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www.the-IDEA-store.org
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Sale away!
Off-site yard sale June 7 and 8 to benefit store
Now, here's a reason to get up and out early on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8: A yard sale to benefit The I.D.E.A. Store.
The sale begins 7 a.m. and runs until noon both days at 719 W. Washington St. in Champaign. Between 10 and 11 a.m. on June 8, all items will be half price; after that, it's make-an-offer time.
Sale items include things donated to the store, but not appropriate for our inventory. Other items have been donated specifically for the sale. At press time, organizers report "at least 16 tables full of wonderful goodies to choose from, including many lovely linens." Also, some "nice jewelry, lots of home decor, hobby and holiday,housewares, a couple of pieces of furniture, games, books, tools - something for everyone!"
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The I.D.E.A. Store Village Green: Partners for the Future
Teaming up to put 'Strattonville' on the map
By Carol Jo Morgan, MSW, MS
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Last year, The I.D.E.A. Store began a partnership with Champaign's Stratton Elementary School, which literally has a community - Strattonville - within its walls. The students are this MicroSociety's citizens, and they operate the government, businesses and organizations, a television station and much more. Each student has a job, supports the economy and pays taxes, and experiences a taste of adult life in the larger world. It's a pretty amazing and complex endeavor for youngsters age 5-11, with daily challenges and successes.
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Rainbow Crafts teacher-owner Candice Travers (seated) and her assistant supervise production of paper beads.
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As The I.D.E.A. Store's Educational Outreach Educator, I had the pleasure of helping organize and support the operation of The Strattonville Warehouse, which is responsible for stocking and supplying all the materials needed for each Strattonville venture. It looks a bit like a mini version of The I.D.E.A. Store, so I feel right at home there!
As this school year comes to an end, plans are already underway for Strattonville's next year to start this fall. The Strattonville Warehouse will have a new teacher-owner, a student manager and workers. Stratton families will be encouraged to donate items from their homes for ventures to purchase. We congratulate Strattonville's young citizens and adult leaders on the rewards of their hard work! Here is a taste of The I.D.E.A. Store's partnership experience with Strattonville's Rainbow Crafts venture, courtesy of its teacher-owner, Candice Travers:
"As the 2012-13 school year began, my employees and I were anxious to begin production at Rainbow Crafts. We knew what we wanted - high quality crafts for the citizens of Strattonville that were both colorful and profitable. We looked through the item-inventory available in the Strattonville Warehouse and chose items that were premade, such as foam stars and bookmarks, since we didn't have to do much to turn them into products that would sell well. My manager and employees loved our products because they looked great and were easy to make.
Around December, however, we ran into a problem. After looking over our bookkeeping binder with my 4th-grade bookkeeper, we noticed something. While we were still in the "green," we were spending quite a bit of money on our supplies. Supplies like foam stars and po
m-poms were costing us a lot of money compared to what we could sell our products for.
"That's when we turned to Carol Jo for help. As a venture, we looked through her reuse crafts how-to books for inspiration. I was overwhelmed by how excited my employees were to begin our new focus of sustainable products! We decided to finish our fiscal year researching, making, and selling paper beads. Carol Jo got us all the supplies we needed in no time thanks to The I.D.E.A. Store. She came into Rainbow Crafts during a production week and gave us a history of beads! She patiently modeled how to create the unique beads and gave us tried-and-true tips for bead-making success!
"Now necklaces and bracelets made of reused papers are our best-selling and most profitable products. That's how the crew at Rainbow Crafts learned first-hand about making sustainable, profitable products thanks to our MicroSociety's collaboration with The I.D.E.A. Store."
Editor's note: Don't forget to tune in to WICD's early-morning "Sunrise" program to catch occasional segments with Carol Jo, sharing clever and fun reuse ideas. The program airs weekdays from 5-7 a.m. She's scheduled to appear next on Wednesday, June 12, demonstrating Fourth of July-related projects.
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Sew sweet!
Another Fabric Blowout Sale set for July 19-20
 Here's your early heads-up! Our "fabric ladies" and other volunteers are already working hard behind the scenes, getting everything together so we can bring you another amazing Fabric Blowout Sale on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20. The sale will take place from 4-7 p.m. on July 19 and continue from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on July 20. As always, we'll have some fine fabric for you to choose from - all of it priced to move. Other fabric-related items, such as sewing books and notions will likely be in the mix as well. Stay tuned to The I.D.E.A. Store Facebook page, newsletter, newspaper classified ads and other announcements for more detailed information about the inventory as the sale date approaches. |
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Catch a new wave!
Wrap your mind around these reuse projects
You say "curlers," I say ... "rollers." Hey, don't call the whole thing off! Whether you use old ones languishing in your drawers at home or grab a handful next time you visit The I.D.E.A. Store (we almost always have several varieties of hair-curling rollers and rods in our inventory), just get those reuse projects rolling! Here are some ideas to get you started:
* Make this and you'll have something to crow about.
* Time for a (re)do?
* Picture THIS!
* Three little ideas with big impact, from Flea Market Style editor Ki Nassauer:
* And, if you're a fan of danglers ...
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So, What's This All About?
The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation saw a need in the community to accomplish several things: 1. Support the arts and arts education, 2. Support environmental education in our communities, 3. Impact the environment by reducing the rate of waste disposal, 4. create a place for everyone to have access to quality materials and 5. Support itself in light of the difficult economic times. So donate your discards and shop re-use. Its about making a difference!
www.cuSchoolsFoundation.org
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INVEST. DEVELOP. ELEVATE. ACHIEVE.
The I.D.E.A. Store is an earned-income social enterprise
of the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation,
a full 501c3 non-profit organization supporting K -12 education in
Illinois Community School Districts Unit 4 and Unit 116
Phone: 217-352-7878 Store hours: Tuesday - Friday, 2 pm - 7 pm and Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm
28 E. Springfield, Champaign, IL 61820
2nd Floor - handicapped access and loading dock available on north side of building
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