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We were founded in Durham in 1991 by a group of people who wanted to give discarded materials new life. From the beginning, The Scrap has achieved this through creative reuse retail, arts programming, education, exhibitions and community events. Last year, The Scrap diverted 795,843 pounds of material from the waste stream, received more than 21,000 material donations and sold nearly 975,000 items through our stores. Our Artist Market paid about $44,000 in commissions to artists. Our Cameron Gallery presented six exhibitions featuring nearly 70 artists last year. The Scrap also produced 100 programs and took our beloved blue barrels out into the community for dozens of outreach events.
We all know about "Reuse, Reuse, Recycle." Here at The Scrap we want to show that middle “R” a bit more love. We’re proud to make used cool, and encouraging people to see something used and "love it again."

Smash Fest

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Quilt Bonanza

Community Craft Night: Fairy Doors

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Otis Parrish

Mitch Sava

Molly Coleman

Charlotte Young

Danny Graven

Anthony Bullock

Jackie Calles

Candace Burch

Lydia Oakley

Jessica Johnson

Liz Yount

Ava Hardy

Tammy Velasco

JP Trostle

Nathan Bowles

Sarah Schmader

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Liz Underwood

Tyler Dennis

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Julie Ragsdale

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Marcus Dillard

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Mongo Sez come on over and be my Friend! ✨ Until 4 PM today — Friends of Mongo Party! Super G’s @linobill is cranking out fresh screen-printed T-shirts!

It’s that time of year again! Looking to support local businesses? Looking to DIY some Christmas decorations? Well you’re in luck, all the things you need to make those Christmas dreams come true can be found at The Scrap Exchange. Come see us and make something new with reuse 🎄

We're proud to be a recipient of a grant from Fidelity Charitable's Make More of a Difference Challenge, an annual associate-led giving program funded through the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund. With Fidelity Charitable’s support, The Scrap Exchange is able to: 🩵 offer free community meet-ups in Design Center 🩵 Blue Barrels Outreach -- creative reuse materials for schools and community partners 🩵 First-ever SALVAGE Festival in April Thank you, Fidelity Charitable and associates, for supporting our work!

Up next in The Cameron Gallery: A Continuous Thread by Bryant Holsenbeck. This exhibit is an evolving art installation featuring one of the Scrap Exchange’s founders, Bryant Holsenbeck. Throughout the exhibit Bryant will use the gallery to arrange, rearrange, and revisit works from her lifelong career as an artist. Using materials that one does not usually use to make art, she transforms them into works which tell stories about the society in which we live. In her world, all things cast-off can be transformed into works of art. Join us for an opening reception on Friday, November 13th from 6-7:30, where Bryant will share the first phase of her installation process and discuss how she plans to shape the exhibit.

🎟️ TICKETS FOR SMASHFEST 2026 ARE NOW ON SALE IN THE ARTIST MARKET! While SmashFest is always ✨FREE✨ to attend, you'll definitely want to buy some tickets so you can purchase smashables in our Smash Shop. Once you have your smashables (mugs, plates, vases, etc.) there are many ways to smash, crush, break, and drop during the festival. Get tix early, get tix often, get into the festival faster day of! *Beer and food will need to be purchased with real dollars or cards.* 💥🏴❤️‍🔥🔪⛓️🍻

Thanks to all for participating in Scrap Spirit Week! Everyday is kind of like Halloween around here, so we appreciate you doin' it up big with us on the Official Week. We love ya Durham! Be safe and have fun tonight! 🎃👻❤️‍🔥⛓️✨🩵

Are you a Friend of Mongo? 💙 Our first-ever Friends of Mongo Annual Party is Sunday, November 8, 11:00am - 4:00pm! Durham artist Bill Fick will screenprint T-shirts for Friends of Mongo to take home that day! Other prizes, snacks, music and more! 💙 Mongo sez “Join on the spot!”

