Mini Design Walls repurposing convention signage
 

I was the Signage Lead Volunteer at Quilt Canada last week. As we were pulling down the show Saturday afternoon, I had a number of signs either on foam core or corrugated plastic that were destined for recycling or the garbage.

I gathered up 3-4 at a time and approached groups of lingering quilters asking if they needed a mini design board. You can pin directly into either, or wrap with flannel or batting. I found homes for all but 4 of them. I gave three of the remaining to my young nieces and nephew for art projects and brought one home for me.

The event co-ordinator was amazed to watch me 'sell' the concept of using the left over signs as a quilting tool. (She is not a quilter, yet)

I was happy that none of the 20+ signs went into recycling or the garbage. The foam core ones are nor recyclable here.

I also 'rescued' the thermal batting used for the ironing stations. I have enough for a couple sets of placemats.

The sample quilts from the long arm classes were taken by another volunteer to be made into pet quilts for the SPCA.

What have your rescued or repurposed for quilting from a convention or trade show?

I love my mini boards---covering them with leftover fleece or batting works great...one can even make them 2 sided. Thanks for reusing instead of trashing!

Huh.... too bad we didn't have our board names on us at Quilt Canada... I was there Thursday.... what a wonderful event. So great to re-purpose things, good for you!

You also could have used them to wrap fabric on. Just cut them to the size you want and you have it. You can put them in picture frames and use them to tack something on. Maybe even make a bulletin board out of them. Just thoughts for the next time you run into something like this.

Actually Thimble, I did have my screen name on, it is my last name and my name tag included my first name.

Perhaps next time we can plan a meet up at the event? I do not think I will be at the Ottawa conference next year, but when it comes West again, we should make a plan.

Did you participate in any of the lectures or workshops? I was able to attend the evening lectures after my volunteer shift was over. I also on Friday morning, was on site at 7:30 am, and was able to walk through and see all the quilts with no crowds around. some were spectacular.

Tothill, wonderful way to get folks to reuse perfectly good supplies. I hate waste!

Foam core is awesome!! Another thing you can do with it is use it for mounting photos using drymount adhesive. Its like Heat n Bond for paper. It is usually used with a big press, but an iron will work, especially if it doesn't have steam vents.

If you want to give them to starving students, universities/ colleges with design or architecture or photography departments would probably be ecstatic to get some free foamcore boards, even if they are used on one side. Just make sure they have no dents, as that makes them ineligible for use in this application.

Giving them to a school that does a science fair would also be great, if they are still large enough to use for a presentation.

This makes me think I should call our huge convention center and see if they have a foamcore board reuse program. Thanks for triggering that great idea!!

A place I volunteer got tables from the Super Bowl. I think they got other things too but I wasn't around to hear everything they received.

Great idea Tothill...I’m sure they will be appreciated by quilters rather than filling up your local landfill.

Great way to recycle all of the boards. I also use the corrugated signs for a stiff bottom for purses and bags. I cover them with fabric first.