Clothing made from recycled thrift store finds and work room scraps-you won't believe how amazing this stuff looks!

 Patti Popovich, owner of S and Patti Designs, saw a sweater in a high end catalog one day and thought that instead of paying $300, she would try and make it herself! Seven years and dozens of successful craft fairs later, Patti's "reconstructed textiles" are causing a stir. She has grown her business to include women's clothing, children's clothing, pillows, stuffed toys-her famous one eared dog is a top favorite-hand made button and trims, and a lovely Blue Angel that is meant to sleep with anyone who needs some comfort in life. To really appreciate her work, you have to see it in person, but I will include a few photos here just so you can see how amazing the product is. Her products are made from 99% recycled fabrics that she gets either from the thrift store or from scraps that upholstery workrooms have laying around ready for the dumpster.

The price range of her one of a kind women's sweater are from $69 up to $200, a steal when you consider that they are hand made and each one is unique.

And it gets even better; Patti's long term vision is to use this skill to teach youths at the Conservation Core how to create their own clothing that they can then begin their own businesses with.

You can contact Patti at patti@poppydesignservice.com to find out about her next show.

                              Children's sweater made from recycled sweater and old pajamas from France

                                                            Hand made button detail

                                                        Patti at one of her craft shows

                                                                       Craft show

                                                                    Blue Angel

This year I dared to be the mom who did NOT give out gift bags at my son's birthday party!

Tired of the trend of having to give out gifts at my own child's birthday party, I did the unthinkable....I did not give any out. I even when a step further and asked for no gifts for my son either. He is four so I can still get away with it. We had a bowling party and the kids and parents had so much fun, we all forgot about gifts all together. One parent even thanked me for not doing gift bags so she would not have to bring home more useless junk that will just eventually break and be in a landfill. See if you can break that tradition too-I bet no one will think you are cheap or odd, they will probably be grateful for the "out" themselves!

The Christmas Dilemma

This year my son turns four-in a few days-which means his birthday and Christmas are just two weeks apart. I have been trying to figure out how to keep the volume of gifts down but still make the days special. What I have come up with for his birthday is one gift from me, one from the grandparents and one from the cousins and a party with friends with no presents for his birthday. Christmas is the same plus a stocking. Just wondering if any of you have an idea that seems better? Finding the balance of making the holidays fun and exciting while also teaching your child to appreciate less "stuff" is such a challenge in this commercial economy and culture!

Story Of Stuff-Thoughts on Black Friday

A great point of view about what Black Friday means to this planet!
Read Below:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-leonardridgeway-blackfriday-20111125,0,2159130.story

Back from vacation

I just had one of the best vacation ever in the Pacific NW-a must for all nature lovers!
But, back to work now so I want to get right to it and tell you about a great FREE event happening next month in Berkeley. The Ecology center is having a talk and slide show Thursday the 8th of September discussing how cities can follow the many examples from around the world on how to create communities that do not rely on automobiles for getting around. Walkable, bikeable, and good public transportation are all keys. You will leave with solid, concrete ways that you can implement into your life as well as ways in which you can encourage your city to take the needed steps towards becoming more eco-friendly. Check out the following site for further information:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?title=From+Auto-Cities+to+EcoCities%3A+Examples+from+Around+the+Globe&eventID=36171

An organization you should know about

I have recently discovered a wonderful non-profit called Generation Green that works with local Contra Costa County officials to help to create green practice examples for the city and their local businesses. They hold workshops, informative movie nights, seminars and work with both QUEST and PG and E to help cities benchmark their progress and communicate this progress to other cities in their district. Is sounds a bit dry,I know,  but what they are doing is really remarkable....city by city, they are helping to eliminate greenhouse gasses emitted in the Bay Area.  check them out at www.cccclimateleaders.org

Confessions.....

ok, so these past few days have not been such a fine example of successful purging. To be sure, I have been purging, but also, have made a run to Target and fallen prey to a few trinkets I surely did not need! Combined with the VERY kind neighbor who gave Carter about 20 super cool new construction vehicles that his son no longer plays with....well, we are in the net positive on "stuff" for sure. So, I have to double my efforts next week and get really tough-a lot of things are on the chopping block! I hope those of you who are trying this out had more success then I did this week.

