Echo-friendly Giving, Recycled Toys and More
September 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Crafting A Living, Making a Difference
On a recent family visit, my sister and I discovered a photo of the two of us at 2 and 5 under the Christmas tree surrounded by newly unwrapped toys. Each of us held a special treasure in the photo. I held a cardboard paper towel roll up to my eye like a telescope and she posed adorned in recycled ribbons and bows from the gifts. This was the fifties, long before recycling was cool. I’d like to claim that we were just natural trendsetters, but I confess that in the early eighties when my son was little, our home was filled with molded plastic houses, cars and slides. We gave little thought to how these eventually ended up in the landfills.
Somewhere between that magical Christmas morning of recycling and my desire to give my son plenty of opportunity for creative play, I’d forgotten all the rainy days my friends and I spent cutting windows and doors into cardboard refrigerator boxes and stacking television cartons to make apartments houses. Or the way we collected old thread spools, hammering nails around the top to make our own little knitting devices. I’d forgotten that imagination is most active when the raw materials are available without instructions for the finished product.
It’s exciting to see the hot trend for this holiday season is eco-friendly toys. I’ve found a few that are both environmentally and socially responsible. Sprig Toys in Colorado makes eco-friendly “Story Builders” that inspire creative play and strong values. Mary Meyer’ “Fuzz that Was” stuffed toy pets are made out of old recycled water bottles. The Green Toy Company, based in California makes toy cookware, gardening tools, sand toys and trucks (including a Recycling Truck) out of recycled milk bottles.
While it seems early to be thinking about the holidays, if you are going to give responsibly, you need time to plan ahead. The marketplace is abundant with products that have had another life in a different form. If, however, you are crafty, now’s the time to start looking around for what products you tend to throw away and how you can upcycle those into fabulous gifts.
Do you have ideas for eco-friendly gift projects you’ve made or plan to make that you’d like to share with us? If you have found an artist or product line that uses recycled materials please post your recommendation here-we’d love to spread the word and promote your projects or treasured finds.
Have you noticed the Green trend in Craft Fairs?
May 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Crafting A Living
We are deep into the spring craft fair season and daily I learn about festivals that have an eco-conscious section. The 33rd annual Union Street Festival in San Francisco will have a whole section dedicated to crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials and eco-friendly exhibits.
The Eugene, Oregon Saturday market features recycled wares, but that’s no surprise in the “Greenest City”.
There’s the Crafty Feast Indi Fair in Columbia, SC featuring alternative and experimental crafts made from re-purposed materials including handbags made form recycled inner tubes, scrap monsters made from recycled Read more
Have you noticed the Green trend in Craft Fairs?
May 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Crafting A Living
We are deep into the spring craft fair season and daily I learn about festivals that have an eco-conscious section. The 33rd annual Union Street Festival in San Francisco will have a whole section dedicated to crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials and eco-friendly exhibits.
The Eugene, Oregon Saturday market features recycled wares, but that’s no surprise in the “Greenest City”.
There’s the Crafty Feast Indi Fair in Columbia, SC featuring alternative and experimental crafts made from re-purposed materials including handbags made form recycled inner tubes, scrap monsters made from recycled socks and sweaters, and lapel pins made from recycled ties and vintage buttons.
At Handmade Mart in Silversprings Md., you’ll see recycled hard bound books turned into one of a kind purses, paperbacks repurposed into wallets, and skirts made from re-purposed t-shirts.
At the Annual Haddonfield, NJ Crafts and Fine Art Festival July 11 & 12, you’ll find bracelets made from recycled soda can pull tabs, clocks and lamps made from recycled cookware, jewelry made from recycled silver, antique buttons and bottle caps and quilts from recycled clothing.
According to the artists and crafts people I’ve spoken with, buyers are getting more eco-savvy and starting to appreciate green crafts more.
So, what does this mean for you as an artist? It means if you already have at least part of your line that is made from recycled material or is recyclable, kudos to you. If you aren’t already doing something earth-friendly with your craft, it’s time to get on the green wagon. If you are using toxic substances in the processing of your craft, it’s time to visit alternative materials, both for the environment, your own health and your image.
I’m not suggesting “greenwashing” or going green strictly for marketing purposes. However, it does seem that finally consumers, or at least buyers of handmade crafts, care. They finally get it.
It means that part of your story on your hangtags and promotional material should contain language about how your crafts re-use materials and the benefits to the consumer and the environment. Target your press releases to publications and websites with a more progressive readership and learn to talk about how what you do benefits the universe.
Get into the conversation with conscious consumers and start hanging out with people who care about the footprint they leave on our earth. Put the word out that you will help people dispose of their unwanted items-but be specific. If you do strictly metal art, you don’t want neighbors dropping off used clothing as if you were the Goodwill depot. If you get the word out that you make purses out of old sweaters, you may never have to peruse the thrift shops again.
While everyone is whining about the state of the economy, I find it hopeful that we as a nation are growing more committed to saving our planet.
How has your art changed and what has been your experience with greening your craft? I’d love to hear your green stories and so would our readers.
What Eco Conscious Crafts are you giving Mom?
May 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Crafting A Living, Making a Difference
I’d love to believe I’m not alone in frequently waiting until the eleventh hour to make or purchase the perfect gift. It’s not that I don’t think about it ahead of time. It’s just that tomorrow is always here before I expect it. (that alone is a topic for a future post.) So, for those of you who haven’t yet crafted or purchased a gift for mom, or even if you have but haven’t wrapped or carded, let’s look at some ideas for giving mom a sustainable gift.
If you are efficient and have mom’s gift wrapped and shipped, these ideas work just as well for Read more
How Green are Your Crafts? Do you use Recycled Materials?
May 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Crafting A Living, Making a Difference
Being eco-conscious and crafty can be a challenge. Most of us have a love affair with paper, paint, glue and other single use products, some even highly toxic. I’m not preaching here. I adore paper. I’m actually guilty of purchasing vast quantities of art supplies that I have no specific plans for at all. (For me, the medium dictates what it will become. ) I still prefer the wasteful, toxic products of film, chemicals and emulsion covered paper to digital photography but I’m coming around. If I weren’t so sensitive to oils and turpentine, that would still be my choice of medium. I’m struggling with this. I want to leave our world rich in resources for future generations. There are also special occasions when an e-card simply won’t do. I’m OK to read the daily news online, and I might even eventually break down and buy a
