It all started in Dundee for young artist, Diva Keith, who shares her journey with upcycling – both successes and failures.
Diva, 24, has been with the Tayside Upcycling & Craft Centre (AKA TUCC shop) for two years.
She shares her passion for the craft with the Perthshire community interest company.
Upcycling is a way to keep furniture and textiles from ending up in landfill – and let your creativity flourish along the way.
She think everyone in Dundee and across Tayside can learn how to upcycle.
“My first furniture piece was a pine ottoman from a car boot sale,” Diva told me.
“It was all bashed but I took my time with it.
“It turned out better than I ever could have expected.”
First upcycle ‘turned out fabulous’
“First, I took it to the TUCC shop and asked Sarah for some advice.
“I used three different sanding papers to get it to a nice, smooth surface.”
Diva created the design digitally first so she had a visual aid while working.
“Then I marked it out with frog tape and stencilled out my checkerboard design.
“I cut out the lines with a craft knife and peeled away each square.”
Finally, Diva painted her piece and reassembled the pieces together.
A little varnish on the top, and “that was it”.
“It turned out fabulous,” she said.
But the craft isn’t always so simple, Diva says.
“There have been some lows, for sure.
“That comes when there’s been a lack of preparation.”
Diva’s ‘travesty’ came when she tried out the art of mosaicking.
Charity shop mirror became an ‘eyesore’
“I had this idea to add a mosaic over the border of some mirrors,” she said.
“I sourced tiles from a charity shop, started to break them up and put the pieces on the mirror.
Diva said she “glued them on and everything was going well” until…
“When it came to the grouting, I had not prepared at all,” Diva admitted.
“I went in all gun’s blazing – like a bull in a china shop.
“And it just destroyed the mirror.
“I had not planned at all and the stuff went everywhere.
“By the time it dried, it was an eyesore.”
‘Think twice’ before buying new clothes
Diva said the environment is the driving force behind her love for her craft and her drive to help others learn how to upcycle in Dundee and beyond.
The artisan upcycles clothes as well as furniture.
“I’m concerned about the environmental impact that textiles and fashion can have on the planet,” she said.
Diva says we are all encouraged to fall into the trap of “overconsumption”.
When Diva started studying textile design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, she was really interested in fashion.
“But,” she told me, “through a lot of research I came to grips with how polluting the fashion industry is.
Just try to stop and think: ‘do I actually need this?'”
Diva Keith
“I really didn’t want to add to that. I wanted to be more of a future-conscious designer.”
Although Diva admits it can be “tricky,” she encourages people to avoid buying new clothes and furniture wherever possible.
“People should consider what they already have.
“Companies drill into people that what they already have isn’t good enough: If you’re not buying new, then it’s like you’re not ‘worthy’.
“I really disagree with that marketing strategy.
“I always advise people to think twice – consider local artists and second hand shops.
“But I do understand that it can be difficult when we see thousands of adverts a day.
“People want to keep up to date with trends – that’s not their fault.
“Just try to stop and think: ‘Do I actually need this?'”
How to upcycle in Dundee and beyond?
First time upcyclers – and veterans – should “always try to be as prepared as possible”.
Diva said: “I would suggest to start on a smaller project first.
“Spend an hour or so before properly planning out the design and think about the materials that you need.
And don’t “cheap out”, warns Diva – buy proper furniture paint or face the consequences.
“I would always encourage people to let loose with their creative juices.
“If you’re getting an urge to upcycle: Try it.”
Follow along with us as we share upcycling triumphs and travesties in Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Fife and Angus every Wednesday in November.
Have you experienced your own triumphs or travesties when upcycling? Get in touch so we can celebrate or commiserate over your creations.
Enjoying our upcycling series? Sign up for The Courier’s Environment & Transport Newsletter.
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