100+1 Uses For Discarded Pipes ~sutherland~

2012-04-10T16:15:00-04:00

Like most creative types, I fancy myself a problem solver, and when one discards an object deeming it no longer of worth, I say “Nay, good Sir or Madam, you just haven’t thought up a good way to recontextualize it.”

My desk, as I type, is covered, and I mean filled to maximum capacity, with discarded pipes that didn't make the cut that we’ve received with estate batches from good folks just like you, dear reader. They are set aside serving no other purpose but sentimentality, and occasional employee pilfering.

And so begins our dusty journey together finding new uses for old, chewed-up, burnt-out pipes. We may not actually reach one-hundred and one (this sounds much more intimidating all spelled out), but I bet once we put our heads together we’ll come up with all sorts of new and inventive ways to repurpose that which I know most of you will never throw out anyway.

I’ll start (this was, my idea, after all) with what has to be one of the world’s tiniest planters:

What do you think? The pipe (and yes, Magritte, this still be a pipe) continues to carry with it all its “pipe-ness” and the cultural baggage there within-- nostalgia, masculinity, etc. minus the smoking part-- even juxtaposed with feminine beauty of the colorful little wildflower I picked behind my office.

And now that you’re stimulated, it’s your turn, dear Sir or Madam. What ideas have you? Tell us in the comments, or better yet send us some pics to photosubmissions@smokingpipes.com or post them on our Facebook page. Please, do not be afraid to think outside the box (one-hundred and one is a lot).

John Sutherland: Marketing Mngr and Sr. Photographer

Smokingpipes.com Blog

100+1 Uses For Discarded Pipes ~sutherland~