2nd time designs

I get to see these gorgeous creations everyday and it never ceases to bring a smile to my face. I love the dragon! I think this was one of the 1st sculptures and to this day i still look for it!

2nd Time Designs is an interesting shop & art gallery that allows visitors to discover the world of recycling---> turning old used metal and parts into NEW and innovative pieces of artwork. 2nd Time Designs is located on Route 24, just East of Millsboro, DE. It is about a 10-15 minute drive from Highway ONE in Lewes, DE and is located just a few miles west of Holly Lake Camp Site. You can't miss it. There are several large sculptures on the front lawn, including a giraffe head popping out from behind some bushes and trees!My husband and I visited 2nd Time Designs while we were vacationing in Rehoboth Beach in May 2009. We decided to stop and take a peek at the whimsical artwork since we were in the area. Driving down the gravel lane that leads back behind the main home, we passed several large metal sculptures, including some really beautiful flowers with moving pieces (they move with the breeze). Once we arrived at the back of the property, we saw a small workshop and a garage type building. We were greeted by one of the artists herself (Judy) and she welcomed us to come inside and take a look at their make-shift art gallery & shop. Once inside the garage style gallery, we saw some really neat pieces of art. We saw owls, flamingos, pelicans, "horseshoe" crabs, hummingbirds, bluebirds, turtles, fish, seahorses, large flowers, butterflies, crabs, dragonflies, praying mantis and MORE. They were all constructed out of what most people would consider to be "junk". They make their artwork out of old car parts, shovels, helmets, and whatever else she happens to come across that makes good art. She would ask us if we knew what the pieces were made out of & then told us about how the piece was constructed.. It was really interesting to try and guess what kinds of old parts were used to make the art. Some were easy to guess...like beaters from handheld mixers, shovel heads or helmets (used to make turtles)...but it was really interesting to see HOW she turned "junk" into amazing art! She explained to us how they have hours and hours of work invested into each piece of art, since they have to sand and prepare each piece of metal before they can even begin to weld it. After welding, each piece is painted, signed & numbered, and give a clear coat (just like a car). She told us that each piece is unique & with the proper care....will last a long time. She said you would care for your art...like you would care for your car...cleaning and waxing it.While we were there, she also showed us one of their pieces that they were working on...a mermaid by the name of Molly that she was constructing to take to take to a show. She said that they do NOT do many shows/events, since many of their pieces are SO large. But she said that they still try to do a few every now and then--taking a few large pieces along to the shows/events. However, you can always stop by their gallery on Route 24 and take a peek. They do NOT have any hours listed on their mailbox "sign", so you can try and just stop by OR call ahead for an appointment to view the gallery.If you are in the area and interested in UNIQUE, INNOVATIVE, or WHIMSICAL artwork..then a stop at 2nd Time Designs is a must. You will enjoy looking at the art & learning about it's history. It is FREE to stop and take a look around the art gallery. It only costs you if you decide to buy a piece of art. You may decide you want to purchase a piece for your home OR as a gift for someone special after you see some of these unique pieces of art.