News Coverage from our Grand Opening!

We had so much good coverage today from news media outlets Global News Regina and the Leader Post. Thanks Natascia Lypny and Sarah Kraus for approaching me to help spread the word about our programs and shop!

Click here for a video from Global News

Click here for a written piece from Global News

Click here for a video and a written piece from Leader Post

Happy Reusing, folks!

Erika Folnovic

Grand Opening!

Here are pictures minutes before our Grand Opening Celebration on September 25th, 2015. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Happy Reusing, folks!
Erika Folnovic

Ready for the Launch!

Hi Reusers,

Tada! We have stocked the shelves and we are (almost) ready for you at noon tomorrow! See our Upcoming Events page for more details.

I'm super excited to share this project with you and need your feedback! We want to know if the ASE should be providing incentives for donating. What do you think? Fill out the below form to add your opinion to the poll.



Hope to see you folks, tomorrow!

Happy Reusing,
Erika Folnovic

September 25th Launch!

Hey Reusers!

Here comes the information about our opening on Friday, September 25th, 2015:

• We will be open from Noon-6pm
• If you haven't signed up for a membership yet, you can sign-up on Friday (a couple of computers will be available with the online form up and running)
• Punch cards will be available for $10 for 10 punches CASH ONLY, CARFAC members can also come by and pick-up their complimentary Punch Card for the year
• We have three bag sizes: 1 punch, 4 punches, and 10 punches (although some items will be priced individually because they are too big for the smaller bags but are not worth 10 punches)
• You can bring your own bag (but use our fabric ones to collect the right amount based on standard prices) or use one of our standard paper bags
• You can drop-off more donations, if you would like, too
• The founder, Erika Folnovic, will be there if you would like to meet her

Our Upcoming Events page and Facebook have the below poster and you can help us out by sharing these events and pages! OR copy/share/download the poster below and send it out to people you think may be interested in our organization:

Oh my goodness! Less than five days away!

Happy Reusing, folks!

Erika Folnovic

Updated Shop Photos from September 1st

Hi Reusers!

I forgot to share an updated shop photo in my last post. I was there on Tuesday reorganizing our shelves and getting some additional donations sorted. It is filling up nicely, but we could still use some more to really pack the shelves before September 25th.

The lovely Ashley V. donated the above paper storage unit to our space on September 1st and I am so very grateful! Thanks for asking if we wanted it - looks beautiful and fits perfectly!

Overview of the whole space (including a creepy mannequin head some students of mine coloured on).

Like I wrote above, we still have room to take in more donations to stuff our shelves. If you happen to be going through a craft/storage room or have some things in your office or classroom you'd like to pass on, we'd love your stuff! Please double check with our List of Accepted Items first then come by the CARFAC Saskatchewan Regina Office Monday - Friday 9am-4:30pm, excluding holidays (you can contact us by phone, e-mail, or on Facebook, too).

 21 days until launch time! Happy Reusing, folks!

-Erika Folnovic

Bags! Bags! Bags!

Hi Reusers!

Just updated The Shop page on our blog to give you the most recent news on how the shop will work. In particular, I have been busy over the past couple of days sewing some standard bag sizes that members can use when shopping at the ASE. I wanted both paper and fabric versions of these bags for the people who tend to forget their own bag (they can take home the paper ones) and ones that can be used over and over again without tearing for the people who remember their own bag (fabric ones are kept at the shop).

My process...
I bought some standard paper bags in three sizes (small, medium, large), measured them out and built patterns, experimented with some different ways of constructing them (this always takes longer than I want it to!) and then I decided on a pattern making sure the fabric versions would be the same volume as the paper. These bags ended up using three pieces of fabric: one large piece that is the front, back, and bottom and two side pieces that are sewn to the first large piece. I finished the edges inside and on the top, then sewed the top edge into bias tape. Then for the handles I used some recycled ribbons and string. I used stronger upholstery materials I already had on hand and ended up using some I bought new from Ikea (their textiles are so pretty) and others from various garage sales and thrift store trips. Any bags with white around the top and on the handles are the large size (10 punches). Bags with red are the medium size (4 punches) and the black are small (1 punch). Now all I need is our logo printed somewhere on these or maybe a tag inside? I still have 22 days before our launch to figure it all out, but I know it'll go by quicker than I want it to!

Happy Reusing, folks!

-Erika Folnovic