d.i.y. wednesday: vintage fabric redo

I suppose for this DIY, you should have a basic sewing understanding-and I would just like to offer ideas for useful and beautiful ways in which to use vintage fabrics. Its a workbook inspiration if you will. Enjoy.
Photos via Posh Vintage and Etsy, here, here, here, here and here.

inna alesina

Inna Alesina is an innovative industrial designer from the Ukraine and a graduate of Parsons Design School. Always interested in environmental issues she has designed products that have won numerous awards and wide recognition by the press, including her collection of furniture produced from recycled egg cartons and lighting from recycled CD's.

emmeline: recycled fashion

Emmeline 4 Re, recycles textiles into innovative fashions for style conscious individuals, diverting textile waste away from landfill.

girls with beads

Recycling everything in their path, Girls With Beads from the UK has a diverse range of usable mediums. From bathmats and astro turf to neckties and old textiles, nothing go unused in their world.

tonic clothing uk: organic style

Tonic is an independent London-based ethical clothing label producing bold original designs on sweatshop-free, fairly traded and organic cotton men's and women's t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies. See the full range here.

refab: doorstops and doordrafts

I first saw Refab's doorwares on the UK eco site, Love Eco. Refab is an eco conscious company and we would like to share with you our retro inspired vision of sustainable style, function and fun. Alongside our classic vintage fabrics from the 50's, 60's and 70's, we use reclaimed, recycled organic and biodegradable materials wherever possible.

boris bally: recycled street signs

Boris Bally has been creating his reclaimed traffic sign products for a long time, my favorite are his chairs and the new designs for tables that he has. He also creates bowls, plates, mailboxes, the ubiquitous wreath I saw everywhere this past holiday season, clocks and house numbers. With numerous awards, exhibitions and workshops he brings many years of experience as an artist to a movement that is just now catching on in the mass market. He works with discarded aluminum signage because of the powerful recycling message, the enamel technique on the discarded material and his inspired view of European Medieval metalwork and their old techniques of raising, riveting, perforating, layering, piercing, and forming. Each material search is an exhaustive hunt for wonderful pieces of modern man's urban archeological trail, and he then matchs them to create exciting color and image combinations with abstraction of imagery. He sais, "The mockery of precious materials in a waste pile is symbolic of the American struggle for wealth and success."

kirsty kirkpatrick: beautiful jewelry from banality

Wow, talk about trash to treasure!! Kirsty Kirkpatrick really ressurects materials from the trash heap to interesting and even covetable objects. Her jewelry pieces are made from watch innards, vinyl flooring, buttons, pins, etc.

In her own words, "In a fast pace city ever moving, changing, shifting, with the need to succeed grow and develop we are forced to consume. We want too much, we own too much, we consume too much. I feel we have too many objects, things, cluttering up our world and heads desiring beauty and individuality.. In a response to this I attempt to slow us down,look around ourselves and open our own eyes. Value what materials and objects already exists. I regain, reuse, reinvent to tame some needs and desires. I construct uncommonly beautiful accessories from our unwanted waste: A three legged chair, a luggage suitcase, a'dated' dress and an odd button found in the street into thought provoking fashion accessories. I deconstruct these materials and reinvent then into new products. Using textile processes and finishings onto industrial materials like wood and vinyl forever contrasting with techniques and appearances. Inspired by traditional craft and driven by materials. Create modern precious embroideries."

rhubarb decor

Rhubarb Decor makes a couple of lovely interior furniture pieces out of none other than sustainable bamboo. Love them for that.

jackets for charity

Kenneth Cole and Jon Bon Jovi have collaborated to design a stylish line of jackets, and all profits donated to Help USA a non-profit and provider of homes, jobs and services for America's homeless. There are currently 3.5 million homeless in America.

re store: a second life for building materials

recycled coke can flower pendant

Etsy Shops never fail to amaze me. What a simple, yet very fashionable and cute posie pendant necklace--its even a great color.

olga abadi: nahui ollin handbags

Mexican designer Olga Abadi uses the ancient Mayan technique (I had no idea that was a Mayan technique, but that makes it even more fun) of binding everyday materials into handbags, her company Nahui Ollinbags are playful and colorful, each made of recycled materials of candy wrappers (like Ecoist) and soda labels collected from small, independent factories near where the Abadi family lives in Mexico.

rechargable led lights

Rechargable LED's, nuff said.

piet hein eek: reclaimed furniture

More amazing Dutch design from Piet Hein Eek, yet another designer from the Netherlands creating fun experimental eco furniture this time with scrapwood. His lines for children are both modern and ecological. Cribs, changing tables and high chairs all wonderful, plus he has many more designs for adults and some experiental architecture as well. See Piet Hein Eek's work.

city joinery: industrial recycled felt

Jonah Zuckerman and Brooklyn hand-weaver Jeanne Heifetz have partnered for a project to design felt rugs with 85% recycled content, available at City Joinery. The rugs come in two different base colors of industrial woven felt, grey and white. There are many color options for the rayon or nylon trimmings are numerous, and the rugs can be made to order in any size.

anemone bench: reclaimed materials

Designer, JackRabbit on Etsy created a wonderful "weiner" bench from reclaimed materials of old t shirts and sweaters. It looks as if it was very labor intensive to create and very crafty, Bravo JackRabbit.

planet shoes: earth vegan tennies

Funky reinvented classic sneakers in teal color with faux suede trim, at Planet Shoes.

clear blue hawaii: kayak

Clear Blue Hawaii's Napali kayak, the only transparent and foldable kayak in the world, enables enthusiast to skim the ocean’s surface like sea mammals. Designed in 2003 by New Zealander Murray Broom, it was voted one of the top twenty-five products by Fortune and one of the coolest inventions by Time magazine.
Polycarbonate the material used in bulletproof glass and fighter jet canopies has high performance features of high impact strength and complete transparency, allowing a kayaker to coexist in two visible ecological systems at once.
The idea evolved out of a shallow-water military surveillance project in May 2000. Made of military-grade, transparent urethane casing with a Kevlar frame, the Napali is corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and durable, and its narrow hull enables greater speed and less drag. The whole kayak weighs only twenty-six pounds, and, when folded, is small enough to fit into a backpack. The Napali is designed to be used by intermediate and experienced kayakers.
Clear Blue Hawaii's, based in Honolulu, has also diversified into travel bags and gear, including the Blue Sun Solarpac, which features a six-watt removable solar panel and can charge a cell phone in two hours.

haute recycled books: etsy creations

Re: paper is making some fun books out of recycled items on Etsy.

gabriel orozco

My favorite living artist from South America would hands down be Gabriel Orozco. Gabriel (b. 1962) is a Mexican postminimalist, born in Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico and educated in the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas and at the Madrid Circulo de Bellas Artes. He utilizes video mediums, drawings, and installations in addition to photographs and large and small scale sculptures. Gabriel Orozco creates associations between ignored objects in today's world and abstract concepts of fleeting time and movement, all innately beautiful.

posch bags: recycled linens

I found a cute site on Etsy that utilizes vintage bed linens to create cute carry all bags. There are definately some noteworthy designs that Posch Bags is coming up with. What a wonderful way to use fabric that has lost its zest and usefullness.. I always love a repurposed design.

haute ideas in felt: a malleable material

I love felting, it is so fun to create objects from a sustainable material that end up having a wonderful tactile softness to them. Wonderful felt resources and artists can be found at Fiber Arts, a main page for the craft. Claudy Jongstra my personal favorite, creates glorious rugs and wearable felt fashion for top designers. Other top favorites include Hut Up, Elfenz Artes, Meken Art, and Wild Turkey Felt Makers. The versatility of felt as a malleable material like clay, allows you to make anything you can imagine from whimsical childrens puppets to handbags.

doy bags: tidy kids

This organizer box made from recycled juice boxes is so cute, I am sure little ones would like to help stow away their stuffies and toys. Doy Bags UK.

hate ideas: d.i.y. wednesday: mind mapping

For today, DIY Wednesday, try mind mapping (or concept mapping) originally developed by Joseph Novak at Cornell in the 1970's for learning in the sciences. Mind mapping is a very useful tool for focusing on key ideas or something you'd like to brainstorm, remember or organize. Begin by writing down a central idea and thinking up new and related ideas which radiate and branch out from the centre. The approach allows you to make connections between your ideas and are helpful for remembering new information.

1) Put the main idea in the center
A mind map is most useful when the main idea or topic in the middle of the page, allowing enough space between ideas to radiate out from the center. Leaving space between allows you to form the map over time also, coming back to it as you think of more items to add.

2) Draw ideas and words quickly on unlined paper without pausing, judging or editing
If you pause or judge what you are adding, it promotes linear thinking and the purpose of mind mapping is to think creatively and non-linear. Later in the process you can edit, but it is important to allow for all ideas to be released, obscure notions sometimes being the important factors later on- illuminating the topic more clearly.

3) Write down key ideas
Sometimes capital letters show key points and are easier to read in the diagram, using lower case later on to further explain ideas.

4) Look for relationships
Once you have exhausted your brainstorming, go back over the map and use different colors of pen or pencil, highlighing, using arrows to link ideas, branches or some personal way to show connections between your ideas generated. Personalising the map with your own symbols and designs makes a visual relationship between ideas assisting in your recall and understanding or structure of your topic.

pangea organic skincare

Pangea Organic Skincare, which hails from Boulder Colorado, has made leaps and bounds lately in their industry. Winning best product award this year at New Hope Natural Products Expo in Baltimore (2007), for their new facial mask, with unique ingredients of acai, goji berry and matcha tea which is anti-aging, detoxifing and stimulates collagen. Pangea Organics uses no petrochemicals or parabens, GMOs or other synthetic additives. Pangea has three new product offerings: massage & body oils (Malagasy Ginger with Lemongrass; Italian White Sage & Geranium; and Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom) and the Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry facial mask, both unveiled at the Expo.

Pangea’s entire skincare line is bottled in glass, the most recyclable and eco material and has also created new packaging that is plantable. Pangea Organics partnered with Seeds of Change, the largest producer of organic seeds, to create the first ever, 100% compostable, biodegradable and plantable product packaging. It is manufactured with zero waste and created from 100% post-consumer newsprint—without glues and dies. Their molded fiber box is the first of its kind. Soak the box for one minute in water and plant it about 1” deep in soil. The seeds in the packaging include edible Genovese Sweet Basil and flowering Amaranth. In April 2006 Pangea took home Best Packaging Award at Organic Products Europe in London. Pangea is carried in nearly 700 retail locations across the U.S., including approximately 290 Whole Foods and Wild Oats locations, independent natural grocers, gift stores, select spas, yoga studios, boutiques, and abroad in Australia, Canada, China, Dubai, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

rain water catchment: lumi tank australia

Katrina Logan the designer behind the aesthetically easy on the eyes water storage container called Lumi, grew up in inner suburban Melbourne. She graduated of RMIT University with a BArchitecture and worked for Daniel Libeskind in Berlin before starting her own practice, specialising in urban residential projects. She founded Full Tank in 2004, with the vision of addressing water conservation through contemporary design. Lumi transforms rainwater storage from rural tank to modern, urban & architectural. Filling an obvious niche for beautiful rainwater tanks, she hopes Lumi will encourage further h20 conservation. It will with so many design options making it very versatile as graphics can be applied to the surface of the plexi, it comes in a range of colors and sizes (250 liters to 1,100 liters) and also a square or circular footprint. The tank illuminates with light as it becomes full and isconstructed from a fully recyclable plexiglass satinice that is UV resistant and durable.

house numbers: the written word

I predict a fun modern trend with house numbers written as words. Numbers1, from Australia, seems to be the forerunner and only reference for an interesting twist on the otherwise mundane house marker. I especially think it would be fun to spell them out the way we tend to say them like eighteen sixty. Stateside anyone? See them at Numbers1.

tom dixon ecoware: bio plastics

Ecoware a line of bio plastic dishware by British designer Tom Dixon is made of a bio-degradable plastic from bamboo fiber. The line comes in a rich chocolate color and is sustainably made from 85% bamboo with a binder made from a water-soluble polymer. After 5 years the Ecoware objects can be composted back to the earth. There is some controversy however about whether polymide, the binder actually is biodegrades.... a step in the right direction.

simon harrison recycled glass jewelry

Sometimes recycled beach glass seems so hum drum, not the case though with the new bracelets by Simon Harrison. I really enjoy this modern take with an eco edge. Simon Harrison Jewelry. Gorgeous!

recycled glass for landscape

Spruce up your landscaping with some recycled glass pebbles and tiles from Landscape 2 Go. All the colors seem suitable for a warm or tropical landscape design.

earth mama baby angel: eco organic

Earth Mama Baby Angel organic skincare has the best lines, for pregnant, post pardum, baby and even baby loss products. This product Angel Baby bottom balm can serve as an herbal diaper rash, cradle cap and boo-boo balm. All of their products are organic and infused with love.

vegan necklace

I thought this is really cute, on faux leather. Click here.

papcorn: biodegradable plastics

PAPCoRN Denmark, manufactures a range of contemporary, environmental friendly compostable table ware. The streamlined design is modern enough for everyday use or special occasions. PAPCoRN produces sushi-sets, serving plates, takeaway boxes and packaging. Anne Bannick & Lene Vad Jensen, Industrial Designers from Denmark created the line reminiscent of ceramics but biodegradable and compostable. The plastics they use are made from renewable resources of wheat, maize and lactic acid. Reducing environmental impact PAPCoRN's products are made with a Cradle to Cradle philosophy.
Not yet for sale but lovely to look at.

