EARTH TONES: DESIGN SQUISH’S ETSY ECO PICKS

birch mug, ceramics, pottery, clay


This mug by lenni08 reminds me of where I grew up. There are many birch trees in Russia — it’s considered the national tree.


birch bark necklace, jewelry


This necklace made of birch bark by bettula is inspired by the discarded and unusual. You don’t have to think very hard to figure out which tree is my favorite.


redesign, rotating bike wheel pot rack


When I was growing up, people in Russia did not have a lot of money to buy new wares, so they made belongings out of other objects. To this day I think it is pretty cool to see objects and materials being reused, like this rotating bike wheel pot rack by plaidclad


recycled leather necklace


These beautiful and valuable bits and pieces almost disappeared into the garbage pile forever! Get inspired to recycle by the digit recycled leather necklace by mainichi and shift key typewriter vintage pendant necklace by PreciousPastimes.


restored dresser


This neglected dresser was salvaged and restored by rubyrhino1 and made into a vintage masterpiece.  It reminds me of our summer dacha in Russia.


Read full Design Squish guest Curator post on Etsy:


- Earth Tones: Design Squish’s Eco Picks

 


September 16, 2010 by Designsquish



FORT TILDEN, BROOKLYN - ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST BIKED TO URBAN BEACHES IN AMERICA

bike ride to the beach, fort tilden, far rockaway, design squish blog

Fort Tilden beach is located in Fort Tilden Natural Area (Far Rockaway, Long Island) that surrounded by dunes, rosehip bushes, wild grapevines and maritime forest.

“Wide-open and pristine sands, a fresh sea and a rugged beachscape of barnacled bulkheads and sea-softened pilings jutting up out of the sand.  Regulars at Fort Tilden smile to one another as if sharing a great little secret” - New York Times.

hipster bike paradise, the most biked to beach, nyc, design squish blog


“Fort Tilden State Park feels like the city’s best-kept secret—an unspoiled island oasis, tantalizingly close to Manhattan. Even on a weekend at the height of summer, you’ll get a 50-yard stretch of beach to yourself. On weekdays, it’s practically all yours. On a busy day, you might see several families (mostly Russian) picnicking and grilling.  How can this be? Simple: Fort Tilden is so difficult to access that only the most intrepid Robinson Crusoe types dare venture there” - NYMag.

Note: Unless you own a bike!!!!

Directions: Bedford Avenue bike lane ends in Sheepshead Bay where you have to deal with car traffic until the Marine Park bike path begins.  Over the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge and you’re there.

the most biked to beach, design squish blog

It can turn into a fun and sustainable weekend.

biker beach, sustainable weekend, new york city, bike friendly, design squish blog

fort tilden, nyc best beach, sustainable weekend, nyc, brooklyn, design squish blog

fort tilden, the most biked to beach in america, sustainable weekend, nyc, design squish blog

Opportunities to chain up a bike end early but no problem you can always take your bike with you on the shore:

fort tilden, far rockaway,  best urban beach in america, sustainable weekend, nyc, most biked to beach, design squish blog

fort tilden, bike to the beach, sustainable weekend, design squish blog

fort tilden, far rockaway,  best urban beach in america, sustainable weekend, nyc, most biked to beach, design squish blog

The sunset viewgasm from Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge on the way back, makes this a perfect bike ride experience. 

fort tilden, far rockaway,  best urban beach in america, sustainable weekend, nyc, most biked to beach, design squish blog

fort tilden, far rockaway,  best urban beach in america, sustainable weekend, nyc, most biked to beach, design squish blog


August 31, 2010 by Designsquish



SOFT ACCESSORIES FROM RECLAIMED MATERIALS

Slippers made from recycled, felted 100% lambswool sweater and recycled leather

Slippers made from recycled, felted 100% lambswool sweater and recycled leather

I am drawn to comfortable, soft accessories from reclaimed materials.
Slippers made from recycled, felted 100% lambswool sweater and recycled leather by Wooly Baby as well as this upcycled slouch bag made from the sleeves of a mens wool dress coat by Betsy & Bess...


upcycled slouch bag made from the sleeves of a mens wool dress coat


August 16, 2010 by Designsquish



ICFF 2010

icff 2010, international furniture fair, design squish blog

icff 2010, international furniture fair, design squish blog

Lamp made from scrub pads and chandelier made from
plastic spoons by Daisuke Hirawa.

icff 2010, international furniture fair, cork-bowl

icff 2010, international furniture fair, cork-lamp

Tiago Sa Da costa creates bowls and lamps out of natural material - cork. 

icff 2010, design squish blog

Hand knitted recycled cotton and leather bags by Lana Williams

icff 2010, design squish blog

Colorful, environmentally friendly wood blocks by Miller Goodman.

icff 2010, scrap lights

icff 2010, scrap lights

Scrap Lights made of recycled cardboard.


