DIY wallet

Since we're working on the resort issue I find myself looking for all things pertaining to travel and holiday, so it  came as no surprise when I found this and it spoke to me. A DIY cassette wallet that you design and construct yourself. Now completely obsolete anyone wishing to reuse their secret supply of old cassettes can do so with this kit. 

If you don't have your own supply you can simply purchase this kit here. It comes with all your materials and how to instructions. I don't know if  I'd carry this myself but it would be great for kids or someone who is in the music industry or a lover of music.

Guess what these chairs are made from?

I"m hoping Toronto based designers  Ryan Allen, Samreet Bal, and Andrea Hardcastle are able to go into production with the rebound chair  because I think they would sell quite well. Made out of  reclaimed inner tubes, the chair only weighs about 15lbs but can seat a person of any stature quite comfortably.

A corseted back and a woven seat make these chairs aesthetically pleasing, I'd love to see them on my patio. They are definitely not a disposable piece of furniture and they store easily by stacking, what more could you want.

Emergency lighting

During the holiday season I had a chance to test out Capstone Industries Eco-Lite by accident. I had been sent samples of the Eco-i-Lite months ago and forgot all about them until just before the holidays when I decided to plug them in. They're easy enough to use just plug in the charger and the light sits in a cradle. 

Needless to say I lost power during the holidays on one of the coldest days and I didn't realise it until I saw the top portion of the lite shining brightly. That was during the day but I also tried it out at night and it worked very well. The bottom of the torch acts as a dimly lit night lite, but when you take it out of the charger the top part give off that great white light that's extremely bright but easy on the eyes. Another plus the plastics used are 100% recycled.

Shipping around the world

 TRTL BOT iPhone cases are ready for shipping and we're pretty excited about this. They're probably one of the best examples we've seen of iPhone cases made from used materials such as plastic bottles. 

TRTL BOT cases have a built in area for ID in the back and has this great flip stand for comfortable viewing. Please make your purchase straight from their site and it will be sent to you packed in recycled consumer papers printed with soy based inks. 

Reusing ideas

Still standing after 90 years, this paper house built by Elis Stenman has now become a Massachusetts tourist attraction. Originally built during the depression in 1922 Elis Stenman decided to experiment with newspapers as an insulator. 

Stenman was a mechanical engineer and an amateur inventor in his spare time, something we can all learn from. By gluing layers of paper together, subjecting it to two tons of pressure and giving it a few coats of varnish, he was able to build a solid house that's lasted the test of time. Interesting idea for a housing shortage.

Christmas wrapping paper

I'm reminded of all the vintage scarves I acquired from my Great Aunt years ago that I just couldn't bring myself to throw away but I wanted to use them for something. Are you planning on buying wrapping paper or will you reuse things around the house?

 If you can, reuse gift bags, ribbons and wrapping if you're like me and keep that kind of stuff. More on this topic at Easywaystogogreen 

Book lovin'

Three design driven content rich books to have if you're new to design, or curious about design and you're thinking of designing your own home. Or you have an affection for DIY, these books will educate you on various uses for every day recycled waste.  

          

 Packed with elegant solutions, you will learn from experienced designers how to turn junk into something beautiful and stylish. Now that winter's creeping in and you're spending more time indoors this might be the perfect time to DIY  and keep busy.            

iPhone: Plastic is Fantastic

Made from recycled plastic the TRTL iPhone case is designed by a company who stands behind using rubbish to make beautiful sleek items  people  want to buy. The Minimalist 4 is simple in design yet it does much more than  protect your iPhone.

It has a built in wallet in the back for carrying a few credit cards, ID and money. And as you can see from the pictures above it can be propped up to view video in a couple of positions. The company is called TRLBOT based in Los Angeles where design and manufacturing commence. We're hoping to see more from this fairly new company in the future.

Recycling for home use

Designers to watch.

Designed by Nobody & Co.

Designed by Johnny Swing

Designed by Chase deForest

Chairs made from recycled books, coins and a garden hose.

Cardboard furniture

I always see high chairs at garage sales, children grow so quickly I think you get a few years use and then that's it. That's why I love the idea of a recyclable high chair and stools for children. 

This particular high chair is used for temporary solutions such as outings, or camping etc. The Australian company Belkiz showcased their products at the Milan furniture fair this year. I imagine production is in progress.

Made from recycled oil drums the tree of life decorative plaque is handmade in Croix des Bouquet, Haiti and signed by the artist a member of the Caribbean Craft a fair trade organisation that promotes employment of artists.                                   

Training programs are offered to the artist helping them to become self sufficient whilst learning the business of international trade. I found this wall decoration at Organic Bug. Support economic growth in Haiti.

Transport your home

I've often thought those large transport containers would make great studios, it would appear architects like Jim Poteet also thought the same thing. What I'm curious about is how much does it cost to convert and can you take it with you?

The containers aren't very wide but they are really long however floor to ceiling windows with light hardwood flooring would make it appear a lot wider right. To read more and see more pictures visit Dwell.

Clothing sculpture

Artist Guerra de la Paz takes old clothes that could be sitting in a landfill and turns them into striking works of art.

His work has been exhibited at the pretigious Saatchi Gallery in 2007, it continues to draw world wide attention from the important art cities. To read more visit Ecouterre

A Ceiling To Remember

If anyone has been to Europe or is from there you'll remember the numerous places you saw a tray ceiling. Not only were they in tourist attraction type buildings but they're quite common in residents throughout Europe. I had one and I really miss the ornate distraction when I laid on the sofa. 

 They were handmade and hand painted although it is still practiced it is a dying art. Having said all that I was thrilled to find these self adhesive recyclable ceiling tiles. You can paint them if you like, or leave them as is. I prefer a nice creamy white ceiling medallion, but it's up to you how you use them. The options are endless.