Salvage Kul.char

Salvage Kul.char Project featured on The Graphics Fairy

2014-12-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

Whoo hee, what a honor!

My project on handmade vintage placemats in feauted on the Graphics Fairy site.

Please pop over to the Graphics Fairy and have a look. Click here

Salvage Kul.char Readers Feature on the Graphics Fairy

and read more on the project blog post over here:

Thank you Graphics Fairy Team !

Handmade vintage placemats

2014-11-12T04:15:00.000-08:00

Custom designed paper place-mats, stained to give it a vintage look and feel.

Use as table place-mats or serving tray mats

Use it and dispose it

Laminate and reuse

Frame it and hang it on a wall

what ever or where ever your creativity takes you too

What was used?

New and salvaged paper sheets (a3)
Vintage and other graphics and typography
Printer (laser)
Own recipe stain (combination of teas, coffee granules, water)
Sponges

Was it fun? Oh boy, I had so much fun doing this project.

What took up a lot of time? The graphic design work and the staining took the longest.

Where did I get graphics from? I sourced vintage graphics from the web, and also created my own designs. (I will be posting a few of my own designs for download on this blog in the near future)

A combination of all the graphic elements resulted in the final selection of themed sets and filler sheets.

The end product selection has various styles and designs.

After printing the sets I set about staining each individual sheet.

I was very eager (in hindsight a bit too eager) and printed over 500 pages

- hmm that in itself would not have been so bad if only I did not decide all the pages must be stained at the same time.

Vintage graphics, like the one used in this set, sourced from www.graphicsfairy.com

First I tried a"dip it in" stain process - big failure! One after the other the sheets ripped, I ended up with a plastic container full of stain and pulp, not quite the result I wanted (lol), what was I thinking?

Okay, so then do each sheet by hand painting with stain,
I have done lots of by hand staining before and it is not so bad. Only difference, I did not do 100's of sheets in one go before.

This process took a lot longer than what I anticipated, and it is delicate work. The wet sheets rip easy and must be laid flat to dry and preferably not handled at all or very gently until dry.

One of the themed sets: "Serve it up" featuring plates and cutlery

I soon realised that my working space is to small.

Working with literally hundreds of wet stained paper sheets requires either :

1. patience - which I have a serious lack of when I am eager to work on a project, or

2. a huge a flat area in a space where the wind cannot blow away, crumble or fold the sheets.

Since I had neither of these 2, I started dying and drying in batches. Staining on my kitchen counter, tiled floor, workshop counter and any other flat surface that could get wet, and that I could remove the stain from again.

To get the drying process done quicker, I used my hairdryer to speed up the dry-time.

(Art has helped me to discover a lot of useful and multi purpose functions in many of my household or beauty appliances)

Another themed sets: "Vintage rooster" and cutlery

Once dry, the sheets were sorted and packed.

and ready for sale.

I love the different shades and depths that comes from working with hand applied stain

sites to visit :
www.graphicsfairy.com

Salvage Kul.char product album

2014-07-02T02:53:00.001-07:00

Step into a picture journey of Salvage Kul.char projects.

Proudly Salvage Ku.char - made from salvaged, re-purposed and up-cycled material.

Creating a Salvage Culture - one item at a time - keeping stuff out of landfills.

Salvage Kul.char Salvage, re-purpose, upcycle idea for today.

2014-06-17T14:53:00.001-07:00

Turn old books into wall shelves.

Salvage, re-purpose, up-cycle

Witches and Wizards Theme Party

2014-05-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

Witches and Wizards
Goblins and Elves

A gathering of sort was held .......

Themed event by Salvage Kul.char
Step in through the spiderwebs and enjoy this photo montage

Moroccan Theme Party

2014-05-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Join me for a magical carpet ride - for a night in Morocco.

Theme party by Salvage Kul.char
Decor and Props and turnkey event management by Salvage Kul.char

you can sit back relax, take a magic carpet ride while we do the planning and groundwork.

