recycle your paper into cute little hermes birkin valentines!
another cool way to recycle your paper. visit the hermes website to download templates to make your very own kelly bag. just pick your location, click on “travel the world of hermes,” and select the paper bag pic (”i want it, i’ll have it!”).
what a cute craft to give your valentine, especially filled with some organic chocolate goodies.
thanks for the pics tatertotsandjello and prettyinthecity!
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turn your plastic bag into a sewing machine cover
despite the utter yuckiness i feel for apple, i can’t help but be drawn to the disgustingly pretty things they churn out, and this here sky blue bag is no exception.
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does anyone remember this one? i got it when i purchased my ibook way back when, and still remember feeling more in awe about the bag than i did about the computer! it’s been in my closet for years now and instead of trashing it, i wanted to honor it by making it into a cover for my sewing machine!
the steps are fairly simple:
1. cut off the bottom and top inch or so of the bag and turn it inside out.
2. trace the outline of the item you want to make a cover for, leaving about an inch and a half for the hem.
3. sew along the outline you traced and try it on for size. if it fits correctly, trim the edges off so that it looks like this:
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4. turn your completed cover right side out and voila!
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you can also cut a little side slit out for any plugs or wires that need to poke out.
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now your sewing machine, toaster oven, or mao zedong bust can stay dust-free and you have saved another bag from the dump! pat yourself on the back, mister!
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pantone x panettone giftbox
as a follow up to my last post on giftwrap, check out this fly pantone-inspired panettone giftbox design by purpose.
photos courtesy of black rainbow
for those who aren’t familiar with it, pantone is a color system that designers around the world use to pick colors. panettone is the italian equivalent of fruitcake. clever!
although you probably won’t be able to get a hold of one of these limited editions, it would be easy to make your own by painting a regular panettone box. if you received panettone from someone else, transforming it into a pantone giftbox for your favorite designer is a great way to reuse it!
thoughtful design that creates an emotional bond is one way that many designers are combatting one-time-use packaging. this holiday, try and package your gifts in a way that continue to be useful to the giftee even after they open the gift, and is something that they like so much that they won’t want to throw it away.
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what to do with all those leftovers
i ☆ this idea from danielle spencer’s turkey-shaped jell-o® mold competition, but it’s just as easy to do without a turkey shaped mold.
just layer all of your leftovers in your favorite rectangular or round baking pan, sprinkle a little bit of shredded cheese between each layer to bind them all and bake covered with foil at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. you can even cut your meta-turkey into single servings and freeze them - homemade tv dinner!
other winners for your viewing enjoyment:
bubby’s matzoh turkey
kimchi turkey
califurkey roll
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make your old tank tops into reusable totebags/scarves
this camo tank used to be my favorite, but it’s been a little too tight lately (darn you late night bacon cravings).
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rather than end our 11 month relationship, i decided to transform it into something new and useful.
1. first, i turned my tank top inside-out and laid it flat so that the armholes aligned.
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2. the next step is to sew the bottom of your tank top (preferably with a sewing machine) closed. i sewed mine twice for good measure.
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3. and you’re done! just turn it inside out and you’re ready to carry home bread, eggs, newspapers or other light items.
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for a fancier look, just use a glitzier tank.
this:
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became this:
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they double as scarves too! what a thoughtful way to avoid having to actually carry your extra totebags.
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byob op: bring their own bags or pay
anyone who has shopped recently at euro furniture superstore ikea has noticed that the plastic bags there are not free. has that deterred people from using them? the short answer is heyl yah! 92% or approximately 64 million less ikea bags were used last year. talk about results!
not to be left in the dust yet again by the rest of the world (ahem: metric system), new york city mayor michael bloomberg has proposed a tax on plastic bags across our city. if the proposal passes, that means that you will save 6 cents on every bag you decide not to take at grocery stores and other retailers. it’s just the extra nudge that people who ask for a plastic bag for a stick of gum or a bag of chips (you know who you are) need to think, yes think, for a moment about whether or not they really must have a bag in order to carry their purchases home.
of the 6 cents, 5 cents will go to the city and 1 cent will go to the participating store as an incentive fee. officials estimate that the plan will generate $16 million a year for our city, which is not too shabby. what they may have forgotten in their calculations is that new yorkers are pretty good at taking action when they know their hard earned bucks are at stake. i estimate/hope that we will actually use less plastic bags even if the city makes less money.
here are some reusable bag options that i’m feeling right now:
baggu bags in a rainbow of colors. the muted jewel tones are very en vogue right now.
flip and tumble’s easy to roll up bags
greenworldbags are sturdy and come in fun patterns
skn has cute designs like tomato and blueberry and will plant a tree for every bag you buy!
shagbags come with cute pouches and have cinches to hold all of your belongings safely inside.
shoutout to dave h for hooking me up with the story.
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how to recycle your underwear
we recycle a lot of things, but for many, underwear is a stretch.
am i ashamed of myself for writing that? a little.
but seriously though. it’s a dilemma that has plagued many a green conscience. it’s embarrassing when you try to donate perfectly good, practically new bras to the thrift shop only to be turned away. and don’t even attempt to donate underwear for your lower body. shopkeepers look at me like i’m some kind of perv - even if the undies still have tags on them!
no, there is no simple solution to the social stigma behind the problem, but here are some shame-free ideas on how you can reuse or recycle your intimates:
1. make your briefs into a sports bra
vid courtesy of www.liveleak.com
2. send back your worn out patagonia base layers to be recycled into new ones!
patagonia common threads garment recycling
3. use the trimmings from your old undergarments to pretty up the undies you have now.
cut off bows, trim and lace from your unwanted skivvies and sew them onto your new undies that could use a little sprucing up, or even onto sweaters or jeans. i’ve seen so many girls wearing cardigans with pretty pieces of lace or ruffles on them. instead of paying for these ornaments, why not just use your old bras?
strumpet & pink has an awesome collection if you’re in need of inspiration:
pics courtesy of www.trendoriginal.com
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why is this a site?
swyyne has always been an experiment for me. with all of the other super eco sites out there, i've been feeling like i want to contribute something just a bit different. so for now, here are my random musings.
look for stuff
feed yourself