Eco-Friendly & Green Living Blog

Aren’t these wall decals supersweet? And the best thing about them is, they’re made from fabric!

Most wall decals are vinyl or PVC, which is anything but eco-friendly, so these are a great choice if you’re into being green. Since they’re made from fabric, they’re washable, plus, if you stick them up in one spot and change your mind, don’t worry – you can move them around.

They come in all sorts of themes – the ones above are Forest Critters for Boys ($75), but there are more below. They’re made by a company in Australia whose motto is Charmed, I’m Sure, and I certainly am!

Available at: www.saplings.ca

Dinosaurs, $75

Oh Dear, $75

Winter Dress Up Dolls, $45

Twitter Birds for Girls, $45

Build a Tree, $105

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Whoever would have thought they would make a flashlight out of wood! And not only is it made out of beech wood, it has an LED light, too.

It would make an awesome present! Battery-operated. – Guest poster Shelby Webster

Price: approx. $53

Available at: www.anthropologie.com

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Anthropologie’s first Canadian location opens in Toronto tomorrow at the Shops at Don Mills and we’re beside ourselves with excitement!

Among the fashions and home decor items are eco-friendly goodies, including these lovely finds. Can’t wait to see what else we uncover in the coming months. You can order online if you’re not in T.O. area, while two other stores are slated to open soon: one in the West Edmonton Mall and another store in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood.

< Paperie Petting Zoo by Stray Dog Designs
Handcrafted from recycled cement bags
Price: $248.79

Capri Blue Candle-In-A-Jar >
Made from recycled glass and soy wax
Price: $31.41

< Eco Jot Notebook Set
Made from recycled paper and cardstock
Set of 3
Price: $17.59

Available at: Anthropologie, www.anthropologie.com, the Anthropologie shop at the Shops at Don Mills

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Today I’m a Guest Curator on Etsy’s blog The Storque – very exciting! Here’s my post for them; for the full article, click here. (Keep in mind that things sell out quickly on Etsy, so if something is no longer available, the seller might have something similar, or might stock something again down the road.)

I’m always on the lookout for great natural products for the home from anywhere and everywhere and recently posted about a colourful baby quilt by Etsy’s Sewn Natural (www.sewnnatural.etsy.com). There’s masses of other fabulous earth-friendly products on Etsy and this is just a small sampling!

organic linen napkins by natsuminishizumi

Love the splash of colour on these organic linen napkins from natsuminishizumi. They’re hand-screenprinted using water-based inks, and 5% of the profits go to Friends Without a Border, a charity that provides medical care to children in Cambodia  http://www.fwab.org/). Goodness all round!

Available at: www.natsuminishizumi.etsy.com

Price: $30 US per set of 2

vintage fabric hearts by pouch

These lavender sachets from Pouch will add a sweet scent to your drawers or closets and repel moths in a natural, chemical-free way; plus, they’re made from vintage recycled fabric.

Available at: www.pouch.etsy.com

Price: $11.50 US per pair

yellow dragonfly nightlight by mariposaavenue

What a clever use of an old can! Mariposa Avenue takes what would otherwise be trash and turns it into an attactive light fixture by cutting out a pretty design, painting it a bright, cheery colour and adding a light equipped with a photo sensor so it only comes on when the room is dark enough. Perfect for when guests come to visit or wee ones just find the dark too frightful.

Available at: www.mariposaavenue.etsy.com

Price: $15 US

recycled bright summer flowers journal and sketchbook by burgundydistrict

Feeling inspired? If you’re not already, you will be by this colourful 80-page book from BurgundyDistrict. It’s handmade, 100% recycled and perfect for jotting down your thoughts or sketching pictures.

Available at: www.burgundydistrict.etsy.com

Price: $21 US

white purity record bowl by vinylrocksmyworld

How many people do you know who can say they have something as unique as this absolutely fabulous white bowl by vinylrocksmyworld? I simply can’t say enough about how smashing I think it is! Unfortunately, this item just sold out today – so disappointing! But that’s what happens on Etsy, so if you see something you love, grab it quickly! Let’s hope vinylrocksmyworld finds more of these and quickly!

Check for similar items at: www.vinylrocksmyworld.etsy.com

seahorses pillow by alexandraferguson

Get a little taste of the seaside and summer with this 100% recycled felt appliqué pillow from alexandraferguson, pillow-maker extraordinaire. These jaunty little creatures are soft, cute and cuddly and are sure to add charm to any interior. Who would have believed they were once plastic water bottles?

Available at: www.alexandraferguson.etsy.com

Price: $49 US

letterpress counting poster by sweetbeets

This charming 8.5” x 11” letterpress poster from Canadian illustrator sweetbeets is on 100% cotton paper made of fibres recycled from the fabric industry.

Available at: www.sweetbeets.etsy.com

Price: $30 US

recycled sail tote – blue number 8 by reiter8

The stark, graphic quality of this tote from Reiter8 really makes it shine. Crafted from upcycled sailboat sails, the tote’s number is appliqued on the front and red organic cotton lines the inside, which is divided into three sections so you can easily organize all your gear.

Available at: www.reiter8.etsy.com

Price: $75 US

handwoven felted wool rag rug by fiveforty

Canadian crafter fiveforty turned old sweaters into this gorgeous felted wool rug. The lovely gradations of greys, blues and greens bring to mind lakes and cool green forests.

