{"id":16070,"date":"2013-12-23T13:25:10","date_gmt":"2013-12-23T19:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=16070"},"modified":"2013-12-23T13:25:10","modified_gmt":"2013-12-23T19:25:10","slug":"recycling-kids-toys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/recycling-kids-toys\/","title":{"rendered":"Pre-Loved Teddy Bears Recycled into Rugs and More: (Re)Uses for Old Toys"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In a few days boys and girls around the world will excitedly untie ribbons and tear away packaging to reveal their newest toys and games. Parents like me will have to figure out how to make room for their children\u2019s latest gifts<\/a> along with keeping their most cherished favorites. If your child\u2019s toy box is overflowing, don\u2019t throw away their worn teddy bears and\/or broken, unwanted toys. Instead donate, recycle or recreate them into works of art like Agustina Woodgate\u2019s<\/a> vibrant colored, plush rugs. The internationally-known artist removes the filling from old stuffed animals then sews the \u201cskins\u201d together to create a story within each installation of her Skin Rug Collection<\/a>. The idea initially may seem a little weird, but you won\u2019t believe your eyes when you see Agustina\u2019s masterpieces.<\/p>\n

Her inspiration for the cozy artwork comes from her childhood connection with her teddy bear, Pepe, and oriental rugs. The artist noted in an interview<\/a>,<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also always enjoyed the symmetry of oriental rugs, and I had just discovered that they tell stories about people\u2019s lives. In that matter, they\u2019re like a book. You read them. This notion inspired me to take on the design in a more personal way. Every child in the world has a special relationship with a stuffed animal or a toy, and this relationship grows throughout time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Give Cast-Off Toys to a New Home<\/h3>\n

Many of us may not be as artistically gifted as Agustina, but there are still other ways we can give our child(ren)\u2019s old toys a new life<\/a>. You can host a stuffed animal collection drive with your friends and family then give your donations to Stuffed Animals for Emergencies<\/a>, an organization which gives battery-free, plush toys to children in crisis situations. Or consider giving plastic toys to children in need and keep them out of landfills with Second Chance Toys<\/a>, a group bringing playful adventures to little ones on East Coast America.<\/p>\n

Here are some other ideas to try:<\/p>\n