The challenge was to recycle plastic packaging. The trouble with projects like this is that the result can end up looking like badly adapted household junk. So for me, the challenge was to create an illusion of elegance and grace (at least from a distance).
Flora and Fauna Assemblage
The starting point was not promising. A delicatessen container that had distorted after being washed in the dishwasher.
From above
After melting a hole in the bottom of the deli container, I fitted it over a handsoap bottle and weighted it with florist’s pebbles and voila – a vase!
I found a heap of old plastic knitting needles that looked interesting.
Now some things to go in the vase. I pushed the soap dispenser through a piece of packaging that holds an avocado. I inserted an old plastic knitting needle up the soap dispenser tube and secured it with red duct tape. I wound the red duct tape around the “neck” of the emerging bird!
I used twisted blue and red duct tape to decorate the body and head. I like duct tape because it sticks to itself, is malleable and comes in different colors. I added some old bead work that was given to me for the feet and crest and some hat feathers for the tail. The knitting needle inserted in the plastic dispenser allows the bird to bob about which was a happy accident.
What Next? Ah yes, a hand made from wire, duct tape and another old knitting needle.
And some flora made from old bead work attached to yes another old plastic knitting needle. All three items in the vase bob up and down and the whole piece has a slightly Japanese feel to it.
I have entered this in the Re-cycle, re-purpose and re-invent challenge. Please see link below.
Sarah Cliff 
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