Great Green Goods - Shopping the Eco-friendly Way!

Eco-friendly Bags

green — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:30:54 +0000

We’re introducing a new advertiser on GreatGreenGoods today …and we are so happy to have them! If you looking for a good looking bag that is also eco-friendly, you can’t go wrong with a bag from instinctive. They are made with recycled materials (the main body fabric, the polyester webbing and the plastic buckles are all recycled) and they are manufactured in a Fair Labor Association and Social Accountability International approved factory. What separates instinctive from the pack is that they have a lifetime “Takeback” policy….which means that if you want a new look, you can return your bag for repair or replacement.

$49.99 at Instinctive

$59.99 at Instinctive
There are additional styles available on the Instinctive website and don’t forget … when you purchase one of these bags, 1% is donated to The Wild Foundation.

Recycled blue jeans

green — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:51:18 +0000

Working with recycled blue jeans is pretty easy ….just hit a couple of yard sales and buy up whatever you can find! When you style and size are not an issue, the material seems to be in abundance everywhere!! ....Here are a few artists that are making magic out of this ubiquitous fabric ….

These have so much personality and life! ...check out her blog for more denim loveliness – http://ilovedenim.blogspot.com.
Top – $60.00 at Barbara Bearo’s Etsy Shop. Bottom – $80.00 at Barbara Bearo’s Etsy Shop.

This rug is created entirely from old jeans…and woven by South Dakota artist, Annikki Marttila.
$45.00 at Finnish Weaver’s Etsy Shop

The “Kate” Sandal is made from Recycled Denim and has a few Austrian Swarovski Crystals added for pizazz along with elegant embroidery.
$39.00 at Art Fire

Created from “found denim” in Julie Floersch’s Brooklyn studio. Her artist statement does a great job explaining the beauty that can be found in this unique wall hanging.

Julie Floersch’s statement:
Using discarded materials, primarily found denim for it’s haphazard and painterly qualities, I incorporate various structure-forming techniques into complex geometric repetitions, giving them a slightly raised, subtle third dimension. These intricate patterns are then assiduously interwoven, juxtaposing hand crafted traditional Americana and pop culture imagery to reshape the concept of quilt making as a purely 2-dimensional art form.

$825.00 at Kwilti.etsy.com

Recycled Denim Throw Quilt (with your choice of fleece color backing) Size is 54×54 inches.
$40.00 at Lil Annie’s Attic

Recycled Denim Inspiration:

From the Equilters.com website, many quilts made from recycled jeans that will provide lots of inspiration!

Martha Stewart has some nice tutorials working with recycled denim.

The metamorphosis of old jeans design by : yao xie from china

Braided rug from strips of denim harvested from the entire family’s stash of old out-grown jeans.
See the wonderfully detailed tutorial here.

Crafting with Recycled Materials

green — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:31:43 +0000

Nothing is better than ~~playing~~ crafting with things you were going to throw away. Trash to treasure baby!

Some folks refer to the Big Green Book of Recycled Crafts ( Leisure Arts #4802) as the bible of recycled craft books. Leisure Arts was one of the first to publish books in this genre and many of us loved the old favorite Trash to Treasure. This book will not disappoint. It contains many crafts made from everyday materials like glass, paper, plastic bags and what-have-you. How about the bird bungalows made from plastic laundry soap bottles? Or a recycled bag keeper made from the sleeve of an old shirt?
$15.56 at Amazon

Recycled Crafts Box is great for beginner crafters. Each project features step-by-step illustrated instructions, and a full-color photo of the finished art-work. Recycled yogurt cups and spoons become collectible dolls and your old shoes become eye-catching planters.
$8.76 at Amazon

Gorgeous Gifts: Use recycled materials to make cool crafts (Ecocrafts) is a great book for all ages. Some of the projects include: tea light candleholders, plant pots, bookmarks, bracelets, hand puppets, puppet theater, refrigerator magnets, model airplanes, stained-glass windows, and computer mousepads. Not overwhelming at aprox. 50 pages.
$7.62 at Amazon

Craftcycle: 100+ Earth-Friendly Projects and Ideas for Everyday Living is one of the new books on the scene and it is worth it! Fun hip projects include felting old sweaters to make mittens and upcycling old records and CDs. Full of color and step by step instructions.
$15.63 at Amazon

