Forget the chocolates, roses and jewellery this year. If you want to give your sweetheart something red and green for Valentine’s Day consider choosing an eco-gift from our gallery of recycled hearts.
Crayon Hearts
Late at night, while her toddler is sleeping, artist Morgan Collier recycles crayon bits into funky heart shaped crayons – perfect for little hands. “Before I started recycling the crayons I was astonished at how quickly all the little pieces of broken crayons were piling up from just my one child and I wanted to find a creative way to reuse all those bits and pieces and keep them out of landfills,” she explains. Visit: kayapapaya.etsy.com
Plastic Pendants
Anna Gundesen, an innovative New Zealand artist, takes plastic moulding rejects from a local company and turns them into stunning pendants. “To make our pendants we regrind the waste, screen it, color it and pour our pendants,” explains Anna. Visit: http://www.mamarua.com
Pottery & Glass Hearts
Broken recycled glass is combined with traditional ceramic techniques to create these appealing pottery hearts. “Each piece is made by collecting glass jars, beer bottles etc. from roadsides, trails or any other place that people leave trash. I then bust the glass into small particles and infuse them into pottery,” explains artist Nicole Whitney. Visit: www.palomapottery.com
Sweater Hearts
Rebekah Matthews took an old wool sweater from a thrift store and deconstructed it to make the super sweet heart decorations. “I believe it's important, even more so these days, to use things that are found all around us and to understand that it's okay to make do,” she explains. Visit: http://www.tumus.etsy.com
Heart Magnets
“I created these specifically to find a good way to reuse all the useless bills, receipts, tags and other junk paper that comes into my life,” explains Kendra Zvonik of her fun heart magnets. These handmade 100% recycled paper pulp eco-magnets are a good reminder to keep on recycling. Visit: http://www.teamzvonik.etsy.com
Vinyl Pendants
Canadian artist Sarah Bennetto O'Brien lovingly restores forgotten vinyl records into beautiful pieces of jewellery. “I only use recycled vinyl records in my work, I strive to make something great out of something forgotten,” she explains. “I also create jewellery from used guitar strings.” Visit: http://www.bbbennyandthejet.etsy.com
Wool Heart Ornaments
Lisa Jordan, from Lil Fish Studios, takes unwanted wool sweaters and turns them into sweet repurposed heart ornaments. “I cut each heart and sew it by hand, stuffing them with bits of leftover wool, and I add a jute loop for hanging. They make great ornaments, package decorations and wedding favors,” she explains. Visit: http://lilfishstudios.etsy.com
Fabric Heart Jewellery
“I use mainly cotton and 97% of the fabrics used are from recycled sources. Second hand place mats, T-shirts, towels, rugs and more, find their way into my jewellery,” explains artist Meg Hannan. “The intricately detailed fiber millefiori slices are durable gems that then become lightweight earrings, pins and pendants”. Visit: www.meghannan.com
Heart Art Glass
“I cut the bottoms off of beer and wine bottles and then cut the bottle in half into two half cylinders. I cut leaf and heart shapes out of the sides of the bottles to achieve a curve to the finished pieces without the use of a kiln,” explains glass artist Brian Western of his stunning recycled glass heart art. Visit: http://westernartglass.etsy.com
Heart Shaped Recycled Crayons
No, these are not chocolates, but delicious crayons that look good enough to eat. Ivy Lane Designs upcycles crayons discarded by preschoolers and kindergarteners to make their fun candy crayons. It is never too early to teach our children about helping the environment. Visit: www.ivylanedesigns.com
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