Depot for Creative Reuse

One of my favorite things about Oakland so far is the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse. It’s a quick bike ride away and is possibly my verymost dangerous place.


A nonprofit dedicated to one of my favorite philosophies – getting people to reuse materials instead of throwing them away – it is bursting with creative inspiration and project starters/finishers.


There is so much there that it’s overwhelming. Bin after bin of corks/bottle caps/lego pieces. Drawer after drawer of paper/prints/mats. Old frames, necktie silk, beads. Lamps, old dishes, vials. I found about 10 things to finish up projects (hello old beat up frame, meet my new etsy print!) and just being there inspired about a million more.

It felt like pawing through the art studio of the coolest person you know. It was all I could do to keep from audibly SQUEEEEing as I ran around peeking in drawers and opening bins.

The best part is that the prices are insane, like 25 cents per handful insane.

When I lived in NYC and was flat broke all the time one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend day was heading to Pearl Paint in the morning with a certain amount of money in pocket ($5 usually), finding some materials that sparked my interest and then making something with them in the afternoon. I mourned the loss of Pearl when I moved and now, I have found a (possibly even better) substitute.

I’ll be spending many Sunday mornings at the Depot, collecting old junk and crafting it into something to love.