Hello dear readers!  Every day I find out about at least five or six things that I think you would love to know about too, but there is only so much time in the day for me to write.  So I am wondering, if I wrote one regular, more in depth post a day (as I try to do now), and also did one or two really quick posts, (with maybe a photo, short blurb, and link), would you read the extra posts?  Or is a short post just too little information for you to bother reading?  I’m very curious to know what you think.  Could you take a minute and answer the poll below for me?

I don’t know about you but I’ve been finding it a little hard to focus this week. With all that is happening in Japan, a country that is near and dear to me, my heart is a little heavy. Because I know I’m not only one feeling this way, I thought it be nice to focus today’s Etsy Find the Week on some items that are both sustainable AND supportive of our friends to the East.

Here’s a great little print that I loved so much I had to buy one for myself. This old-fashioned Japanese woodcut owl is printed on a page from an up-cycled vintage Japanese English dictionary. The text upper right says HOPE in both English and Japanese, and maybe that’s why I love it so much. 100% of the proceeds from the sale go to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.

This pair of vibrant red pillows are hand-painted with a beautiful white cherry blossom motif on organic cotton. $10 from the sale of these pillows will be donated to the Red Cross to help the people of Japan. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome back to the Friday wrap-up everyone!  It’s been too long…

So what caught my eye this week?  It’s a short list, only because I’m short on time!  There is already A LOT going on in green design this year!

1.  10 Green Designers to Watch in 2011 is an interesting list to look at.  I would argue that some of these designers have been serious influences long before now, and I would therefore have picked a few more up and comers in their place, but everyone one of these people is worth watching! (Apartment Therapy)

2.  The before and after with the drawers is OK, but I am TOTALLY coveting that revamped mail sorter! (design*sponge)

3.  Want a fun, easy, stylish craft to do this weekend?  How about these great silhouettes in a frame?  I’m so getting out the scissors this weekend (on copies of the photos only of course!).  (Sweet Paul)

4.  A good list of what to look for in a natural pillow, in case you’re tired of all the chemicals and dust mites. (re-nest)

5.  And finally, a bit of way too adorable.  Seriously, have you ever seen a sweeter duet?

Oh!  And don’t forget to take our survey!  We need as much input as we can get, and tomorrow is the last day!

So we spent all of last year talking about everything WE wanted to.  Now is the chance for you to tell us a little more about yourself and what YOU would like to see more of on this site.  Please take just a moment to make your voice heard…

Click here to take survey

So lovely to be back!   Between the much needed chance to relax, and the lovely celebrations with friends and family, I am feeling as relaxed and recharged as I have in a very long time.

How about you?  Ready to change the world?

Things are a little crazy around here, with three great design projects in the works, and a writing deadline that is starting to get a little past due, so….

In order to get a little caught up, not to mention spend a lot of quality time with the family, and indulge in some fun Christmas time cocktails I will be taking a break from blogging from now until January 3rd.  I’m looking forward to 2011 and new and exciting content to share with you!

Until then…  Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

There are so many things I am thankful for: family, friends, and you my dear readers.  Not to mention the luck to have a fairly decent pumpkin pie recipe.

However, right at this moment I am most grateful for a restored internet connection and a new router!  I’m connected to the web-a-verse again, and hope to get back to my regularly scheduled blogging as soon as I have finished stuffing some of that pumpkin pie in my face.

Until then, wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Note: The above title for this post is a joke.  Since there was some confusion, I thought I would clarify – Rachel

For months I have been looking forward to spending last Friday attending Dwell on Design, collecting information and images of all the wonderful things I would see, and then sharing them with you, dear readers.  However, the best laid plans of mice and men,… and design bloggers it seems,… often go awry.  I came down with a nasty cold Thursday night, and have spent every day since in a slug like state on the sofa, surrounded by a sea of tissues and tea cups.

So, sadly, no review this year, but I will rustle up all the information I can on the event from other sites and share links to their take on it in this week’s Friday Wrap-up.  Meanwhile, I hope to be back in force by tomorrow so I can share many other great finds in sustainable design.

Till then…

I’ll be at AltBuild today, checking out what’s new in green building products, sustainable furniture and just having a good time catching up with a few old friends.  Next week I’ll share with you what I saw.

Till then, have a lovely weekend!  The Friday Wrap-up will return next week.

-RH

Inspired by the green movements dedication to reuse, as well as the higher costs associated with “going green”, East Coast based design studio The Buck Stops is releasing their latest fun and funky wallpaper design, “Benjamin”.
Says Andy Jackson of The Buck Stops,…

We really wanted to give a sense of the value of green design through our wallpaper.  Besides, we had so much money sitting around since we went green that it just seemed logical to reuse it for our new collection.

Unfortunately, although the paper is reclaimed, the original stock is made from standard cotton, rather than organic, and the inks are not necessarily VOC free.  However, considering the fact that people would otherwise just be throwing their money away, this wallpaper is a great example of sustainable reuse.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get some for myself!

And by the way,… April Fools!