Upcycle CHQ

06/05/2026

Too often, the people growing our food, raising animals, preserving harvests, making things by hand, and keeping valuable skills alive don’t get the recognition they deserve.

Today, we want to give you your flowers 🌺

Farmers, Homesteaders, Gardeners, Growers, Beekeepers, Flower Growers, and Producers — this one is for YOU 💚👍

At Upcycle CHQ we see the value you bring to our communities, local economy, and way of life. Your hard work, knowledge, creativity, and resourcefulness help make our communities stronger.

We’d love to celebrate you

What do you grow, raise, make, or produce?

Share a photo and tell us a little about what you’re working on this season.

Let’s show some love to the people who help feed, supply, and inspire our communities. 💚


Rebecca Joy Shari Kay Jay DeVlieger Melissa DeVlieger Wild & Free Miller's Apples Browns homestead Maggitti Farms Canticle Farm From the Holler EnJoyABle Acres LLC Stacey Rae Thrasher Michelle Vullo Sarah Hatfield Emily Brown Colette Harrison Roo Haven Farm Jamestown Farmers Market

06/04/2026

What if one of the most valuable resources in our community isn’t something we throw away… but something we’ve forgotten to use?

Our communities are filled with people who know how to sew, repair, garden, paint, build, preserve food, crochet, quilt, carve, weld, upholster, and create.

Many of these skills are sitting quietly, waiting to be shared.

At UpcycleCHQ, we’re not just interested in reusing materials—we’re interested in reusing and activating the incredible skills that already exist in our communities.

A skill shared is a skill preserved. A skill taught can inspire a lifetime.

What skill do you have that you’d be willing to share with someone else?

06/03/2026

Some people don't just create—they inspire others to create too. That is one of the things we have come to appreciate about Brenda Jakiela-Wilcox.

Upcycle CHQ Maker Spotlight today is on Brenda Jakiela-Wilcox

Brenda attended our UpcycleCHQ Library Series alongside her husband, Jeff, and quickly became one of those participants who helped make every session better. She actively participated in discussions, shared ideas, brought examples of her work, encouraged others, and showed a genuine enthusiasm for learning new skills and exploring new possibilities.

The first photo in this spotlight features Brenda with a painting she created for the library's Novel Experience project—a colorful acrylic painting featuring 35 cats representing gratitude.

Brenda's creativity spans multiple forms. She creates unique paper beads from recycled magazines, comic books, store advertisements, and other paper materials that many people would simply throw away. These are transformed into bracelets, earrings, and wearable art pieces.

One of her most creative innovations is her collection of "Lucky Football" Beads. What started as a paper bead that happened to resemble a football evolved into a signature creation that she continues to refine and improve. Each one is handmade, unique, and inspired by her love of creativity and experimentation.

Brenda also creates her "Just Hats" collection using loom knitting and reclaimed yarn. She often purchases donated yarn from thrift stores, mixing and matching colors to create one-of-a-kind hats. Last year alone she donated more than 60 hats to help people in the community stay warm during the colder months.

What we admire most about Brenda is her willingness to share what she knows. She has even developed a curriculum to teach paper bead making and has expressed interest in helping others learn the skill. This perfectly reflects one of the ideas that has been emerging through UpcycleCHQ: our communities are filled with talented people carrying valuable skills that can be shared with others.

Brenda reminds us that creativity isn't about having the most expensive materials. Sometimes it begins with a magazine, a comic book, a ball of donated yarn, and the willingness to see possibilities where others see waste.

A special mention also goes to Jeff, who attended the sessions alongside Brenda. Jeff is a talented artist in his own right, with a passion for pencil and pen drawings, comics, superheroes, and fantasy art. We love seeing couples learn, create, and participate in community activities together.

Thank you, Brenda, for your creativity, enthusiasm, generosity, and support of the UpcycleCHQ community. We are grateful to have makers like you helping inspire others to learn, create, and share their skills.

Check out some of Brenda's amazing creations in the photos below and if you want to order any of her handmade products reach out to her on 716 640 7998 or email: [email protected]

06/02/2026

Upcycle CHQ Maker Pilot Program Update

The excitement is building!