Bags To Riches – Recycled Vases

green — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:47:04 +0000

Vases created by the creative and hard-working Etsy artist Diane K Designs. Each vase is made from recycled department store bags and grocery bags, which have been cut, folded, chained, sewn, and sealed. These are a part of a limited series and one of a kind.
$55.00 for the top vase and $89.00 for the bottom vase at Diane K Designs’ Etsy Shop

Recycled Tin Bi-Plane from South Africa

green — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:15:34 +0000

Made from recycled aluminum soda cans, this biplane would bring any room to life. It is made with such detail that the propeller and wheels turn, and it has a hook for hanging. The plane is approximately 9.5 inches in length and 4.5 inches in height.
$34.99 at Gifts with Humanity

Recycled Holiday Gifts

green — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:47:17 +0000

Made from recycled tape measures …what a colorful addition to any room. It is made from a coated plastic ….so just in case you make a spill it will wipe right up! ...and will come in handy if you need to measure your pie plate!
$49.00 at VivaTerra – Eco Living with Style. Find natural home décor, organic gifts and more.

Since ‘tis the season to make wise money choices, here is a great eco-pig for your dollars and cents. Made from recycled left-over silk scraps, it is colorful and useful!
$49.00 at VivaTerra – Eco Living with Style. Find natural home décor, organic gifts and more.

Recycled Holiday Wreaths

green — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:25:29 +0000

Recycled Book Paper Wreath

No books were hurt in the creation of this wreath!! Created from books that are falling apart or have pages missing. Be a bit different this holiday season….and prove to the neighbors that you too can read!
$65.00 at Simple Joys Papeire Etsy Shop

Organic Peace Wreath

Created from organic Shore Pine needles gathered in the Pacific Northwest. 5% of every purchase will be donated to Adopt-A-Minefield to help resolve the global landmine crisis.
$51.96 at Organic Bouquet

Festive Sweater Wreath

Hand-sewn from sweater remnants.
$24.00 at Green Baboon Design’s Etsy Shop

Recycled Traffic Sign Wreath

Recycled traffic signs make the most unusual and festive of holiday wreaths!!.
$140.00 at Eco-Artware

Recycled Christmas Ornaments

green — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:30:18 +0000

Fun holiday ornament created from recycled vintage zippers (1950’s – 1980’s) on a porcelain base.
$26.00 at AmaliaVersaci’s Etsy Shop

Recycled burnt out light bulb painted and upcycled for your tree. Merry Christmas is painted on the back.
$15.00 at Evesjulia12’s Etsy Shop

Made from 100% recycled materials….. rusted roofing tin. Can be hung outside or in. (Love the hooks!)
$15.00 at MerrittHyde’s Etsy Shop

Eco friendly retro christmas ornaments created out of ecospun felt (from recycled soda bottles)
$6.00 each at RikRak’s Etsy Shop

Recycled wine corks are repackaged with cream and gold ribbon, a few beads and a gold color bell on the bottom. Use for stocking stuffers or decoration on a present or hang a bunch on the tree.
$20.00 for a set of ten at Moonshine Bluebirds’s Etsy Shop

Handcut paper ornaments recycled from previously loved comic books.
$26.99 for a set of six at Bookity’s Etsy Shop

Wood Assemblages – Made from Recycled Materials

green — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:07:14 +0000

Gentle wood assemblages made by Chicago mixed media artist Dolan Geiman. His eco-friendly artwork is created from salvaged wood, found objects, and other recycled materials. For more information about this artist visit the blog at http://dolangeiman.blogspot.com/ or the website at http://dolangeiman.com/ and visit the etsy shop for these visual treats. (where you can find prints, collages, and original artwork, too!)
$275.00 – $300.00 original wood assemblages at DolanGeiman’s Etsy Shop

Secret Storage in Recycled Books

green — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:37:03 +0000

These were a huge hit for the holidays last year. A great place to stash your gold coins or a place to hold the remote control on the coffee table. It is fun to personalize them for each recipient. A great present that will keep them talking to GroundHog’s Day. Made from old recycled books.
$17.50 – $39.00 at Secret Storage Books