I thought this was a cool way to recycle old denim jeans. I think this Denim Pockets Rug is way cool. It's all recycled pockets from old jeans stitched together to make this rug. Prices start at $29 for a 2' by 3' rug. Other sizes available at Home Decorators Collection.
The soap is organic, so that's a plus. The scents are reasonably unisex (lavender, lemongrass and eucalyptus), so that's good. Pretty much everyone needs soap and it's a consumable gift, so it's good for the person who has everything. All good selling points. But what really caught my eye with this stuff is the stunning art on the labels. It doesn't need wrapping (even more eco-friendly) and it's the kind of gift that keeps on giving as art. It's a win/win sort of situation. $15 at Leap Organics.
Oh, think of things you could do shots from once you get this shot carver! There's...apples....and...um...ok, well, I am sure you will think of other things. Like maybe peaches, or....apples. Hmmm, we should work on this one. Until I figure more out let's go with shots of cinnamon schnapps from apples. Or maybe some sort of almond liquor. Or, if you are more of a teetotaler, you can just use it to make pretty votive holders. $12.95 at Heliotrope.
Sometimes coffee cozies are just too...sedate. Sometimes you need something a little scarier to get you going in the morning. Scary adorable, that is. Bigfoot can keep you company on your morning commute and will keep your hands from getting a little too toasty. No promises that he won't nibble on your fingers though. $8 at Rockentot.
This cute, nerdy camera bot would make a fun desk companion for the boy who has everything...everything except a wooden robot wearing glasses, that is! Made of reclaimed oak and showing off his camera, he's kind of stoic, but really, what do you expect of a robot? $50 at Oh Dier.
I know it's not for everyone, but for some reason, a lot of guys I know seem to love stinky cheese. Now, mind you, I like some semi-stinky cheese, but the super stinky kind? Uh...no. Maybe boys are more used to that locker room smell...Anyway, this hand-stamped cheese spreader is pretty cute and sophisticated enough to make a great host gift with a slab of said stinky cheese. It might even make a good wedding gift with a cheese of the month club membership. Or, you might just want to tell someone you think they stink.It works on so many levels. $11 at Beach House Living.
Can you imagine relaxing in this barrel stave hammock, drinking a little wine and pondering the meta-ness of it all? Because I sure can. And since my last post was for a groovy $1 item, I feel a little better with this more expensive item, but we're talking luxury and gift here. And I love how the design makes so much sense with the shape of the barrel making a cradle for your body and...now I really want some wine. $499 at Napa Style.
This seems like a fun little gift for the old skool gamer. A bracelet made of the wires from the peripherals of and old Atari system, colored to correspond to the extremely old skool Pong game. And if you understand that sentence, you know why it's cool. If you don't understand that sentence...just take my word for it, it's cool. And heck, it's only $1.00 at Recycled Retro Gear.
I am one of those people who MUST have pockets in my clothes. I like to carry things with me and I get really annoyed if I don't have any place to stash my phone or my lip gloss. I imagine that's a problem for a lot of people. And the fanny pack never really was hip so what to do? How about a Snap on Pocket? Ok, fine, it's a lot like a fanny pack in concept, but it's much better looking and customizable. And it's eco-friendly too. $35 at Sandala Moon.
I suppose there is some irony to the fact that this record adapter necklace is made from an actual record, probably because most people don't actually buy records anymore. But we all know that one vinyl collector, don't we? Try to forget that he always criticizes your taste in music, because I think he'd probably like this necklace (but he'll be too cool to tell you that). $14.99 at VLING.
I just found these on Etsy and let me tell you, this post is a STEAL! Get these recycled Lego Mini Figure crayons for only $2 at Tammies Creations! This is 10 crayons for $2! Plus, I just like Lego mini figures! There are other styles available, like Dinosaurs and such.
Always losing your keys? We all know the trick to fix quirk is to put them in the same place, every time you put them down. Perhaps this seatbelt key holder will help you do that. Made from discontinued and reconditioned car seat belts, you key clip securely into place...if you remember to put them there. Personally, I am afraid i would clip them into my car's seatbelt and walk away...but you're smarter than that. $24 at Yanko Design.
Now that the holidays are officially over (yay!) the pace of how the new year is already progressing has me thinking ahead to the parties of many a mini I will be invited to. Say goodbye to those boring, cookie-cutter paper-types, and say hello (hello pretty!) to these lovely little handmade and custom-designed plush invitations. Great for birthdays, baby showers, or other family celebrations, they are earth friendly and oh so cute. $7.50 each at O Happy Day
I think these were engineered with the camper in mind. A collapsable dinner service that packs flat and is made of recycled materials. It's also great for the office dweller that can't get out for lunch and the college student that can't be bothered to store dishes. $17.41 at reuseit.
