Trash or treasure: One-of-a-kind art from repurposed pieces

The Secondhand Finds & Furnishings' manager is always amazed at the ways people re-purposed junk, turning it into one-of-a-kind art pieces.

"I'm afraid I don't have that kind of artistic talent," Thompson said inside her 4400 South York St., store. "It's just fun to see what people can do with found objects."

For instance, old mason jars can be attached as part of a primitive chandelier while colorful shards of crockery can add interest to an old coffee table.

"People have been reusing old jewelry for craft projects for years," Thompson said. "Nowadays, they're using all kinds of material for larger-scale art."

That includes making signs out of reclaimed barn wood or a decorative coat hanger made with an old wooden level, hooks and a wringer nameplate from a vintage washing machine.

Walking past an old collection of vinyl record albums, she said such items are frequently snatched up by music lovers desiring conversational art.

"People are drawing inspiration from (social media sites like) Pinterest," co-manager Lori Kamradt said. "They'll see something that they'd like to make online or they'll post pictures of their own creations."

"There are a lot of very creative people out there," she said, holding up a framed art piece made of stamps, wildlife art and an old letter.

Seeing vintage pieces is a great way to remember family, according to Thompson.

"Women don't wear aprons anymore but we see people use them as wall art for their kitchen," she said. "It's even better when the aprons come from their own family."

That's also true for old farm tools now used as decorative pieces.

"So many people come from an agricultural background," she said. "This is one way for them to return to their roots."

Walking through the store, Kamradt points out her favorite displays.

"License plates make ideal wall art for man caves while old suitcases make for intriguing coffee tables," she said. "Seeing what other people are doing will also inspire your own art."

Which is entertaining for Thompson, who spent much of her childhood going to garage sales, thrift store and swap meets with her family.

"I described myself as an experience 'junker,'" she said. "I inherited my eye for secondhand finds from my mom (Jan Johnson)."

"People think that secondhand things are junk," she said, shaking her head. "When they have a renewed purpose, old things can become real treasures."