by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
This is another case of “money for old rope” with the only difference that this time, unlike the “belt lace” it is not actually old rope.
I came across this one on the website of Eco Emporia, which are based in the UK, where this recycled bottle vase is being sold for £32.00 – which equals around 45 USD, for those on the other side of the Pond.
The blurb on the site says: “Those with a nose for wine appreciation may also appreciate that a good way to recycle a wine bottle is to turn it into an attractive vase. Lengths of color coordinated cotton have been skilfully wrapped around and adhered to used wine and water glass bottles, to create delightful striped vases.”
I mean, serious?
The laugh is that it is but an old wine bottle that some “artist” has wrapped with different colored cords and while it looks quite nice is nothing that the average person could not make him- or herself, even a child, from an old bottle, any old bottle.
My favorite for such crafts, decorated or not, as the case may be, are glass bottles from tomato ketchup, for instance. They are a little sorter and stouter and have a somewhat larger opening, so you can get more than just one stem of flowers into it.
They make great vases and are cheap, as they come with the ketchup and would end up in the recycling bin afterwards or the landfill, depending where you are, and whether you have glass recycling or not. Yes, there are still places where it is not happening, would you believe.
It find it harder too believe though that there are people who will pay over forty dollars for such a simple recycled vase that anyone could make themselves. It just entirely beats me and while I wish the artists and craftsmen and -women who make such good all the luck in the world it still leaves me baffled.
Come on folks! This too is consumption and you can do your bit by making your own instead of buying, even though recycled in the way that it is. Would it not much better if you would make your own and could then be proud of it as your own work rather than buying someone else's “old rope”?
© 2009
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