Whether you tip toed through the end of 2010 holiday parties with a naughty or nice outlook is really something between you and the man with the untamed white beard. We are already gazing ahead to spring/summer 2011, particularly with numerous fashion week line-ups now at our slush-saturated heels. An upcoming fashion trend that might surprise you in this era of recession-studded austerity is an increasing fascination with macramé, crochet, and hand-made lace. Both Fashionising and Style.com have announced that caftans and hippie-chic ponchos have been upgraded to luxurious and supremely feminine offerings for 2011. A testimony perhaps to our desire for fashion that demonstrates the labor of love that goes into quality ethical construction and accessories that also tell a story?

Mark Liu, A/W 10′

As a fiber artist I am always looking for evidence of stunning handwork in key fashion investment pieces. I have also admired how both indie and sustainable fashion designers were the first to go “knotty by nature,” ahead of celebrated names like Celine, Catherine Malandrino, Gucci, or Pucci. London-based zero-waste designer Mark Liu even created a knotting system as a way to eliminate textile waste in the creation of his Winter 2010 collection, “Singularity Point.”

Eko-Lab, A/W 10′

There is definitely something alluring about donning fiber-crafted fashion – as the cord, yarn, or ribbon simply gets softer and more malleable with wear. Knotted couture is actually an ancient phenomenon. The earliest skirt on record is a Paleolithic mini-skirt made of knotted strings that were weighted with tiny pebbles that went klickety-klack as women swished in front of the campfire. We have evidently come along way, ladies, if Roberto Cavalli is now keen on creating body-hugging string gowns for the rock-chick Venuses of our times.

Eko-Lab Crochet Panties

Xing-Zhen Chung Hilyard and Melissa Kirgan of Eko-lab have incorporated some wild and knotty crochet into their sustainably minded fashion designs, principally as organic trim elements but also as a head-to-toe testament to their slow design alchemy. I loved the crocheted top hat and fringe shawl from their AW 2010/11 collection. These “conscious fashion” pioneers also know how to whip up some superfine and sexy crocheted bikinis that rival anything that our Stone Age counterpoints might have crafted.

Michelle Lane’s Japanese cord jewelry collections twine mysticism and the patterns of physics into sculpted wearable art that creates a certain intimacy between the wearer and the object. Lane views her necklaces and bracelets as being more of an extension of clothing than jewelry, and given that she crafts each piece by hand, there is no doubt that this designer has a healthy-preoccupation with organically generated and mindful, small-scale production.

Michelle Lane

Similarly, award-winning Brit designer Tanvi Kant explores wild knots and loopy crafting in her recycled sari fabric necklaces and free form textile creations. Not only is she resourceful in her deconstruction of discarded textile materials, but her one-of-a-kind designs also allow for expression of her cultural heritage and colorful roots. Each knotted design can be artfully shaped on the body according to the individual’s accessorizing whims. Also not to missed on the recycled scrap textile front is designer Michelle Lowe-Holder’s Victorian-style “ribbon Reclaim” neck wear crafted from off-cut fabrics from previous collections and reclaimed ribbon flocked together on a crochet base. (Thanks, Sass Brown, for this tip).

Michele Lowe-Holder

A quick peruse on eBay for eco-macramé or knotted accessories offers up a whole treasure trove of hemp rope bracelets, hippie-style belts, and yes, you guessed it, hanging plant holders. One seller who really stands out, though, is Imperishable Things. Knots can be deceptively simple, and these recycled cotton and nylon rope designs caught my eye with their chic domestic interpretation of cord. Don’t you just love it when yesterday’s clothesline can become tomorrow’s cocktail party conversation starter as noose-style bling?

Imperishable Things

Top Image, Tanvi Kant via Crafts Council UK

Garbage on the side of the road makes my heart flutter, especially large bulky garbage. Let me explain my adoration for lovely litter. I was lucky enough to experience the “˜sidewalk exchange’ culture of Honolulu for five years. There is an unspoken and widespread commodity swap that is constantly taking place within the tangle of residential sidewalks. The rules are flexible and the standards are low. If you find yourself owning anything you no longer wish to own, gracefully set it along the side of the road. Your neighbors will do the same.

