Sunday, April 24, 2011

Creative Minds Go Green--Studio 360

On Sunday April 24, Studio 360 did a radio program and green designing. It was really interesting and the description on there website is below. To listen to the show just follow the link below.

http://www.studio360.org/2011/apr/22/

To celebrate Earth Day, Kurt Andersen looks at creative approaches to our environmental challenges. President Obama is still pushing on environmental issues even in the face of Congressional gridlock. We hear from scientists, engineers, and artists developing cutting-edge solutions that just might change their corners of the world entirely.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Wear “Green” Clothes After St. Patrick’s Day-guest post

Hi guys, this is a guest post from the lovely Krista Peterson. Enjoy!!!

Every March we find ourselves rummaging through our closet, turning our dresser upside down, and pulling the cushions up from off the couch so that we can find that one green shirt we’ve got stored away for St. Patrick’s day. Well, did you know, wearing “green” clothes can be a fashionable, fun, and environmentally conscious way of expressing yourself even after St. Patties Day? And I’m not just talking about the color. Clothes that are “green” are made from eco-friendly, organic materials that are often recycled and reused. Aside from pulling off a funky, cool new look, you’ll be doing your health and the environment a big favor.

Some huge reasons to make the switch over to green clothing are the health benefits. Did you know that eco-friendly, organic clothes contain virtually no toxins that can damage your skin and cause allergies? Other store bought clothes, especially those made in China, can contain formaldehyde and asbestos. Side effects of extended contact with these toxins include asthma, headaches, depression, insomnia, and in extreme cases: mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs.

Sporting “green” clothes and accessories also does the environment a huge favor. Often times, worn out clothes will end up sitting in landfills, taking up precious space where a school, park, or library could have potentially been built. Certain materials, such as nylon and leather, can take up to 40 years to decompose! Taking the time to repurpose your old clothes into creative, unique fashions can make a bigger impact than you may think. And not only is it an environmentally conscious practice, it can be a fun activity for the whole family.

And when people start asking you where you got such a cute outfit, you can proudly explain to them how you made it from scratch! Organic clothing is becoming the latest trend when it comes to expressing yourself while protecting your environment. Avoiding asbestos and formaldehyde is pretty important too; especially when you consider how short the mesothelioma life expectancy is. Switching over to a “green” lifestyle can help you make healthier choices every day. Even when it comes to the big ones: like deciding what to wear!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Students Rebuild: Japan

http://canelsonauthor.com/official/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/jp9.jpg (source)
So I am sure all of you have been thinking about the people in Japan, so here's an easy and fun way to help the relief efforts.

Students Rebuild is an organization that helps with relief efforts of natural disasters. For Japan, they are asking people to make paper cranes of any size or paper. Their goal is 100,00 cranes to represent 100 wishes. Each crane will donate $2 and then be made into a fantastic art installation. The deadline is April 15 so HURRY!!!!!

For more informatioin go to their website: http://studentsrebuild.org/japan/

Saturday, April 9, 2011

How to make a skirt out of a sweatshirt

This is an extremely easy and quick project. I'd had this sweatshirt that I wore all the time, practically every day, but then then it got this really big hole (I don't even know how it happened!). I've seen skirts make out of sweatshirt material in stores, and really liked them, but why buy something that you can make easily? Especially when it is better for the environment!
Anyway, here's how I made it:
(learn how after the jump)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

tutorial coming soon...



Guess what I'm making!!! (Hint: it's recycled)


p.s. tutorial coming soon!!! (But not for the project in the pictures)