aromatic incense: well being for the senses

I love Nag Champa as most people do and most ancient cultures used incense for sacred and healing purposes, there is historical evidence for this. Man found that aromas could heighten the senses, both sight and smell. The smell of aromatic woods, herbs and leaves carried upward by fire were used as offerings to the gods, purification of an area, to change a mood for meditation and religion, and to cleanse and disinfect living spaces. All smell is molecular, carried in the air, arriving through the nose to the mucous membrane to receptor cells and cilia to catch and identify scent molecules in the air. The nerve system or limbic system for smell is directly exposed to its source of stimulation. Scent can cause an immediate and overwhelming reaction, either pleasant or unpleasant, in a way that no other sensation can. The limbic system, also responsible for creativity, inspiration, and all non-thinking, automatic life processes such as heartbeat, hormone regulation and respiration. Scent can affect all of of these powerful bodily processes. Many instinctual reactions and decisions we make are intrinsically linked to our sense of smell, and many areas of our health and relaxation can be positively affected by smell. Incense and aromatheray can:

Burn incense to cleanse and revitalize the atmosphere of your living space, relax your body: reducing stress, anxiety and fear, calm your mind and prepare you for sleep or create a spiritual atmosphere and heighten & stimulate your awareness for meditation.

Find a bit of poetry about incense at: Japanese Incense.

A great resource page for buying incense is Sensia, which offers several different brands-kind of one stop shopping.

eco design at greenergrass designs

I am loving some of the eco wares that GreenGrass is now offering, take a look at offerings from Droog, Esque, Jos Van Der Meulen & Kelly Mulloy.
Slumped Vases

Paper Bags

Wool Cuffs

I got tagged too!

Gary Payne from Sprayglue tagged me and now I have to confess my weirdness, and phobias too. So here goes, telling the world six weird things about myself and then I will be tagging six others:

1) I sometimes have social phobias for no other apparent reason other than I am an only child. (don't do it to your children all you parents)

2) I am hands down the messiest person who still knows where everything is located, it is all organized with a complex set of piles and stacks of junk.

3) To my utter dismay and grief my 9 1/2 year old cat died because he was mauled by a giant mountain lion last September. Cats eating other cats?????

4) I think plants should live outside not indoors.

5) I am a pescetarian but won't eat encephalopods or shellfish.

6) I collect fridge magnets & dead things (dragonflies, butterflies, animal skulls)

I tagged Summer at BTC Elements Blog, Stephanie at Fabulously Green, Heavy Petal, Mod Mom, Pan Dan,Mipmup & Wawaya.

becky: recycled skateboard handbags

The company Becky is turning out some funky and fun handbags, ipod cases, and belt buckles made from recycled skateboard decks. I think that the clutch is tres cute. All creations made by Becky Hickey in her New York studio.

stuart haygarth tide lamp: recycled washed up debris

Stuart Haygarth created this wonderful pendant art from found ocean debris. More fine art than functional art, the shape of the sphere represents the moon which moves the tides that presented the flotsam that he salvaged from the beach.

vegan shoes: sexy eco

I can't belive its not leather, a sexy vegan shoe.. as I dream of summer. Click VSandB.

isa booties: vegan baby booties: faux-leather

I am often shocked when I shop for gifts for friends' children and find hardly any eco alternatives. It is a really hard thing to track down organic cotton T's with cute graphics and mostly you'd only come across the ubiquitous leather bootie. Times thankfully are changing thanks to Isa Booties, an adorable leather alternative bootie with all the style intact.

annatarian: eco fashion

Annatarian by Anna Mkhitarian is a company that creates luscious dresses and clothing utilizing eco-effective design organic and vintage and surplus textiles. Each dress is and art piece more than just clothing, as she gives each one-of-a-kind creation hand beading and hand dyed attention. In her own words, "The products I've come up with, are designed to benefit in many ways. They are better for the environment, they preserve the artisan craft, they strive for eco-effectiveness, and they give love and beauty." Reasons plenty. See her collection at Annatarian. She is introducing a line of shoes too!!!

kimono rings: recycled and vintage

Vintage Japanese kimonos are repurposed and reincarnated into fabulous baubbles, acrylic rings that spruce any outfit. See them at the CarrotBox.

