Making-do is having the ingenuity and creativity to not see an object for what it is, but to see the many ways it could be used. It takes a certain kind of respect for not-wasting things, and having the intelligence to not assume you have to buy something for a use, but knowing you can make it.

I’ve seen some great ingenuity, and admire it… like ‘how did you think of THAT?’ I wish I was better at it! I would not only like to strengthen my ability to ‘do more with less’, but also support people who are. When I was in Cuba, I saw amazing examples of how people had customized, refashioned, reconditioned and repaired many items that would be thrown away in more affluent countries. In many ways, they are living more intelligently. See images of reinvented objects at Designboom and Formula 1 cars made from little glue bottles

“In Cuba, objects are reinvented every day in ways that transcend basic recycling. A telephone becomes an electric fan; a plastic bottle, a taxi sign; a squeeze toy, a bike horn.”
From Viva Recycling at Fast Company

“Cubans value their objects. No matter how old or new you are - no matter how big or small, dull or shiny, sleek or clunky - there’s sure to be someone who wants you. Who needs you. Who maybe can’t do without you. As an object in Cuba, you are essential. Nondisposable. Indispensable… Say that, by a stroke of luck, you catch the eye of a Cuban with some need to fill (or just some time to kill). He or she discerns some special quality in you - some hidden purpose, secret potential, deeper meaning - and brings you back to life as something else.” Originally from Philly.com

In Osaka, Adam Yoshida writes about the homeless people in his area. “‘Osaka Homeless: Lessons in Sustainability from the Invisible Caste‘ “. I love his perspective that these people are living sustainably, intelligently. They don’t need handouts or pity; they need real help in changing the political situation in Japan.

The homeless around my area maintain gardens, and live a much more sustainable lifestyle than you or I or any average person. …The city officials are kicking out the very people who are living more at harmony with the landscape and urban environment than any other segment of the population… It’s the homeless people, the ones who live in these commons, who pick up after the visitors after they go home. It’s the homeless people who “Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse” other people’s refuse to make or maintain their shelters

It’s easy to go and buy the fabric, the new materials, and not consider the environmental costs of that. Thiftcraft (by Hillary Lang) is dedicated her searches for ‘previously owned’ fabric.

Cardboard boxes are one of those nice kinds of left-overs to use. They are so purposeful. My friend made an apartment block for her cats out of smallish stacked cardboard boxes. She cut out doors and windows- and holes between the boxes so they could move from room to room. It is in front of a window, so the upstairs of the cat-apartment block gets some nice sun for them. The whole thing is big enough that the top serves as a handy table. Oh yeah, my sister once made a cool play house for my nephew out of a big box.

But searching online for inspiration, I find some of the ‘recylced crafts’ ideas are a little… tacky… is that OK to say that? I’m going to be nice and not link to some of the things I have seen online. it’s probably because the material itself is not very nice to start with. What do you expect from a stack of old VCR tapes?

Some ideas for reusing commonly thrown away materials:
Keyboard keys somehow integrated as ‘fabric’ for a bag
Purses made out of candy wrappers
Slightly creepy stuffed animals turned inside out
This page lists “Things you can do with…”

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