Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Electric Mini Cooper!

I would love to upgrade my Mini Cooper to this electric version - it is being tested in Europe and will not be available until next year.  It is 100% electric with zero emisions.  It goes 100 miles per charge.  It is only a 2 seater but the backseat is so small anyway.  I hope the testing goes well so I can trade mine in for a more eco-friendly version - LOVE my Mini!!

 



Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday FUN Find - Vintage Lettters

I really LOVE these vintage letters from Gracie Cottage.  I especially love the beautiful finishes and fonts.  Large letters make great art - spell out names or meaningful words.  Have a FUN weekend!!




Thursday, May 26, 2011

LOVE this garden office pod!

I would love to have one of these garden office pods by Archipod!!  Working from home, it is sometimes hard to separate work from home.  A beautiful little garden office would be so wonderful, although I don't know about working in there during our harsh Minnesota winters!

Why is the Archipod garden office eco-friendly?
  • Timber comes from either FSC registered suppliers, or is reused from surplus manufacturing
  • Design and size is optimised to minimize wastage in production.
  • Heating is by way of an electric panel radiator, which is the most efficient way to heat a small, independent and highly insulated space such as a garden office. One advantage of working in a separate garden office is that it may be unnecessary to heat the main house during the day.
  • Heat loss is minimized by the use of high standards of insulation and air tightness.
  • Roof light gives a high level of illumination during the day, so there is little need to resort to artificial lighting in use.
  • Fibreglass insulation is made from recycled glass.
 







Wednesday, May 25, 2011

NEW Pattern Wednesday - HELP it needs a name!

I created this new pattern, but I can't think of a name!  It is FUN and has great movement.  It would be great as a fabric or a rug - small or large scale.  Can anyone think of a creative name?  Please HELP!!



Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Rustic Scandinavian Retreat...

I'm fascinated with the interiors found in Scandinavian Retreat.  Every retreat is restful and fresh.  Today I fell in LOVE with this one - the natural wood, worn finishes, and open shelving are so easy and comfortable.  I just LOVE it!!

 








Thursday, May 19, 2011

Modern tree house!

Beautiful eco-friendly tree house by standard.  I LOVE the shape and use of concrete and wood.  Look how the deck cantilevers - the view would be amazing!

 





Wednesday, May 18, 2011

New pattern Wednesday!

I've been spending some time designing new patterns - it is so FUN to be creative!  This one is called Petal.  I LOVE the movement and how it looks so difference going from horizontal to vertical.  What do you think?! 



Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Shhhh, is it flip flop season??

Shhh don't scare away the sun...  In Minnesota we have had a cold Spring. We had a few warm days, but mostly it has been cold and rainy.  The last few days have been sooo nice and sunny - dare I say warmer weather is here to stay!  In the Summer, I live in flip flops.  They are so comfortable and easy, but the problem is that they are cheap so we buy a lot of them and they are not eco-friendly or biodegradable.  I recently ran across Feelgoodz flip flops - they are made with 100% natural latex.  I know they cost more and there are not as many options...  But buying one pair and have them recycle your worn out flip flops will make a difference!!

What makes Feelgoodz flip flops Eco-Friendly:
  • 100% eco-friendly natural latex rubber, highly compressed for pillow-soft comfort
  • All-natural, non-toxic dyes
  • recycle program for non-eco-friendly flip flops
  • 3% of revenues going to fair trade organizations, environmental organizations, and micro-lending institutions
  • check out more information on this great company - People, Planet, Profit

Friday, May 13, 2011

Friday FUN Find - Bathtub Sofas?!

These sofas are so FUN!!  Jill Morrison of Ruff House Art takes vintage bathtubs and turns them into sofas.  Okay, these would look ridiculous in my house, but I REALLY love the idea and the whimsical colors and fabrics!  Have a great weekend everyone!!!



Lamps by Stray Dog Design

I love the whimsical table lamps designed by Jane Gray for Stray Dog Designs. They are so cute and original AND eco-friendly!! They are also found on Green with Glamour so you know they are wonderful!

What makes Stray Dog Designs Eco-Friendly:
  • Papier Mache: Handmade from recycled materials
  • Glass: Mouth blown from recycled glass
  • Iron: Hand forged from recyclable iron
  • Tin: Hand cut, shaped, and painted from recyclable tin
  • Shipping in 100% recyclable packing peanuts
  • Handmade by artisans in Haiti and Mexico

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Chain pattern redefined!

I took my Chain Pattern and made it new by decreasing the scale and pushing it together!  I LOVE how it looks totally different - It is so FUN with great movement & playfulness!

{ mini-chain print }


{ original chain print }

Monday, May 9, 2011

Prefab { modern, compact, beautiful }

I'm a fan of modern, compact, beautiful prefab homes.  This one is by Plus Architects in Finland.  I love the light finishes and windows.  I'm also a fan of photo realistic rendering, and believe it or not, these are not actually photos but computer renderings - amazing!






Friday, May 6, 2011

Friday FUN Find { extreme eco-camping }

This camper created by Kevin Cyr really made me laugh.  Not only is it eco-friendly, but great exercises!!  Have a great weekend everyone!




Thursday, May 5, 2011

Fun night celebrating Eco-Fashion!

A few weekends ago, I attended the Sol Inspirations Eco-Fashion Gala & Fundraiser!  The fashion designers created eco-friendly fashions to compete for a $5000 prize.  They created 3 looks using non-traditional fabrics, recycled materials or up-cycled clothing, and sustainable fabrics.  Also 1 of their looks had to incorporate solar panels.  There were some familiar faces from Project Runway! Seth Aaron Henderson (7th season winner of Project Runway) was headlining and judging.  Contestants included Christopher Straub and Ra'Mon Lawrence Colmeman (Project Runway finalists) as well as Allison Helliwell, Tara Latour, Atom Peachman & Jenn Bratovold, and Niki English.  In the end the prise went to Christopher Straub.  It was a fun night!  The fashion ranged from wearable to ART only - Here are some of my favorites!