May 18, 2010 by Designsquish



WHITE ORGANIC COTTON AND NATURAL SILK SATEEN DRESS

white organic cotton and silk evening dress

Kaelyn Garcia’s Organic Cotton and natural silk sateen circle dress.


May 05, 2009 by Designsquish



NADIA NOUR

design squish blog

design squish blog

Nadia Nour is a fashion designer based in New York City.  Nadia keeps manufacturing and sourcing supplies for her garments local and uses organics as much as possible - naturally dyed silks,  fabrics that are healthy for people and the environment.  Her clothing designs are sophisticated, high-end and chic but at the same time organic and sustainable. 


May 03, 2009 by Designsquish



EPONYMY

vintage store in park slope

I am happy to show some of my watercolors at the Eponymy gallery and store.  It is owned by Andrea Miller and located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. The store is a mix of vintage and designer clothes, antique mirrors as well as tightly curated modern photography from emerging artists of Humble Arts Foundation.


February 19, 2009 by Designsquish



I LOVE AMERICAN APPAREL

american apparel design squish blog

I love American Apparel.  Their clothes are so simple and they always fit so so nice. Although, I wish they had more organic clothing selection because right now they have mainly shirts and underwear. Is it possible to make organic cotton leggings? If so, I want to buy them.


CATEGORIES:   CLOTHES, ECO FASHION,
(2) Comments

January 30, 2009 by Designsquish



MITTENS FROM RECYCLED WOOL SWEATERS, QUILTS FROM RECYCLED WOOL BLANKETS, QUILTS FROM OLD T-SHIRTS

design squish blog, recycled sweater mittens

Do you have a lot of old seaters that are unfashionable, uncool, shrunken or simply too old? Well, you can reuse them to make mittens.  These mittens by Baabaazuzu are made from old sweaters.  Each mitten is unique. Two images below are quilts made out of old wool blankets by Marlies Spaan, a textile designer from Netherlands.

design squish blog, recycled wool quilts
Or, company called StitchT in New York City is making quilts out of old t-shirts for you.  You bring old t-shirts and they stich them together into a nice beautiful quilt.

quilt out of shirts     stitcht  blanket shirts


January 26, 2009 by Designsquish



REDESIGNED CLOTHING BY AuH2O

new shirt from old shirts

reused fabric shirt

AuH2O is a sustainable clothing store owned by Kate Goldwater. All AuH2O clothing is made from recycled fabric from old shirts, dresses and ties.  Kate sews everything herself at her store which makes her garments sweat shop free, unique and less carbon-dioxide emitting shipments are invovled.  Kate alters garments you buy at the store free of charge to your liking - straps can be added to tube tops, skirt length can be adjusted and e.t.c.


December 30, 2008 by Designsquish



REFORM SCHOOL

california green store

california green store

    reform school

Reform School is a store, web shop and collective based in Los Angeles, CA. 
Billie and Tootie write about their store:  “We definitely wanted to talk about how sustainable design is a huge focus for us, and that green living is important to us, not only in business but in our personal lives as well. We wanted to be eco-friendly without being too in-your-face about it. The last thing we wanted was to be another shop selling all things hemp & bamboo ( not that we don’t love hemp & bamboo)”
To visit: Reform School.


by Designsquish



BAGS FROM OLD UMBRELLAS

reuse broken umbrella, umbrella bag, recycle umbrellas

Have you ever felt bad for the numerous broken umbrellas during the storm? You do not have to anymore!
They all can be turned into a bag! Yes Yes.

taken from FIFTYRX3, a blog about style and sustainability by Jill Danyelle.
(“fiftyRX3 was a project in style and sustainability. It consisted of a photo documentary of what Jill Danyelle wore everyday for a year with a goal of averaging fifty percent sustainability based on the environmental mantra ‘reuse, reduce, recycle’. There was also exploration into the relationship we have with our clothing and how others perceive who we are through what we wear.)


November 17, 2008 by Designsquish