Green Options

I am awe struck by the “Solar Vintage Collection”  by Lost Values, which consists of solar charged light inventions transformed creatively into traditional hand crafted fashion accessories. 

The Solar Vintage Brooch is charged when worn in the sun, and in the evening it enchantingly becomes a subtle, ambient light.

New York City’s Cooper Hewitt is highlighting their Fashioning Felt exhibit in a big way. My mind is now filled with ideas about the possibilities of felt. 

 ”Fashioning Felt presents an extraordinary range of felt. From two-dimensional carpets to three-dimensional environments, each work reveals the virtuosity of both the material and the designers. The exhibition and book focus on felt that has been produced by traditional hand- or machine-felting processes; they exclude non-woven felt and techniques, in order to underscore the essential elements of feltmaking — wool fiber, agitation, moisture, and pressure.”

I fell for this Felt Ovoid Jacket and Empire Pant look. Isn’t this draped felt suit creative? 

Keep reading for more inspiration:

I love vintage glass. I have a few hoarded bottles and unique finds that are currently stashed away so my kids don’t break them. Eventually I will have all my antiques displayed around my home and not stuffed in boxes…after the kids have grown up.

If I displayed everything now it would just get broken. But broken glass pieces don’t always get wasted. There are many artists who have found creative ways to turn broken glass into works of art. Some make mosaics, others make new bottles, glasses or tumblers, and some, like Laura Bergman of Bottled Up Designs , make pretty pieces of jewelry.

Laura Bergman is a Reclaim Artist. She finds old pieces of glass and turns them into beautiful, wearable art. She takes found glass and transforms it into jewelry… and the results truly are works of art.

Who would have thought that pieces of broken glass could be turned into eco-elegant jewelry.

I love unique finds and when I came across Bottled Up Designs I was fascinated.

BeautyScoop is the edible beauty product many are raving about. I tried a few samples and they weren’t bad. The concept is believable. You eat the essential nutrients for maximum health and beauty benefits.

I mixed a packet of BeautyScoop into my smoothies for a couple days and it was wonderful. I had more energy and I felt better. I think I would have to try more than two days worth for an overall determination if it really works as well as it claims.

Ecotique and The Nature of Beauty announce their Eco-Design Contest, giving creative types everywhere the opportunity to submit design ideas for an exclusive reusable tote to be sold at Ecotique and The Nature of Beauty, displayed at their shoppe on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, and on The Nature of Beauty’s home page.

I love Eco-Artware’s wonderful selection of handcrafted goods from many crafty green artists. They have a wide variety of items to choose from including kids stuffed animals made from upcycled sweaters, jewelry made from old pennies, typewriter keys, and watch faces, bowls made from old records and signs, coasters made from old unplayable vinyl records, and my favorite- baskets made from chopsticks.

I was hit with a nostalgic trip down memory lane when I opened up this pack of Nowali Moccasins. I had a couple pairs of these when I was a kid. I don’t know if they were actually Nowali’s or cheap imitations but I had these fun, warm and wonderful slipper sock moccasins as a kid. Now I am thrilled to have an adult size pair to warm my feet on cold nights (and days).

Pratt was the star of this year’s ICFF Design Schools’ Exhibition with their Design for a Dollar contest. Amazingly, with the design constraint of using a buck or less, the Pratt students invented brilliant eco home ideas (many upcycled from totally discarded items). The competition required students to create designs that include manufacturing costs, transportation, energy, material, labor and waste issues.

Terri Bly discussing OLovesM’s brilliant use of yoga mat remnants as the base for their adorable, fashion-forward collection of bags.

Batucada is a hot new brand offering eco-plastic jewelry from Paris. “Neither rubber nor silicone, the silkier, more durable formulation is eco-friendly certified, manufactured accordingly and packaged in recycled in paper. Go from the morning surf to afternoon spin class to an evening out– and never do away with jewelry. Wear it tight against the skin for a tattoo effect.” ~aplusrstore.com

These lovely eco accessories are designed to connect two bracelets to form a choker or to strap one around your ankle.