Exciting FREE three week class on how to decrease your ecological footprint, foster community in your neighborhood and promote political action to defend the environment

The Ecology center in Berkeley, CA is have a free three session seminar starting Tuesday August 16th and going through Tuesday August 30th. The seminar is from 7-9PM and will offer tips on improving your eco-footprint, getting involved in your local community and helping drive political will towards laws that protect and improve the environment. This sound AWESOME! I almost want to postpone my vacation to go to it.......but you could go!
Check it out at:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?eventID=36131

week two, tossing things while others consume through "extreme couponing"

I know many of you have heard of the recent craze to extreme coupon, saving hundreds of dollars each week on groceries, getting thousands of rolls of toilet paper for free etc.....I just have found that so funny to witness as I work to SHED my stuff. Don't get me wrong, I think being price savvy is great, we could all do it a bit more.  But what strikes me as odd, is the COMPULSION to purchase in order to save. Seems a bit odd, right? Stockpiling things that you got for cheap. It just seems like a new name is being given to our culture's need to consume. Anyway, I think I will just stick to getting rid of things for now and leave the coupon clipping to the new experts....

Another way to reduce what is on your home:

I went out to get the mail the other day, and.....nothing. At first I thought for some reason the mail did not come that day. But I saw that both my neighbors had mail, so what gives? Then it hit me-all that effort to call catalogs and other such sinners of blast mailings to get off of their lists-had paid off! I really only get the local coupon flyer, which I can not figure out how to get off of, and, well, bills. And sometimes a check from a client:) There are great sites like www.catalogchoice.com that have all the tools you need to get your name off of everyone's list. It does require a bit of effort on your part up front, and to be honest, you have to get back on it every now and then. But think of all that paper that did not have to get printed, sorted, mailed to your home, only to go straight into the recycle bin. And don't fool yourself; just because you recycled it, does not mean energy of all variety was not spent to produce and deliver that "junk" to your home! So, make a a little promise to yourself to finally get off of everyone's mailing list and one day you will run to the mailbox and rejoice at finding NOTHING!

tossing one a day.....thoughts

ok, so I am five days into getting rid of one thing a day and it has been more interesting than I thought. I think of myself as being really good at not keeping things that I don't use with some sort of regularity. But when it comes to things I spent a lot of money on or that seem REALLY useful, even though I haven't used them in years, I gotta tell you, I hesitated. BUT as soon as I talked myself into putting each of those items into the donate box, it was like I never owned it! The actual decision was hard, but the aftermath....a piece of cake! Crazy how our minds work. I'll keep ya posted on how it all goes, but I think I like this!

Shedding the extra stuff challenge

I don't know about you, but I look around my house and often wonder.."how did I end up with so much stuff?" I guess having a three year old, a husband who won't get rid of things and being an ex-mega consumer...well, it all adds up. So, I have decided to challenge myself to get rid of ONE thing EVERY day for a month. It can be large or small, but it has to go. To make the challenge more substantial, I also have decided that if I bring anything new into the home, then I have to get rid of the one item PLUS something to make up for the additional item brought into the house....this is gonna be interesting. I invite you to take up the challenge along with me-good luck!

Up and running with solar....

Doesn't feel any different yet-perhaps when we get the itty bitty bill!

Even the post office is going green!

I went to get stamps today and the post office has the COOLEST set of "green living" stamps. Things like "buy local produce" or "use public transportation" with cute little pictures on each of them...you KNOW that I chose those ones-very fun. The campaign is called USA Go Green. By the way, the stamps are made out of eco-friendly materials. One step at a time!

Cool new DIY book on green fashion

I am joining a group of mamas who want to have some kid free time doing "handiwork" or crafts. So I have researching what I want my first project to be. (I already know that in a few months I will be onto the halloween costume part) I came across this very cool book about making clothes and other such things out of thrift store finds.....here is the link to the book   http://www.amazon.com/ReSew-Thrift-Store-Finds-Fabulous-Designs/dp/160468027X
What a neat idea!!....My mind's wheels are spinning......I'll let you know what I come up with

Going solar!

