Tuesday 25 October 2011

TOILET ROLLS


Before you throw away that toilet roll, think again! I have been looking at the artwork of Yuken Teruya, in particular his range of toilet roll artwork. It is utterly stunning. 


Taking a simple object like a discarded toilet roll and turning it into a piece of art.  Just take a look at Yuken's toilet roll faces, they are very inspirational.




The delicate carvings by Anastassia Elias inside toilet rolls are amazing also. They are tiny paper cut out scenes inside a toilet roll.







So remember, next time you go to throw away toilet rolls, don't!

Monday 17 October 2011

BUOYS AND GIRLS



Buoys and Girls are a small family run company based on the Isle of Wight, designing and handmaking unique accessories using authentic new and recycled sailcloth. All products are made in their own workshop. Their designs are their own original designs and have a nautical theme. They are bright, fun and desireable!  

Although each item is individual they are happy to personalise their products for you, to make them that extra bit special. Their products are made to the highest standard. They use sailmakers thread and webbing and robust plastic zipping where required. Living on the Isle of Wight known for its beaches and international sailing, has given them great inspiration to create designs made from sailcloth that can be used in or out of the home, on the boat or on holiday. Their designs are perfect for Coastal Interiors, for those who love seaside living and all who love anything Nautical!

They try to use as much recycled sailcloth as they can and are always on the lookout for used sails in good condition. They love to recycle them. Once laundered they start life as something new – with a history. They are also happy to collect used sails in good condition so do let them know if you have a sail you want to recycle!

Each sail they recycle is different in texture and colour which means no two products they make are the same. Because recycled sailcloth has a history it provides a real vintage feel to their designs.  All their recycled sailcloth is laundered before they make it up.

To see their website click HERE.




Personalised wash bag

Thursday 13 October 2011

VINTAGE BAZAAR


The Vintage Bazaar will take place Cheese and Grain, Frome, BA11 1EB
Saturday 29th October 2011
Doors open at 9am - 3pm Admission £1
For more details and to see who is exhibiting click HERE.

Sunday 3 July 2011

PETER DAHMEN


This is a very clever make your own paper sculpture from Peter Dahmen. Downloadable A4 sheets and and video on how to make a paper sculpture. Have a go! Let me know how you get on.
To see more of his paper sculptures click HERE.

Tuesday 19 April 2011

ARBEE CARDS



I love the idea of recycling greeting cards once they have been taken down from the mantlepiece. These cards from Arbee Cards are actually plantable.

The plantable paper is handmade from cotton (tree-free!) and is UK-made (no travel - low carbon) and contains a mix of wildflower seeds which look like small black specks in the paper: Catchfly, English Daisy, Sweet Alyssum, Snapdragon, Corn Poppy and Black Eyed Susan. 

The entire card is planted in soil or compost (patio pot, windowbox or garden bed) and must be kept moist and preferable in a sunny spot and should germinate in a few weeks. The paper itself breaks down in the soil and is bleach-free and completely eco-friendly. The card has a textured side from the process of handmade paper-making, with the upside of the paper feeling like a heavyweight artists' paper. 


As Rachel Law of ArbeeCards said "I use it for making cards & wedding stationery. Mother's Day plantable cards were so popular with people just loving the idea of posting their mum some flowers for her to grow. They are becoming increasingly popular for weddings, with plantable place cards doubling as favours - people get some lovely flower seeds for the garden to take home instead of wasteful expensive favours, keeping everything environmentally-friendly. Really, who needs more sugared almonds in a chiffon bag! I try to encourage couples to make their white wedding green - and much of my cards & stationery is recycled card, upcycled vintage papers, buttons, lace and re-used cards & papers'.


To see Arbee Cards website click HERE.      To shop online click HERE

Thursday 31 March 2011

RECYCLED JEWELLERY

KATE HAMILTON-HUNTER

Above: Recycled vintage tin jewellery

Kate Hamilton-Hunter uses recycled biscuit tins, tea caddies, sweet tins, toffee and tobacco tins in her jewellery designs. After 4 years in college and five years teaching Art & Design, a career change was brought about for Kate through the discovery of metal. She started with aluminium, copper and brass, but she soon discovered a new material to make jewellery from – recycled and reclaimed biscuit tins. Kate says "Friends and family give us lots of them, especially after Christmas, and we buy more from charity shops, antique shops and bay." Next time you have a Spring clean, don't throw away any old tis that you think Kate could use! send them over to her studio.