Contact Salvage Kul.char for your next event, we will make it personalised and memorable.

info@salvagekulchar.co.za

1920's Mafia Theme Party

2014-05-23T04:23:00.001-07:00

Mafia Summit

Mafia Theme Party

at the Big Easy
the Godfather is having a Birthday bash

Salvage Kul.char created a Mafia Den, complete with guns, stolen money, smoke, 1920's ala Bonnie and Clyde style car, chests for stashing bootleg and bodies, fedora hats, feathers, boa's and pearls.

Enjoy this journey into the Mafia underworld..

Paris Theme party

2014-05-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

Bonjour Mon amis

Welcome to Paris

Theme party -A night in Paris

Theme party by Salvage Kul.char

Wine Corks for recycling and re-purpose

2014-02-10T23:45:00.000-08:00

Hello blogging friends

Salvage Kulchar is looking for Wine Corks to recycle/repurpose.

Maybe you cant help, but someone else could, kindly share this request

Are you a wine lover and always have loads of corks that end up in the bin?

Do you work at, or own a restaurant / bar and have lots of patrons that enjoy wine? Please collect your wine corks. dump it in a bag or box and mail the parcel to us.

All that you have to do is enjoy your wine, collect the wine and Champagne cork stoppers and send it to; Salvage Kulchar, via South African Post Office; to the following address:

Salvage Kulchar - Wine Cork Salvaging
P.O Box 15698
Lambton
1414

At this stage we are concentrating on Cork so if you can help it, please don't send plastic wine stoppers and other non-cork materials

But dont fret, if do you send these stoppers to Salvªge Kul.chªr, they will still be recycled/repurposed.

If you require assistance to mail the parcel please inbox me.

Thanking you and happy salvaging.
Salvªge Kul.chªr

Take the Salvage Kulchar Wine cork quiz, who knows more Wine lover or Beer lover?

2014-02-05T09:38:00.003-08:00

Hey Wine lover
Take our Quiz
do you know your cork ??

Let's find out

And dont forget to tell us how you scored..

Pour your wine and 1,2,3 go!

ps. The app below works in Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Creativity takes Courage

2014-01-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

The great artist Henri Matisse said "Creativity takes courage" and in my humble opinion, truer words can not be spoken.

But hey lets not get to philosophical!

We can join forces and create together.

Let your creative juice flow, grab some inspiration from our gallery; facebook page, website or pinterest .

Tell me what YOU want and I will come up with a creative solution that best meets your design needs.

Come on give it a go, I know you want to. AND

by doing so you are doing your share to be a responsible consumer

Love always .... sign

2013-12-13T06:32:00.001-08:00

Get yours order through our online shop. www.salvagekulchar.co.za

What....

2013-12-05T02:03:00.002-08:00

UP UP AND AWAY WE GO !!

2013-12-04T04:19:00.002-08:00

www.salvagekulchar.co.za/shop

Go there now, go now, go now !!

BIG, HUGE, MASSIVE!! NO, REALLLY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT !!

2013-12-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

and here it is !!

THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH of the Salvage Kul.char website

WE ARE LAUNCHING - UP UP AND AWAY !!!

When: Wednesday 4 Dec 2013

Time: CAT 08:30

Where: www.salvagekulchar.co.za

Stay connected

Subscribe to this blog - link over here to the right ... keep on looking, ah found it ..

or - via e-Mail

or - Like our Facebook page

What is stopping you, join in the fun with us !!
Tell your friends.

A Night in Paris with Salvage Kul.char

2013-10-15T07:57:00.001-07:00

Creating a night in Paris

.... Bet you didn't know that Salvage Kul.char can give you a complete function solution...

Hand Painted Backdrops

Eiffel Tower at night

Mademoiselle Twané celebrated a birthday party and Salvage Kul.char had the honor of building and painting all the decor items and props, we also staged and did the entire set up for the function.

Our brief was concise, pink and black with white. Of course the Eiffel tower and a French Boulangerie shop was on the list.

We jumped to the opportunity; what did we do.. rented the function items to them and from these the following amongst others were custom made.

