Friday, November 8, 2013

Funding For The Abominable Dock Lamp Upcycled Love

Eco Friendly Lamp
One of many designs in the prototype line Up-cycled Lamp and Charging Dock


Check out this,  The Abominable Dock Lamp.  What is it?  It's the nifty name for a new series of handmade lamps that double as docking stations for your phone. The prototypes have been designed by hand with clever design. Made in California, they are fashioned from reclaimed wood, recycled wine bottles, and salvaged wiring.



New Invention Uses Upcycled Materials
Different designs in the prototype line show how detailed and lovely these items are.


The prototypes are design worthy, ingenious and unique. The wine bottles are the globes, and the lights are LED.  They serve as a charging dock for your phone. Not just your phone, ANY PHONE.  How can this be? They say, "Currently, we have one block that works with every phone and tablet on the market and one block made exclusively for Apple’s 30-pin connector (iPhone 1-4S and iPad 1-2)."   That in itself makes it Tech-Savvy.  If they go into full production with backing they will quite possibly be the only 100% Handmade & Upcycled handmade lamp that also doubles as a charging port.  Their goal?  They said,  "Our goal would be to get rid of excess wiring and charging cords by making a lamp out of 100 percent recycled material that charges any phone or laptop and making the earth a cleaner place. "

skeely designed eco frirendly charging port


I for one over the years have switched phones like I switch my t-shirts and think this is a fabulous idea. They are asking for $45,000 start up costs which includes expansion of equipment (currently they are small scale operational off of two CNC routers.) .  This also allows for a production line, a staff force and ordering additional quantities of parts via suppliers.  

 Helping them means donations as small as $1.00

View their Kickstarter campaign, where we nabbed all the photos from!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Green Eco Friendly Gift Guide From Etsy


From Etsy Sewing Tape Belt
From Home Made Kharma, $24.68 on Etsy.

FOR THE CRAFTY ONE

Here's a few links to some great green gift ideas on Etsy. Using sewing tapes in art, fashion and jewelry is becoming a fast growing trend, partly because they are so wonderfully colored.  That said, here's a the perfect gift for that sewing diva in your family!

Bike Bag Gift on Etsy for Him
A Bike Bag , Upcycled from old banners! Find it at FoolHeartedly, about $37.
FOR THE GUY

 Those hard to buy for guys, sheesh, what to get them? How about this banner that's been upcycled into a bike bag? Plenty of options made by FoolHeartedly, who uses old vinyl banners and makes them into useful objects. What a great idea!


Geeky Pin Etsy
Retro Chalet upcycled this little tin car into a wearable pin, $8.95
FOR THE VINTAGE GEEK

Geek or geekette may appreciate this vintage made in Japan tiny tin car that is now transformed intoa  wonderful wearable art pin. Made at RetroChalet, so cute and wee.

Who is on your shopping list?

Monday, October 14, 2013

"In the Shadows": A Lark Novel by Erica Cope - My Book Review

 
"In the Shadows": A Lark Novel by Erica Cope

I am absolutely captivated by the tale hidden "In the Shadows"; a novel written my by whimsical and witty cousin Erica Cope! Unveiling the secrets secluded in the depths of the shadows was so very enthralling and mystifying! After reading Erica's first book "Lark", I was eagerly looking forward to this sequel novel "In the Shadows"; both books are major page turners with gripping stories! The plot thickens quickly with so many twists and turns and unexpected surprises that have you on the edge of your seat excited to see what happens next! The fascinating relationships develop further between the main characters in this novel (which takes my emotions on a joyride!), and intriguing, new characters are also introduced. Many readers and Lark fans like myself are thrilled to follow the adventures of the main character and heroine "Mia" and discover how her juicy love triangle unfolds!!! LOVE IT!

I would highly recommend the Lark trilogy series to fantasy romance-loving ladies that are twenty-somethings like myself! I am very much looking forward to the upcoming third novel in the series! If you have not read the first book in the series "Lark"; you should check it out and delve into a fanciful world full of elven romance, elemental magic, woodland alchemy, and the sorcerous dark ones residing in the vastness of the underworld!


"Lark": A Novel by Erica Cope

After I read the first book "Lark" in the Lark Trilogy Series (I can't wait for the third book to come out!), I wrote a blog review titled "Lark: A Novel by Erica Cope - My Book Review". Along with my initial feelings and thoughts of praise after just completing this remarkable tale, I shared an Etsy treasury collection that I had created that was solely inspired and based on my memories of the book! "A visual stimulant" I call it for encouraging Etsyians to read this awesome book series, I have naturally put together another treasury to promote Erica's latest addition to the series; a collection that visually presents some of my favorite moments in Lark #2 "In the Shadows"! Please check it out, peek at the Etsy items, and discover this spectacular series for yourself...or buy it as a gift for your favorite fantasy romantic! Christmas is coming!


Since there were only sixteen slots available for featuring Etsy items that convey the message of my vision for this incredibly dynamic fable, there are a few handmade jewelry items that I want to spotlight here since they didn't make it in the treasury but certainly fit the ambiance and storyline of "In the Shadows":




Among the mysterious and revealing gems featured in the treasury, I have featured an item from my sister Andrea's Etsy shop "Storybook Artifact" as well as an item from our "sister shop" LaOohLaLa Boutique...both of which express the mystical mood of "In the Shadows"!




Now make yourself a strong, hot cup of coffee (author Erica Cope's favorite beverage of choice), get yourself a copy of Lark and In the Shadows, and follow along the dark and mysterious Olfossá river that takes you along a journey that will have you under-a-spell fascinated to be lurking In the Shadows! This is the perfect book series to cozy up with during this approaching chilly winter season! You'll want to check back soon as I share my Halloween costume; I will be dressing up as one of the characters from "In the Shadows"!

This blog article was contributed by the Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Think Eco…Eco-Friendly that is…for the Holidays




I recently got the pleasure of speaking with Jules Lavallee; she and Brian Behncke, owner of Briven Construction, are the Founders of ThinkEco2. Brian and Jules share a passion for helping the community while building jobs locally. They donate their rustic handmade wine racks to many charities to help fundraise. They believe it is important to be eco-conscious and to give back. Please take a moment to check out their beautiful handmade gifts for the upcoming holiday season and see what Jules has to share with us!
 


I love giving handmade eco-friendly gifts. Handmade gifts come from the heart and are truly appreciated. ThinkEco² is making good use from aged, weathered, and rustic fence by handcrafting 100% recycled gifts including cedar wine racks, wine gift boxes and garden planters.


Brian Behncke, Founder of ThinkEco² owns and operates Briven Construction during the day and builds creative eco-chic products at night with his crew. Their eco-friendly products are built from scrap cedar taken from Behncke’s fence job sites. He disassembles the fence panels, remills the sides of each fence board so they are straight. He then planes down both sides of each board to clean them up and to get the desired thickness. He then cuts the wood into pieces to make the products. Cedar is a great choice for wine racks and garden planters, since it is naturally resistant to pets and rot.


ThinkEco² wine racks are reclaimed and upcycled. They are offered rustic or in a variety of color frames include black, green, white, and red. They fit nicely onto a countertop or small space pantry.
ThinkEco² products can be found at http://www.etsy.com/shop/thinkeco2.
In addition to creative gifts, ThinkEco² offers a whole line of original wedding products. With a steady stream of material from city and state organizations including CalRecyle, ThinkEco² will continue to grow and build beautiful handmade products in the USA.

For more information contact Jules Lavallee jules@thinkeco2

This blog article was contributed by the Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles