Now in the Gallery: At Ease in Nature

BASE: Brushwood Art Supply Exchange

A girl holds up her art project in front of a wall of fabric and ribbons

Monday – Thursday + Saturday:

10am – 3pm

Sunday:

1pm – 3pm

BASE (Brushwood Art Supply Exchange) is a creative reuse center, located at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, where unwanted art and craft supplies can find new life and avoid landfills.

We provide materials, tools, and education at very low-cost to the public, and free to educators and community partners. Come to donate, shop, or learn something new at our open workshops or classes! 

A woman sorting through a bin of beads for a project

Donate ITEMS

What do we accept?

Yes, Please! We would be happy to take the following:
Colored pencils making a circular rainbow
Paper strewn about
Buckets of paint
Dozens of differently colored spools of thread
Balls of yarn
A pile of different colored popsicle sticks
An old sewing machine

ALSO – scissors & cutting tools · clay & clay tools · screen printing supplies · beads & jewelry making tools & supplies · stencils · art wire · artificial flowers & foliage · magnet backs · glue & various tapes · dowel rods · sandpaper · carving tools · bookmaking supplies · leather (old leather belts ok)

Probably, but let us take a look first:
  • Small crafting power tools & machines: drills, Dremel tools, detail sanders, scroll saws, soldering irons, etc.
  • Hardware & Remnants: small nuts and bolts, small nails, small hinges, knobs, hooks, small toys, game pieces, marbles, dominoes, jewelry, any small scraps​
  • Mosaic Supplies: marbles, decorative stones, small tiles, etc.
  • Stained Glass Supplies
  • Nature items: acorns, pine cones, seed pods, rocks, “tree cookies” etc. (please do not collect from Ryerson Woods)
  • Sewing & project patterns 
  • Ironing boards & irons 
  • Other supplies and tools designed for making arts & crafts
Not Right Now (we are temporarily not accepting the following due to a surplus of these items):
  • Packaging: cardboard sheets & tubes, paper towel rolls, jars, plastic bottles, egg cartons, bottle caps, small containers, baskets, or bins
  • Ribbon
  • Unfinished art/craft projects
  • Wood Scraps
  • Design and Showroom Samples
  • Crafting and Art Books
  • Rubber Stamps and Stamp Pads
No, Thank You. We cannot accept the following:
  • Most clothing
  • Mostly empty tubes/cans of paint, glue, etc.
  • Candles
  • Toxic/dangerous items
  • Electronics

​This list is constantly evolving based on our needs – be sure to check back! Brushwood Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donation receipts for tax purposes will be provided upon request. Have items not on the list? Just ask! Contact Julia Kemerer at 224.633.2426 or info@brushwoodcenter.org