2ReVert February 27, 2008

My boys are skateboard fanatics.  There is nothing they like better than riding the rails, practicing kickflips or executing the perfect ollie.  I have learned more than I could ever want to know about the creation of the ultimate custom board.  According to them,  a custom skateboard can be a thing of beauty!

 So I was not suprised when I read about 2ReVert, a husband and wife team, that creates beautiful jewelry from old skateboards they have salvaged from the recycling heap.  The wife of this creative family works in a recycling center where she salvages the boards for these works of art.  The husband is the actual craftsman of the (more…)

DinnerTime Chimes February 24, 2008

As most of you know who read my musing on a regular basis, the weather in the Northwest has been absolutely gorgeous!  Everyone has been outside enjoying the warmth and the sunshine and willing all their Spring bulbs to burst forth.  Every little pop of color is to be savored.  With all this garden longing, I am again finding myself searching etsy for garden accessories and supplies. 

In all my searching, I was so excited when I found Dinnertime Chimes!  Look at their adorable GARDEN IN A BOX.  It features a windchime made from a recycled sherbert goblet with recycled spoons and forks dangling below.  It also has a hanging bird feeder made from a recycled tea cup and saucer and the bird seed to fill it packaged in tulle.  A pair of hot pink (more…)

Jewelry Giveaway at Funky Finds

I recently found this great blog dedicated to promoting independent artists and crafters from around the world.  The blogger at Funky Finds is a Texan who features a different artist almost every day.  She also has a monthly giveaway for her readers.  When I noticed that this month she is having a jewelry giveaway, I decided to give her a piece of my company, Ananya Studio’s,  jewelry. 

I choose a pair of our cinnamon garnet chandelier earrings- very hip and stylish!  Go to Funky Finds to see all the fun prizes and to find out how to enter the contest.

Fandangled February 22, 2008

  How fun is this shirt!!  My boys would have been all over this tee when they were younger- from the bright, monsterish eyes, to the crazy, wild yellow hair- they would have been in heaven!!  Even I  want to reach out and pet the hair. 

 Fandangled tees are one-of-a-kind creations that are crafted from recycled kid’s clothing and lovingly sewn onto new, 100% cotton t-shirts.  And for those of you who are super Green- she  also makes RE-Fandangled shirts… which means the shirt is recycled too!

I guess I am really attracted to skulls right now (see yesterday’s review on YaYascaps).  Take a look at this cute blue skull shirt with memerizing black and white striped eyes- all crafted from recycled kid’s clothes.  Fandangled offers fun, funky fashion for all the Green kids in your life!

YaYascaps February 21, 2008

  Our first “child” was a adorable, flea covered black lab-mutt mix we adopted from the pound.  This dog was literally our baby for the first three years of her life.  She enjoyed a plush life of sleeping in the bed under the covers with us, couch lounging and table scrap stealing.  Much to her dismay, all this luxury disappeared when the kids arrived.  Fourteen years later, Maddy is still a much loved member of the family but she is looking a little worse for the wear.  She doesn’t walk down the stairs, she slides.  Her beard and eyebrows are grey. The fur just started coming off the end of her tail and she can’t hear at all.  With all this decline, I am always looking for ways to spiff her up a bit.  (Right now, she is sporting a hot pink collar with bright flowers and gets a daily spritz of all natural doggy deodo (more…)

Mon petite chien February 20, 2008

With a family of four very active people(two of whom are quickly growing boys), it seems that I am always headed to the local grocery store to find something to fill us up.  All this in and out of the store was creating a lot of excess recycling of shopping bags until I finally bought some reusable bags.  Unfortunately, it was not until today that I found these great reusable bag at Mon petite chien -much more fun and unique than the cheap ones I bought at Trader Joe’s.  These nonwoven tote bags come in a variety of colors and feature inspirational quotes.

  At only $10 for two, they would be a welcome addition to any busy mom’s shopping routine! 

The artist has also crafted a stylish unisex urban backpack using recycled and reused materials.  You can see the pockets and belt loops that enjoyed a former life as a pair of pants.  She has crafted this bag with many pockets, including handy ones on the shoulder strap to carry your cell phone or other important items.  This bag makes a chic diaper bag, tote or purse!

Grace Graphics February 19, 2008

Today, I was driving home from snow covered Mt. Hood in Oregon, basking in the sunlight streaming through my moonroof when my 8 year old said, “Today is reminding me of Oklahoma.”  I could not for the life of me figure out what he was talking about because the Oklahoma he knows, his grandparent’s house, is flat as can be.  He told me that he was thinking of Oklahoma because it was sunny outside.  It made me realize again how little we see the sun in the winter in the Northwest.

