12Sep08
Some things are better the second time around. Case in point: Ecoist’s collection of fashion accessories designed and made entirely from repurposed Coke Cola labels. Ecoist sources its raw materials from Coke manufacturers in Peru (rescuing the misprinted or discontinued), and local artisans weave labels into a variety of bags and clutches. Check out the process here.
According to Ecoist, the collection is certified fair trade, and they plant a tree with each purchase. It’s partnership with soft drink juggernaut like Coke may not be able to help rescue the millions of bottles consumed and cast off in other parts of the world, but keeping the manufacture of their styling accessories local keeps the footprint small.
Baguette Clutch, $48 at Ecoist or check out the entire Coke collection.
14Nov07
Photo courtesy of splityarn
Here’s an easy idea for tree ornaments. Make them for you or send them as gifts.
Design it yourself:
1. Get your blank canvas: a package of class glass ornaments from a crafts store (I get mine at Michaels).
2. Be innovative: use whatever lovely leftovers you can find. This is the fun part. Consider it your own designer’s challenge. Channel your inner Martha. In the famous words of Project Runway’s Tim Gunn: make it work.
Odds and ends or unexpected textures work best and can even tell a story. Yarns from knitting projects, ribbons from birthday parties, confetti in your hole puncher, toothpicks, rubber bands, scotch tape (sculptor Tara Donovan’s work might inspire some out-of-the-ball thinking here). Or use your hole puncher to make confetti. If you have a paper shredder, you can create ribbons from virtually any paper source like magazine ads, old photos, etc. The more your reuse, the greener it is.
3. Fill ‘em up and you’re done!
Variation: Wishful Thinking
I made these five years ago for family and in-laws from used leftover vellum. Three different colors. I composed a one sentence wish for each member. Then I cut them into ribbons placing each person’s wish into the respective family ornament. People loved them and spent an hour shaking them up and reading their individual wishes. Martha would have been proud.
Big design day ahead. Until tomorrow!
Filed under Gifts+Gifting, Handmade, Refashion+Refurb|
Tagged Christmas, DIY Style, Eco-friendly, Handmade, Holiday Style, make your own ornaments, Ornaments, Recyclable, Recycled |
10Nov07
It’s always exciting to see what’s new at Illu Stration, Mary Ann Williams’ German-based design studio known for innovating exquisitely tactile felt furnishings and accessories.
Mary Ann sent me these photos earlier in the summer (oops) but aren’t they perfect for late fall? Oak Leaves is a modular system which are either available assembled or as a do-it-yourself kit in a box for your own inspired creations.
Oak Leaves interlock into virtually any size or shape. Some suggestions from Mary Ann include shaping them into pendants (like the hot scarlet number shown above), rugs, wall panels, cushions, lampshades.
Softer and more enduring than a crunchy pile of freshly raked leaves…perfect for jumping on and rolling around in.
A snow white cushion, adds form, function and fun to any living space.
Like the pieces we’ve showcased before, these felt-Flokatis are made from renewable, biodegradable wool. Their interlocking nature means you can create and recreate to your heart’s content. For more information, visit the Illu Stration website.
Filed under Furnishings, Handmade, Interior Design, Lighting, Rugs+Carpet, Small Space Style, Wallcoverings|
Tagged Biodegradable, Changeable Style, cushions, design, DIY Style, Eco-friendly, Furnishings, Handmade, home, Illu Stration, interiors, Mary Ann Williams, modern decor, Reusable, style |
05Nov07
I can hardly contain myself — one of my favorite contemporary artists Tara Donovan is exhibiting again. Her latest work Colony, an undulating carpet of no. 2 graphite pencils (18,000 used in all) has joined other installations at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, CA — revealing the artistic possibilities of the prosaic pencil. Fab Green plans on being there over Thanksgiving.
I first saw Donovan’s work three years ago at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and have been captivated and inspired ever since. Donovan’s inspiration comes from mundane, everyday materials such as scotch tape, drinking straws, paper plates, and fishing wire, from which she molds and teases out sensual, abstracted landscapes and forms: be it pencils forming a haunting terrain of golden majesty or styrofoam cups congealing to create billowy, luminescent “clouds” overhead.
