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• BASE - Brushwood Art Supply Exchange

BASE is NOW OPEN for shopping and donations!

​​Monday - Thursday + Saturday: 10am - 3pm
Sunday: 1pm - 3pm

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.

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.

Take a Class:

BASE: Create & Sip
Create & Sip classes are fun, easy going events.  Bring some friends, some snacks and bring your imagination!  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, which will include a combination of reclaimed, repurposed, and new materials. 

Make With Me: BASE Classes for Families
Make With Me is a fun, easy going activity for families to make together using creative up cycling, with supplies from BASE! You will have access to all the tools and supplies in BASE, so you can do a fun project with the kids without getting your home messy! Make With Me classes is a family oriented space to encourage creative problem solving while teaching basic crafting skills to kids.

Check out upcoming classes on our EVENTS PAGE! 

Tool & Reference Library
Just need something for a little while? BASE has a tool library containing everything from sculpting tools to sewing machines as well as books on all craft and art techniques that you can borrow. 

Volunteer
We are looking for creative people to join the BASE UpCyclers! Click here for more info.

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DONATE

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 Parker Nelson at 224.633.2424 x1 or info@brushwoodcenter.org.

What do we accept?

​Yes, Please! We would 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: Fabric (no small scraps or partially sewn items please), full bags of fiber fill, foam & batting, buttons, thread, elastic, zippers, snaps, sewing needles, pins, scissors, tape measures, embroidery supplies, etc. 
• Knitting & crochet supplies: yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, etc. 
• 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 · 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
• Ribbon
  
• Unfinished art/craft projects
• Wood Scraps
• Design and Showroom Samples
• Crafting and Art Books
• Rubber Stamps and Stamp Pads

No, Thank You. We cannot accept the following:

• 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 Parker Nelson at 224.633.2424 x1 or info@brushwoodcenter.org.