At any one time, a gathering of furniture and household appliances is lounging along sidewalks. Couches, dressers, lamps, fans, microwaves, mattresses, tables, and chairs in all stages of pristine condition and complete disrepair are waiting to be adopted. Someone who thrives on possessions with “˜history’ and loves nothing more than a bargain, like me, is in ecstasy. My husband used to avoid certain roads (well known for sidewalk “˜embellishment’) for fear that I would drag him around picking up “˜items with potential’.

Though I no longer have the proximity to scour sidewalks, my fervor for reclaiming and refinishing has not faded. I get my fix in antique stores, thrift stores, and bound hardback muses. The Recycled Home by Mark & Sally Bailey is one hundred and sixty pages of ways to incorporate recycled and salvaged furniture and accessories into your home. The gorgeous photography of Debi Treloar depicts interiors and vignettes with antique rust and masculine charm. The text offers insight to both design elements and specific spaces.

The notion of recycling makes the resulting space intimate and personal. There is something innately satisfying about finding and creating something unique. After you take a look through this book, you will yearn to find some sidewalk refuse yourself. If you appreciate the concept of reclaimed decor, but desire a little more urban edge in your home, check out this interior by Jimmie Karlsson.

(All photography by Debi Treloar, as seen in The Recycled Home).

Lately, mail order catalogs have been delivering a pleasant surprise; the pages that were once filled with disregard are making room for a dose of green. Consumer demand and retail desire steer the content of these glossy muses, so pat yourself on the back. Companies like CB2, West Elm, and Crate & Barrel are getting earth conscious.

The Chop Chop Side Table ($199) by CB2 is a geometric dream. These ash wood beauties are created from urban forest “˜casualties’ in the Chicago area. Ash trees that succumb to wind, damage, and age are gathered and carved into rectangular logs and enveloped with a wax finish.

The Organic Plisse Blanket (starting at $54.99) is a weave of luxurious silky soft organic cotton.  The Solid Silk Handloomed Pillow Cover ($29) is handspun tasar silk made in rural India as part of the Aid to Artisans organization.

Crate & Barrel offers the Azure Sofa ($1799) wrapped in steel linen and speckled with tufts. The gentle curves are filled with soy-based polyfoam and rest on a certified sustainable wood frame.

The recent notice of the environment is a step (or push?) in the right direction, but I look forward to the day my mailbox is empty and my inbox is full of paper-free catalogs and every page is innately sustainable.

Speaking of catalogs, don’t forget to check out our sister company – Vivaterra!

Two hundred square feet makes a pretty spacious bedroom. But have you ever tried cramming everything you own – along with your spouse, two cats and a dog – into a space that size? God help me, that’s what I’m about to do. Voluntarily. You see, I’ve been infected with the Tiny House bug. It may cause some vomiting along the way, but I’m convinced that the benefits are worth the pain.

A few years ago, I happened to catch an NPR story on Jay Shafer and his self-built ‘Tumbleweed Tiny House’ – which is about the size of a shed. I marveled at the way there was a place for everything, and how he was able to fit a kitchen, bathroom, closet and full-sized bed into such an impossibly small space.

Jay’s Tumbleweed Tiny House Company sells crazy cute, ready-made houses (or floor plans to build them yourself) ranging from 65-140 square feet. Built on flatbed trailers, they escape building codes and can go anywhere an RV can go. They typically have RV-size appliances, and can plug into the grid or be completely self-sufficient. Sleeping lofts, quality insulation, gas-powered water heaters, compost toilets and wood or propane stoves make them less like temporary shelters and more like livable abodes.

While you could buy all the materials new and strictly stick to somebody else’s plans, there’s also a lot of room for creativity and customization. Michael Janzen is building his “˜Tiny Free House’ with 100 percent free materials, including a whole lot of shipping pallets. Jenine of Forge Ahead Puppet Productions gave hers a beautiful aged look with salvaged scrap building materials. Zoey of Together We Are One took what she could – including the trailer base – from a junked camper.

