What if the things we already have — the scraps, the leaves, the little bits most people throw away — are exactly where creativity begins?

This week, Sarah Robertson-Barnes talks with Sibia Torres Padilla, the artist and author behind @sibster and Charming Woodland Crafts: 50 Fun and Easy Projects Made from Natural and Recycled Materials.

Sibia shares how her upbringing shaped her creativity and resourcefulness, and how those early lessons in “making do” evolved into a lifelong love of turning the everyday into something meaningful. Together, they explore the beauty of creative reuse, the emotional connections formed through making, and how crafting with kids can nurture imagination and mindfulness — especially during the busy holiday season.

They also talk about the realities of navigating online fame, what it felt like to publish her first book, and why creating something by hand can be such a powerful act of hope.

Takeaways

• Creativity and sustainability are deeply connected — both begin with what’s already around us.
• Creative reuse transforms ordinary materials into art and joy.
• Making things by hand fosters connection with nature and each other.
• Publishing Charming Woodland Crafts was a dream realized.
• The holidays offer a chance to create intentionally, not consume endlessly.
• You don’t need to be “crafty” to make something meaningful.
• Beauty exists even in what others might see as trash.

One Small Shift

Look at what’s already in your home — paper scraps, jars, pinecones, fabric bits — and see what could become something new. Start with one small, handmade project and let the process be the point.

Connect with Sibia

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Facebook

Resources

Charming Woodland Crafts: 50 Fun and Easy Projects Made from Natural and Recycled Materials (buy Sibia’s book!)

6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (blog post)

Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas (blog post)

Seasonal Decor: How to Make Dried Orange Slices (blog post) 

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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