Dottie Turner stands in front of a picture of her granddaughter, Eveony Taylor, which is framed by reused items. Trying to find a use for all her trash, Turner recycles it into gifts.
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 | 3:23 p.m.
To some people, a Styrofoam takeout food box is litter. To Dottie Turner, it's a jewelry box. A sardine can becomes a pot for potpourri and cardboard box that once held food can become a sewing kit.
Discontent with the lack of community recycling, the longtime Summerlin resident started turning trash into treasures and garbage into gifts by dressing them up with flowers, lace, ribbons and glitter.
Calling herself "Dottie Do," Turner said she believes almost everything manmade could be made into something else usable.
Turner converted her garage into a workshop, where she crafts her art and crochets towels and pot holders.
"I have a passion for recycling all the things we discard all the time that could be made into lovely little gifts," she said.
Her personal recycling efforts caught the attention of Barack Obama's campaign staff last year. Turner presented the then-candidate with one of his posters to which she had added her own creative touch. The staff thanked her for looking for creative ways to encourage recycling.
A fan of the new president and first lady, Turner has made a wall hanging decorated with red, white and blue flowers with a two-page Ebony magazine photo in the center.
"I said if I get to meet them again, I can give it to Mrs. (Michelle) Obama," Turner said.
Turner hopes to turn her hobby into a business with help from a benefactor. She said she wants to earn a little money for herself, but also use proceeds to help the homeless.
For a look at her work, call 762-5801.
Jeff Pope can be reached at 990-2688 or [email protected].
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