Tomorrow is the big day-we go (mostly) off the power grid and onto the sun's grid! Should be up a running by mid day-I am so excited! I will keep an eye on the PGandE bill and keep you all informed........

Giving an old chair a second lease on life part two

Remember those Saarinan chairs I had re-upholstered and gave new life to? Well, this chair takes the cake for getting all jazzed up...check out my new and improved "pop" of color

Yes, I AM alive!

ok, so my hundreds of followers (not quite) are probably wondering what happened to me and my blog. Well, the short end of it is, I was very ill for several months and am now finally better! I have been busy with catching up on work and am excited to share some green designs of mine and a few green events I attended. check back in over the next few days to see some exciting stuff!
Glad to be back
Cheers,
Heather

Green forum event coming soon...

I am really feeling motivated today! I have been working with ASID-the organization most interior designers belong to-to create a green discussion panel in May. I have been working on the topic line and getting GREAT feedback from some major players who will be attending. The over all topic will be about good design and environmental responsibility being compatible. I will keep you posted as things develop.....

A locally made, eco-friendly tile shop

I recently read an article about a local tile shop that is really on top it when it comes to producing product that is eco-friendly. The company is called Fire Clay Tiles and they are based in San Jose. You can find their product at places like EcoHome Improvement in Berkeley. What I found so unique about them is that they look at their production of tiles from beginning to end. So not only do they make their tiles from post consumer materials (their ceramic tiles are made from old toilets dug out of the local dumps!) But they are also looking at the whole manufacturing process. They have a day lit factory, meaning they do not run lights but rather have sky lights and use the natural light of the sun. They have a closed loop manufacturing system that means all scraps, grey water, waste etc. gets re-used so they are not creating anything that needs to be trashed. They were one of the first tile companies to remove lead from their glazes. Oh, and their tiles are BEAUTIFUL!! Take a look at their product and what they are about at www.fireclaytile.com
I will be using them on my next project, for sure!

Clean your home without damaging the environment

I came across this really great line of cleaning products-but in a unique new form. Eco-Me is a kit of green cleaning products that you can order pre-mixed, or as a DIY kit. All of the products are chemical free and found in our everyday lives, like olive oil and vinegar, for example. Plus, that package is super cute. www.eco-me.com  starts at just $6 so it is affordable to boot!

Crate and Barrel goes green?

While shopping at Crate and Barrel for furniture for a client the other day, I made a wonderful discovery; main stream furniture companies are finally jumping on board and "going green." I found several sofas that were labeled "eco-friendly".  I asked one of the sales associates what this was all about and he told me that they are moving towards working more and more with furniture builders that practice green design. Fabrics that are certified green, foam interiors that are free of the harsh chemicals that we have come to accept and wood frames made of sustainable wood. The best part was-the price! Many of the eco-friendly sofas I liked were actually less expensive than the more conventional ones. Great job Crate and Barrel.

buying organic produce without leaving your home?

There is a great web based company that sells local, organic produce for very reasonable prices. www.spud.com They deliver for free when you order a minimum amount and they have lots of meat, dairy, grain and produce to choose from. It is great when you just don't have the time to get to the farmers' market-I have never been unhappy with the quality of produce and the company is local so any issues are easy to resolve with a quick phone call. Check them out!

spring is in the air

All this warm weather has got me ready for summer...seems like I always forget that we get this little streak of warmth every January and then the rains come back. But for now, I am thinking about my garden and what I want to plant, try out, EAT come the REAL summer months. I have been reading a lot about heirloom seeds and how important they are to our planet. Did you know that most commercial seeds in the US are patented and have been bred down to about two or three "types" per plant? Why does that matter? If a disease hits and we only have a few varieties of one tomato, for example, than the entire population of tomatoes can be wiped out in one year! That means...no more tomatoes...EVER!! I know that sounds like some sci-fi story, but it is really becoming a major issue, enough of one that organizations like the World Health Organization are starting to study it's affects on food supply and health around the globe. So, many small farmers, organic seed companies and magazines like Sunset and Mother Earth Journal are encouraging us to grow heirloom seeds in our backyard gardens to encourage variety and thus security of the survival of specific plants. So, check back in as I explore some interesting and new to me vegetables this spring and summer. I look forward to hearing what you plant to grow as well.

