The Trash to Treasure program will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 12, at the Peters Township Public Library and it is certain to be as popular as Vejlstrup's past programs at the library.

Vejlstrup, who has designed shows for Phipps Conservatory, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, created the beautiful vintage chair planter currently on display at the Peters Township Public Library. It is one example of the magic she can help others to create themselves.

The planter features vibrant geraniums and multi-colored greens in a vintage chair that might have been discarded if it had not been recycled into something beautiful and useful. The red geraniums are actually a mixture of live plants and silk blooms that are closely matched for size and color.

"Whenever I add silks to a container it is to match natural colors. The chair planter that is in the lobby of the Peters Township Public Library has real red geraniums and a few silk red geraniums as well, so it is constantly in bloom," said Vejlstrup.

"We'll be asking people to look at things that they would not normally consider and help them think of ways to use them as creative accents in the home or garden. They're always a fun conversation piece," said Vejlstrup. "Everyone will be taking home printed instructions for projects and lists of possible containers to use and pictures."

The designer has transformed some very unusual items into planters, garden or home accents, including bicycles, a football helmet and even hats. She said that she gets her ideas from many sources.

"I am sort of a pack rat," said Vejlstrup. "Sometimes I get ideas just from seeing something on a street. Actually, I have been known to stop to pick something up! I have many research files, with magazines and newspaper clips. Of course, the library is a great resource too. This is a good time to do a class like this because even though many people already have their gardens planted, the class will get people fired up again about imagination, accents and trying something different in mid-season. It's a very informal forum and we have a lot of fun," said Vejlstrup.

Early pre-registration is recommended as Vejlstrup's programs have filled quickly in the past. To pre-register for this program, visit the Peters Township Public Library's circulation desk, call 724-941-9430 or email caweaver@ptlibrary.org. A slight non-refundable fee will be charged to cover the cost of printed materials and must be paid at the time of registration. Those who register will automatically be entered into the raffle for the chair planter displayed in the library's lobby.