I am a sucker for a hoodie. And a hoodie with birds is even better. Here's a good looking organic hoodie tee for guys that has swept me off my feet. Oh and it's made from recycled plastic bottles and it's modeled by a handsome man. How can you go wrong? $58 from Organik Clothing.
I so love the very disturbing art on this travel mug. Turns out, his name is Marshall and he's a marshmallow. And he's endearingly creepy. Kind of like some people I know. And, oh look, he's roasting another marshmallow. I'm thinking people will leave you alone until you've had your coffee if you're toting this one around. $14.99 at Blue Q.
I appreciate anything repurposed. I especially like these bike tube rubber bands because having a cyclist in the house I know how many bike tubes one goes through and it's not pretty. $7.50 at Black Ink Boston
This would make a great gift for the Bingo lover in your life. Check it out, those old Bingo cards with the little red doors that you use to cover your numbers when they're called, now turned into a cool journal. $44 at Soma Venus. Plus, for Cyber Monday it's buy one get one 50% off.
Made from recycled fleece, these Xmittens will come in handy as the weather gets colder (handy...get it?) "But," you say, "I still need to text, turn pages, open locks, shift gears and do various other things with my fingers!" No worries, pal, because these Xmittens are fingerless. BUT, even better, they do cover the thumb, so you keep just that little bit warmer! No, really, believe me, that little bit is important. And these are cool. $26 at Amber Coppings Designs.
Ok, I admit that I do not know alot about ear plugs. But if I did, I might think these Octopi plugs were pretty darn cool. Handmade in your choice of wood, to your size specifications, these would make a very personal and unique gift. $88 for a pair at Omerica Organic.
Bamboo dial, organic cotton watch strap, corn resin case and buckle...I'm not sure a watch gets any more eco-friendly than this. Then there's the happy orange color and easily readable face, and the nicely affordable price. It's the perfect storm of watches! $24 at Amazon.
So, it's a nice looking belt buckle but guess what...it's also eco-friendly, go figure! The over "knockouts" would otherwise be industrial waste. So you are keeping your pants up AND saving the environment. Multi-tasking at it's finest. $50 at Citizen Objects.
This awesome Luchador messenger bag is super affordable and eco-friendly. It's made from repurposed mesh shopping bags so...it's airy for summer, I guess. Still, it's really cool looking and a nice size for toting stuff to the beach or office. $20 at Things Built.
These gift bows made with real (or should that be "reel"?) recycled film are perfect to dress up that dvd, movie gift card or, if you are feeling generous, that new plasma tv for the film fan in your life. They come in a pack of three so more gifts for more people can be decorated. Eco-friendly and charming, how can you go wrong? $9.95 for the pack of three at Vat 19.
This spiffy herringbone hat is adjustable, so it's good for you and for your fella! Perfect for the summer months, sporty enough picnics, hipster enough for the attitude you know he'll have when wearing it. It appears to be a little looser than the traditional newsboy cap, giving it a funkier look. And the best part, it's made from recycled polyester pants. I don't know why that is the bonus but it just sounds like one to me. $40 at Endless Records.
Make someone laugh or look at you aghast with this Earth Day Wattle bottle, which you can get for free with $40 store purchase and coupon code EARTH (all caps). Or you can just buy it outright for $17.50 at The Onion Store (but personally I always like a bargain). Coupon expires April 30.
These handmade lamps are made from Epson ink cartridges and look so cool. Available colors include matte black, cyan, light-cyan, magenta, light-magenta, yellow, light-black, and light-light-black. $30 at Lowell and Louise
Need to make creative and unique use of some space but don't want to add any color? Try Ideapaint! With just one coat you can create a kid-friendly, family-friendly, dry-erase board-like surface anywhere in your home. Easily erasable and environmentally friendly (formaldehyde free and EPA approved). Also available in a variety of colors. $99 for a 25 square-foot kit at Ideapaint
Every new mommy needs baby essentials that are as easy as they are to use as they are to clean (just toss it into the wash!). Embellished with darlingly unique natural wood buttons and eco-friendly. $18 at Lil Sprout Knits
What a darling set! This wooden tool box is about twelve inches long and includes a saw, a hammer, and a chisel and square. You can even have your little eco-friendly carpenter-in-training's name (or initials) engraved on it! $70 at Wood Toy Shop
Ohmygoodness, sometimes I just stumble upon a site that makes me wish I had kids. Wonder Toast makes me feel that way. I would totally buy up each and every single one of Wonder Toast's adorable alphabet T-shirts.
