One more time

Washougal artisan Kerianne Christie of Titania Blossoms gives old clothes new life by creating pieces such as this felted ladybug capelet.

Erin and Jill Lynch of Dolls for Friends turn recycled fabrics into plush toys. (Courtesy of Dolls for Friends)

This recycled arts collage by Ruby Solei Studio was made from a reclaimed fence board, hand-painted recycled tin can pieces and old thumb tacks. Courtesy of Ruby Solei Studio

A square from the Leave No Plastic Behind quilt, which will be on display at the Recycled Arts Festival. Courtesy of Cheryl Lohrmann

Washougal artisan Kerianne Christie of Titania Blossoms gives old clothes new life. Here is a felted rocket ship vest she created. Courtesy of Kerianne Christie

A square from the Leave No Plastic Behind quilt, which will be on display at the Recycled Arts Festival. Courtesy of Cheryl Lohrmann

Jesse Alvey will be at the Recycled Arts Festival with his wood pallet furniture. Courtesy of Jesse Alvey

Heather Pearl will be among the entertainment at the fourth annual Recycled Arts Festival. (Courtesy of the Clark County Solid Waste Program)

Joe and Mackie Clifton of Clifton Metal Works turn scrap metal into art, such as “The Tri-Fish.” This piece is composed more than 95 percent of recycled metal. (Courtesy of Joe Clifton)

To Joe and Mackie Clifton, tines from a discarded rake are claws for a metal owl sculpture. Chris Shimpach sees in old jeans the makings of a purse. Brenda Lee Calvert can turn unwanted tractor parts into garden art. Kerianne Christie can take a vintage pillowcase and create a little girl's sundress. These eco-minded Clark County craftspeople are just a few of the more than 70 artists who will be on hand this weekend at the fourth annual Recycled Arts Festival to sell their wares and educate consumers on how one person's trash can become another's showpiece.

"The whole mission of the festival is reduce, reuse, recycle," said Diane Huff, community outreach coordinator for the Clark County Solid Waste Program, which is sponsoring the event that is held in downtown Vancouver's Esther Short Park.

It's a larger group of artisans than in years past, and Huff said she was inundated with applications. The Cliftons, who have been with the festival since its inception, remember about 30 vendors participating the first year. They can see why recycling is of increased interest to artists and consumers.

"I think part of it is a consciousness that people are trying to consume less and make do with what they have," said Joe Clifton of Clifton Metal Works in Vancouver. He and his wife, Mackie, make metal art out of scraps found at auctions and salvage yards. Each of their pieces is composed of at least 75 percent recycled materials.

Clifton said growing up on a farm helped him learn the importance of recycling at a young age. It's a lifestyle and mentality shared by Calvert, who along with husband Bob owns HalfMoon Farm in Brush Prairie,

A farmer, she says, is "kind of a natural recycler. You can always find use for stuff."

That often means taking old tractor parts and other scrap metal, plastic and glass and creating garden art, which she'll have on display at the Recycled Arts Festival.

Like the Cliftons, Calvert will be marking her fourth festival appearance. Shimpach, however, is a first-timer. She's been making cashmere, lambswool and angora scarves, hats and arm warmers out of old sweaters for the past eight months. She also recycles denim pants and overalls into purses and aprons.

"It's nice to be able to put an artist's twist on recycling," she said.

While the festival spotlights local artists, it also will feature live music, the Junk to Funk Fashion Show, booths with information on various recycling and sustainability resources and issues, a birds of prey demonstration, puppet shows, a puppet-making workshop, a stilt walker and Eartha the Ecological Clown.

One returning display of particular use to festival goers, Huff said, is a map of Clark County thrift stores.

"The idea is, if you have something you don't want anymore, don't just throw it in the landfill. Take it to a thrift store and donate it," Huff said.

Illustrating the notion that what one person discards could have value for someone else, the festival, working in conjunction with Waste Connections Inc. and Columbia Resource Co., offers the Tossed and Found Experience.

For about two months before the festival, select discarded items were set aside to be displayed at the event. Items range from furniture to planters to vinyl records. Visitors can each tag one item to take home Sunday afternoon.

"People seem to like to take something home for free," said Huff.

But for those willing to spend some green in an effort to be more green, there will be plenty of art for sale made from salvaged materials.

Christie, the Washougal artist behind the Titania Blossoms line of clothing and accessories, has been finding new uses for old fabrics for years.

"Perhaps for me the idea started when, as a child, I watched Scarlett O'Hara tear down her velvet curtains (in 'Gone with the Wind') and make a new dress. I began to look around at materials on hand and viewed them in a different light," she said.

Over the years, Christie's projects have evolved from making doll clothes from scrap cloth to turning old pillowcases and tablecloths into dresses, vests and skirts.

Christie refers to her clothes as "upcycled," a coin termed by William McDonough and Michael Braungart to describe the practice of transforming an article into something of greater use and value.

Customers enjoy the nostalgia factor of wearing upcycled clothes, as well as the feeling that they're doing something good for the planet, Christie said. Those are sentiments she shares.

"It's just fun to work with things that have been around and been loved and now can be loved in a new way," she said.

Mary Ann Albright: maryann.albright@columbian.com, 360-735-4507.