In this Instructable I will show you how to make use of all the dead umbrellas that lie around the city in wet windy weather.
I guess Instructablers are really green generally so you will like this way to recycle the dead umbrellas and at the same time have handy compact shopping bags so that you never need a plastic supermarket bag ever again. They roll up so small you can keep one in the pocket of each coat and handbag.
I guess Instructablers are really green generally so you will like this way to recycle the dead umbrellas and at the same time have handy compact shopping bags so that you never need a plastic supermarket bag ever again. They roll up so small you can keep one in the pocket of each coat and handbag.
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Signing UpStep 1: What you will need
Obviously, you first need a broken umbrella that is beyond fixing.
These are very easily come by, especially in city centres in wet windy weather. In one week I gathered over 30 umbrellas on the 2 minute walk from my home to the station and the 10 minute walk from the station to my office in the city centre. I just helped myself to the umbrellas jammed into the public waste bins.
Here in Glasgow the small, telescopic umbrellas are popular and the majority of that type are black. I ended up with loads of them and, to avoid making a million small black boring bags, I used a lot of them either for lining some bags or for making handle strips. If you dont do that then you will need something to make handles or straps from: tape, bootlaces, string even.
These are very easily come by, especially in city centres in wet windy weather. In one week I gathered over 30 umbrellas on the 2 minute walk from my home to the station and the 10 minute walk from the station to my office in the city centre. I just helped myself to the umbrellas jammed into the public waste bins.
Here in Glasgow the small, telescopic umbrellas are popular and the majority of that type are black. I ended up with loads of them and, to avoid making a million small black boring bags, I used a lot of them either for lining some bags or for making handle strips. If you dont do that then you will need something to make handles or straps from: tape, bootlaces, string even.
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Fabric:
Poncho or Windbreaker, Dust cover for furniture, bicycle or car if enough are collected, sunshade for a backyard, gift wrapping, shower curtain, laptop case if you add padding inside, seat cushions and pet beds for dogs/cats (use old pillows or stuffed animal plush's interiors for stuffing).
Handle:
Wooden ones as replacement handles/knobs for drawers, furniture feet, door stops, wind chimes, picture frame of some sort, fixtures on a wall to hold up a shelf, jacket hangers on wall, seat for a swing. Plastic hook ones could be made into the outer rim of a seat or attached to baskets for the purpose of hanging the whole thing onto something else.
Metal:
Perhaps a diy tv antenna, framework spine for a kite someone suggested, sculptural art.
I'm sure mother earth appreciate it more...
Waterproof and semi-fasionable! WIN!
Anyone got any ideas for the struts?"
Hmm - those could make for some great insectile kinetic sculptures. The current robot contest is still open for submissions for more than a month!
Note that it wouldn't actually need to do anything useful - like walking - although that would definitely be a bonus. But just moving in an interesting fashion would be great. Look at some of nemomatic's work, for example:
Giant Squid kinetic sculpture from found materials
Giant Kinetic Robot sculpture from recycled and found materials
The umbrella hinge mechanism also reminds me a bit of Crabfu's little Swashbot...