Currently, however, we have had a string of sunny, warm days.  Of course, the sunshine starts my longing for Spring and mucking around in the dirt of  my garden.  The thought of my yard filled with tulips, daffodils and primroses makes me smile- that is why I was so excited when I found Grace Graphics’s line of  handmade plantable paper greeting cards.  The artist at Grace Graphics uses traditional papermaking techniques to produce beautiful tree-free paper created from recycled fibers and exotic materials.  She features a whole line of greeting cards that are infused with wild flowers seeds so they can be planted by the recipent after they have been enjoyed.  Look at this cute card featuring the spunky studio dog, Milo.

She also has a unique and beautiful idea for a wedding favor.  She sells a white tin of 100 flower shaped, wildflower seeded paper favors.  Each favor has a die cut center heart and a tag which includes  instructions for planting the seeded paper. Tags may be personalized with the couple’s name and wedding date, or other short text.  Here is a favor that any bride concerned about the environment and green issues can feel good about giving.  And the guests will be reminded of the happy day everytime they look at the flowers that spring from the seeds!

Ronan James February 18, 2008

In my previous life as a Child and Family therapist, I did most of my work with children who had survived abuse, both physical and sexual.  However, as I moved through my practice,  I began providing social skills training for children who had a diagnosis somewhere on the austism spectrum.  These groups were at times difficult, but also quite inspirational.  Most of the children were functioning well enough to be in a school setting with some support but really struggled with peer relationships.  Our group was designed to help teach them some of the skills needed to make friends and have positive interactions with their peers.  In the group, we used art, games and role plays to help them develop these skills.  I was consistently amazed at the art the children produced and the stories behind what inspired each particular piece.

I know this blog is generally focused on Green/Fair Trade issues but when I found Ronan James’s art on etsy, it struck a particular cord with me.  Ronan James is a five year old little boy who has been given a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.  With a little help from his mom “in formatting and delivery”, he creates beautiful paintings and photographs.  Look at this colorful balsa wood pendant featuring a minaturized reproduction of Ronan’s PURPLE STORM painting.

Ronan’s mom also takes Ronan’s pictures and prints them on cardstock or mounts the photos on cardstock to make notecards.  Take a look at the HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL notecard.  The photo features “the heart” of a guitar and was texturized to give it a painted look.  Ronan has some very interesting artwork on his site and I love that 20% of his sales are donated to autism research!  To learn more about this talented artist visit his blog.  You should also checkout, Ronan’s mom, Robyn’s, shop,  SmartLass Glass, where she is currently  selling beautiful blue onyx earrings.  (In her profile, she states she will be adding more earrings and other glass creations soon.  I can’t wait to see what is next!)

Sweet Pepita February 17, 2008

Once again, I find myself ogling all the fun, girly fashions in another etsy store. At least with Sweet Pepita, there are styles for little boys too. I wish the ELVIS WONDER OF YOU t-shirt had been available when my boys were little! Handsewn with organic and recycled fabric, it is adorable!

Of course, I can’t resist the beautiful little girl t-shirts. These CAMPO shirts in 100% organic cotton look so snuggly and cute. She has them in a variety of colors and patterns. I was drawn to this blue one with the delicate pink flowers you can see below.

Do you have a favorite t-shirt you just can’t live without? Well, the artist from Sweet Pepita has a great idea to make it a heirloom piece! If you send her your freshly washed adult tee, she will repurpose it to make either the front or sleeves of a new shirt for your little one. You choose the organic fabric and trim and give her any special instructions and presto-chango- a new shirt for your little Mini-Me. What a creative idea to extend the life of your favorite shirt!

To find out more about the creative forces driving this talented green artist you can visit her blog Sweet Pepita Clothing at blogspot.

Box Wood Goods February 15, 2008

Box Wood Goods is the weaving of “two long time friends,” Pam Bartley and Elena LeBel.  With the combined skills of a botanist and a designer, they envisioned a company that ”strives to create solutions that generate less full landfills, more fair trade, and tons of smiles on really, clean faces.”  Their company features linens made of sustainable materials like bamboo, flax or hemp printed with cheeky sayings.  Need a fun, stylish wedding shower gift?  Checkout the EAT, DRINK, BE MARRY bamboo cocktail napkins. 

Another unusual item I discovered at Box Wood Goods is their vintage Obi/Kimono Pillows.  The style forces in this company  rescue damaged Japanese kimono and obi and reuse them to create soothing, beautiful  pillows. The artists study each of the kimonos to determine which parts will translate into the most stunning finished product.  The pillows are then filled with a custom blend of organic grains.  They use buckwheat to provide aeration and support, and millet to soften the edges.   Each pillow is a unique creation based on the kimono or obi  from which it was derived.