Continue reading
Filed under Art+Graphics, Handmade, Refashion+Refurb, Unique|
Tagged Art+Graphics, Bedford Gallery, design inspiration, Handmade, Met, modern art, sculpture, Tara Donovan |
27Jul07
Hi Fab Green,
I’ve been looking for little baskets made of some kind of re-used plastic, have a weave-like look and available in lots of colors. Have you heard of anything like this? Please let me know where to find them if you have. Thanks, Liane
Dear Liane,
Thanks for writing! Recycled plastic is becoming a more popular material for a host of things from baskets and bowls to handbags. I personally lean towards contemporary style pieces by designers like Yaron Elyasi. Made from melted strings of plastic and recycled plastic, these Kacoon bowls are swirled in to existence–in the expressionist spirit of say, a Jackson Pollack.
I can’t say that melting plastic doesn’t pose its own environmental pollutants–any chemists out there know?
No two Kacoon bowls are the same. They are available in seven colors at an affordable price ($42). You can find the Kacoon here.
Filed under Budget Decor, Furnishings, Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, Refashion+Refurb|
Tagged bowls, chic, design+architecture, Eco-friendly, Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, modern style, Recycled, shopping, sustainable style, Tabletop |
05May07
These gorgeous boho chic purses and clutches by Piece Lilly are crafted from recycled and vintage fabrics. Designer Jennifer Farrington and business partner April Kline launched the label in 2004. They source fine fabrics from estate sales, flea markets and thrift shops and piece together ingenious pattern-on-pattern styles. Available at Piece Lilly’s Etsy Shop.
18Apr07
Use UK is the brainchild of designer Nicola Prodromou, a “recycled interiors company” that transforms old textile sample books, fabric remnants, and recycled cardboard into elegant, high style lampshades, throw pillows, wall art — even bookmarks for bibliophiles (that’s me).
The studio’s raw materials are gathered from Nicola’s day job as a design technician, “I got the idea looking at an old sample book, thinking how beautiful the material was, and wouldn’t it be good if I could make something out of it…the samples are small so each cushion cover is made from four hand-sewn pieces of material.”
The lampshades are digital prints on recycled cardboard. Over 20 styles in all: from modernized Baroque to clean stripes. Gorgeous color palettes. Some samples are currently on sale (£25-35) directly through Use UK. Read more about Use UK and other eco-chic British designers in this article in the Telegraph.
Jewelry and bags have followed as well. Use UK would probably be better named re:Use UK. Yes?
05Apr07
I am enthralled by these gossamer pieces of jewelry designed by Arre. Crafted from of all things–rubber bands. Whoever would have imagined that rubber bands could appear so delicate?
Arre’s debut Collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings is based on the concept of notions stores, and the transformation of everyday objects into fun, wearable works of art. Rubber is considered a renewable resource, since it is a sap that is extracted from living trees. Available in five colors.
Arre is a Mexico City-based design workshop founded by long time friends Erendira Garnica and Regina Santos-Coy. Their pieces are surprisingly affordable (between $35-$65) and are available at various e-boutiques like stars+infinite darkness.
03Apr07
Mary-Ann Williams of Illu Stration just sent over some pictures of beautiful light furnishings for spring. Amazing. Her felted rugs blew me away last year, and she continues to push her felting methods to new heights. Thanks Mary-Ann!
01 ORIGAMI
Pendant lamp, floor lamp, lampshade: felt 100% pure new wool
02-03 PLISSEE un-dyed felt
Pendant lamp; lampshade: felt 100% pure new wool
04-05 CAPPELLETTI
Lightchain, 3 m, available with US plug; felt 100% pure new wool.
These pieces are available in multiple colors. Handcrafted in Germany, these wool felt furnishings are biodegradable, naturally fire-resistant and recyclable. The felt is Wool Mark labeled, and dyes are chemical-free.
View the whole collection here. In Europe you can buy directly through Mary-Ann. Some of her pieces are also available through Branch Home.
29Mar07
If you happen to live or plan to visit San Francisco between now and May 6, you may want to check out the Masters of Bamboo: Japanese Baskets and Sculpture in the Cotsen Collection at the Asian Art Museum. Bamboo has become the veritable wonder material of the fashion and interior design worlds, appearing in everything from clothing to furniture, dinnerware, to paper to skateboards. The Masters of Bamboo exhibit showcases some of the most breathtaking woven expressions ever created in bamboo.
The exhibition features one artwork each by 76 bamboo artists representing most of the major lineages in the three key geographic regions—Western Japan, Eastern Japan, and Kyushu—over the past 150 years. Many of the artworks in the exhibition are on view publicly for the first time.
Each piece is hand produced by a single artisan. The pieces represent a deep tradition of decorative arts from the 19th century to today.
I’m definitely planning a trip to see this magical collection. You can also purchase the exhibition catalog through the museum here.
Via ArtKnowledge News