Due to staff illness Scrap Thrift will be opening late. Thank you for understanding. We appreciate you all.

🎃🍂Head on out into that crisp fall air and enjoy learning a new craft! Hope to see you crafting in The Design Center.🍂🎃 Sun 1st, 11am-1pm Machine Sewing a Scrappy Mini Quilt $45 Sun 1st, 2-5pm Machine Sewing a Scrappy Mini Quilt $45 Tues 3rd, 3-5pm Sewing Practice with Boomerang Bags Free! Wed 4th, 5-7pm Sewing Circle Free! Sat 7th, 11am-1pm Botanical Teacup Candle Making $45 Sat 7th, 2-5pm Help Make Beds for Dogs in Need Free! Sun 8th, 11am-1:30pm Sew Easy: Forest Friends $36 Sun 8th, 2:30-5pm Techniques in Upcycling: Mats n Coasters $36 Tues 10th, 6-8pm Make Your Own Lafufu $35 Tues 10th, 6-8pm Yay! You're Gonna Crochet (Intro to Crochet) $35 Wed 11th, 6-8pm Stitch N Bitch Free! Thur 12th, 5-7pm Community Craft Night $5-10* Fri 13th, 6-8pm Make Your Own Keychain Familiar $25 Fri 13th, 6-8pm Floral focus: cards and embroidery embroidery $40 Sat 14th, 11am-1pm Watercolor Winter Botanicals $40 Sat 14th, 2-5pm Introduction to Blockprinting $35 Sat 14th, 6-8pm Sips & Scribbles : Adult Journaling Party $35 Sun 15th, 11am-1pm Barn to Yarn $30 Sun 15th, 2-5pm DIY Community Crafternoon $5 Sun 15th, 6-8pm Glass Etching $30 Tues 17th, 6-8pm Potato Printing!!! $40 Tues 17th, 6-8pm Beginning Knitting $35 Wed 18th, 5-7pm Sewing Circle Free! Fri 20th, 6-8pm Faux Leather Long Stitch Journal $45 Fri 20th, 6-8pm Make & Mail: Holiday Card Workshop $40 Sat 21st, 11am-1pm Sewing Machine Basics $40 Sat 21st, 2-5pm Color Block Fanny Pack $36 Sun 22nd, 2-5pm Introduction to Reduction Printmaking (Animals) $35 Sun 22nd, 6-8pm Scrap to Serenity: Gradient Wall Hangings $20 Sun 22nd, 6-8pm Intro to Simple Pull-On Pants Part 1 $80 Tues 24th, 6-8pm Intro to Simple Pull-On Pants Part 2 $80 Tues 24th, 6-8pm Intro to Hand Embroidery $40 Fri 27th, 6-8pm SmashFest Fun!

Get ready for Spirit Week! Next week from Tuesday through Saturday come dressed as the theme of the day and get 15% off your purchase. We want to see you strut your stuff and share your creativity! 👻✨

See ya at All Hallow's Smash! Halloween day from 12-3pm!

Save the Date: Friends of Mongo Annual Member Party! 🎉 Sunday, Nov. 8 | 11:00am to 4:00pm 🎉 We are thrilled to welcome and celebrate all Friends of Mongo members! Select your free T-shirt at Scrap Thrift, then watch Durham artist Bill Fick screenprint it for you to take home that day! You will also receive a Scrap Pack of Unexpected Surprises and a $20 off shopping coupon to use at either Scrap Thrift or our Reuse Arts Center. We’ll have snacks, music, and crafting for the whole family. See you here! Join Friends of Mongo now to celebrate with us! #scrapexchange #friendsofmongo #mongolives #membership

Hi, I’m Pru the Pug and my mom is the Retail and Sales Manager Molly and she brought me to Shop the Scrap today! So many amazing things have happened. I met Mongo, got some fabric, saw some puppy friends in Scraptique and got a new book. Maybe I’ll see you on your next shopping trip! Happy Friday.

