One-of-a-Kind Recycled Home Décor
Upcycled Suitcase Pet Bed
The cat's going to jump in the suitcase if you open it, anyway. That's what cats do. Why not provide this super-cool vintage "Royal Traveller" upcycled suitcase pet bed for your pet's sleeping pleasure, instead? Brad and Ashley Reynolds, the college students behind VintageRenassance in Moscow, Idaho, say their cat, Hamlet*, loves the cotton fabric, the eco-friendly stuffing ... and, of course, the novelty of something new to sleep on. Cost: $65.
*Cat not included.
Suit Jacket Alphabet Pillow
Vintage shop hipsters will either cringe (at the loss to their wardrobe) or covet these unique pillows: Each is made from an old suit jacket. "Some will have buttons, some will have a pocket, all retro awesome tweeds, herringbones and checks," says Hilary Cosgrove of Kingston, Ontario. She sells the pillows for $65 each.
Printed Recycled Map Envelopes
This may be the ultimate in recycling art. Printmaking student Anna Ruby King – an Australian living in Athens, Greece – uses old German maps to test her latest prints. The result: beautiful, unique envelopes printed with whimsical designs on map backgrounds. You get a package of 10 C6 envelopes for $4.
She's working to make her card-making business carbon neutral, in part by buying one ton's worth of carbon offsets each month from Climate Friendly.
She warns: "Because some of the envelopes are test prints, there might be some smudges or anomalies in the prints, but that is just part of the gocco charm!"
Reclaimed Barnwood Picture Frame
British Columbia's crumbling barns, fences and cabins offer Rick and Heidi of Paradise Hill Designs an endless supply of raw materials for their art.
Take this solid wood frame made from salvaged barn wood, a showcase for a 6x6" photograph of your choice. It costs $24, and with careful sanding, hidden screws and a striking natural "patina of warm, sunburnt browns," they're worth every penny.
Whether or not you buy, listen to their band, Sound of the North, which plays original folk, country, old time, Celtic and European tunes.
Bamboo Recycled Bike Clock
Made from a recycled bicycle chain ring, this unique clock would please any avid biker.
Made by 1byliz, a teacher in Oakland, Calif., it fits her vision of achieving sustainability by "shifting the way we look at ordinary objects." AA battery not included.
Vinyl Record Mandala Bowl
These "platters from the past" are made from old vinyl records, painted with original psychedelic acrylic designs and heated so they can be molded into flower-like forms.
Made by Christine Claringbold (Eye Pop Art) in Portland, Ore., and sold for $58 apiece, these bowls are "fantastic for holding fruit, candy, candles, trinkets, or anything your heart desires." Plus, you never know what original record label you'll find on the bowl's bottom.
Beer Bottle Spoon Rest
You're making chili. You're drinking beer. Why not rest your chili-stirring spoon on a spoon rest made from an old beer bottle? Wow your Monday Night football friends! (Hey, it could happen.)
Made by Minty Fresh, it costs $26 and is one of dozens of glass designs created by Jen (a.k.a. Ammasmama, or Wingnutmagnet – you'd have to ask her.)
Recycled Wood Desk Planter
The philosphy of ErdeDesigns is to "create beautiful items that are also functional."
Behold the recycled wood desk planter, handmade from recycled walnut, with a removable metal potting tin, for $36. It's perfect for herbs, a cactus or small flowers -- making it a fitting addition to the desk of someone who cares about sustainability.
State of Affairs Pillow
A great housewarming gift for someone who's recently crossed a border, these State of Affairs pillows sell for $32 each and can be made to feature any state or country, and in a variety of color combinations. Handmade in Chicago by Beth (DiffractionFiber) from felt made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, these pillows are "soft yet durable."
Beth draws her crafting inspiration from her Italian great grandfather, and the red heart-shaped pillow she made him for his 100th birthday.
Upcycled Coffee Sack Basket
Made from burlap sourced from an Oklahoma coffee house, Brin & Nohl sell this handmade (and "ultra-sturdy") basket, lined with cotton canvas for $34.99.
Recycled Fabric Quilt Coasters
In the market for some coasters? How about these coasters quilted from vintage repurposed fabric? They're just $7 for each pair, made by rikrak (no, not rickroll) from Ottawa, Canada.
Scrap Wood Picture Frame
This Chalecco creation is as simple as it is fashionable: A scrap wood picture frame for $47. (Free shipping available until Sept. 15, 2009.)
Cloth Plastic Bag Holder
So you've made the switch to reusable bags. But you still have that plastic bag full of plastic bags tucked under the sink. Rosey Corner Creations to the rescue!
A mother of 5 ("great children" she boasts, no doubt with good reason), this Etsy artisan makes handmade colorful cloth plastic bag dispensers, each for just $9 (add $2.50 for special orders). You just tuck your plastic bags in the top until you need one -- and when nature call's for your dog, say -- you pull out the plastic bag you need from the bottom. It's a simple, even stylish way to reuse.
Recycled Soda Bottle Glasses
Made by YAVA G l a s s in Sedona, Ariz., these retro-cool recycled soda bottles come in sets of four for $30. One of the shop's specialties: Gifts for groomsmen (in other words, soda isn't the only thing you can drink out of these glasses).
Milk Crate Stool
If there's a better invention for the average college student, we don't know what it is: It's a storage crate, and it's a stool ... and it still fits under your bed.
Daddy, get our your checkbook. natymosko sells them for $90 apiece.
Reusable Fabric Wall Decals
Perfect for the kid who won't stop taking crayons to your newly painted walls, these reusable fabric wall decals let children make art on the walls without leaving any permanent marks.
Stickytiki sells the decal sets for $119, and that includes decals enough for a tree with 10 branches and 30 leaves, grasses, an owl, a butterfly ... and a purple deer. (Stickytiki is the New Zealand couple Kim, the painter, and Si, the "computer geek" ... plus some QA help from their kids, Zavia, Jasper and Kahlo.)
Fabric Toy Box Play Set
It's a playset with pop-up trees and mountains set amid a landscape of rivers. It's a fabric toy box that stores itself attractive in a corner. It's both.
For BabiesBreath, a new mom in Toronto, it was a solution to finding "soft and interesting storage and toy boxes." Cost: $175.
Reclaimed Wood Box
The maker of these shabby-chic reclaimed wood boxes, jehnepenne, uses them to store knitting needles but promises "they would beautifully display just about anything." Cost: $22.
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