Free Treasures?

In my last trip to HOME DEPOT with my brother I discovered something that I didn't notice before. And I am talking about these color sample cards in the paint department. When I saw all these cards over there I couldn't believe it, the variety of color is almost infinite. In the photos you see only 1% of the collection that I got. First, I thought that you had to pay for them but then my brother told me that I could take them with me for free! And I started collecting one of each color, YAY!!!!! After I left the store I thought: Maybe a little bit later the Home Depot commission will be contacting me in order to take the cards back to the store because they are too valuable :0 As you can imagine this is a thought connected to my Cuban background. If I ever found something like these cards in a store in Cuba for free I would thought that something terrible was going on! Over there in the island we made good use of every little piece of material available. Like the plastic bags. I washed and reused them over and over until they died. There are so many things that we could do with these papers. I look at them and I see that I have a real treasure in my hands. Also, in the back of my mind I feel a little bit sad because the whole idea about these cards seems a little wasteful to me. Many of them were on the floor dirty and I am sure that they will end up in the trash can with no use at all. When you think about all the paper used in these cards all over the country in every Home Depot store you will realize that there is something wrong about it. I was thinking that when Natalie starts school maybe I could do some project with the kids in her class using this collection of beautiful colored papers. I think that the way I look at material things has changed a lot since I saw THE STORY OF STUFF some months ago.

I definitely feel that as a creative person I have become more aware about the materials that I use when I create something. I am curious to know about where these materials come from, how they are made and what impact they have in our planet. I still have to educate myself a lot about these things but I am glad that my mind is experiencing some changes already. It would be great if little by little we all start having these kinds of thoughts, maybe that will be the beginning of something good and deep that will make of our planet a better and safer place to live in. There is one thing that I am completely sure about and that is: we are doing many wrong things to planet Earth and many of us don't even realize about that. It is a little bit scary when we think that our kids are going to inherit a sick planet. I have been reading about how Autism could be related to all the chemicals in the air. It is all connected, all the bad things that we do always have an impact on the rest of the people.

I am glad that I can write these ideas here in my blog and share them with you. After all we all live in the same planet and we all want to be healthy and happy so let's just start thinking about these things whenever we have a chance and that will be a good beginning!

Have a great day my friend!
Elsita :)

Comments

[kathryn]

what a most important point, beautifully and intelligently made. i find the more i find out the harder these choices become. i thought i was doing the sheep a favour by knitting with cotton but then i find out that cotton is the world's biggest user of pesticides and other noxious nasties.
it's definitely a good thing to stop and think for a while. and to treasure the little things. thanks, i know i'm not the only one to worry now :)
xx
oh yes and the story of stuff is amazing and tells it like it is.

[Elizabeth]

Hej Elsa,

Thanks for a great post.
I absolutely agree, when I'm in a supermarket I really try to find local produce, paper and glass I recycle and when I need something (clothes, kitchenware, artmaterial, etc.) I try to find it in a secondhand shop first. I do this already for a number of years and I keep hoping that other people will start doing the same. Why? Because it saves a lot of money, which means it saves my life-energy. I don't have to work so many hours, I spend my time with my family and learning new things. And if we stop buying the latest hot item, they will stop producing it. And than maybe our kids will have a place to live.

Have a great day.

Elizabeth
(I just read about your new adventure with the flowergirls. Congratulations!!!)

[Mona]

He He, that is me giggling, I have a hoard of paint sample cards and paint brochures. It stirs my creativity. You should browse Home Depot and Lowes too which is my favorite. I even saw a small spaces video on youtube where this young collge student ( a guy) punched out 1 inch holes from paint samples cards and he glued them to a black background of fabric stretch over a rectangular cardboard or canvas, I can't remember which and he hung it on his wall. I am going to look for that video for you because I saved it because I was like wow what a great idea. I'm going to stop now because this is turning into a blog post instead of a short comment. Take care and sorry for the long comment.

[Mona]

He He, that is me giggling, I have a hoard of paint sample cards and paint brochures. It stirs my creativity. You should browse Home Depot and Lowes too which is my favorite. I even saw a small spaces video on youtube where this young collge student ( a guy) punched out 1 inch holes from paint samples cards and he glued them to a black background of fabric stretch over a rectangular cardboard or canvas, I can't remember which and he hung it on his wall. I am going to look for that video for you because I saved it because I was like wow what a great idea. I'm going to stop now because this is turning into a blog post instead of a short comment. Take care and sorry for the long comment.

