It’s the name that grabbed me first. Hobknob just sounds so…catchy. But these precious ceramic cup-like containers made by Amy Adams stole my heart with their whimsical and eco-friendly attitude.

Use them to hold almost anything - or set them on a side-table to look cute and nothing more. I also think they’d make the perfect anytime eco-gift.

Hobknobs are handmade by Perch!, a Brooklyn manufacturer that uses only low impact materials and processes, as well as non-toxic finishes. Specifically, these charming pieces of pottery are made of low-fire ceramic and non-toxic glaze.

Measuring 4.5” tall by 2.5” in diameter and available in three colors - brown, turquoise and yellow - you can buy them at Branch for $32 each. There’s also a slightly sassier version in turquoise/black or brown/turquoise for $34 at Velocity.

Hammock and eggs. It's what's for Father's Day breakfast! After a great deal of green soul searching for the right gift for my anti-consumption husband, I cannot think of a more suitable gesture than presenting him with yet another reclining opportunity: an eco hammock.

Sure, the red sectional sofa in the TV room is comfy for re-watching John from Cincinnati episodes. He's mad about the coral twill daybed under the window in the master bedroom.  And you can't beat those gold Ralph Lauren fabric club chairs with the slipcovered ottoman in his little library off the living room. Does that guy like to kick his feet up, or what? But sometimes, an outdoorsy guy needs to hang his hat - and his torso - on the green, green, eco grass of home.

Tethered to trees or perched on a stand, hammocks bring a resort appeal to our environments, and can be found at sites like (fittingly) Hammocks in  variety of eco friendly materials like living hemp ($180) or natural eucalyptus ($350). The models include their own hanging hardware, which is handy if you happen to have large trees in your yard.

Since my San Francisco yard is more formal than forest, I'm in the market for a hammock with a stand. I also like the idea of a hammock for two, so occasionally we can cuddle when he wakes up from his naps. If there's the slightest chance your hubby might enjoy sipping beer while doing nothing for hours in his hammock, throw in the Rope Drink Holder ($13), a little mesh sling that attaches to the hammock for cradling daddy's drink. Yes, we don't want him to move a muscle...except when it's time to fix the faucet, kill a spider, fire up the grill or help pay the bills.

Image: wisemandarine

Here's how to make Dad feel extra special on his big day - in a green way, of course!



Fashion Windows turned me on to Church’s, the Northampton brand of classical English elegance. In business since 1873, the company still uses the age-old process of making everything by hand. Splurge a little and buy your father a hand-crafted silk tie.



A green suit? How so, you ask? Treehugger reported that Sears has taken a chance with tailoring manufacturer Bagir to sell the world’s first recycled PET bottle (polyethylene terephthalate most commonly used for food packaging) suit. The same company who brought us the iPod suit and the machine wash and dry suit has invented this version made from wool and recycled PET plastic bottles. Sold under the Covington private-label in US stores only, your dad can pioneer a new look for business attire.



Help your dad feel like a kid again with these quirky cuff links. Made of recycled wrist watches, no two pieces are alike. They’re subtle enough to be wearable and are sure conversation starters if your dad wants to brag about how in touch he is.



Sprig has put together a list of Father’s Day gifts, too. I like this outdoor gear - great for active types.

You might consider sending your father a bouquet of flowers - men enjoy them just like women do, and these days, it's considered both thoughtful and stylish. Look to Organica Deluxe for the perfect organic blooms, or consider an organic, eco-friendly miniature lemon or olive tree.

Image: sponsor VivaTerra

The "Wearable Wisdom" of Lee Tracy is the remarkable result of one artist's authentic journey to green. It's not just the fabric, or the message, or the production, or the dyes: even the speed of shipping has been considered in pursuit of deeply mindful fashion. She is not an artist in a rush.

Lee - who is also a fine artist - and I spent the last few months discussing her work and some of the inherent challenges of green consumption. In a world of shortage and pollution, global warming and war, is there any ethical justification for something as felicitous as fashion, no matter how eco-friendly it may be?

Some excerpts:

On the most rewarding aspect, and the challenges, of launching CertainTees:
 
The most rewarding aspect is that I still have passion to discover how green I can make my tees! Studying and determining what is green is a process and one that I am well suited for. In my fine art, I work on "projects" that span years; they unfold and take their time settling into place.      
 
CertainTees is the same [as my art].  I enjoy blurring artistic boundaries and applying my creative perspective to the new medium of a tee shirt. As an artist, I often create things that are conceptual. Certaintees began as an idea where I set out to create "the greenest tee on the planet" from harvest to the 20th washing.
 
