sanctuary: sustainable design magazine

Sanctuary Design Magazine focuses solely on sustainable design unlike Dwell and Azure that cover stories about sustainability occasionally. Australia's Sanctuary uses the motto "Sustainable Living with Style". The editors Verity Campbell and Michael Day have made green their mission: it is published by the non-profit Alternative Technology Association. Reminds me a little of....HauteNature! We applaud them.

ashley watson: recycled handbag perfection

Ashley Watson has been a Haute Nature favorite since her inception. And for all eco & handbag lovers everywhere, she never fails to please with her new designs.

form & fauna: eco shoes

Form & Fauna shoes use non-toxic biodegradable Italian synthetics, bamboo, organic hemp, recycled fiber insoles and water based glues in the production of their show line. Form and Fauna is a fair trade, cruelty free, hand made in the USA company. Bay Bertea, the designer of the line also incorporates recycled yoga mats into the of the shoes, giving props to her past as a yoga instructor.

inframe tv: documentary shorts

InFrame.tv is a documentary based vodcast produced in Melbourne, Australia profiling & explore original Australian and international talent working in art, design and culture. InFrame offers thoughts, insights, and inspirations of people who create. InFrame

upholstery arts: biodegradable sofas

Upholstery Arts is a completely biodegradable sofa! Using FSC-certified wood, 100% natural latex, 100% natural wool, non-toxic fire protection, non-toxic glues, stains and finishes & ecological textiles; this has to be the greenest sofa around!

kulae: biodegradable yoga mats

Kulae yoga mats are 100% biodegradable and four inches longer than a standard yoga mat. Constructed using closed cell technology (so germs, bacteria + odor cannot penetrate the mat surface) and weighing less than 2.5 pounds, this mat is revolutionary, and is the new eco standard for yoga mats. Kulae mats are also 100% recyclable once it has outlived its usefulness in your practice (PVC- and Latex-Free).

sprig toys: recycled milk jugs

Designers Justin Discoe, David Bowen, David Monahan & Chris Clemmer decided that toys they were creating and sending to manufacture weren't ecological in the least bit, actually harmful to the environment, thus Spring Toys was born. This socially responsible children's toy company works tirelessly to make high-quality toys, directed in their offerings with a simple mission statement: "Active, inspirational, fun toys made safely and sustainably." Made from recycled materials and powered by that seemingly limitless energy source - KIDS! -The world of Sprig is a place where kids power the fun, which fuels their imagination. It's where the batteries stay out of landfills, and kids get off the couch.

Sprig's adventure vehicles and character guides become favorite toys to recipients! The clean design of all the adventure mobiles take imaginary safaris to Africa, to the Arctic, the Amazon, the Outback, or the Himalaya. Sprig Toys are all made of Sprigwood, a kid-friendly, durable, bio-composite material made of recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. I am proud to support Sprig Toys, a local Colorado company based in Fort Collins Colorado. They are perfect presents!!

hemp couture: sustainable eco fashion

In modern times, industrial hemp has been used for paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, and fuel. In the past three years, commercial success of hemp food products has grown considerably. Hemp is one of the fastest growing biomasses known, producing up to 25 tonnes of dry matter per hectare per year. Hemp is one of the earliest domesticated plants known. For a crop, hemp is relatively environmentally friendly as it requires few pesticides and no herbicides, saving our soil from pollution.
This roundup of gorgeous hemp products by Hood Lamb, Livity, Sidual, Sativa Bags, Braintree Hats and Heather Heron Handbags show just how far this sustainable plant fiber has come. For more information go to Hemp Industries Association.

tom bihn: cork fabric bags

Tom Bihn

clementine art supplies: boulder colorado

Sustainably and responsibly minded Clementine Art Studio in Boulder Colorado has a fresh & healthy line of childrens' art supplies. Clementine Art's new art supply line contains simple ingredients from the earth. The products are colored with vegetable, plant, and mineral pigments instead of artificial dyes, providing an innovative solution to chemically laden, artificially colored art supplies. Each offering allows for open ended play and consists of kits for sculpture, collage or singular materials like modeling dough, natural paint, natural markers, soy crayons, soy crayon rocks and natural glue. All of Clementine's natural & safe materials created by the founder Diane Mercer, encourage children to create real art from scratch. The supplies are all natural, certified non toxic and environmentally friendly. Even the packaging for the art supplies is made of 80% post consumer recycled and reusable materials & printed with soy ink. Time for art!

10 most covetable objects

YLighting's personalized ad campaign is no less than genius. Each time I flip through my new Dwell magazine of the month, I pause and love seeing what design objects people treasure most in their lives. Each customer featured, tells a little bit about why they chose their 10 most precious objects. So of course I had to use Polyvore to make one of my own renditions of their wonderful ad campaigns. The most striking thing about seeing your most used and cherished objects together in simplicity is that it reinforces a feeling of serenity and happiness because each one brings pleasure or satisfaction to your life--seeing them all together is truly BLISS!! Try doing it yourself......

So here is an explanation of my own.
customer file: H. S./Boulder, CO.
1. Black Micheal Graves paper shredder bought at Target 2 years ago--I love to shred.
2. Bose Ipod dock, it has fabulous sound.
3. Bodum french press, wonderful for coffee or coconut assam tea.
4. I adore shells, but abalone is hands down my favorite-found a ton in Northern Cal.
5. I love my Flos GLoball T1 side table lamps.
6. My electra cruiser gets me where I want to go.. and has a basket to carry goods
7. Stainless steel Klean Kanteen keeps me hydrated.
8. I doubt I could live without LivingEtc. magazine
9. My heart hot water bottle from Italy makes me feel warm and cozy.
10. I use alaea Hawaiian salt when I cook...EVERYDAY. Reminds me of when I lived there.
11. My Alessi kitchen timer is personified.
12. I love tea, so a teapot is crucial.
13. My lambskins from Ikea keep chairs warmer.
Yeah.....I could not narrow it down to 10, but close enough...Below are some of their actual ad campaigns.

corelam eco wood panels

Corelam is a Canadian patented FSC certified all wood veneered plywood produced and distributed in Vancouver B.C. using Canadian based reusable resources.
GreenHus Design Ltd., Corelam's parent company, has researched and developed a highly efficient and socially responsible manufacturing process to produce 3 ply non VOC finished wavy panels that are 2.2 mm thick, lightweight, flexible or rigid, fire rated, of high quality, and have inherent acoustic properties.

eco skin apparel

Sexy shoulder dress for summer at Eco Skin.

denver green fest

Denver's first Green Festival debuted this last weekend. If you missed it, you'd better mark your calendar for next year--or get on over to Chicago's. Tons of great eco vendors, speakers, food, entertainment and demonstrations! Featured in the pictures are:
Livity
Green Guru
Growing Spaces
To-Go Ware
Sambazon
and the following fairly new local Colorado Companies that I have not covered yet --stories coming soon:
House Fish
Teatulia
Bhakti Chai

first denver green fest

The first annual Denver Green Festival is this weekend May 2nd and 3rd. Tickets are cheap, $15--Go!

cocolico shoes

Coclico Footwear is a small, independent, designer shoe brand produced in Spain. Based in New York, some Cocolico shoes incorporate vegetable tanned leathers, sustainable FSC certified wood platforms, sustainable FSC certified cork and non-toxic water-based adhesives.

All styles include nickel-free & lead-free buckles, recycled PU foam beds, highest standards of environmental & labor laws and purchased carbon credits from Native Energy.