Designed and hand painted custom backdrops

Hand painted backdrops and lantern

Eiffel Tower from twigs and sticks

Built a bakery shop from re-purposed polystyrene, complete with the shop named after Twane

Cut and painted the Arc de Triomphe from polystyrene blocks

Photo booth - we placed a cable reel disc on the jacuzzi and the Arc de Triomphe on top of it and voila photo booth

Arc de Triomphe photobooth

Created Paris Lanterns - all pink

Pink Lantern

Design detail

This function for mademoiselle Twane, used 80% re-purposed material. Well done Mademoiselle for doing your share for sustainability.

Get your function hire and decor / prop items from us. Everything from plates to knifes and forks, tables and decor items.

When making props and decor items, we stick to our Salvage culture of up-cycling and re-purposing items.

As a team; we (you and Salvage Kul.char) can add to the sustainability of Mother Earth

More photo's below:

Order your Salvage Kulchar product....

2013-09-23T10:16:00.004-07:00

Looking for modern sleek PVC, plastic items?
Looking for undistinguished, regular and commonplace pieces?
Are you looking for mainstream, characterless, insipid products?
Looking for mass produced, mass machined; all from one mold, synthesized products?

Sorry to disappoint you; you are on the wrong site, not going to find those type of products here!!

Here at Salvage Kul.char, we create bespoke, unique, custom designed, handmade Assemblage Art* items; signs, benches, art objects, tables, lamps, etc. etc

"Assemblage is an artistic process. In the visual arts,

it consists of making three-dimensional or two-dimensional artistic

compositions by putting together found objects."

Some items are practical and functional; others only decorative. - ALL definitely a piece of art completely unique from the mass produced items flooding the shops.

@ Salvage Kul.char we use salvaged and re-purposed material, thereby keeping items out of the landfills and saving one more tree, and one more stream in the process.

We put love and effort into the items we make, it is not a heartless production line only chasing $/R's whilst running without a single care about the sustainability of mother earth.

How do get to own and adopt your own Salvage Kul.char item??
6 Quick steps get you there....

1. Email us on info@salvagekulchar.co.za and tell us what you want,
2. we give you a price,
3. you pay a security deposit,
4. we make it,
5. you settle and arrange your transportation of the item.
6. We hand it over to you, including a certificate with your serial number on!

It is as Easy as that ..... so what is stopping you ?

~~Soon our website will be up and you will be able to order direct from there !~~
Our online store is up and running - Order now @ www.salvagekulchar.co.za/shop

Sharing is cool, so start sharing now !

2013-09-20T04:35:00.002-07:00

Sharing is cool: It's the environmental key to maintaining our quality of life

Hey people

This post is a subject close to my heart and to the basis of Salvage Kul.char. Sharing ...

Sharing is definitely growing in popularity as a greener option. Sharing promotes sustainability and breaks the evil hold the monster called Consumerism has on modern culture, our environment, our natural resources and our collective future.

Consumerism .....

Sharing promotes sustainability

Why Share,

I want to add a new word to the family of RRR - Re-use, Re-Cycle and Re-purpose. I like to think of it as ShareCycle, no not as in sharing a bicycle :-) but please feel free to do that as well; but rather creating a culture of sharing with each other, whether is in family groups, communities or through the world wide web or any other means.

What does it mean: Identifying those things we don't need anymore and instead of sending it to the local landfill; sending into a Sharecycle - sharing it with someone how will have a need for it. Therefor keeping goods in a cycle of RRR. However the biggest obstacle is us the superior race "Humans" and the human pride. Put it away immediately and think of what you are contributing to the sustainability of eart. Do not be ashamed to share and also do not to be ashamed to ask and use from the Sharecycle.

Ok; but how do you know if someone wants your "stuff"; there are a few ways;

ShareBox

a.) Start a community share box; place your item in it. Others from the community can take from it. I will do a separate post with basic rules of usage etc. on this specific item; Salvage Kul.char will also be donating a share-box as part of that post.

b.) Share through a business / church / school newspaper, website, notice board.

c.) Through your local recycling center

d.) Through the Salvage Kul.char online Sharecycle network. (This is still wip as part of our new website, but it is going to be exciting, more on this shortly in a separate post)

e.) Through your friends and family network; speak up tell your family that you have something to share and ask them to spread the word, I bet you once everyone is used to doing it your own Sharecycle network will be up and running, and you will reap the benefits; financially, environmentally, and more...

