Green Options

As I jump off the diving board, in a triple flip-touch my toes-twist and turn like pretzel formation, I gaze below me; my eyes fill with the beautiful sight of green, crisp money- aching for my touch. I slide into the fresh bills with very little splash- perfection- and begin to glide through the millions of dollars that belong to me. Tickling my face, caressing my legs, filling my nose with the scent of “no more financial struggle,” I smile in glee and bask in the glory of my pool of funds.

Then I wake up.

Looking for incredible one-of-a-kind vintage jewelry this holiday season? Check out Chainchainchained. It’s a perfect gift or a way to glam up your holiday wardrobe, not to mention ridiculously AFFORDABLE. (enter loud applause here)

Terri Bly, president of The Nature of Beauty, invites readers to help her select her next eco-friendly wallet. She presents a list of 6 finalists and then opens it up to a vote. Brands include ReBagz, amykathryn, ESPE, Silvi Designs, and Fleurville.

Last spring, my best friend got married. Three weeks before her blessed wedding day, a bachelorette party was held. Two days before that, I purchased an American Apparel black dress for the party. It was skin tight, short, and featured a scoop neck in the front as well as the back. I looked good. However…we all know, that American Apparel is NOT eco-friendly, but at this point in my life I was dang poor (being a bridesmaid does that to you) and decided to purchase a new garment at the last minute. So without apology, I tell you openly, I bought a cheap black sexy dress from American Apparel.

Yesterday, while searching on Etsy for “modern clothing” I fatefully came across mydearthing and instantly fell in love. Designer Lauren Jones definitely named her line well- her garments immediately became dear to me. Today, while searching “eco-friendly clothing” on Etsy, I came across mydearthing once again! To my surprise, mydearthing is eco-friendly (apparently I was absent minded yesterday and stared at the photos of the perfect frocks as opposed to reading the fabrics used!) Watch out American Apparel, Lauren has created the perfect organic double v-neck dress that puts my bachelorette piece to downright shame.

Yesterday, I took a much needed nap. Basking in my soft sheets and surrounding myself in my glorious comforter, I fell asleep, dreaming peacefully of cupcakes and fairies. Upon awakening from my deep slumber I began to shiver. Rolling over while pulling my comforter over my head I tried to avoid the inevitable sound that my ears begrudgingly heard, a deep autumn howl from the great outdoors. My room was freezing, the unbearable sound of a winter wind creeping over the state of Minnesota swept through my room, my eyes opened to look out the window, I could see winter coming. Fall surrounded me.

It was eighty degrees two days ago. Without any warning or a pleasant transition period, fall has squashed our measly state with its prickly cold toes. Now, I’m left knowing that winter is right around the corner. Remind me to move somewhere warmer.

That being said, I put on my favorite She-Bible sweatshirt today, on this first day of fall- the season that foreshadows doom. So to lighten my spirit, I thought I would put together some of my favorite fall must haves…

Renewing, reinventing and recreating unbelievable outfits from my vast closet that doesn’t necessarily need more baby doll dresses, tunics or leggings is one of my passions. My favorite pieces in my closet are the items I can wear over and over again in different and exciting ways that make me feel like I’m wearing them for the first time. After all, isn’t that the rush we all search for when shopping? That new, never been worn item that suddenly creates a feeling of style we never knew we had is a bit addicting. That’s why, the most shopping I’ve been doing this season has been for mind-blowing-life-changing accessories from independent designers. These items transform any outfit into a garment from a different world, not my closet I’ve been staring at with boredom in my eyes.

My current favorite transformational piece is my harness from Norwegian Wood. That’s right. A harness, and it’s rocking my world in ways I never knew my world could be rocked.

I love discovering new artisans on Etsy!  This time, I have found SewnNatural.

Home of modern eco picnic and baby blankets, quilts, toys, kids’ hip bags, toddler dresses & more using all natural, organic and rescued upcycled fibers. We believe it’s possible to create something beautiful while making the world a little better at the same time. Sustainable and original design with great care in craftswomanship.

We were recently sent a kids eco messenger bag.  This bag is made from organic cotton and vintage cotton fabric and is handmade in Ontario Canada. They are playful and delightful and sure to charm any child (and parent).  Each bag is one-of-a-kind.

I love looking at Vintage wedding gowns and accessories and Etsy is a great place to do it. You can find such amazing deals on Etsy.

Check out this amazing 1950’s Tea Length wedding gown. It is flirty, feminine and sexy. I just love the 50’s styles they are so cute. The same seller has a variety of vintage dresses that are just beautiful.

Etsy has gowns available from all eras- Victorian to 80s. I really love how feminine the gowns weer from the 40s, 50s and early 60s.

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for the Victorian era with the layers of lace and quiet romance. There are a couple Victorian gowns available on Etsy that are phenomenal. In such fabulous shape and for such reasonable prices. Of course a few are vintage but not true Victorian they were made back in the 70s when Victorian styles were popular once again. That doesn’t make them any less beautiful though.

Have you been painfully searching for garments that are versatile, comfortable, modern and playful while being extremely eco-friendly? Well, no worries, your search stops here. From the mind of designer Andrea Crouse comes Gaia Conceptions, a line inspired by her months spent in India and Amsterdam. Not only do her well-rounded garments capture all of the above attributes, Andrea’s main goal is to use only the best available fabric including local organic cotton, raw silk and hemp.

If you sew your own (or others) cloth diapers, does that make you a crafter or an eco-conscious Mama?  Of course, it makes you both.

Here are directions to make super cute diapers out of t-shirts.  How’s that for a reclaiming project?  The best part is you can put the fun saying or cute part of the shirt right onto babies bum!

Need some liners for inside the diapers, here’s a tutorial for that.

How about making your own felted wool covers out of second hand sweaters?

Need to know where to find diaper making fabrics and kits, here’s a link.  (Stay with us after the jump to find out more about the adorable diaper in the photo.)

Editor’s note: The opinions in this post do not reflect those of Crafting a Green World as a whole or other writers on the CAGW team.

It can be hard to be an indie crafter these days. Perhaps Oilily will steal your designs and resell them as cheap knock-offs, perhaps somebody will smear your name all over the Internet because you disagree about the usage of the word craftivism, perhaps someone else will comment on one of your blog posts and call you retarded because you object to wool felt.

And then, just when you’re feeling better about all of that, Etsy will steal some of your hard-earned money.

What’s up with that, Etsy?

Now, I understand that technology is complicated. And I understand that Internet Explorer, although it’s the standard browser that most people, especially the internet un-savvy (Hi, mom!), use, basically blows. And I understand that when Internet Explorer updates, or Bill Gates sneezes, or the stars misalign, web sites tend to go all to hell for a while until some other programmer writes a fix.

Now, this may read as a little gossipy, since I, myself, am a member of this team (for now, the reasons for which you’ll soon see), but I think these recent struggles within one group of crafters are important to share, because they say a lot about where our contemporary culture is right now, politically, socially, even globally.

You see, the Craftivism Etsy Team recently had a really big fight, so big that a lot of us actually left the team. Feelings are still hurt, and a lot of those who are left for now are left wondering exactly what our team is, after all, and what it actually stands for.

What did we fight about, you ask?

We fought about the definition of craftivism.