JENKS, Okla. — Linda Reynolds wanted to do something for others while her art studio “Stuff Dreams are Made Of” was closed during the pandemic. A friend sent her a donation and she decided to pay it forward. And now she’s doing so with The Giving Tree.
“Sometimes people will sneak up like they’re doing something they’re not supposed to do and take it," Reynolds said.
Every Thursday and Saturday, Reynolds and her family and friends put grab bags together then pin them on a metal Christmas tree outside her studio in Jenks. And then, she waits for people to come, taking notes of who is picking up a bag.
“Mom with two kids, a quick one, boy running to the car, three women, a young man and a woman and two boys in a big truck," she said.
Each bag is a surprise, containing unique items that you can make art with. Some bags include items like buttons, pom-poms and old tickets. Many of the items come from the thrift store in Reynold’s studio. While it may look like old trinkets to some, for her, it’s art.
“The idea is re-purposing, remembering, recollecting, restoring," she said.
Reynolds is an art therapist. She said tapping into our creative side, especially during a pandemic, helps our brains.
“We know that when people are engaged in expressive art making that our brains relax we can be more open minded, child like, playful, curious, interested," she said.
Reynolds said creating the grab bags has brought her a lot of joy and connected her to others during a time when many people are apart.
“I like to think that the people that I don’t know that maybe snuck up or drove right up and took things gained some pleasure from the fact that someone was giving something away for free," she said.
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of is open on Thursdays from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