Available at: www.fiveforty.etsy.com

Price: $240 US

army blanket pillow by ouno

Made out of surplus Italian army blankets, the modern, sombre tones of these pillows from Vancouver crafter ouno would look chic against cleanlined white slipcovers in the summer.

Available at: www.ouno.etsy.com

Price: $60 US

cherry blossom base by trilliumartisans

Tuck a sprig of spring blossoms into this petite reclaimed glass vase etched by TrilliumArtisans member Amanda Siska (you can also check out her Etsy shop at http://breadandbadger.etsy.com).

Available at: www.trilliumartisans.etsy.com

Price: $45 US

felted wool beach stones by lilfishstudios

Add a hit of colour to your home’s surfaces with these quirky felted-wool-wrapped stones. Lisa Jordan of lilfishstudios uses wool from old clothing and finds her inspiration in nature – I’m in love with the colour and love the idea of these stones!

Available at: www.lilfishstudios.etsy.com

Price: $30 US

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Could these notebooks by Cartolina be any more appealing? I wrote a couple of posts back that I can’t get enough of stationery and these just feed into that addiction with their fantastically exotic graphics reminiscent of lushly coloured botanical studies.

The notebooks are designed by Fiona Richards out in British Columbia. She spent her childhood with her grandparents in Scotland, surrounded by images of their travels as textile dealers in India, and also was influenced by her uncle’s work as an illustrator.

They’re 100% recycled, measure 4″ by 6″ and come in nine different patterns that are printed using vegetable ink. I love the blue ones pictured above, but also couldn’t resist the red-tone ones, so included the pic of them below.

To have a look at more of Cartolina’s products, click here.

Available at: Buk & Nola, Montreal, www.buknola.com; Pistachio, Toronto, www.epistachio.com; Country Furniture Vancouver, www.countryfurniture.net

Price: $4 each, or $12 for a bundle of 3

FYI: Cartolina also does birthday, thank you and various holiday cards that you can find at www.greetq.com, a U.S. company. You can not only buy a card from them, but have them send it to the recipient, with a personalized message in either the font of your choice or handwritten by a member of the GreetQ staff! How’s that for service when you’re pressed for time? I’m impressed!

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The designers behind Vancouver-based Propellor Design took 120 mismatched old tumblers they’ve been collecting for years and created this stunning light sculpture, the Dram Chandelier, out of what many people would consider junk or trash.

If you’re looking for something to make huge impact in a modern loft space, this would do it – and if you think it must look stunning during the day, just imagine how brilliant it would be at night with all those colours of the different glasses scintillating during the twilight hours!

The piece is approx. 32″ in diameter; for more about Propellor Design, click here.

Available at: Made, Toronto, www.madedesign.ca

Price: $6,000

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When I saw these bowls at the newly renovated Art Gallery of Ontario shop in Toronto I was just amazed by their beauty – the marriage of rustic log and sleek, sophisticated high-gloss centre is nothing short of visually stunning.

They were designed by the incredibly talented Doha Chebib of Edmonton’s Loyal Loot Collective and come in a huge variety of beautiful colours. They’re made using only locally reclaimed, hand- selected trees; the paint used is water- based acrylic; the sizes range from 2 to 10″ in diameter; and the heights vary.

They’d be a perfect gift for someone who has everything or is on the lookout for something unique. Personally, I’d love to get one – now if only I could decide on a colour!

Available at: Loyal Loot Collective, www.loyalloot.com; Provide, Vancouver, www.providehome.com; Kit Interior Objects, Calgary, www.kitinterior.com; 29 Armstrong, Edmonton, www.29armstrong.com;  Made, Toronto, www.madedesign.ca; Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, www.ago.net

Prices: $64 to $290

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I love journals and have them everywhere: at work and at home, tucked away in drawers and in my purse, just ready for any note that needs to be jotted down.

My latest purchase is from Pistachio and features a cheery, brightly coloured design by design consultant Bruce Mau. The aptly titled Bruce Mau Optimism Collection features 100% recycled papers and soy ink and is printed in Canada.

And should you not be into journals, you can also get wrapping paper, note cards and gift cards that boast the same uplifting splash of colour.

Available at: Pistachio, www.epistachio.com; select Chapters and Indigo Books & Music stores, 800-832-7569, www.chapters.indigo.ca

Prices:
Rolled Gift Wrap, $10
Optimism Spiral Journals, 5″x7″, $9; 8×10, $11
Boxed Notes, $14 (includes 10 blank cards and envelopes)
Optimism Gift Enclosures, $10 (includes 8 gift enclosures)

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

Brunswick Hills, Ohio-based artist Mark Langan sent me a comment today on my Brad Pitt-Kiehl’s post (to check out his comment, click here) and he said I would be blown away by his cardboard art and I was!

He was inspired to use cardboard when he noticed the fluted inner layer when tearing apart some cast-off boxes from his neighbours and thought he could create interesting effects by slicing, stacking and gluing it together in different patterns.

For more on his art, which at times has overt messages about recycling and waste, check out his site, as well as a review at www.inhabit.com, a fabulous blog that tracks trends in green products, design and architecture. Thanks for the comment, Mark!

Available at: www.langanart.com

Prices: available upon request

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

These Accent de Villes frames made from woven recycled newspapers will snazz up your pics pronto!

Available: at retailers across Canada; call 800-663-2384 for a retailer near you.

Price: approx. $12 (3″x3″), $14 (4″x6″), $16 (5″x7″)

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!