good with style

Why Fair Trade Matters

The Story Of Fair Trade
Every single day we choose to ignore the ethics behind the products we purchase. I don't know about you, but I feel that every time I don't acknowledge that slave labor makes my stuff, I become a little less of the person I really want to be. We've all lost touch with the impact our consumer habits have upon other human beings, letting our animalistic, irrational desire for stuff trump what is truly just. With a little effort, we can make the world a better place for everyone.  All we have to do is be a little more mindful, a little more everyday.

 http://youtu.be/7K4G5-ydhS0

Redesign Your iWhatever

 

Friends, I have crossed another to do off my list. As you can tell, I have several unusual things I want to do which is probably why it takes me so long to get anything accomplished. For example, I've had this old iPod hanging around for several years, and when I say several years I mean almost 7 years. Why would I have something like this just sitting around my barely 1000 sq ft apartment, you ask? I just can't let go of Apple products and packaging--it's just so pretty. I like the idea of thwarting their kill-date for their awesome gadgets. Plus their labor practices are questionable, to say the very least. (If you havn't seent the hilarious SNL skit about said labor practice, click here.) Okay, so I made a card holder with a little tape, felt, and a pretty picture from a magazine. It's a little more homey than the original item, but probably a little more useful in a meta way. And it's a pretty swank card holder, eh?

 

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Repurposed Design: CD Cases

 

I have a tendency to hoard things that I think I can make into something interesting--such as CD Jewel Cases. Most of the projects in my last book come from my experiments with designing items for the home using repurposed materials.

I'm drawn to things that can't be easily recycled--like most plastics. And things coated with plastic, like wire hangers. Yes, I know that the dry cleaner will reuse hangers you bring back to them. But that's called reusing, not recycling. Which is good of course, but also has it's limitations. Like, what happens if too many hangers are returned, or when the hanger is bent out of shape. Learn how to make this awesome CD Jewel Case/Box Light in my book Eco Chic Home.

This post is part of a series entitled Eco Chic Home//Again which features content from my book, Eco Chic Home.

On The Wall Organizing