We now have 25 makers preparing to begin the first UpcycleCHQ Maker Pilot Program, with production scheduled to begin on June 15.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be:
- Distributing materials to makers
- Finalizing product ideas and designs
- Matching makers with the materials they want to work with
-Coordinating with participating groups and community partners

We’re incredibly grateful for the growing number of material donations we’ve received so far. The materials pictured here are the ones I got last week.

So what is this program all about?

The UpcycleCHQ Maker Pilot Program is exploring how reusable materials, local skills, creativity, and community collaboration can be connected to create products and new opportunities right here in Chautauqua County.

It’s about:
- Giving materials a second life
- Activating practical skills
- Bringing people together
- Building the MADE IN CHQ identity
- Exploring new pathways for local maker and micro-enterprise development

What excites us most is that this is not just about products. It’s about people, skills, creativity, and discovering what is possible when a community works together.

Thank you to everyone who has donated materials, shared ideas, applied to the program, partnered with us, and helped make this possible.

The making begins June 15. Stay tuned!

06/02/2026

These repair work by The Upholstery Place came out really good!

06/02/2026

Upcycle CHQ Maker Spotlight is on Sarah Jane Mayberry

One of the things we love most about UpcycleCHQ is meeting creative people who are always learning, always growing, and always finding ways to bring value to their community. Sarah Jane Mayberry is one of those people.

Many of you may recognize Sarah as a regular vendor at the Jamestown Farmers Market during the summer season. She is also one of the community members who attended all four sessions of our UpcycleCHQ Library Series, bringing enthusiasm, curiosity, thoughtful ideas, and a genuine passion for learning.

Sarah is a multidisciplinary artist based in Jamestown whose work spans watercolor painting, sidewalk chalk art, kindness rocks, face painting, body painting, and creative community projects. Largely self-taught, she continuously challenges herself to learn new skills and explore new forms of artistic expression.

What stands out most about Sarah is her willingness to experiment and grow. One of her current projects involves creating a fully sculpted dragon using upcycled furniture foam, combining creativity, sustainability, and hands-on problem solving in a truly unique way. She also enjoys taking on special projects for friends and community members, bringing imagination and attention to detail into everything she creates.

Beyond her artistic talents, Sarah is deeply community-focused. Whether she is sharing ideas, supporting fellow makers, painting faces at events, creating kindness rocks for strangers to discover, or participating in local learning opportunities, she believes in using creativity to brighten someone's day and strengthen connections within the community.

Her work reminds us that creativity isn't limited to one medium or one skill. It's about curiosity, lifelong learning, and having the courage to try something new.

Thank you, Sarah, for being part of the UpcycleCHQ community and for sharing your creativity, positivity, and passion with others. We are excited to see what you create next.

Sarah Jane Mayberry is also available for:
- Face Painting
-Body Painting
-Window Painting
-Sidewalk Chalk Art
-Art Instruction
- Paint Parties
-Community Events & Festivals

Check out some of Sarah's amazing work in the photos below and reach out to support her work💚

06/01/2026

We love celebrating the makers, creators, repairers, artists, growers, and craftspeople in our community.

What do you make, grow, repair, create, or build? Share some pics with us.

06/01/2026

Local makers, creators, artists, crafters, producers, and small businesses…

Would you be interested in using the identity on your products?

Made in CHQ is being developed to help recognize and celebrate products, creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation originating from Chautauqua County.

Whether you make:
- Sewn products
- Arts & crafts
- Woodworking
- Handmade goods
- Locally produced products
- Innovative creations

We’d love to hear from you.

If your products are made in CHQ, would you proudly display a MADE IN CHQ tag or label on them?
Comment below 👇

05/31/2026

LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Today is the final day to enter the UpcycleCHQ Week 8 Family Upcycle Challenge in collaboration with the Audubon Community Nature Center!

Have you created something with your family, friends, neighbors, classmates, or community group using reused materials?

Send in your entries today!

Whether it’s:
A fairy garden
A dragon
A bird feeder
Nature-inspired art
A planter

Or any creative upcycled project

We want to see it!