Help us make SmashFest a success! Volunteer to support The Scrap during our biggest event of the year. This year's volunteer slot options are: 💥 11.27 1-3pm (pre-fest setup) 💥 11.27 3-6pm (during fest support) 💥 11.27 6-8pm (clean up crew) 💥 11.28 11am-3pm (morning after clean up crew) SmashFest volunteers are key in making the event run smoothly, help everyone stay safe, and keeping the smashables flowing. Tasks look like helping with waivers, working the Smash Shop, running Smash Contraptions, and more. Plus volunteering means you get as many items to smash as you'd like. 👀 Come ready to get those steps in! SmashFest volunteers must be over the age of 18 (or working their shift with a parent), and unfortunately we cannot extend SmashFest volunteer slots to those completing hours for court. Sign up today! 🔗 in bio.

fun was had by all at creepy doll night. thanks to all who joined and @ghostkittydesigns for making it happen! 🧸⛓️🪚

Need a costume for Halloween? We've got you COVERED. ✅

Mongo had a blast crafting with our friends @915wunc for their 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday! Mongo ❤️’s public radio 📻 (and is very happy they had them crafting and not running the marathon!)

For all you quilters, quilt lovers and fabric junkies - we have a special sale for you! The Quilt Bonanza will kick off Oct. 20th and will last all week long, while supplies last. We have been saving all sorts of special goodies for you so don’t miss it! #quilttops #modernquilts #babyquilts #vintagesewingmachines #quiltpatterns and more!

Come join in on our monthly Boomerang Bags meet-up tomorrow and every first Tuesday of the month! Boomerang Bags is a reuse & awareness program focused on making bags from t-shirts and donated fabric to divert waste, stop single-use plastic bag pollution, and foster sustainable habits. 🪃

🪩 B-B-B-BUUUULK ROUNDUP! Mongo's gonna try this multiple captions bizness. 🪩 First up - CHRISTMAS CORNER. Find winter holiday stuff in the back corner of Mongo Room next to the wood this year. $1 per pound for everything unless otherwise marked. CUTIE GLASS JARS! So many. The faster these go the faster we can put more out. Find their matching tops in the barrel section in the front room. CARDBOARD SHIPPING BOXES! This tote is probably half full of these after the weekend. All you makers better come scoop these up before the holiday rush orders hit. Colored tabs with numbers on them! Surely you have a use for these. They're in a sneaky bottom shelf near the scrapbook section. Game and puzzle heads – we have a WHOLE lot hitting the floor tomorrow ready for you to grab and get cozy as we finally welcome sweater weather. Many-a-knitting-needle have been processed and put out over the last few days. We have the size you need and then some. This is a cool one - rolls of jersey fabric like you would find on a t-shirt collar. Soft and stretchy.

The Scrap Exchange presents a group exhibition of monstrous art! 🧌 Twenty artists from our community share their interpretations of the monster. Our opening reception on Oct. 2 was Scrappy and fun! Congratulations to the artists and to curator Tamara Galiano, our Artist Market & Gallery Manager. 🧌 “Monster Mash” will be on view in our Cameron Gallery Oct. 2 - Nov. 1. #monstermash #scrapexchange #artgallerync

Did you know our Scraptique has more than just clothes? Here’s some of our current selection!

Spooky szn is here and creep doll night is BACK. 🎃 Join us on October 8th from 5-7:30 in Design Center to make whatever your creepy heart desires. No sign-up needed, first come first serve on supplies, $5-10 sliding scale donation. 🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠

Mongo and friends had a great time at @hillsboroughnc ScottishFest this last Saturday crafting mythical creatures, flower crowns and more! ✨Mongo is even considering learning a Scottish jig to get their yarn arms moving after this event! ❤️✨

Happy Scrappy Birthday to the wonderful Marsha Silver, who has been a dedicated fabric, notions, and yarn volunteer for many many years. We're so grateful for your infectious energy, dedication, and hard work! 💓

RECEPTION THIS FRIDAY from 6-7:30!! Here is a hint at some of the incredible monsters in our upcoming exhibit in The Cameron Gallery: Monster Mash. Join us on Friday, 10/2 to check it out and chat with some of the local artists in the exhibition.

