If I’ve done my homework, the term upcycling was officially coined in 2002.  It’s a term that seems to be interchangeable with repurposing – or the process of recycling an old-something into a new-something. And it’s a talent to be sure.

Enter Barbara Hearne.

Barbara’s been mastering her craft since she was a kid…barefoot and romping about during family weekends spent at the beach or come just about any holiday when there were costumes or decorations that needed creating!

It takes a special kind of creative…with an eye for the unusual and thinking outside the proverbial box to be good at this work.  Barbara admits to liking jigsaw puzzles, exceling at spatial problem solving, and dabbling in the arts.  All of that (and more) went along with her when she studied fashion merchandizing at ECU that eventually led to opening a consignment shop called “Southern Girl Salvage.” It was a unique shop in Portsmouth, arriving on scene just ahead of everyone’s appetite for vintage and repurposed items.  And about half of that shop was filled with Barbara’s creations…

Now (fortunately for all of us) she’s here at Beach Treasures in Duck – and we love to refer to her as OUR in-house artist! Around the shop you’ll find her resin art and seashell jewelry…but it doesn’t just stop there. Painting and pebble art is up her alley…and she’s simply masterful in displaying our wares…heck, she even painted our front door!

Her resin art is something truly special…bits and pieces, shells, and whatnots all rearranged into beautiful designs and objects to admire.  An old frame or window now becomes a canvas that we gaze upon rather than gazing through. Something new is now contained in something old, displaying handiwork where before none existed.  Yet Barbara’s modest…and when asked to about her process she’ll simply say that it’s just “seeing something cool and rearranging it.”

It's a knack and a talent she’s had all of her life – teased out by her mom and appreciated by so many.  We hope you’ll come by and meet her for yourself – taking some extra time to admire her one-of-a-kind treasures that we are proud to showcase here in Duck.

Thank you for visiting our site, Outer Banks Gifts Online, part of Beach Treasures in Duck, located exclusively on the Town of Duck’s Boardwalk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Pay a visit to our shop to see an array of local art from many Outer Banks and regional artisans working in various mediums.