[Kathy Watt]

I agree with you too, there is so much waste. One of my particular peeves is the excessive packaging material that is used. The only letter of complaint I ever wrote was to a toy company whose tiny toy was packed in 10x10 box. We have to think about the resources that we are wasting and what it is doing to the environment. And if we all make little changes it will make a significant difference.

[Kathy Watt]

I agree with you too, there is so much waste. One of my particular peeves is the excessive packaging material that is used. The only letter of complaint I ever wrote was to a toy company whose tiny toy was packed in 10x10 box. We have to think about the resources that we are wasting and what it is doing to the environment. And if we all make little changes it will make a significant difference.

[cyndyava]

There was a cute post about using paint chips yesterday. Here's the link:
http://www.makegrowgather.com/posts/2008/7/19/chip-off-the-old.html

[deirdre]

I love those paint chips. They really help me decide which color to paint my rooms.

[Stella]

YES!! I hover around that paint swatch counter each time i go, even if it for a staple gun. I love all the colors. There are some samples that are large cards of a solid color so you can use a bigger peice of it. SO FUN

[Melissa Crowe]

I just LOVE you. Reading your blog is like a shot of life and joy, and I don't say such things lightly. You are an amazing thinker with a warm and readable voice, and your artwork is so detailed and imaginative. I'm so glad I stumbled upon you!

[West Virginia Janis]

Elsita:

People who have not lived under communism, or under conditions with scarce resources (for the average person, at least), cannot begin to appreciate the abundance we have here in the USA. Over time, more and more "free" items are disappearing. Take, for example, the airlines. All that "free" "something for nothing" free water, free bag check, free beverages, etc. is going by the wayside. In the end, that will keep us from wasting. Imagine if Home Depot charged five cents for each one of those color cards, people would be a lot less likely to waste them.

I come from West Virginia where, historically, there are many poor people. West Virginians have learned to be resourceful; just like Cubans, we save, SAVE and reuse. I hate to throw out those color chips. The color hues are stunning!

All the best to you. Keep creating art and reminding Americans of all that we have!!!!!!!!!

[Flassie]

I recycle a lot. Even water. We have a filter on our faucet because I smell the clorine and clorine isn't good for you. Plus parasites get through the tap water beside some other junk in the water like nitrates which isn't good for people either. It's in hotdogs which if a child eats more then is it 3 or 4 a week it ups their chances of getting leukemia. When I fill my glass jars for the day I turn on the cold water to get it cold before turning on the filter I run all that water into a pitcher before filling my jars. I use it to water plants or soaking pots or pans, etc.
I found out they grow trees especially for making paper. I don't like junk mail and think it's a big waste. Let's hope people recycle all paper.
Now plastic they only recycle it once. But my son was telling me they send plastic bottles to another country that doesn't have the equipment to protect the people who are at the plants and they have children born without limbs or health issues.
I've been reading up on diseases because my son has an inherited type of cancer as you know. I found a book that talks about parasites being a cause of a lot of diseases.
I've also read that the shots kids get can cause autisum. I think that it's probably a combonation of stuff. Like what you mentioned too. Oh I also read something about the relationship between Candida and Autisum. Candida causes a lot of different diseases. Candida can be caused by chemicals. People who crave sweets or alcohol probably have Candida. 98% of the population has it and also parasites. Parasitea can cause weight gain also.
I watch different doctor shows on TBN. Dr. Jordin Rubin, Valerie Saxion who I missed today. But I did watch Dr.to Dr this morning. There are some others on once in awhile.One Dr. talked about our water.
I wonder how they make paper? I live close to a town that use to make it. The wind would blow the smell of rotten eggs from that plant sometimes, into our town. I'll have to look it up. I bought a paper making kit from the Goodwill to recycle junk mail. I haven't used it yet but plan to.
I've been thinking the same thing for awile now about making art and how I just don't want to make stuff. I want it to be usable.
I've been wondering if staples can be recycled. When we get our internet box fixed I'll have to look it up. I know not all areas recycle everything.
Sorry this is so lengthy.
I was wondering I noticed your top blog entries are fine but when I scroll down to the second one it goes to small and everything is going to the left. It's that way when I go into comments also. I don't know if it's the size of a photo you've put up that is making it do that or what. It happened on someone elses blog and it finally went back to normal. Maybe it's just my computer or something. Does it look normal on your screen or anyone elses?
GOD Bless You and Yours!!!

