Cindi Carlson, an employee and student at Northern Michigan University, shows off earrings she made from scraps of fabric left over from a previous sewing project. Carlson is entered in the DIY Hero contest sponsored by Make Magazine, with public able to cast votes. (Photo courtesy of Cindi Carlson)

MARQUETTE — The artistic creations of Cindi Carlson has been selected for a national “do it yourself” creator contest that involves the public casting votes.

The ultimate winner of the DIY Hero contest will take home $25,000 and be featured in Make Magazine.

The magazine publishes what it calls “projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews and inspirational stories, accessible by all ages and skill ranges.”

Carlson, 52, is an executive secretary at the Academic and Career Advisement Center at Northern Michigan University. She said she plans to graduate on April 30, after 10 years of taking classes, earning a bachelor’s degree in fine art with a concentration in sculpture.

Carlson tries to reuse and “upcycle” materials as much as she can.

“I have a hard time throwing anything away,” Carlson said.

At her DIY Hero webpage at https://diyhero.org/2022/cindi-carlson, where people can cast votes, she said of herself, “I am a lover of all things DIY. My favorite projects are when I can turn something old that has lost its purpose into something new.”

Carlson was asked to tell the public about her favorite project.

“Wow, this is a tough one,” she answered. “I’ve done so many projects that fall into my ‘favorite’ category. I am most proud of the quilts, purses and ornaments I have made for friends and family out of their loved one’s clothing.

“The project that I have made for myself that is my favorite is my headboard, made from a door and old lamps that were going to be discarded. I did just finish updating an old dresser for my first grandchild due this summer that really makes my heart full.”

What project would she showcase in Make Magazine? Carlson said it would be a “toss-up” between the headboard, grandchild’s dresser or slide curtain.

If she won the $25,000, Carlson said she would use a portion toward her long overdue kitchen remodeling project, donate a portion and give some of the money to her four children.

Photos of Carlson’s work can be found on her DIY webpage.

In an interview with The Mining Journal, Carlson said she entered the contest at the beginning of February. After being accepted, she had a month to get her page together.

The current voting phase of the contest runs until 7 p.m. March 24. Carlson said another round will open later.

“I do a little bit of anything,” she said. “I have people ask me, “Can you do this?’ and I’m like, ‘I’ve never done that before, but I can try.'”

T-shirt quilting, though, has been a big part of her creative efforts, she said.

Old clothes that in other people’s hands might get tossed in the trash bin are likelier to find a second life with Carlson.

“I’ll take people’s old clothing — loved ones that have passed away — and I can turn them into blankets or pillows or Christmas ornaments,” she said. “I can sew just about anything.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.