Sharing = we don’t act merely for our own good,

but go out of our way to contribute to the common good

Show what’s possible when we share. Show that we don’t act merely for our own good, but go out of our way to contribute to the common good. Show that we can solve the crises we face, and thrive as never before. Show that a new world is emerging where the more you share the more respect you get, and where life works because everyone helps each other

“Sharing is a relatively simple concept and a basic part of human life,” reports Janelle Orsi on Shareable, an online magazine that tells the story of sharing. “What’s new is that people are applying sharing in innovative and far-reaching ways, many of which require complex planning, new ways of thinking and organizing, and new technologies. In short, people are taking sharing to new levels, ranging from relatively simple applications of sharing to community-wide sharing initiatives —and beyond.”

“In a shareable world, things like car sharing, clothing swaps, childcare co-ops, potlucks, and co-housing make life more fun, green, and affordable,” reports Shareable. “When we share, not only is a better life possible, but so is a better world.”

Last paragraphs sourced from: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130818/NEWS04/308180026/Sharing-gains-popularity-greener-option?gcheck=1

We have been featured. on 1001 pallets !!

2013-09-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

A Salvage Kulchar project was featured on 1001pallets.com.

It is an honour to havee one of our projects on this phenomal website, they are trendsetters and have a huge following in all the social media sites.

Please go and have a look, and share this blog post

http://www.1001pallets.com/2013/09/pallet-bench-project-sturdy-high-bench-made-from-salvaged-and-re-purposed-pallets/

Thanks 1001projects.com !

View original post here : Sturdy High bench made from pallets

Salvaged Books Lamp to bring some light into your life

2013-09-14T13:05:00.002-07:00

French vintage lamp complete with vintage image; made from salvaged books.

Another - "must do this" project done!

Giving old books a second opportunity by creating a vintage lamp:

Salvaged Books becomes a French Vintage book lamp

What was used:

4 hardcover books - Salvaged from a bin destined for rubbish dump
Salvaged Lamp base and lamp rod
Salvaged lamp shade
Paint
Vintage girl image from the http://thegraphicsfairy.com/Random handwritten images
Glue Gun and glue sticks
Gel Medium
Laser Printer
Silver powder
Drill and drill bits
Wood Glue
Inkjet printer
Transparency film
Standard Photocopy paper

Sorry folks - I did not do step by step photo's - when the creativity overtakes me I forget about taking photos....

The making process:

So right from the word go I knew I wanted the books painted; they were completely mismatched. (when it came to category or content, ranging from biography and sport to business.)
I also wanted them completely painted in white, I had no intention of sanding down to show the original cover colour again.
I roughly stacked them to see which I preferred at the bottom, top etc.

First step:

- To make sure the pages are stuck down, now I have seen some book projects where the makers glued each page literally page by page, this was not an option for me, time consuming and plus I wanted the ruffled page look.

I glued the first few pages in the back and front of the book (the paste-down, flyleaf plus a few extra pages) to ensure these don;t lift and then used whilst holding the book in one hand, applied ample amounts of white wood glue (cold glue) with a sponge brush to the fore-edge, tail and head of the book making sure that the glue runs in between the pages.

The books were then left to dry for a few hours.

Step 2: All the books were painted. During the painting process, specifically the fore-edge, tail and head, I deliberately did not cover everything, thereby ensuring some of the natural page colour still show. Once again left to dry - this time overnight.

Step 3:
I decided to use random handwriting on the book spines. I selected an image from my stash and then enlarged it to create large bold type.

I printed the enlarged image on a single A4 transparency film for laser printers using the inkjet printer. Then transferred the type to the spine.

Step 4:
The centre point of each book was marked, a hole was drilled through each individual book, the lamp rod will be thread through this later.

Step 5:
For the Front Cover I wanted to use a "mixed" image. I decided on a vintage image of a girl I sourced from the Graphics Fairy. I made my own French wording and used a french looking font and arched the type above the girl. For the background I used a handwritten letter image. Lastly random twirls and a french cock made it to the top of the page.

