BASE Now Open for shopping Mondays & Wednesdays 10am - 3pm. Sundays 1 - 3pm and by appt.
ReUse · Recycle · Create!
BASE is a creative reuse center where your unwanted art and craft supplies can find new life. We provide materials, tools and education at very low-cost to the public, and free to educators and community partners. Come to donate, shop, or learn something new at our workshops and special events. You can even schedule a private BASE class for your group or party! From professionals and educators to students, families and the simply craft-curious, we want everyone to have a chance to get creative. BASE is open for business during our regular open hours, and we accept donations of supplies to BASE any time during these hours.
Donations
Did you start a project a decade ago that you don’t intend to finish? Did you switch from oils to acrylic? Does embroidery no longer “spark joy”? Artists and crafters often accumulate tools and supplies that they no longer need. We would be thrilled to pass your unwanted art supplies and tools along to someone else who would like to use them and, in the process, keep those items out of the landfills. When we are open, we accept a wide range of art & craft materials in good condition from individuals, organizations, schools and businesses.
BASE Donation List
Brushwood Center is a 501(c)(3)non-profit. Donation receipts for tax purposes will be provided upon request. See below for a list of what we accept. Have items not on the list? Just ask! Contact Julia Kemerer at 224.633.2426 or info@brushwoodcenter.org.
Shop BASE
BASE contains all kinds of supplies for creating art – from paints and brushes to fabric and thread to pine-cones and popsicle sticks. Most items are for sale at very low prices, and all items are available for FREE to educators and Brushwood Center community partners. Check back often (and keep and eye out for our biannual sidewalk sale)– you never know what you’ll find! Looking for something specific? Contact us at info@brushwoodcenter.org.
Tool Library and Open Studio
Don’t have the space or tools for a project you’re working on? Create at BASE! An open work table is available inside BASE for public use, as well as a vast tool library containing everything from sculpting tools to sewing machines. Brushwood Center also has lots of other rooms where you can spread out and create (subject to availability). Come create with us!
Create & Sip Classes
Create & Sip classes are fun, easy going events and are BYOB. No Experience necessary, all skill levels welcome. Each person’s project will be unique – creativity is highly encouraged! We will be working with materials and tools from BASE, our Creative Reuse Center, and will include a combination of reclaimed, repurposed, and new materials.
BASE is a creative reuse center where your unwanted art and craft supplies can find new life. We provide materials, tools and education at very low-cost to the public, and free to educators and community partners. Come to donate, shop, or learn something new at our workshops and special events. You can even schedule a private BASE class for your group or party! From professionals and educators to students, families and the simply craft-curious, we want everyone to have a chance to get creative. BASE is open for business during our regular open hours, and we accept donations of supplies to BASE any time during these hours.
Donations
Did you start a project a decade ago that you don’t intend to finish? Did you switch from oils to acrylic? Does embroidery no longer “spark joy”? Artists and crafters often accumulate tools and supplies that they no longer need. We would be thrilled to pass your unwanted art supplies and tools along to someone else who would like to use them and, in the process, keep those items out of the landfills. When we are open, we accept a wide range of art & craft materials in good condition from individuals, organizations, schools and businesses.
BASE Donation List
Brushwood Center is a 501(c)(3)non-profit. Donation receipts for tax purposes will be provided upon request. See below for a list of what we accept. Have items not on the list? Just ask! Contact Julia Kemerer at 224.633.2426 or info@brushwoodcenter.org.
Shop BASE
BASE contains all kinds of supplies for creating art – from paints and brushes to fabric and thread to pine-cones and popsicle sticks. Most items are for sale at very low prices, and all items are available for FREE to educators and Brushwood Center community partners. Check back often (and keep and eye out for our biannual sidewalk sale)– you never know what you’ll find! Looking for something specific? Contact us at info@brushwoodcenter.org.
Tool Library and Open Studio
Don’t have the space or tools for a project you’re working on? Create at BASE! An open work table is available inside BASE for public use, as well as a vast tool library containing everything from sculpting tools to sewing machines. Brushwood Center also has lots of other rooms where you can spread out and create (subject to availability). Come create with us!
Create & Sip Classes
Create & Sip classes are fun, easy going events and are BYOB. No Experience necessary, all skill levels welcome. Each person’s project will be unique – creativity is highly encouraged! We will be working with materials and tools from BASE, our Creative Reuse Center, and will include a combination of reclaimed, repurposed, and new materials.
Donate! What do we accept?
Yes, please! We will be happy to take the following:
Drawing supplies: drawing pencils and pens, colored pencils & pens, markers, crayons, etc.
Paper: drawing paper & unused sketchbooks, crafting paper, card stock, origami paper, colored paper
Painting supplies: oil, acrylic, watercolor, enamel, or tempera paints (no nearly empty or dried out tubes please), brushes (good condition), gesso, canvases, easels
Sewing supplies & tools: Full bags of fiber fill, foam & batting, buttons, thread, ribbon, elastic, zippers, snaps, sewing needles, pins, scissors, tape measures, embroidery supplies, etc.