Featured green vendor of the week....

A few weeks ago a friend in the design industry introduced me to a company by the name of CompoClay, a new green business in Alameda. I visited their retail store on Santa Clara and was delighted by their beautiful home accessories. Curious about what made them green and what CompoClay was all about, I found myself back at their store a week later with an appointment to meet with two of the owners,Andy Choi and Young Lee. This place is so much more than meets the eye. It is not only a retail shop for home accents, it is essentially a MOVEMENT of change and education in the green design industry!  Take their mission statement:

"CompoClay will introduce to the market the excellence and distinction of its ecological raw material, CompoClay, perpetuating the value of environmental responsibility, starting from our way of life, to the choices we make as consumers. By offering superior products, viable green alternatives, and the educational support, CompoClay will enrich the quality of life and our planet for a sustainable future."

Did you get all of that? A lot to take on for one small home accents company.....turns out, they are really a lot more than that! CompoClay has done years of research and testing on an entirely new process for creating chemical free product that can duplicate the look of almost ANY natural substance; stone, cement, tile, wood, engineered wood, the list is endless and growing as they work tirelessly to improve, expand and explore. All of this is coupled with a passionate desire to educate both the designer and consumer about the impact chemicals can have on both the environment and our health.
Because CompoClay owns both the process of making and the actual product, they are able to have total control over maintaining a truly green product from conception to point of sale. How the workers are treated and what they are exposed to is also considered part of the greenness of their product.
I can only say, a visit to their store in Alameda and their soon to open 4,000 square foot showroom in SF will convert you to this amazing new product. I look forward to being educated by their knowledgeable staff and using their product on future jobs.
CompoClay
2536 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
877.237.8916
www.compoclay.com
A few photos for you to enjoy;

The public Library

This one may seem obvious to many of you, but it is also something many of us forget about; the public library! It is more than just a place to get books, there are movies, CDs free wi-fi.....so much free stuff. And using the library is so green-the ultimate in recyceling, check out a book, read it, return it for someone else to do the same. Think how much paper is saved by not printing a copy of each book for every person who reads them. So, head on down to your local library and check out what they have for you. And don't forget to check out all the great community events they have too. Libraries are the BEST!

a green way to buy electronics

After many years of deferring what I knew had to happen someday, I broke down and bought my first Mac computer today! While I have been excited about making the conversion from a PC and having all of the advantages a Mac offers to those in my industry, I was struggeling with the whole concept of buying a new electronic and all of the negative environmental impacts that can have. My PC works just fine, is paid for and is suitable for most of my needs. How could I justify getting a new computer when what I had basically worked? I did a little research, looked into the capabilities of Macs some more and finally decided on a plan. I bought a USED computer! Ok, they like to say REFURBISHED, same thing though. I saved about $300 off the price of a new one, did not add to the massive junk pile in the land fills of the world and got a one year warranty for free! So, the next time you are thinking of a new cel phone, computer, printer or pretty much ANY electronic device, consider the alternative choice to new and go refurbished-I sure am glad I did. Now I just have to wait two more days for my cool Mac laptop to arrive! So excited!

Effecient lighting for kitchens and baths

For any of you considering a kitchen or bath remedel any time soon, it is good to know about Title 24. In California, there are dozens of laws about lighting and energy use and they all fall under the heading of Title 24. Each year this is updated (and new rules are added, it is Californis, after all!) One of the main concerns is how to make lighting in kitchens and baths the most energy effecient. So I thought I would tell you all about a lighting system called Vacancy Sensors. These are installed where your lightswitch is now and based on motion in that room, turn on or off. They can be set to different levels of light for different areas of a room; bright task lighting for a kitchen or soft, flattering light in a bathroom.  Some even include an LED night light! visit http://www.wattstopper.com/ to see more products before you embark on your next remodel.

