By Kara Seymour
If trash went to heaven, the promised land would be on N. Union Street in Lambertville.
There, old magazines become colorful works of art. Decades-old fabric becomes fashion and fallen trees become furniture.
This magical place where unwanted items are given a second life as precious works of art or delicate jewelry is called Don’t Toss It, a boutique and gallery of repurposed artworks.
About 20 artists and craftsmen have items in the gallery and boutique portion of the shop. In addition to the gallery, the store has an educational component that aims to teach people how to make creative use of old items. They also accept items for donation that can be purchased for repurpose. Donated items include yarn, buttons, fabric, household items and more.
“We are not a thrift store. We are not an antique store. We are about repurposing,” said co-owner Pamela Chamberlain, who runs the store along with Nora Mathews.
Chamberlain said she hopes artists, and really anyone, who comes into the store are inspired to breathe new life into everyday items that would otherwise be discarded. Items for sale include everything from furniture, to jewelry, home décor and more. “Everything in the store has to have a portion of reclaimed in it in some way,” Chamberlain explained.
“Our mission is really to keep things out of landfills,” Mathews said, adding they weigh everything that comes in to be repurposed. Since the shop opened this fall, nearly three tons of items have been kept out of landfills thanks to the efforts of Don’t Toss It.
The gallery space in Lambertville houses works from many local and regional artists, as well as some with national appeal, including Virginia-based upcycle artist Sandhi Schimmel Gold.
When selecting items for the gallery, “we look for a high level of creativity or technique,” Chamberlain said.
Prior to the opening of the Lambertville location, the duo operated an online store, Artfully Reimagined, which is still in operation. The site is a marketplace for artworks made from reused and recycled items made by artists across the United States.
“We believe this concept of changing consumerism and helping the planet should be an American way of life,” Chamberlain said.
Don’t Toss It is located at 204 N Union St, Lambertville. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm.
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