Knitting & crochet supplies: knitting needles, crochet hooks, etc. Please note we are not currently accepting yarn (storage is full!)
Kids crafting supplies: pom poms, pipe cleaners, glitter glue, foam shapes, Popsicle sticks (unused), stickers, googly eyes, etc.
Tools (in good, working condition): sewing machines, clothes irons, ironing boards, toaster oven, electric drills, clamps, scroll saws, utility knives, pliers, wire cutters, mat cutters
ALSO – scissors & cutting tools · clay & clay tools · screen printing supplies · beads & jewelry making tools & supplies · stamps and stamp pads and stencils · art wire · artificial flowers & foliage · magnet backs · glue & various tapes · dowel rods · sandpaper · carving tools · bookmaking supplies · leather (old leather belts ok)
Probably, but let us take a look first:
Small crafting power tools & machines: drills, Dremel tools, detail sanders, scroll saws, soldering irons, etc.
Hardware & Remnants: small nuts and bolts, small nails, small hinges, knobs, hooks, small toys, game pieces, marbles, dominoes, jewelry, any small scraps · Mosaic Supplies: marbles, decorative stones, small tiles, etc. · Stained Glass Supplies
Nature items: acorns, pine cones, seed pods, rocks, "tree cookies" etc. (please do not collect from Ryerson Woods)
ALSO - Sewing & project patterns · Ironing boards & irons · Other supplies and tools designed for making arts & crafts
Not Right Now (we are temporarily not accepting the following due to a surplus of these items):
Packaging: cardboard sheets & tubes, paper towel rolls, jars, plastic bottles, egg cartons, bottle caps, small containers, baskets or bins ·Unfinished art/craft projects · Wood Scraps · Design and Showroom Samples · Crafting and Art Books
No Thanks:
Fabric · Yarn · Most clothing · mostly empty tubes/cans of paint, glue, etc. · candles · toxic/dangerous items · electronics
This list is constantly evolving based on our needs – check our website for an up-to-date list! Brushwood Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donation receipts for tax purposes will be provided upon request. Have items not on the list? Just ask! Contact Julia Kemerer at 224.633.2426 or info@brushwoodcenter.org.
Drawing supplies: drawing pencils and pens, colored pencils & pens, markers, crayons, etc.
Paper: drawing paper & unused sketchbooks, crafting paper, card stock, origami paper, colored paper
Painting supplies: oil, acrylic, watercolor, enamel, or tempera paints (no nearly empty or dried out tubes please), brushes (good condition), gesso, canvases, easels
Sewing supplies & tools: Full bags of fiber fill, foam & batting, buttons, thread, ribbon, elastic, zippers, snaps, sewing needles, pins, scissors, tape measures, embroidery supplies, etc.
Knitting & crochet supplies: knitting needles, crochet hooks, etc. Please note we are not currently accepting yarn (storage is full!)
Kids crafting supplies: pom poms, pipe cleaners, glitter glue, foam shapes, Popsicle sticks (unused), stickers, googly eyes, etc.
Tools (in good, working condition): sewing machines, clothes irons, ironing boards, toaster oven, electric drills, clamps, scroll saws, utility knives, pliers, wire cutters, mat cutters
ALSO – scissors & cutting tools · clay & clay tools · screen printing supplies · beads & jewelry making tools & supplies · stamps and stamp pads and stencils · art wire · artificial flowers & foliage · magnet backs · glue & various tapes · dowel rods · sandpaper · carving tools · bookmaking supplies · leather (old leather belts ok)
Probably, but let us take a look first:
Small crafting power tools & machines: drills, Dremel tools, detail sanders, scroll saws, soldering irons, etc.
Hardware & Remnants: small nuts and bolts, small nails, small hinges, knobs, hooks, small toys, game pieces, marbles, dominoes, jewelry, any small scraps · Mosaic Supplies: marbles, decorative stones, small tiles, etc. · Stained Glass Supplies
Nature items: acorns, pine cones, seed pods, rocks, "tree cookies" etc. (please do not collect from Ryerson Woods)
ALSO - Sewing & project patterns · Ironing boards & irons · Other supplies and tools designed for making arts & crafts
Not Right Now (we are temporarily not accepting the following due to a surplus of these items):
Packaging: cardboard sheets & tubes, paper towel rolls, jars, plastic bottles, egg cartons, bottle caps, small containers, baskets or bins ·Unfinished art/craft projects · Wood Scraps · Design and Showroom Samples · Crafting and Art Books
No Thanks:
Fabric · Yarn · Most clothing · mostly empty tubes/cans of paint, glue, etc. · candles · toxic/dangerous items · electronics
This list is constantly evolving based on our needs – check our website for an up-to-date list! Brushwood Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donation receipts for tax purposes will be provided upon request. Have items not on the list? Just ask! Contact Julia Kemerer at 224.633.2426 or info@brushwoodcenter.org.
Volunteer!
We are looking for creative people to join the BASE UpCyclers! Click here for more info.