It’s all totally fascinating, right?  But stretching out in my 850-square-foot home, it never once crossed my mind that someday I would consider building one of these things myself”¦ until my husband and I started asking ourselves some big questions. Where do we want to be five years from now? Is this suburban life in a home that’s bigger than we need, with my husband working an extremely demanding job just to pay the rent, really right for us? What else is there?

We realized that our dream was to buy some land, build a cozy little cob cottage mortgage-free and have a simple life complete with goats, chickens and more organic veggies than you can shake a stick at. But saving enough money to get there seemed impossible without downsizing in a big way – and when we contemplated living in a studio apartment again, those tiny houses kept working their way back into my mind. What if we could build our own little cabin on wheels, mostly with recycled materials, and live there rent-free until we had the money to build our dream home?

The more I looked into it, the more possible it began to seem – especially when I realized that we could customize every detail and expand it by putting the whole thing on a bigger trailer. Before I knew it, I had written out material lists and drawn floor plans and devoured every blog I could find on the subject written by people who actually live this life.

A 24-foot trailer would give us enough space for a sizeable loft, an L-shaped built-in bench couch, two closets, a fold-out dining nook and – unbelievably – a larger bathroom and kitchen than the 1950s-sized ones we have in our current rental home. The eventual addition of a screened porch, fenced yard and shed would give us some more room to breathe. Once our permanent house is built, this tiny house would become my writing studio, a guest house and a seriously sweet traveling camper.

What does all of this mean for us? Financial freedom. A drastically smaller environmental footprint. The pleasure of living in a home we have built with our own two hands. The comfort of owning our own home before we even have our own land to put it on. The potential for my husband to ultimately leave behind grueling 8-hour days in hot kitchens and pursue something more creative. We have a concrete plan, and we’re starting now.

The first step? Shedding unnecessary possessions. We’re holding a garage sale next week, plan to put heirlooms and keepsakes that we’ll want for our future cob house into storage, and have already begun eyeing all of the dilapidated barns in our area for their weathered wood and still-shiny metal roofs. Checking Craigslist for free or cheap building materials is a daily ritual. We’re still considering whether we should move to a place that has space to build, or stay put for now and rent a garage.

We’ll have to say goodbye to our beloved fully-paid-off Honda Fit (thanks, mom-in-law) in favor of a cheaper and more practical all-wheel-drive used Subaru so we have the money to get started, but that’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make. There are still a lot of “˜buts’ and “˜what-ifs’ – will my husband ever give up his power-hungry XBox?  Will our cats hate us? Will we, crafty yet inexperienced as we are, be able to do this mostly on our own?

We’re still waiting for the inevitable astonished “You’re going to do what?” reactions from friends and family. And don’t get me wrong – I still ask myself daily whether I’ve lost my mind. Living in a space this small, even if it’s not permanent, is admittedly a bit extreme. But it’s also an adventure – and a door to a richer life. To be continued”¦

Images: tumbleweedhouses

Remember Tom, as in Tom’s Of Maine toothpaste? Well, Tom got tired of the same old, same old and decided to do something else.

He and his wife, Kate, bought a sheep farm, named it Rambler’s Way and while watching all the pretty sheep with their soft fur a grazin’, got inspired to create an eco-thermal-wear line. Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur.

It actually took him some time between selling Tom’s of Maine to Colgate in 2006 to now, but he’s back and providing us with more products that have been created with a conscience. In fact, at the Rambler’s Way website we learn that:

• They use organic, no-till, and best management practices.
• They protect wildlife habitat and preserve critical ecosystems.
• They use gentle combs and humane handling systems when shearing and sorting.
• Their environmentally-sensitive enzyme wash is a chlorine-free and patented treatment.
• They use minimal packaging, made from reclaimed materials that are compostable and recyclable.
• They generate their own renewable solar and geothermal energy.
• They use bio-fuels in our trucks and tractors.

Okay, we get it! We’re sold, Tom.

Now comes our giveaway that includes one of these beautiful tops and one of these pairs of bottoms (you choose the pairing) made from Rambouillet wool from the sheep farm in Maine (or from one of the collaborative ranches in Colorado, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas or Utah). I just got a Rambler’s Way sample the other day to feel and the quality is wonderful.

