Alchemy Arts: Recycling Is Chic

Alchemy Arts is a community-based arts project in Edinburgh that collects scrap from businesses and households and uses it to create artworks, workshops, and parades in the city. This book takes their philosophy one stage further and offers projects in fashion, home design, and crafts for individuals to make or adapt themselves.

Includes ingenious uses for packs of old playing cards (a top hat for fancy dress), old ties stitched into dresses, and many more ideas and suggestions.

With the inclusion of American crafters' projects as well as those from the United Kingdom, this is likely to be a popular addition to the growing collection of books available for crafters.

A book of ideas and instructions for making clothing, useful things, and art from found objects.

Library Journal

MacKay and Jennings, in conjunction with the international artists of the Alchemy Arts collective, take green fashion to a new level, transforming everything from thrift-store finds to paper goods to plastic bags into chic wearables. The written directions are clear, but novice crafters may wish for more illustrations or photographs of individual steps. This is perfect for fans of the more creative challenges on Project Runway. With intent similar to Susan Wasinger's The Feisty Stitcher (see below), this guide goes beyond sewing and will push crafters to think of repurposing in a different way.

Kate MacKay is an Edinburgh based artist who is an exhibitor at the Royal Scottish Academy, and the Society of Scottish Artists Annual Open Exhibition. She is an Arts Market photographer and is involved in community arts in the city of Edinburgh. Di Jennings is a fashion photographer and creator of costumes, and she is involved in shows and fashion events in Edinburgh, and her designs are used for many of the clothes made from recycled items.