Glass Bottles Turn Useful Again

Kelly Rand — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:00:41 +0000

–Don’t forget! Carnival of Green Crafts is fast approaching. Send in your submissions now.–

Out of all the items found in my recycle bin, glass bottles are the ones that puzzle me the most. I know that we can make plastic beer rings into beautiful silver necklaces and the bottle caps into pendants and pincushions but what about the bottle itself?

Glass is one of those crafts that is very elusive to me. First there is the process of creating it which involves very high temperatures, taking hot molten glass and using tools that, by necessity, keep you at a far distance. Second, there is a certain aesthetic that glass caries that just isn’t my cup of tea.

I am definitely intrigued by the process of glass making and have spent much time interrogating friends that have taken glass blowing workshops. I am oddly fascinated by it, even if I’m not attracted to it aesthetically. Juliet got me thinking with John Bassett’s glass sculptures but I wanted more. That is why I was pleased as punch to come across a group of Etsy sellers that recycle empty glass bottles and turn them into a variety of wonderful and quirky objects.

Daily Tip: Donate Your Prescription Eyeglasses

Amy Stodghill — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:39:27 +0000

When you get a new eyeglass prescription, even though your old pair of specs will no longer be useful to you they might be useful to someone else. Next time you get new frames, instead of throwing your glasses away donate them to an organization that will give the gift of sight to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Several charity organizations accept your old prescription glasses to help people in the U.S. and in countries around the world see better. Eyeglasses donations provide children ability to do schoolwork, and give adults independence and the ability to read again or to find better work. When you donate your glasses they are sorted by volunteers, who then determine the prescription, clean and re-package the glasses for various organizations that offer free eye care services and dispense glasses to those who need them.

Where to donate:

Lions Clubs across the U.S. accept donations of prescription eyeglasses. Lions Clubs also operate and have collection sites in Australia, Canada, France, South Africa, Spain and Italy.
LensCrafters donates eyecare services and accepts prescription glasses which are then distributed through their charitable vision care programs under the Give the Gift of Sight foundation.
New Jersey based New Eyes for the Needy also accepts glasses via mail.

Further information from Green Options:

Top 15 Charity Search Engines: Donate to Charity for Free

Daily Tip: Clothes Runneth Over

Daily Tip: Free Swap Party!

Donate to Charity When Buying or Selling Your House

Green Options » glasses

Glass Bottles Turn Useful Again

Daily Tip: Donate Your Prescription Eyeglasses