For complete giveaway rules go here, and you’ll find FTC guidelines here. Good luck!

The recovery from the earthquake in Haiti is showing us the value of building our physical world with sustainable reuse of materials, such as re-purposing the rubble from destroyed buildings to mix concrete for new structures.

The good news is we don’t have to rely on earthquakes, floods and fires to inspire our most innovative product designers to bring their concepts to the table. Here are some exciting trends meeting the future demands of a world that is scaling down and greening up.

Light Transmitting Concrete: Shining example of Innovation

Hungarian architect Aron Losonszi’s light-transmitting concrete is a mixture of fine concrete and thousands of tiny optical glass optic fibers, which are blended to filter views and add “weightiness and lightness” at the same time. The new material, Litraconâ„¢, forms an aggregate that is used as building blocks that can be designed in various sizes with embedded heat-isolation. Installations so far have included the Iberville Parish Vets Memorial in Louisiana, the Hungarian Embassy in Paris, two logo walls in Belgium and Hong Kong.

STRAW: The Bale Out That Works

Make hay houses while the sun shines! Resurrecting an age-old method to conserve energy and materials for neo-eco dwellings, the bales are stacked like bricks in the post and beam construction. The biggest concern: keeping moisture out, and experts say this can be accomplished with proper foundation design, roof overhang, plumbing not routed through the bales and installing moisture barriers. For green building tips on building with straw, look here.

EDIBLE GREENS: The Utopian vision of the New Front Lawn

Ask any guerilla gardener. Grass sucks in terms of water use and feeding a healthy world. With that in mind, architect Fritz Haeg’s “radical gardening” of replacing the front lawn with food we grow to eat is spreading now from his original geodesic home in Los Angeles to gardens in New Jersey, Austin, Baltimore, Kansas and elsewhere. As the Whitney Museum points out, his Edible Estates (the book is now in its 2nd edition) are reminiscent of the World War II Victory gardens with results that can be appreciated by an entire community. Go to his YouTube video and get inspired to tear out your green carpet.

CORN: High Starch, low emissions Floor Fiber

Roll out the barrel, of corn that is. Using starch’s sugar to make a new plastic for carpet offers these advantages: reduced CO2 emissions, stain-protection and biodegradable in landfills. Leading the way is Mohawk’s Smartstrand with Bio-PDO, a renewable sourced polymer which is said to require 30 percent less energy than nylon to produce along with 65 percent reduced greenhouse emissions. Another company, CornCarpet, boasts of its exceptional softness. If you must use carpet, which is not the best choice for allergies, at least corn sugar offers a better option – and a new direction that seems to be the innovator in carpet design for 2010.

RECLAIMED FABRICS: Out with the Old, in with the Old. It’s what’s new

While Knoll and other design institutions continuing their commitment to producing green certified modern textiles, sources like Modern Fabrics are launching online retailing of the best designed textiles of yore (Pollack, Pearson, Knoll, Kravet, Jhane Barnes to name a few) that once would constitute waste on the workroom floor. Instead of these to-the-trade treasures being packed up in black trash bags headed for the dump, these sources are courting designers and consumers trying to garner great upholstery for a good price (50 to 70 percent off list prices) while reducing waste. Soy, bio organic cotton and milk-based cotton may be hot in production but reclaimed is the coolest trend of all. It’s a kind of forever love the design world cannot pass up.

Images by: Jeremy Levine Design, colros, woodleywonderworks, kevindooley

With all the wine and food pairings I’ve been road testing, I’m on my way to becoming a connoisseur. The only problem? I need some stylish storage for my new hobby, of course!

Released just in time to save them from a life in the pantry, the Riddling Wine Rack from sponsor VivaTerra is at the very top of my wish list (ahem, friends and family). This chic and functional piece of décor is named after a process utilized in the renowned wineries of France. Better known to the French as remuage, riddling is a method in which winery workers frequently turn aging bottles of Champagne stored in similar racks called pulpits. What a perfect piece to spark conversation (and show off your knowledge) at your next wine and cheese party!

We’ve picked out some of the most entertaining and wacky in eco bags for your viewing pleasure. And who knows? Maybe you’re the kind of eco diva who can pull off using one of them!

