Sunflower garden room at the new store called Recycled Works for ME on May 24 in New Sharon. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

NEW SHARON — Recycled Works for ME, a new store offering a variety of repurposed and handmade items, will open its doors on Friday, May 24, at 31 Lane Road in New Sharon.

The sign for Recycled Works for ME is seen on Tuesday, May 21. The store on Route 27 in New Sharon will open May 24. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

Owner Nancy Bowden has transformed a large garage into a unique shopping destination filled with woodworking projects, antiques, reupholstered furniture, and various crafts. “I make things from end pieces of wood that carpenters throw away, old toys, horseshoes, car parts, and rusty screws,” said Bowden. “Everything is recycled.”

Bowden, who has a home in New Sharon in addition to her primary residence in Windham, has been preparing for the opening for several months. “I love doing crafts and making stuff. I upholster furniture, paint, and make crafts from old pieces of furniture,” she explained. Among the items for sale are birdhouses, reupholstered furniture, and vintage pieces like an 80-year-old Ethan Allen chair and a cradle that Bowden’s own children, now adults, used as infants.

Among the other unique handcrafted items is a low rocking horse like the one from her childhood, recreated by Nancy for her children and relatives. This piece, safe for toddlers is just one example of her craftsmanship. Bowden also showcases a range of other creations, including a bench repurposed from a blacksmith’s stool, an angel shape crafted from wood and a paint scraper, and various stools she designed and painted herself. Each item reflects Bowden’s talent for turning old, discarded materials into functional and beautiful pieces.

The store features various sections, including areas for clothes, shoes, tea sets, and kitchenware. “All the clothes are $10 unless marked otherwise,” Bowden noted. Additionally, she creates and sells items with inspirational quotes such as “Always keep your beautiful imagination.”

“The name of the store, Recycled Works for ME, has personal significance,” said Bowden. “My maiden name is Works, and my family has roots in New Sharon.”

The store’s layout is designed with creativity and practicality in mind. Bowden used old doors to separate different sections, and she restored a desk from the dump, which turned out to have an inscription on it, it was a birthday present for a 14-year-old in 1917. “I replaced the wood, reglued it, and fixed it up. That is what I love doing,” she said.

Rocking Horse by Nancy Bowden, who is opening a store on May 24 in New Sharon. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

Outside the store, visitors will find a yellow boat filled with flowers, visible from Route 27, and various outdoor decorations. “We will have outside items and decorations; I will have flowers outside and have a rocking chair and table,” Bowden said. “I am excited to get ready for the Christmas season as well. I am going to start in September.”

Recycled Works for ME will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bowden emphasizes the importance of recycling: “Recycling provides many benefits to our environment. By recycling our materials, we create a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations.”