[Flassie]

PS. Those cards look like the perfect size to make art cards like ihanna makes.

Thanks for the Blessings and
GOD Bless You and Yours!!!

[Margaret oomen]

I love this post because it is so close to my heart . I have very strong feelings about recycling and chemical contamination of our environment as you know. I am spending some time on a very beautiful natural place called Cape Breton. I am learning from the people of this island that even small things make a big difference. For example they have compost containers in every room at the inn for biodegradable waste as well as recycling bins. The buses in Nova Scotia have bike racks on the front of them so you can use public transit and bike to work or school or anywhere. These are some small things but together if everyone takes part they could make a huge difference. We all have such important roles to play in making the world a greener healthier place for our children.

[waterrose]

I just found your blog and love this post. I am so enamored with paint chip cards. I've collected them from Home Depot, Lowe's, Sherwin Williams....every paint store. They make a great reference point for a lot of project and I love to put then on my design table and just test different colors together.

[cindy]

I love using paint chip cards for everything I can get away with. Labels, gift tags, cut outs. It is amazing what we can work with if we are paying attention. My perspective has changed after watch ing the story of stuff. btw, I have just framed the print that I ordered from you. I treasure it!

[nanouke]

The papers look really precious indeed!
We don't have Home Depot in Portugal, but I'm sure I could find something similar over the paint shops.

And you're right about the waste, people don't realize how much we waste on simple tiny things. Like supermarket bags...

[Colleen MacDonald]

Elsita, I'm so proud to "know" you! I have a child with special needs, too, and I'm always wondering about what strange toxin I must have breathed or what she may have ingested to cause her issues. I, too, think about all of the wasteful habits that we all have. Plastic; the one thing that pretty much lasts FOREVER is used for the most disposable of items... weird, huh?

Love you.

[jek]

your song in words is quite beautiful. i too adore these cards and use them often in projects with children. i collect and hold onto almost every bit of packaging and paper that dances through my tiny home in hopes that i can reuse it in some way. it is the little things that matter most. the little things that add up to overwhelm us and the little thoughts we have that can put things right...to peace...at rest. it is the little things all woven together that makes us full of harmony. treasures, tiny things, beautiful words, thoughts and smiles hold the greatest wealth don't you think?

[MaryAnne]

Elsa:

You are priceless!! I've been taking home these color "chips" from Home Depot and other home improvement centers for months now. I tape them to my walls to watch how the colors change throughout the day in my living room which is great room style, a bank of 26 foot long, floor to ceiling 10 foot tall windows which look out onto the backyard. As you can imagine, the color nuance throughout the day changes significantly and I want to make the best possible choice of color. My husband gives me a hard time about it and tells me that if I just keep taping long enough I won't need to paint the walls since they'll be covered in paint chips!

I can't help thinking you will make better use of your "treasures." Congratulations by the way on your contract to reproduce your flower girls on note paper. I'll be one of your first customers when they become available for purchase to the public.

Best regards,

MaryAnne

[Karen Mowrey]

I too have a stash of these and have made a color matching game for my daughter when she was very little. I gave her pom-poms to match to each color, over and over.

But...if you think this is great in either home depot or Lowes, go over to the kitchen counter top section and check out the samples you can get there. Some are great little hard laminate chips others are full size sheets glossy paper which look like the granite or whatever counter top you are thinking about. Great for backgrounds!!!

[Lori]

Hi Elsita, your site is so beautiful, you are a wonderful artist and I'll be checking it often because I love your unique and cozy style.
I am an architect and I have witnessed a lot of people taking samples of everything they can even if they don't really need them. I think we should take the chips to peek a color and when we´re done THEN we should recycle them because if we take them just because they are free and we use them for something different that what they are made for, we are increasing the production of those chips and it equals in more trees being used to make more paper so... please don't get me wrong but... when I need color squares for small projects I go through old magazines and unrequested catalogs that they keep sending me and I shure can find any color I need. I hope I don't upset you guys but I'm totally against all kind of "sample taking" unless one really needs them for what they are meant to be used; after that, we can collect them and recycle or reuse them.
About the free plastic bags at the supermarkets, there are a lot of sites that show how to knit with them bags and they make beautiful things. Check out this one, it´s so cute. http://cocoknits.com/info/tutorials/plasticbagknit.html

Love
Lori

[a Cagey Bee]

I stumbled on this post today of an artist recreating old paintings using nothing but those free paint chips & thought of you:

http://swissmiss.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/manetone-panton.html