Drowning in Treasures (and Trash):
The Beautiful Chaos of a Sustainable Artist’s Life
Some days, I feel like I’m absolutely swimming in stuff — mountains of things no one else wants, piles of “trash” that might one day become treasure. Between my sustainable art practice and my work with Berryfine Goods, my life revolves around giving discarded objects a second chance. It’s meaningful, rewarding, and completely aligned with what I believe in.
But I’ll be honest: sometimes it’s a lot.
There are days when I look around and feel like I’m starring in my own version of Sanford and Son. If you’re not familiar, Fred Sanford was the lovable junk dealer from the 1970s sitcom who somehow managed to fill his entire yard — and his house — with “valuable” finds. I swear, if you added a laugh track to my studio, you’d hear Fred hollering, “This is the big one, Elizabeth!” every time I trip over a box of vintage beads or a stack of old newspapers.
The truth is, the line between collecting and drowning can get blurry when you’re trying to keep materials out of the landfill. People are generous — they drop off donations of fabric, plastic, furniture, and old jewelry, each piece holding potential for transformation. I love that. But sometimes I find myself knee-deep in well-meaning chaos, wondering where on earth I’m going to put it all.
Still, this is the paradox I’ve chosen — and honestly, it’s beautiful in its own messy way. For every moment of overwhelm, there’s another of magic: when a forgotten item becomes part of a sculpture, when waste turns into art, when something discarded becomes meaningful again.
My studio may look a bit like Fred Sanford’s front yard, but inside that chaos is purpose. Every piece I touch is part of a larger story — one about consumption, care, and creativity.
So yes, sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in stuff. But it’s the kind of drowning I can breathe through, because every rescued item is one less thing tossed aside — and one more reminder that beauty doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from the mess.
