Crafting Gnomes, Cultivating Kindness: An Upcycled Creation Class

In this hands-on workshop, discover the art of upcycling as you create whimsical decorative gnomes from CDs, fabric scraps, and yarn to keep or share. You'll also learn to assemble practical "Kindness Kits" from upcycled materials filled with essential first aid and hygiene supplies, which will be donated to local non-profits serving at-risk community members. This class blends creative crafting with a meaningful opportunity for community support.

Meet the Instructor!

Shelene (Shelly) Codner has been with the Iowa Waste Exchange, a free, confidential and non-regulatory program of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for 23 years, prior to that she served as the Director of the Butler County Solid Waste Commission. Currently she serves as the program manager and also as an Area Resource Specialist for Area 2 which includes the following counties: Boone, Cerro Gordo, Clarke, Decatur, Dallas, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Madison, Polk, Story, Warren, Winnebago, Worth and Wright Counties.

Shelly is an award-winning writer, published children’s author and contributing author to the New York Times best-selling series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. Shelly also serves as volunteer regional editor of Green Teacher magazine based in Toronto. Aside from reading and writing Shelly has many hobbies and interests, sewing, quilting, crocheting, knitting, crafting, gardening, cooking, baking, photography and spending time outdoors and with family, Shelly’s favorite pastime by far is being with her grandchildren.

Shelly lives on a farm in rural Iowa with her husband of 38 years.

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