Amazing eco-savvy furniture and fabric

Back before green was so "in" a company called Q Collection launched a line of high design eco-friendly furniture and fabrics. Business is booming and they are available on the West Coast now! Visit the SF Design Center to see just how fantastic their product is.
website: http://www.qcollection.com/
SF location http://www.sloan.com/
great stuff!

Top Eco-friendly kitchen countertops

Often times just adding a coat of paint to old cabinets and replacng the beat up countertop you have, is enough to make a dramatic change to a dull, dated kitchen. I have put together a list of countertops that are both attractive and eco-friendly to help you make you selections.
Vetrazzo is a recycled glass mixed with cement, concrete or resin. Any color you might see glass in, is available in this very cool, very modern countertop. The cement can also be stained to add more drama. http://www.vetrazzo.com/ starts at $55 per square foot
Bamboo wood made from fast growing bamboo and cut into small rectangles on the end grain for a dramitic update to standard wood tops http://www.plyboo.com/ from around $23 per square foot
Paperstone recycled paper in a resin base. Comes in a range of colors and thicknesses and is heat and stain resistant! http://www.paperstoneproducts.com/ starts at around $30 per square foot
Eleek a recycled aluminum http://www.eleek.com/ starts at around $39 per square foot

So, check out these great resources for your next kitchen project.

Featured green vendor of the week:

For those of you considering a kitchen or bath remodel, and have a little extra cash to spend, I can not say enough good things about Kvanum Kitchen Studios in San Francisco! This Swedish based company is finally available in the US and the showroom on Washington street is just Divine.
Everything about this company is eco-friendly, worker friendly and community conscious. From the harvesting of the wood and the manufacturing of the product, to how and why they give back to their local communities. They even use recycled packaging and share containers with other deliveries to reduce the emissions and waste that come from buying new product!
Natalia Nordstrom, the owner of the San Francisco showroom has extensive experience in both green and kitchen design. Having worked for IKEA, as an independent designer and for several green design showrooms in the Bay Area, she brings an understanding and passion to Kvanum that is unparalleled. I have had the pleasure of knowing her for years and am delighted to share her showroom with you all.
Kvanum Studios is located at:
526 Washington street
San Francisco CA 94111
415.399.9445
natalia.nordstrom@kvanum.com
http://www.kvanum.com/
I have included some photos to show you just how beautiful this product really is:

Eco-friendly flooring ideas

ok, so bamboo flooring is certainly the obvious choice when people think about eco-friendly floors, but what about aluminum? At Eco-Friendly Flooring http://www.ecofriendlyflooring.com/ you can find a broad range of amazing tiles for your flooring project, all of which will leave you feeling like a real environmentalist! Well, maybe that is a strech, but you get the idea. The ones I like are 6"x6" recycled aluminum tiles that are installed just like ceramic ones. Hey, you could even go crazy and tile a WALL for a really dramatic impact to a room. Who says you have limit yourself to the floor?

Happy New Year!

Hello again dear eco-enthusiasts.....I hope your holiday was as fun filled and joyful as mine was! Being surrounded by friends and family is always such a great way to remember what is truely important in life-RELATIONSHIPS, not things.
Now for the confession: we really overdid it with our three year old son. His birthday is two weeks before Christmas so we are already starting with a challange of the influx of gifts in such a short period of time. But this year I decided to be "clever" and shop early so as to spread out the expense over a period of several months. Great idea for the most part, except I had forgotten what gifts I had already bought for my little guy. So, when it came time to wrap birthday gifts....I simply saved a few of those extra  for Christmas. Problem was, I had already gotten him gifts for Christmas! And so did everyone else! I had sort of not thought about that. Well, Christmas morning was quite an affair, but the next morning, my son expected MORE! My heart sank. The result: trying to explain to a three year old that just because he has been showered with gifts for two weeks strainght, does not mean this is the new NORMAL in our house! Right then and there my husband and I resolved to be more aware next year. ONE gift from each family and hopefully not even that-I will be giving him an experience instead of a gift. Seems like that has so much more of the meaning and spirit of Christmas! It seems he is young enough still to instill this ideal as something special, not as a deprevation.
We'll see, I am hopeful!