On the process:

New areas of exploration have emerged for me in business, agriculture, and science, and I am meeting people that I otherwise would not meet. I found my comrades in the green movement, where we exchange and examine information freely to help draw conclusions. When searching I like to think that what I am being told is true. I was slow to understand, and emotionally accept, that not every bit of existing "green" information is actually correct. 
Many will say what they think you want to hear - there is an abundance of unexamined "copy and paste." Currently, we are in a climate of green debates and this affects us all.

Honestly, I have flipped back and forth on a few issues and have grown accustomed to editing my site. It is rewarding that I am mastering how to navigate through all the issues with increased awareness. When I began Certaintees, I used "sweat-shop free cotton" and I thought this was heroic.  "Sweat-shop free cotton” is a very decent step; yet, I found that I could do better.
 
On the concept of a green wardrobe:
 
Purchasing clothing is like purchasing food. Men and women can read clothing labels and learn to understand the slightest variances (e.g., "American-made" can mean all of North America, while "Made in the USA" means the States). My green standard is to support USA-made. This provides for less transport energy, strengthens the American work force, and, through laws and regulations in my own country I can navigate more transparently through certification, regulations, working conditions and wages.
 
Another step is to be more aware of packing materials and shipping methods. I spent time figuring out how to pack our orders so there wasn't any waste. Each tee order is wrapped inside an unbleached cotton tote in recycled mailers that we encourage folks to be careful opening so they can be used again. We avoid using expedited shipping for our tees to usher in a slower pace. Remember the old movies with the Wells Fargo truck delivered long awaited goods? It was a cherished event that often involved the community!  I understand the public's need for delivery of goods, but I also strive for a calm and caring atmosphere in which we create.  To me, part of being green includes the manner in which we make and obtain items.
 
For those who enjoy researching, check out the companies you purchase from. I am for transparent business and I am moving towards this goal as I make lasting decisions for my company. I like visiting websites, making calls and sending emails to inquire about ingredients and methods from companies that contribute to my supply chain. I enjoy sharing my process of becoming green.
 
On critics who see fashion as frivolous:
 
I can clearly understand a critic’s point that fashion may appear frivolous, yet, as an artist I see the importance of individualism and how personal taste and opinion contribute to the power of change. In the art world we have all types of art: shock art, political art, conceptualism, beautiful landscapes and more. We need all of it to remind us of our freedom and to maintain the motivation to protect it.
 
On the other hand, I appreciate the critic that reminds us that fashion doesn't have to be an obsession or something isolated for a select few. The critics that seek to point out that there are immediate concerns in our world in need of attention are extremely valuable to the process of change. It comes down to balance and being a creative individual in relation to a bigger picture.
 
On the future of fashion:

I sense that the perception that we have of ourselves is shifting and fashion is following.  Fashion is becoming more interior (intellectual) as opposed to the isolated exterior: meaning, just as with fine art, the questions of how and why an item is made are entering our consciousness. We are still in the early part of this century and history tells us that interesting turns happen at this juncture, as far as invention, culture, and social awareness.
 
On the ethics of green consumption:
 
I am a treehugger yet each day I consume because I am an organism in need of food, clothing, shelter and expression. Consumption is a part of life and I can't run from that fact. What I can do is determine my needs and how best to fulfill them. The answer is not always a brand new shiny object. Sometimes the answer comes in the form of an experience. If I find that I need an object, I ask myself questions: Is the item useful? How long will it last?  Where does it come from, how is it made and how does it get to me? Will it be cherished for decades?

On the process of creating fashion:
 
I support the human touch of the craft movement and the artistic nuances found in hand-made items. To me, an artisan good is an expression of green. I got started at and continue to be influenced by and participate in Etsy and have observed that community in guiding Certaintees.  There are a several jobs in my company that are rooted in handcraft. One is tying all the hemp twine for the clothing tags that are useable bookmarks.  Many have laughed and said, "You can hire people to do that in bulk!" or, "I am sure there are machines that do that." I actually love cutting and tying the twine myself - it is relaxing. This is a good example of accessing a need (relaxation) and finding that the solution is an activity that is both peaceful and useful.
 
Inspiration:
 
Color! For 3 months I have been researching and experimenting with natural, acid, reactive and direct dyes. I questioned what a "low impact dye" was. I got very discouraged with what I was learning and discovered that there was room for improvement. So much on the market is suspect. So much leftover dye goes unused and down the drain. I set out to find a gentle method that was suitable for high public expectations and with less waste. I made some progress by breaking some rules. This is a huge step in my pursuit of the highest “green”.