⛓️ SMASHFEST 2026 APPROACHES. MARK YOUR CALENDARS. ASSEMBLE YOUR CREW. ⛓️

Up next in The Cameron Gallery, our annual spooky season exhibit!! Monster Mash celebrates “monsters” in all forms and features work by over 20 local artists. Stop in for the reception on Friday, October 2nd from 6-7:30. Monster Mash runs from October 2nd through November 1st.

Every quilt has a story, and some are still waiting for their final chapter. 🧵 Join us for Quilt Bonanza at The Scrap Exchange in October. More info to come!

Did you know on Thursdays Mongo has 1/2 price yarn? This is a perfect time to start those cozy projects you’ve been saving till cooler weather. Now through November.

Another awesome year in the books at BugFest! Thanks to @naturalsciences for having us back year over year to make creepy crawlies with preloved materials. 🐛 🐞 🐜 🪳🪲🪰

🎃🍂 We're FINALLY shifting into fall (so help us) and with a new season comes a new batch of workshops! Come get cozy in Design Center. 🍂🎃 Thur 1st, 6-8pm Intro to Crochet $35 Sat 3rd, 11am-1pm Teen Sewing $45 Sat 3rd, 2-5pm Help Make Beds for Dogs in Need Free Sun 4th, 2-5pm Sew Easy: Witch’s Hat $36 Sun 4th, 6-8pm Scrap to Serenity: Gradient Wall Hangings $20 Wed 7th, 5-7pm Sewing Circle Free Thur 8th, 5-7:30pm Community Craft Night - Creepy Dolls Free Fri 9th, 6-8pm Spooky bookbinding-French Link Stitch Journals $40 Fri 9th, 6-8pm Hand Stitch a Mini Quilt $45 Sat 10th, 2-5pm Techniques in Upcycling: Moth Wings $36 Sun 11th, 11am-1pm Sips & Scribbles : Adult Journaling Party $15 Sun 11th, 2-5pm Botanical Teacup Candle Making $45 Sun 11th, 6-8pm Intro to Mending Clothes $15 Tues 13th, 6-8pm Intro to Granny Squares $35 Tues 13th, 6-8pm Needle Felt Your Own Halloween Cat $40 Wed 14th, 6-8pm Fiber Arts Meet Up Free Fri 16th, 6-8pm Make A Leaf Hat $35 Fri 16th, 6-8pm Fall, Halloween, & Christmas Holiday Cards $40 Sat 17th, 11am-1pm Beginning Knitting $35 Sat 17th, 2-5pm Sewing Machine Basics $40 Sun 18th, 2-3:30pm Embroidery Part 2 $40 Sun 18th, 6-8pm Watercolor Workshop - Pumpkins $40 Tues 20th, 6-8pm Scrappy Basketry $40 Wed 21st, 5-7pm Sewing Circle Free Thur 22nd, 6-8pm Spooky Bookbinding-Coptic Stitch Journals $40 Fri 23rd, 6-8pm Heat Embossing Holiday Cards $45 Oct, Fri 23rd, 6-8pm Hand Stitch a Mini Quilt $45 Sat 24th, 11am-1pm Mrs. Lydia's Alterations Series- Intro to Sewing Patterns $45 Sat 24th, 2-5pm Sewing Machine 101 and Scrapy Coasters $35 Sun 25th, 11am-12:30pm Intro to Crochet for KIDS $35 Sun 25th, 2-4pm Watercolor Workshop - Ghosts $40 Sun 25th, 6-8pm Collage Lid Magnets $15 Tues 27th, 6-8pm Sashiko-Inspired Mending $40 Tues 27th, 6-8pm Cross-stitch on Postcards $40 Wed 28th, 6-8pm Low Distraction Volunteer Night Free Sat 31st, 11am-1pm Upcycling with Blockprinting (Spooky Edition) $35 Sat 31st, 2-5pm Intro to Blockprinting (Spooky Edition) $35

Join us for Mongo’s Maker Market on Saturday Dec. 5th from 11am-4pm! Applications now open, link in bio. Please no MLM, AI art, or resale. Priority will be given to artists that use reused, recycled, or sustainable materials. More details in the form - apply today!