Above: Recycled vintage tin cuff-links

Monday 14 March 2011

RECYCLED DRESSES


GARY HARVEY

Ethical fashion designer Gary Hemingway created this dress out of throw away packaging. To see more of Gary Hemingway's work click HERE.


SUSAN STOCKWELL

Susan Stockwell's dress titled "Colonial Dress" was made out of world maps, wire and glue. To see more of her dresses click HERE.

WAYNE HEMINGWAY
This green union Jack dress was designed by Wayne Hemingway for 'Green Britain Day' made entirely from recycled fabrics. To see more of Wayne Hemingway's work click HERE.


JOHN PETREY

A dress made out of bottle caps by sculpter John Petrey
Visit the website to see more, by clicking HERE

JOLIS PAONS

I know I have featured this dress before, but I really love this one made out of telephone books by Jolis Paons. To see more images of this stunning dress click HERE.

CLOTHES, CAMERA AND COFFEE

Above: I love that Roz of Clothes, Camera & Coffee has used old negatives to recreate a 1920's flapper dress. To read more about How Roz created this dress click HERE.


JANE LAWRENCE
Comic Strip dress by Jane Lawrence. To see more of her work click HERE.


MELISSA FERREIRA
Above: this dress is made from reclaimed stretch wool sweaters by Melissa Ferreira. To see more of her work of clothes using quality recycled materials click HERE.


LIRA LEIRNER
Lira Leirner has made this fantastic dress out of an old Royal Mail bag. For her website click HERE.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

ECO BAGS


I have selected 7 of the best eco bags made out of all sorts of products that would have otherwise been tossed into landfill. Recycled bags are no longer what they used to be, these bags are all very stylish in design, very durable and ecologically friendly.

FIRE HOSES
ELVIS and KREESE

Discarded fire Hose bag from Elvis & Kresse. This innovative Fire-Hose range is made exclusively from genuine de-commissioned British fire brigade hoses which, after a didtinguised career fighting fires and saving lives, would have been destined for landfill. To see Elvis & Kresse website click HERE.



DISCARDED BANNER VINYL
ELBOW GREASE DESIGNS

Eco bags designed by Jenny Hurth of Elbow Grease Designs are hand sewn from discarded vinyl signs and banners. Originally printed for trade shows, conventions, etc. These banners would otherwise end up in landfill. To see Elbow Grease Designs click HERE.



COFFEE SACKS
YOUNG BRITISH DESIGNERS
A reversible upcycled luxury eco tote bag made from fair trade coffee sack with contrasting lining found on Young British Designers website. To see the eco bag click HERE.
To see the Young British Designers website click HERE.



CAR SEAT BELTS
BELT UP BAGS

Eco friendly designer bags made from real (some recycled) seat belts with beautiful inside fabrics.
Available from Belt up Bags. For their website click HERE.




CAR INNERTUBES
RE-COLLECT

Handcrafted bags made from upcycled car innertubes & strap from recycled car seat belt. Designed by Katcha Bilek of Re-Collect. To see her website click HERE.

ROYAL MAIL BAGS
LIRA LEIRNER

These Royal Mail Sack bags by Lira Leirner are show stoppers! They come in a variety of colours, and are sturdy yet supple, lined and architecturally supported and structured with fabric tape and fastened with magnetic studs. Created by Lira Leirner in collaboration with the designer Stuart Bannocks. To see the website click HERE.

CAR LICENSE PLATES
LITTLEARTH
Bags created out of old license Plates. You can actually send your old license plate to Littlearth and they will make it up into a bag for you. To see their website click HERE.

Wednesday 23 February 2011

GREEN POST

Above: Mini eco card set - 5 folded cards with handmade envelopes.

Kendra Zvonik makes 100% recycled handmade papercrafts. Her company GREEN POST was created with the intentions to re-use, recycle and upcycle all the "junk" paper that comes into our lives (such as junk mail, useless bills, receipts, tags, etc). As Kendra says, "Paper is one of the easiest and most forgiving materials to work with and to recycle. Paper is everywhere and can be re-used (possibly) infinitely."

Kendra makes the most wonderful Eco plantable gift tags. Tags that you can use and then later plant to grow wild flowers! A really creative eco friendly wedding/party/business favour. Made from recycled papers (created out of "junk" paper collected by the artist). Seeds are incased inside the pulp paper. The paper is then pressed and air dried. They hang on a 12" piece of natural hemp twine through a punched hole. They are then stamped on the back with SOY INK. All the contents is 100% recycled.

You can buy Green Post products via the Etsy shop HERE.