I printed the images on plain copy paper with the laser printer. Cut down to size and covered the front of the image with transfer medium. I did this in several layers, leaving a to dry in between. Once completely dry, the images were soaked in lukewarm soapy water. Starting with the combined girl image, the image was removed from the water placed face down on my worktable top and with my fingers I gently rubbed all the paper of the back. Transfer medium was painted on to the cover and the image was put into place over the wet medium. The same process was followed for the swirls image.

Step 6:
The lampshade just shouted out for a distressed look.
I once again printed the same handwriting image I used for the spines, this time on standard copy paper. Gel Medium was painted onto the lampshade and the image was placed printed side down on the medium, this was left to dry following which I started removing the paper, as expected some of the paper stayed behind and had to be removed by slightly damping it and rubbing with finger tips.

For some reason the transfer took brilliantly to certain spots and zero to others, all I can think is that the lampshade might have had a waxy / oily blotches.
Nevertheless, I wanted distressed and that's where it was heading.

I finished the lampshade by rubbing silver powder into the shade and over the writing. (I used my fingers and hand for this process)

Lastly:
The books were glued together with the glue fun in the order I wanted. Meanwhile during one of the drying periods; the base, wiring and lamp rod were assembled. When the stack was dried, the lamp rod assembly was threaded through the holes and the lampshade and bulbs were fitted.

To add accent some of the silver powder was rubbed into the edges and sides of the books, and ...

Voila, Lampe terminé et magnifique pour apporter la lumière à votre vie..

A lamp, yes, but definitely not out of the "production line of stuff", definitely not the same as "what everyone else has". Made from salvaged books into a vintage french theme.

I did not want it to be the same as all the other french white items found everywhere, wanted rough and distressed but full of character, turned out Exactly how I envisaged it !!

Do you want a unique lamp??

Tell me what you want I will create it for you. Your theme, colour, style, natural or painted. Do it adopt a Salvage Kul.char lamp today.

Ransom Note...

2013-09-09T00:37:00.002-07:00

Do you have the courage to face reality .....

2013-08-26T09:49:00.002-07:00

Midway Island, where YOUR plastic rubbish ends up ...

A truly touching video; watch it and decide for yourself....

Do you think that just dumping a cap from a cold drink bottle cannot do that much harm, it is only one cap after all....

Do you think that only the populated areas of earth are affected by the "throw away and dump it" norms of modern culture.

Think again.......!!

Please do your bit for mother earth and the sustainability of our planet; Salvage, Up-Cycle, Re-purpose, Re-use and Re-cycle

Message from: - Salvage Kul.char. you can make a difference

Salvage Kul.char does not own the copyright to this video or any content therein; it is part of the Midway project selection. Learn more on the source page: http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/midway/#about

don't just dump it!! Create a Salvage Kul.char. Salvage, Upcycle and Repurpose

2013-08-23T06:29:00.003-07:00

Need help getting rid of stuff?? Don't run straight to the landfill.

To ensure sustainability of Mother Earth we all have to adopt a Salvage Culture. Salvage, Upcycle and Re-purpose.

Contact Salvage Kul.char lets see how we can collectively keep some unwanted items out of landfills and give them a second opportunity.

Some examples;

Wood or items made from wood old signboard, broken table...

Architectural salvaged items - doors, windows, knobs, brackets, etc

Paint and spraypaint

Fasteners (nails, screws etc)

Crates , cable reels and pallets

Furniture

Books

Metal i.e old signboards.

etc etc

not sure if we can help, message us and lets see

Hey Hey Hey ... Watch this space for exciting news !

2013-08-21T03:45:00.002-07:00

Message from Chock.....
Excittttinggggg Salvage Kul.char news to come..
chock,.....chock, chock....

Keep one "leap" ahead of the rest and know about all the Salvage Kulchar happenings.

So, Since I LIKE you, please click on the button on the right here over here on this page to get info delivered with a leap to you;
also LIKE me back on Facebook. See just one small click away to leapfrog into a friendship.