Philosophy of production:
 
I am not much for proprietary ideas or secrets when it comes to the green movement. I have an ethical obligation to be forthcoming in sharing my method so that others are encouraged to make improvements. This is why I started Certaintees in the first place.  As an artist I want to create something where I could actually witness the impact.

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The handmade revolution is showing up everywhere, and Etsy is its most concentrated virtual village, with more than 100,000 artists, artisans and crafters setting up shop on the site.

Now a team of Etsy sellers dedicated to reducing, reusing and recycling have created EcoEtsy to make it easier to identify and link directly to their Etsy wares. The EcoEtsy team has its own blog, as well as links to seller blogs and a Flickr group. A quick browse through the EcoEtsy team’s offerings reveals amazing ingenuity and variety. I like this accent pillow made from a vintage tea towel and organic cotton fabric, these custom journals made from vintage book covers, and this pocket mirror with a vintage children's book image on the case. Remember that Etsy is a global community, so always check the point of origin before buying if you're concerned about shipping long distances.  

Gardens are magical places, especially in spring. Plants shoot through the ground, flowers bloom, and birds add music and share in the abundance. Why not make your garden super-friendly to birds by giving them a lovely eco-home?

Artist Carol Garringer, of Eugene, Ore., is the creative force behind The Artisan’s Garden, specializing in original birdhouses made with reclaimed and vintage materials. Garringer grew up on a bird superhighway - a major migratory route in the Midwest - and now uses years of woodworking, mosaic and art skills to create homes for many species, using salvaged wood, vintage lighting fixtures and chandelier pieces, and even lids from old pots.

Garringer’s Web site offers tips on choosing the right style of birdhouse for your garden, with small or large lid, temple, rustic and privy-style choices; she also can design a custom birdhouse just for you. I love the weathered temple-style houses, at $55, designed for small birds like chickadees and wrens.

Garringer is also designing a line of bird feeders for sale later this year. 

There are so many ways that beauty comes from waste, in a natural cycle that we’ve often lost touch with. Compost, for instance, becomes intoxicating flowers and delicious vegetables. The glassblowers at Fire & Light have recaptured the essence of upcycling with stunning gifts and dinnerware made from recycled glass. The Splash Bowl (right) is a lyrical example that comes in a rainbow of base colors with a contrast crackle.

Fire & Light was born in 1995 in a unique partnership between the community recycling center in Arcata, Calif., and a group of green-minded investors who wanted to see locally crafted products made from its discards. Crushed, recycled glass, with pigment added for luminous color, now becomes handcrafted plates, glasses and bowls sold nationwide. Fire & Light seeks other ways to use the community’s recycled products in its manufacturing facilities, for a truly local and sustainable business model.

- via CleanTechBlog

Egg shells would make brilliant plant-pots.

Since real eggshells are nowhere big enough, designers at  Branch have created the Egg Plant. Banish thoughts of aubergines and moussaka, because the item in question is a large ceramic ovoid containing soil and plant seeds.

How do you get it to start growing? By treating it like a boiled egg. Tap the top with a spoon and pick away the pieces - then water liberally, place on your sunniest windowsill, and pretty soon your egg will hatch with greenery.

Branch offers a range of 4 plant types, including cactus and lavender, but it's the mint and basil I'd have in my kitchen, offering sprigs of fresh herbs when needed, and a cheery, natural feel the rest of the time.

You can expect to shell out around $12 an egg (follow the links above).

Image: Branch

Brazil is, among many things, a country of artists, many now using their talents to send a message of environmental awareness told with imagination and beauty. We love TOUCH, a division of the Los Angeles-based Zoe Melo design group and a cooperative marketing effort showcasing the work of contemporary Brazilian artisans with a green mission, making objects that will enhance your space with an international sensibility.

I love the oversized, modern jewelry of Mana Bernardes, like this necklace made from recycled PET bottles, and the Kraft paper vases (above) dyed with natural pigments made by Domingos Totora. In the United States, these beautiful objects, recently exhibited in Paris (I found them through Deux Frontieres blog) are sold at Finch in Austin, Grasshopper 510 in Chicago, and other select retailers, with more coming soon. 

As the wine industry switches en masse to the twist cap option we'll be seeing fewer wine stained corks on our table and more innovative projects made from cork (like these floors).

These solid and organic cork coasters made in Portugal from the renewable cork bark and branches will add a rustic element to your tabletop. A set of four of these cork branch coasters can be purchased from Uncommon Goods for $50.00. 

Go green: if you'd like to make your own cork coasters from those left over wine corks check out this DIY project from our friends at Design Sponge.

Image/purchase: Uncommon Goods