btc elements: hobo bag and valentine scarf

BTC Elements has some lovely new arrivals in my favorite, pink! Yummy, cuddly soft refashioned cashmere Valentine's Day Scarf constructed from secondhand sweaters, handmade in LA. Also, the new Hobo Patch Bag made entirely of second-hand and vintage fabrics handcrafted in Maryland, its gorgeous. It looks very tropical for the much anticipated and impending, SPRING! At BTC Elements. Thanks Summer!

d.i.y. wednesday: grow your own loofah

For this Wednesday, DIY day, I could not pass this HOW TO up over at Groovy Green. Growing your own loofah would be a cinch especially if you are in a warm climate or have a great hot house. See the how to here.

ashley watson: recycled leather handbags

Ashley Watson from Vancouver BC Canada is creating some amazing recycled leather handbags and wallets. She sources her leather from charity thrift stores, so that she contributes a portion for good when sourcing the materials. Each bag is one of a kind and very sculptural: available at Not Just Pretty.
via Fiftyrx3

texture clothing: eco hemp clothing seattle

Texture Clothing, "clothing with a conscience," has a unique and funky take on scarves, skirts and gloves. Creatively combining colorful fabrics into beautifully durable designs, Teresa Remple applies an earth first vision utilizing the often misunderstood HEMP fabric. Check out Texture Clothing, created in the Pacific Northwest.

preserve recycled plastic razors and toothbrushes

Recycline creates recycled plastic toothbrushes and razors, and in doing so,they have vastly improved the marketplace in a "throw away" product niche. They recently added Preserve™ Tableware, plastic plates and utencils to the market as well. Preserve is working to reduce the waste created by consumer products and they employ ecological business practices through volunteer, professional and community efforts. Preserve products can be found at Whole Foods, but view their line here.

paperpod igloo: recycled cardboard kids playhouse

Made from 100% recycled corrugated cardboard, the Paperpod, made from five panels of three interlocking triangles to create a "cardboard igloo", and the fun cardboard play Rocket are available through Paperpod in the UK.

lotus: the new eco car

Lotus, not to be outdone by Tesla is developing a high performance mini sports car for a Brazilian company and is a tribrid fuel car capable of running on petrol, bioethanol or natural gas. Check it out here.

b happy bags: reusable

In response to the waste of too much plastic, the creators of b happy bags produce a durable and stylish shopper for groceries, etc...the best thing is if these colorful reusables get dirty- they are machine washable. B happy bags here.

free form sofa cushion from recycled fabric

This is the best sofa cushion, shaped like a giant elephant.... so colorful and perfect for a childrens classroom. I can just imagine a story telling playing out on it.

corina rietveld: embroidered and rubber jewelry

Corina Rietveld from the Netherlands has a rather crafty take on silversmithing. Its a very original idea which warms the cold metal.

korazon fashion

more eco clothing stores!!

eco friendly products

eco friendly products from a store in Miami

d.i.y. wednesday: recycled crayons for kids

Parents will love a DIY project that can recycle old crayon scraps and turn it into and exciting tool that is the perfect size for small hands. The tutorial is a cinch and you can get the kids involved in helping too. Get creative using various muffin and desert tins. Check it out on Martha Stewart Kids site.

donna wilson cute wool creatures

I have written about Donna Wilson before, but her use of wool is so fun that she deserves another post. Her childrens creatures, complete with names are so adorable: who wouldn't want to take home Mitten Kitten, Bunny Blue, Charlie Monkey, Borris Bunny, Cyril Squirrel and Olive Owl. Or you could take home a fluffy rug or blanket. Check her site out here.

anne kyyro quinn: felt creations

Fantastic felt, soft and yummy. Lighting, cushion, wall panels and handbag by Anne Kyyro Quinn. Her line also includes felt window blinds, throws, floor cubes, placemats and table runners.

tak felt nest chair: studio tjepkema

Tak, is an avian chair made of felt and resembling a nest. Tweet tweet, from Studio Tjepkema.

trapezio ceramic origami

Anything origami catches my eye, so this ceramic platter is especially wondeful from Rose & Radish.

d.i.y. wednesday: haute homemade soap

Learn how to make soap with this link to many soap and bath bomb recipes for D.I.Y. Wednesday. Lathery and luxurious.

andrew joyau: organic furniture

I love the raw organic nature of Andrew Joyau's furniture, its simple and wonderful.
Made from reclaimed hardwoods.

chista furniture: raw wood

Reclaimed wood furniture by Chista. Amazing shapes and very rugged rustic. Love it.
Chista