Thanks Salvage Kulchar friends
Chock

a Key is born - from re-purposed pallets

2013-08-14T12:06:00.001-07:00

Key (21st key) Money Box - Made from re-purposed pallets

Completed Key Shaped Box

Once again got an interesting commissioning request... Customer wanted a key money box made from re-purposed wood; for a 21st birthday gift..

As the key was for a young man, I decided to go for a "manly" key; more in line with vehicle keys shapes.


Side view of Key money box made from re-purposed pallets - here showing the key teeth

It took some thinking to get the design concept I had in mind into a final product. Not forgetting; I'm not a carpenter and don't know the technical In's and outs of carpentry.

So when faced with challenges and obstacles I revert back to an old Afrikaans philosophical saying " 'n Boer maak 'n plan" - which roughly translates to; a farmer finds a solution in any challenge. I life by this philosophy and it has not failed me.

pic sourced http://blog.galvintech.com

So what was the process....

The key design was printed on paper and with this in hand the wood stack was tackled to find solutions, a lot of suitable pieces of pallet wood were selected and made the "shortlist"

Remember - this must be a box in a key shape; meaning it needs a base, hollow ample sized interior, a lid that sits tight and can lock securely, as well as a slot for money deposit, all shaped in a key.

In addition to this I wanted to put a "secret" locking mechanism, therefor a standard hinged opening lid would not suffice.

Compilation was done by laminating various pieces of wood together to provide enough space for the key shape.

The inside of the box was hand carved and shaped to give the rounded effect of the key and the bottom, lid and body of the key was shaped individually in the key shape.

Once the rough shape was achieved the three components were rough nailed together. An intense hand filing and shaping process took place to get the key teeth aligned and proper.

The body of the key box was then hand-filed and hand-sanded to ensure a smooth even consistency.

Once done, the nails were removed and the bottom was glued in position. The box and lid was then stained in a dark warm colour.

A slot for the locking mechanism was cut and the lock fitted. A secret sliding method was made into the box and lid. The last thing was to cut a slot for the money box in the lid. And done !

The final Product below

Final Key Money Box made from re-purposed pallet wood

Side view of the Key shaped money box

As I am a seeker of knowledge/explorer/investigator/researcher. I wanted to know what the story behind the 21st key is...

I'm sharing this bit of trivia for general knowledge.

The significance of the 21st birthday originates from the rituals of knighthood. At the age of seven a boy began to learn what was required to become a knight when he was taken on as a page. At the age of 14 he graduated to squire and became an assistant to a knight, training with him and caring for his equipment, at 21 he would finally become a knight.

In Elizabethan times the age of consent for a man to marry was 21 and this is largely why the birthday still holds so much significance now days as although this law has changed, the 21st birthday is still seen as the age when the boy truly becomes a man.

Nowadays the traditions have changed and the 21st birthday is seen as a time for a big party and celebrations care a little more raucous.

In America whilst many teens experiment with alcohol in their high schools years the legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21 and so it is tradition to enjoy your first 'legal' drink on your 21st birthday. This tradition is often hazardous to one's health as the birthday party goes into the late hours of the night and a large quantity of alcohol is consumed. In fact tradition has it that as it is the 21st birthday, the person whose birthday it is should consume 21 drinks, quite often shots of straight liquor.

Whilst in the UK it is customary for the person whose birthday it is to give a little speech to thank everyone for celebrating their birthday with them, in Australia it is customary for the person whose birthday it is and all of his family and loved ones to each give a speech after cutting the cake.

Parents are expected to talk about how proud they are that their child is now an adult, partners give a speech about how much they love the person and look at their lives going forward and friends are given the right to tell embarrassing stories about the birthday boy /girl.

One tradition from the past that lives on today in many countries around the world is the giving of a 21st birthday key. The tradition originated many years ago and the gesture of giving the key was that at the age of 21, you were considered to be old enough to own a key to the house and a senior member of the household.

Whilst modern times have made the meaning behind the gesture a little obsolete given most people own keys to their houses a lot younger than 21, the giving of the key on the 21st birthday remains and these are now sold in all different sizes and finishes by gift shops all over the world.