see “discarded” materials in a whole new way.

To kick things off, check out by these works from artist 🎨Aurora Robson🎨. Robson creates intricate, floating sculptures and canvases from discarded plastics and other waste —carefully cutting, assembling, and layering materials into organic, almost mythical forms.

To learn more about her, look her up on social media and visit her website: https://www.aurorarobson.com/

Aurora Robson 🎨🎨

04/15/2026

We had a great Sustainability Festival last Saturday!♻️ Thank you to the Crafton Borough Recreation Board for inviting us!

🏅Thank you to everyone who participated in our Make-Off Contest! Shout-out to The Open Door for all the great kids entries.Winners were --
🏆 Kid's Voters choice : Scarlett Maclellan for her piece "My Journey of Faith"
🏆 Kid's Judges Choice: Lea & Laura Stacey for "A doghouse for our stuffed animals"
🏆 Adult Winner: Cort Mechling for his "Redneck Hauler" trailer.
🎉Congratulations!

💚And finally, a big thank you to all of our amazing prize sponsors!💚
Busy Beaver - Home Improvement Centers
Altitude Trampoline Park - Pittsburgh-Bridgeville
My Favorite Sweet Shoppe
Scoops In Carnegie
Puhlman Flower Shoppe
Fitfeine & Ice Cream
Phoenix Theatres Luxury 14 + PTX
Hanlon's Diner

💚💚💚

04/11/2026

We are at Crafton Park today until 12pm ! Come see us and vote for your favorite upcycled masterpiece! We also have free craft kits for kids and bottle car racing ♻️💚

Another shout-out to our amazing prize sponsors!
Fitfeine & Ice Cream
Busy Beaver - Home Improvement Centers
My Favorite Sweet Shoppe
Scoops In Carnegie
Altitude Trampoline Park - Pittsburgh-Bridgeville
Puhlman Flower Shoppe
Phoenix Theatres Luxury 14 + PTX
Hanlon's Diner

💚💚💚

04/08/2026

The countdown is on to Sustainability Fest this Saturday hosted by Crafton Borough Recreation Board.

💚♻️Participate with us! ♻️💚

🤝Volunteer
Help us man our station (engage with visitors). Register here to volunteer: https://tinyurl.com/yn4y5udj

🏅Compete in our Upcycling Make-Off...
Bring your upcycled masterpiece to Crafton Park between 8-8:45am (or contact us to coordinate advanced drop-off). All ages are welcome to compete! The contest will be judged in different age ranges. Register here to compete: https://forms.gle/TSsTNQJqf5yQZrBGA

🏆...and Win prizes from our amazing sponsors:
Altitude Trampoline Park - Pittsburgh-Bridgeville
Puhlman Flower Shoppe - new number: 412-218-4344
My Favorite Sweet Shoppe
Scoops In Carnegie
Phoenix Theatres Luxury 14 + PTX (*newly added!)
Busy Beaver - Home Improvement Centers (*newly added!)
Hanlon's Diner (*newly added!)
Fitfeine & Ice Cream (*newly added!)

💚💚💚💚💚

04/06/2026

We're less than a week away from the Sustainability Festival and our Upcycling Make-Off on Saturday April 11th. Make sure you check-out our new FAQs!

👉 Ready to compete? Register here: https://forms.gle/TSsTNQJqf5yQZrBGA

💚A special shout-out to our prize sponsors (so far)💚
Altitude Trampoline Park - Pittsburgh-Bridgeville
Puhlman Flower Shoppe
My Favorite Sweet Shoppe
Scoops In Carnegie

Crafton Borough Recreation Board

04/02/2026

Immediate Volunteer Needs!
🍎Carnegie Elementary STEM Festival🍎
Thursday April 9th from 6pm-8pm, we will be hosting a station and handing out upcycled craft kits for kids.
-----Two Opportunities to help:
✂Prep craft kits (work with other volunteers or make kits at home)
🗣Run the Wabi Sabi Upcycling Station (Talk with local families, make sure the kids are having fun, and share the joy of sustainable creation)
RSVP Here--- https://forms.gle/WPeerXD9PLFTVVZV7

♻️Sustainability Fest♻️
Saturday April 11th from 8am-12pm, we will be set up at the event hosted by the Crafton Borough Recreation Board.
🗣Help run our booth (commit in 1-2 hour increments). RSVP Here---https://forms.gle/9hnMTfD9swE73WTm8?zlinkid=eb43fe43-0af6-4692-b844-d7e4cf1bd918

More information about volunteering for us is available: https://wabisabiup.org/volunteer/
💚Thank you for all you do to support creative repurposing! 💚

03/26/2026

🎨♻️ Get crafty, get creative, and give old stuff a glow-up! ♻️🎨

We are hosting an Upcycling Make-Off at the Crafton Sustainability Festival on April 11, 9am–12pm at Crafton Park — and you’re invited!

Register below and drop-off your best upcycled masterpiece made from at least 75% secondhand materials. Show everyone what sustainable creativity looks like! ✨

✅ Free to enter
🏆 Prizes for winners
👶👵 All ages welcome

Not competing? Come by Crafton Park to vote for your favorite creations and cheer on the makers!

👉 Ready to compete? Register here:
https://forms.gle/TSsTNQJqf5yQZrBGA

Turn trash into triumph — we can’t wait to see what you make! 💚

Crafton Borough Recreation Board

Address

Pittsburgh, PA

Website

http://www.WabiSabiUp.org/

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