We had a wonderful time at @enoriver 60th Anniversary Celebration this past weekend! 🐢 🏞️🐞☀️ Have you booked us for your fall festival or event yet? Our calendar is filling up fast! Submit your request today: scrapexchange.org/offsiteevents

Do you know all the different pieces that make up The Scrap? 🧐🧩💓

Thanks for joining us for 🧚 fairy door night 🧚 it was a dreamy time!

🙂‍↔️ Nothing like an afternoon spent digging in ephemera. 🙂‍↔️

Join us on Friday, Sept. 11th from 6-8 pm to celebrate new artwork from the Brushes With Life program at The Farm At Penny Lane. Artists from the program will be exhibiting artwork throughout The Scrap Exchange's front entry hall and on our community partner gallery wall just outside the Artist Market. Light refreshments will be provided. The Craft For A Cause workshop fundraiser will be held in tandem with the reception. The workshop will be an evening of mindful crafting, focused on gratitude keepsakes out of upcycled materials sourced from The Scrap Exchange! Proceeds will go to The Farm at Penny Lane, a community center for mental health recovery.

📣 Heyoooooo volunteer slots are LIVE through the end of the year! 📣 Whether it's winding yarn, testing writing utensils, sorting clothes, or organizing beads – Mongo's got something for everybody. Sign up today! scrapexchange.org/volunteer

❗️MONGO'S GUIDE TO BEING A SUPER SCRAPPER MATERIAL DONOR❗️ We love your stuff, keep bringin' the stuff! We wouldn't be here without ya! These are just some pointers on how to make your donation process easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Next community craft nite is Thursday September 10th from 5-7pm and we're making fairy doors and fairy houses! 🧚

Spooky season is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than a DUAL LIBERTY ARTS AND SCRAP EXCHANGE PRE-GAME PARTY?! Before hitting the streets for trick or treating, come hang out in the Scrap sideyard for an afternoon of coke sand smashing (wear something you can dirty in!), testing out some smash contraptions ahead of the big day, bubble wrap stomping for the littles, a Make N' Break crafting station, and more from 12-3pm on Halloween. Join Liberty Arts’ Iron Breaking Captains to smash reclaimed scrap iron! Everything you destroy will become art during the Annual Iron Pour! Use sledgehammers to break down bathtubs and more. Get a great workout, release your rage, and support reuse art making. Additional PPE will be provided, but iron breakers must wear long pants and closed toe shoes to participate! Volunteers ages 15 and up are welcome. If you'd like to sign the participation waiver ahead of time, head on over to their site (libertyartsnc.org). @glassjug will be on site selling beer and our pals @durhamcongeecorner will be serving up some snacks. 👻 🎃☠️👀🕸️💥

RECEPTION and FREE WORKSHOP this Friday from 6-8. Join us in our Cameron Gallery to celebrate our latest exhibit, Tying Up Loose Ends: Storytelling Through Creative Reuse, curated by Bee Mangine. Light refreshments will be served, along with a free, in-gallery workshop where you can learn how to make Scrap leather earrings and accessories from aluminum cans! Featured artists include Bee Mangine, Beverly Mangine, Denise Goodale, Gwenn Goodale, Lucien Koger, and Anthony Davy Hope to see you there!!