The Alphabet T-shirts are so cool because they're not the usual "A is for Aardvark" (yawn!) Instead, their T-shirts is food-oriented and say things like, "T is for Tandoori" or "D is for Dim Sum." The shirts don't stop there; they also include a sweet, pithy blurb about what the food-item is. For example, "N is for Nigiri" also includes "Nigiri is from Japan. It is sushi rice with a topping!" I love that it's teaching children cultural knowledge while remaining utterly playful with its fun, easy-to-read and eye-catching designs. These organic 100% cotton T-shirts are available in toddler sizes and baby sizes. It's also the perfect gift for those aspiring foodies. Plus, they're organic and completely eco-friendly. These super soft, luxurious
tees are made in India and printed in the USA. Zee Spot onesies are SKAL certified, and all colors are low impact, azo-fre dyes and screen printed with water-based inks. Smart, fun clothing that's also great for the environment (and you!) - what more can you ask for?
For kids who love to read, the Wonder Toast Wonders about the Alphabet! book is a fun, take-with-you-anywhere coloring book that goes straight through the alphabet. Kids can learn things like "K is for Kimchi" and its origins. It's an imaginative, wonderful way for kids to learn the alphabet while gaining cultural knowledge that they will remember. It will help build in them an appreciation about different cultures and food. So cool!
It totally makes sense that these wonderful designs also come as colorful framed prints. The perfect wall candy for a nursery. Plus, they can be personalized and color customized.
Also, the shop carries the book, The Unordinary Elephant. It's a bilingual children's book (Japanese and English) about how being different can actually make you special. It's about an elephant with too tiny ears who meets a boy who walks on his hands. It's such a cute, wonderful story.
Special for readers! Free gift! Wonder Toast will include a free autographed coloring book with any clothing order if you type RAREBIRD in the comment section of PayPal when you place your order.
These easels are made with vintage forks. How lovely! $9.95 and up at WHIMSYlove
I would die laughing if I saw these goldfish trash bags sitting on a sidewalk curb. Imagine how funny NYC would be if they used fun bags like these instead of the boring, depressing black ones. Bio-degradable, yay! 13 gallons. $15.99 at Perpetual Kid
All the new sweepers out there are great for cleaning, but can be costly with the disposable refills. That's why this 100% cotton, hand loom knit sweeper cover is a great alternative. It's machine washable and dryable, can be used wet or dry, and comes in just about any color you want. $5 at Etsy.
These fork hooks show the best of recycling. It’s simple, it’s functional, and it’s really hip! There are also other finger positions available like “peace” and “fork you” if you know what I mean. $10 at JJ Evensen Art.
Let me start by saying I love this whole shop. It is full of nothing but strange clocks made out of all kind of items, from the everyday to the less so. In addition to this incredible half globe clock, they also have clocks made of tupperware, ammunition cases, pith helmets, and much more. I also love the Polish beer sign clock. No matter what your tastes, there is a clock for you here. Prices range from 18.00 to 45.00, the globe clock is 32.00 at IMOTIME.
This nifty little pick is made out of an old circuit board. For those of you who are into both gadgets and guitars. They have a few different colors at the shop, if red isn't your thing. 8.00 at The Blue Kraken.
For your eco-friendly musician, these picks are made out of recycled credit and gift cards. Fun and colorful, they come in packs of three, so you always have a few on hand. The price is definitely right at 3.00 from The Jumping Flea Market.
It's tough to find a cool but manly belt. That's why I love these eco-friendly belts made out of old bike tires. They appear to come in a number of different colors, they are totally long lasting, and the brass buttons add just a little bit of flair. Ecologically sound and totally unique. Leave the seat belts behind, it's time for bike tires. 25.00 from dbigby.
I'm still way into looking at school bags, I admit. If you want a bag that's tough enough for the off-road, yet still has a unique flair, I highly recommend the California 400 backpack. It's made out of tough recycled materials, like automotive carpet and leather, to last you a long while. I love the not too fancy or overworked design, and think almost any dude could shlep it around with a certain attitude.They have a couple other rockin' backpacks over there as well. 55.00 at thingsbuilt.
