Written By Elisa Peters

Photography By Rishita Nannapaneni

Modeled By Elisa Peters & Re Baker-Dietez

Who knew that the market for miniature wood chairs, plastic baby-doll heads, and kodak slide lamps would be on the rise in Springfield, Missouri? These objects, among others, are the product of donated materials that have come directly from Springfield residents. Re Baker-Dietez, the founder and director of Arrow Creative Reuse, an art supply store, started this non-profit knowing that there were people in their community that would be willing and interested in purchasing these items. Baker-Dietez founded Arrow Creative Reuse, located on 1506 E. St. Louis Street, on December 17, 2022. Having transformed a 70s style house into a retail space, she successfully created an artist's dream store.

“Arrow is an art supply thrift store. We take donated materials and put them in the hands of artists and educators at a low cost,” says Baker-Dietez.

After having volunteered at KC Scraps, an art thrift store in Kansas City, Baker-Dietez was inspired to open their own second-hand art supply store in Springfield. When Baker-Dietez was young, she used to go to the Etcetera Center with her mom, a teacher’s supply closet that stopped operating 30 years ago. The Etcetera Center held educational supplies, art materials, and craft things to take for free. At KC Scraps, Baker-Dietez learned about the volunteer and donation process and what it means to transform a small business into a non-profit. With this newfound knowledge and the memory of the Etcetera Center, Baker-Dietez was inspired to open a store in Springfield with the same idea.

Baker-Dietez said, “Springfield was ready for something like this. I’m proud that people are benefiting from it.”

As the only paid employee, Baker-Dietez relies on the operations of volunteers. These volunteers help to take in donations, sort them, and then place them around the store. The shop is separated by several different rooms. In the “Fibers” room you may find yarn, fabric, sewing kits, beads, and fiber art books. The “Art Supplies” room consists of pencils, pens, markers, pastels, spray paints, watercolors, acrylic paint, oil paint, tempera paint, glue, stickers, and so much more. If you are looking for original artwork and unique home decor, you’ll find this in the “Gift Shop” room. Art instruction and special topics books, collage materials like old national geographic magazines and maps, woodworking, leather textiles, and ceramic supplies are just a few examples found within the plethora of materials Arrow sells.

Not only does Arrow Creative Reuse have a storefront, which is open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but they also host non-traditional classes, workshops, and events at their sister location, the Arrow Art Annex, just down the street from the retail store. These classes range from $15 to $100, including topics that teach paper mache crafts, Shrinky Dink jewelry-making (using donated number 6 plastic), ceramic overglazing, and refurbishing older thrift store pieces to create kodak slide lamps, for example.

Baker-Dietez hopes artists are able to spread the word about the space,“Mostly I just hope that people know we are here, it’s a big word of mouth, it’s a secret spot for artists, once your friend tells you about it you’re here all the time.”

If there is one way that you can help Arrow continue to thrive within the Springfield community it is by shopping there whenever possible. You can show your support by rounding up on your total when purchasing. This donation, although small, adds up overtime. Additionally, if you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, Arrow Creative Reuse is always in need of volunteers. Since volunteers are the backbone of this non-profit, any external help is welcomed. If you find interest in volunteering, check out their volunteer form on their website. Arrow is currently looking for volunteers with experience in writing grants.

Eventually, Baker-Dietez wants to combine Arrow’s retail store with the Art Annex. This goal, although long-term, would allow for artists in workshops to have direct access to the store and vice versa. This plan is doable with help from the Springfield community and its continual support and shopping done at Arrow Creative Reuse. Even if you are not an artist or an educator, simply shopping at Arrow means that you are practicing sustainable consumerism. Perhaps you are not looking to buy a plastic baby-doll head; I can bet you will find something else in Arrow's wonderland of supplies and decor items.

When looking for parking, Baker-Dietez notes that guests should head to the back of the building via Weller St., where there is enough parking space for 11 vehicles.