DEADLINE EXTENDED!! Submit your monster art to be considered for the October exhibition in our Cameron Gallery by Saturday, September 5th. For this exhibit we are looking for monster inspired art in all forms: cute, scary, silly, sad, angry, symbolic. Art that includes reuse is highly encouraged but not required. Submissions will be juried and artists will be notified by September 9th. Go to: www.scrapexchange.org/#submissions for more info

Mongo had a blast at Packapalooza this past weekend!

🏃‍♀️ WE'RE RUNNIN' IT BACK! 🏃‍♀️ Box sale this Thursday from 11am-4pm in the space to the right of Scrap Thrift (up the ramp) when you're facing the building. $13 per box! Departments are a surprise! Credit card only, pay and grab a box when ya get there.

SMASHFEST 2026. 11.27.26. 💥⛓️‍💥🏴‍☠️❗️❤️‍🔥🧨🍻🔥👹

🍂🧵Fall's starting soon! Time to slow down and learn a cozy craft. Come check out our September workshops! 🧶🍁 Tues 1st, 3-5pm Boomerang Bags Free! Wed 2nd, 5-7pm Sewing Circle Free! Wed 2nd, 6-8pm Yay! You're Gonna Crochet (Intro to Crochet) $35 Thur 3rd, 6-8pm Make A Leaf Hat $35 Sat 5th, 11am-1pm Botanical Teacup Candle Making $45 Sat 5th, 2-5pm An Abstract Painting Adventure $45 Sun 6th, 11am-1pm Sips & Scribbles : Adult Journaling Party $30 Sun 6th, 2-5pm Elven Chain Headpieces $40 Sun 6th, 6-8pm Teen Sewing $45 Sun 6th, 6-8pm Scrap to Serenity: Gradient Wall Hangings $20 Tues 8th, 6-8pm Intro to Zippers Creatively $45 Wed 9th, 6-8pm Stitch N Bitch Free! Thur 10th, 5-7pm Community Craft night $5-10* Fri 11th, 6-8pm Craft for a Cause $15 Sat 12th, 11am-1pm Machine Sewing a Scrappy Mini Quilt $45 Sat 12th, 2-5pm Hand Sewing a Scrappy Mini Quilt $45 Sun 13th, 11am-1pm Intro to Hand Embroidery $40 Sun 13th, 2-5pm Sew Easy: Wrap Pants $36 Sun 13th, 6-8pm Mending: Hand Sewing $15 Tues 15th, 6-8pm Make Your Own Succulent $40 Wed 16th, 5-7pm Sewing Circle Free! Fri 18th, 6-8pm Sewing Machine Basics $40 Sat 19th, 11am-1pm Create a Jimothy amigurumi $40 Sat 19th, 2-5pm Techniques in Upcycling: A-line mini dress $36 Sun 20th, 11am-1pm Painted Pronoun Pins $20 Sun 20th, 2-5pm Intro to Chine Collé $35 Sun 20th, 6-8pm Beginning Knitting: Soap Saver $35 Wed 23rd, 6-8pm Low Distraction Volunteer Night Free! Thur 24th, 6-8pm Make Your Own Vote Patch $40 Fri 25th, 6-8pm Mrs. Lydia's Alterations Series- Intro to Sewing Patterns $45 Sat 26th, 11am-1pm Upcycle Pants (part 1) $60 Sat 26th, 2-5pm Sips & Scribbles:Adult Journaling Party $30 Sun 27th, 11am-1pm Upcycle Pants (part 2) $60 Sun 27th, 2-5pm Sewing 101 $45 Sun 27th, 6-8pm Glass Etching $30 Wed 30th, 6-8pm Upcycling with Blockprinting $35 🔗 in bio to signup!

HUGE THANKS to Andy Smith and Scott Brummel of @thebullcitywoodshop for building us a BRAND NEW writing utensils bracket. Our customers spend hours digging through the utensil troughs finding the perfect pen, pencil, crayon, or marker, and we're thrilled to have our OG setup back thanks to our pals. ✨🪵 🖍️ 🫶

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