recycled – Signature9

Wood & Wool Stool: State of Independence

Vanessa Quirk — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:12:20 +0000

It’s not often that a stool grabs our attention, but scrolling through San Fran-based blog sfgirlbythebay, we found some stunningÂ stools that instantly stood out from the crowd.

Blanket, â‚¬75 ($108); Garland, â‚¬25($36); Stools, â‚¬65 ($93)

Dutch “handy woman” and writer of the blog Wood & Wool Stool, Ingrid Jansen has been creating her own brand of stools since 2008 – and they’reÂ definitely in a class of their own.

Made from wool and reclaimed wood, each stool is unique Â – but you can choose the colors and patterns you prefer.

Stool, â‚¬65 ($93); Pillow, â‚¬65 - â‚¬75 ($93-$108)

And while we adore her signature stools, that’s not all the talented Ms. Jansen makes. For sale on her web site are pillows, clothes hangers, blankets, garlands, picture frames, and even wooden Christmas Trees!

But all the creations of this Dutch crocheter extraordinaire have one thing in common. Vibrant, fabulous color.

Any of Jansen’s products would be sure to bring some instant happiness to your home – and who couldn’t use some more happy in their lives?

Best Eco-Friendly Calendars for 2010

Vanessa Quirk — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:47:26 +0000

We eco-friendly mavens are pretty used to thinking ahead – Â be it a few millenia as we ponder the fate of our fragile lil’Â planet or a few hours as we trudge outside to place our recycling on the curb. And for all our forward thinking, we deserve something downright pretty to keep track of our days.

And so, courtesy of the paper specialists at Oh So Beautiful Paper, I present to you three of the loveliest, eco-friendliest calendars for 2010! All areÂ made from recycled paper and have gorgeous visual style – just the way to bring the new year in right.

$29 Letterpress Calendar from Albertine Press.

$23 Eco-Chic Desk Calendar from See Jane Work.

$34 Deluxe Wall Calendar from SusyJack*

In the Green: Your Recycled Goods’ (not so) Torrid Past

Vanessa Quirk — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:09:58 +0000

It’s human nature. As soon as you buy something second hand – maybe
it’s that charmingly worn out purse you use daily or the remarkably
preserved set of china you keep in your cupboard – you wonder: who was
this person who had it before me? What did it mean to him/her? And why
did he/she give it up?

Vintage Dress on Pass the Baton

Pass the Baton, a Japanese store and online shopping site, recognizes that every item in your household has a story and that buying recycled goods – one of the easiest things you can do to be green – should be about more than the exchange of goods. It should be about personal connection. Every item in the store, and on the online shop, has its own snippet of history provided by the seller (who also has a biography listed).

: South American Mirror on Pass the Baton

Kelly Kikuchi, the web manager for Pass the Baton, explains the idea behind the store: “My generation facilitated both the evolution of simple resale into ‘vintage’, and the rise and plateau of Internet auctions. Back then, it was about economy, discovery, curiosity. Now, it is about expanding, exploring the meaning and relevance of second-hand.”

While there is some information lost in translation, the web site is well worth a browse for its incredible objects. From across the globe, they range from the wacky – such as a toilet paper dispenser and stuffed leather penguin made by prisoners – to the downright chic, but all of them have a story to tell.