Photos: Transformed Treasures 2016

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“Kid’s Kitchen and Diner” by Lynelle Kukowski and Ruthann Austin in the Salvation Army's "Transformed Treasures" fundraiser.

"Kid's Kitchen and Diner" by Lynelle Kukowski and Ruthann Austin is one of scores of pieces that will be auctioned off at the Salvation Army's annual "Transformed Treasures" fundraiser on Saturday. The auction items are created from discarded items found at Salvation Army Thrift Stores and turned into something worth keeping through the inspiration and elbow grease of local artists.

Work on this year's treasures began in January, when selected artists browsed through the thrift stores and picked things that stimulated their creativity. They took the secondhand leftovers home and the process of metamorphosis began. Each artist received $50 for whatever they might need to complete their projects, which were shown in a preview in April.

Much of the finished work has some practical use, such as beautiful felted mittens by Sherri Stein, quilts, clocks, coat racks, furniture, lamps and shelving. (In fact, there's a whole challenge category for shelves; one looks like R2D2.) But as utilitarian as such things are, they have an artistic character and vitality.

Read more: Discards are turned into tools, toys and art in Salvation Army's 'Transformed Treasures' fundraiser