Winner receives:
A Family Membership to Audubon Community Nature Center
Four FREE passes to the Dragons and Fairies Festival

Don’t miss your chance to participate.

Post your photos, tag , or send us your entry before the challenge closes today!

Good luck everyone, and thank you for helping turn creativity into sustainability.

What can families, friends, neighbors, classmates, or teams create together using reused materials?

Join Upcycle CHQ Week 8 Challenge with Audubon Community Nature Center

For Week 8 of the Upcycle CHQ Weekly Challenge, we’re excited to partner with the Audubon Community Nature Center to launch a fun, creative, and family-friendly challenge focused on collaboration, imagination, and reuse.

This challenge is all about creating together.

Whether it’s:
- Families
- Friends
- Classmates
- Makers
- Kids & Parents
- Community groups

— we want to see what you can create as a team using reused, repurposed, or upcycled materials.

THE CHALLENGE:

Create something together using reused or repurposed materials.

It can be:
- Fairy-themed
- Nature-inspired
- Garden-related
- Creative art
- Outdoor décor
- Anything imaginative and collaborative

Use materials like:
- Coffee cups
- Cardboard
- Fabric scraps
- Plant containers
- Wood scraps
- Containers
- Anything you can creatively reuse

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Create something together using reused materials
Take photos of your project
Post it on Facebook
Tag UpcycleCHQ and use

Tell us:
- Who created it together
- What materials were reused
- The story behind your creation

WEEK 8 PRIZE:

Sponsored by the Audubon Community Nature Center

Winner receives:
- A Family Membership to Audubon
- Four FREE event passes to the upcoming Dragons and Fairies Festival

-Challenge Runs: May 25 – May 30
-Winner Announced: May 30

WHY THIS CHALLENGE?
This challenge is about creativity, family, nature, imagination, and community connection.

Sometimes the best creations happen when people come together, share ideas, and give everyday materials a second life.

⚠️Challenge Disclaimer⚠️:

By participating in the UpcycleCHQ Family Upcycle Challenge, participants grant permission for submitted photos, videos, names, and project images to be shared by UpcycleCHQ, GreenClusta, Audubon Community Nature Center, and participating partners for promotional, educational, and community engagement purposes.

Participants are responsible for ensuring that all projects and activities are completed safely and with appropriate supervision, especially for children. UpcycleCHQ, GreenClusta, Audubon Community Nature Center, and participating partners are not responsible for injuries, accidents, damages, or misuse of tools or materials related to participation in the challenge.

Please use clean, safe, and appropriate reused materials and exercise caution when using cutting tools, adhesives, paints, or other crafting equipment.

This challenge is intended to encourage creativity, collaboration, environmental stewardship, and community participation through reuse and upcycling.

Let’s create something magical together!

05/30/2026

May Curiosity Club with Upcycle CHQ has been a month of learning, sharing , and Reimagining Waste.

What started as an idea became four weeks of community learning, creativity, skill sharing, and new connections.

Throughout May, UpcycleCHQ partnered with James Prendergast Library’s Curiosity Club to explore how reuse, repair, creative upcycling, and material exchange can help us rethink waste and build stronger local communities.

Together we:
-Learned simple reuse ideas from Michelle Vullo
-Learned beginner sewing skills with Becky Luhman of Sew Perfect by Becky Luhman
-Explored creative upcycling with Stacy Shull
-Hosted our first community Material Exchange with Stacey Rae

Most importantly, we saw people come together to learn from one another.

The series showed that our communities already have incredible knowledge, skills, creativity, and resources. Sometimes all that’s needed is a place to share them.

Thank you to James Prendergast Library and the Curiosity Club for partnering with us and creating space for these conversations and experiences.

Thank you to our facilitators, participants, volunteers, and everyone who supported the series.

The impact goes beyond the classes themselves. New ideas were sparked, new skills were learned, materials found new homes, and people left inspired to reuse, repair, create, and share.

May’s Curiosity Club will feature UpcycleCHQ focusing on how communities can reduce waste and create more sustainable local systems. UpcycleCHQ is a community initiative by GreenClusta Technologies…