Righteous Fur

Wait… fur is now sustainable? According to designer Cree McCree, it just depends upon whose fur you’re using. In this case, it’s that of the nutria, a large invasive rodent. Native to South America, nutria were introduced to the US in the 30s, but since then have become an invasive species, threatening wetlands. So, buy a rodent bag, save an ecosystem.

Fab Firehoses

These bags (above) aren’t actually all that unattractive, but the material is beyond industrial chic. Elvis & Kresse‘s new Firehose line uses recycled British firehoses, which have subdued flames for around 25-30 years before making it to the purse stage of life. The green aspect of the bags doesn’t stop there; the bag liners are made from old fabric or recycled furniture upholstery and the bag labels are printed on old luggage tags.

Living Plant Bags

Even the greenest thumbs may not be up for  the Woolly Vagabond living handbag, made from reclaimed leather and recycled plastic. The bag doubles as a potted plant, and while we do love most things multipurpose, it does raise the question: would bringing your potted plant along feel like a third wheel on a first date? Not sure it grows on you.

Repurposed License Plates

There’s a lot of good going on in the world of repurposing; what’s better than putting an item that would normally go to waste to good use? This little number – called MiniFlare Bag – is made from repurposed license plates, complete with a recycled rubber handle. But does the Swarovski crystal embellisment make this eco bling or an eco bust?

Haute Hair

For the ultimate in upcycling, turn to Australian artist Polly van der Glas, who made a full line of accessories from human hair and teeth. Careful though – with a purse like this you’ll be styling for two, better set the alarm clock a little earlier.

Killer Keyboards

For your inner eco-nerd there’s the Keyboard Purse, designed by João Sabino of Portugal. This would be my number one pick for the green bloggers out there; write intriguing eco posts by day, sport your trade by night!

It’s a Party!

Balloons aren’t the most eco-friendly (think turtles in the ocean who can’t distinguish between latex and real food), so what better use for them after they’ve turned a so-so birthday party into a killer one than a bag? Okay, maybe not. These balloon bags by designer Krizia Robustella were spotted in Madrid during Fall 2009 fashion week.

A Gorgeous Goal

You’ll be looking sporty and responsible with this reclaimed soccer ball tote. The perfect accessory for a conscious soccer mom? We’ve blogged this baby in the past, and we still aren’t convinced.

All Tied Up

No need for a business suit if you’ve got this clutch under your arm. Made of vintage men’s ties with an organic denim interior, this creative little clutch could be your key piece next time you need to show who’s boss. This one we might actually go for!

Which bag will you be sporting in 2010?

Photo Credits: Core 77, Green Muze, Littlearth, Polly van der Glas, Cree McCree, João Sabino, Fete LA, BTC Elements

My memories of high school are not what you’d call nostalgic. In fact, you couldn’t bribe me with eco-gifts and organic treats to return and relive the nonsense of it all. Despite the oodles of teen angst, I did manage to graduate with a strong B average while spending most of my time playing sports or hanging out at my locker.

Which brings me to today’s cool, clever décor object of desire. The Basket Locker is made of four found and refurbished locker baskets, colorfully painted and placed in a solid, steel frame. It measures 14″ L x 26.5″ W x 26.5″ H and would be perfect for the playroom or a kid’s bedroom, or even a home office or studio.

Find it at Uncommon Goods for $550. I see a spot for it here, across from my vintage drafting table – both have steel frames and a rough, vintage feel.

When I was a child, I religiously watched every episode ever made of “I Dream of Jeannie”. Every time she lounged on piles of plush pillows inside her bottle, I remember vowing to, one day, furnish a room that was sofa-free. Although I’ve long since outgrown this plan, I still like the idea of non-traditional seating arrangements.

The innovative giant bean bags available at Waste are the adult equivalent of this childhood dream. Made from recycled car upholstery, these pieces are both unique and eco-friendly. They’re also easily portable, so you can cuddle up in your living room to read a book and then go out on your deck to watch the sun set in ultimate comfort. (Call Waste for pricing and click here to see more colors, patterns and uses.)