image via Shelterrific

Here are some really CUTE pillows from recycled materials, by Alexandra Ferguson. (Shelteriffic)

West Elm’s new line of FSC certified office furniture, designed by students at Pratt. (Inhabitat)

A lovely new kitchen, made of reclaimed materials, that looks absolutely classic. (re-nest)

GE has unveiled their latest technology in super efficient OLED lighting. (Inhabitat)

It takes 5,000 cocoons to provide enough silk for one kimono!  And this guy is raising the caterpillars, spinning the silk, and weaving it all by himself. (BoingBoing)

The first U.S. Certified Passive House, in Louisiana of all places. (Treehugger)

And finally, the most adorable ad, made on a whim by an 11 year old girl, for Harmony Art organic cotton fabrics.  Seriously, somebody hire this girl! (The Journey is the Prize)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Via Design*Sponge

Till the weather cools though, I’ll have to just content myself with looking at how refreshing this pretty, wooden textile stamp looks. (Design*Sponge)

This fountain would look refreshing, if only it wouldn’t fall apart the minute you add water. (Craftzine)

Love this simple and effective filing cabinet makeover! (re-nest)

Ooh!  Does Room&Board actually have organic cotton pillows from Mod Green Pod at their stores now? That would be wonderful! (GreenYourDecor)

And finally, a new use for an unloved plant.  Could the future of sustainable fabrics be the stinging nettle? (Treehugger)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Image via re-nest

I love this whimsical artwork from recycled materials in Greece. (re-nest)

Treehugger asks if less could become more again. (Treehugger)

Check out these vibrant organic cotton pillows! (Green Your Decor)

And finally,… if you’re like me, you forget all about your resolve to take a short shower once you step under the lovely warm water.  Here’s a fun way to be gently reminded when it’s time to turn off the tap. (Inhabitat)

Have a great weekend all!

And apparently the baby above loves it too!  This pattern is called Fish and Pebbles, and it’s one of the most attractive, least twee prints I’ve ever seen for a nursery.

The bright, cheerful orange and yellow print called Hearts and Flowers might just be girly enough to woo some of the tween girls I know away from the ever present pink that colors their world.

And for those who come into this world with an innate sense of curiosity and adventure, they can follow the tracks on their own Dinosaur bedding.

Available in sets for both crib and twin, Argington also makes cute floor mats and pillows.

Click here for a list of stores and online retailers.

People often ask me where the inspiration for my designs come from.  In my previous life, when I worked for a design house, they would send us out “trend shopping” the goal of which was to be inspired by what we saw at stores…. often high-end boutiques.  Trend shopping was my least favorite part of my job.  I know many people (primarily women) would love to be given a company credit card and told to “get inspired” but I always found this task to be rather soul-less.  What’s the joy in creating your own version of what has already been done?

Now that I am my own art director, I make it a habit to go “trend hiking” on a weekly basis.  I always bring along my camera instead of a VISA and look for new inspiration in the natural world around me.  Designs such as Fields of Honey are a direct result of such adventures.

However, sometimes, an idea comes from people in my life.  Such is the case with 40 Ginkgos.  I vividly remember having lunch with Rachel Hulan upon our first in-person meeting and having her tell me about her attraction to the ancient Ginkgo tree.  I think I was talking about my personal connection to the Redwood tree…

I told her then that perhaps I will do a Ginkgo print one day.  A couple of years went by.  Then one day I was visiting my friend Theresa in San Francisco.  Growing out of the sidewalk in front of her house on Divisadero Street is a Ginkgo tree.  I decided to take a few leaves off the ground home with me and those leaves transformed into the pattern 40 Ginkgos.  The color pallet for the design was inspired by my mother-in-law who LOVES the combination of red, green and white.  It reminds her of the red Geraniums that abound at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

I have had a few customers request “holiday” colored fabrics I thought this design in this colorway would be the perfect holiday print that could be used year round.

So, to break down the process of how I work:
1. Idea – thanks to Rachel
2. Reference – thanks to the tree

3. Sketch – almost all of my designs start with a Sharpie pen and white paper.

4. Color, scale and layout are then created in the computer using a vector based program.
5. Colors are chipped, and artwork is sent to the engraver and screens are made.

6. Initial strike off is received to test the color and screens… adjustments are made as necessary.
7. Approval is given and production begins.

8. The wait begins…. as the fabric is printed, rolled, packaged, palletized, and in this case put on a boat for its travel to the USA from India.
9. Fabric makes it through customs and is inventoried at our warehouse in South Carolina.
10. Orders are filled and fabric becomes part of our “in full bloom” collection.

I am happy to announce as of today, 40 Ginkgos has made its way through the long process and is now available for purchase!  Of course, this fabric has been printed on 100% organic cotton and is certified to GOTS standards for the processing.  Now that I “call the shots” I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I love starting the day with a delicious looking image like this in my in-box!  Harmony Art now has the beautiful “Evelyn & Janette” in stock, and it’s available through PM Organics and soon to be available through Organic Fabric Online (AU) and Pure Fabricz (EU).

Harmony Art has also released a version I covet, called simply  “Evelyn” on which only the black flowers appear.

And of course, I can’t forget the wonderful “Ginkgo” print that I mentioned before in one of my very first posts, but was not yet in stock. This one is available through Organic Cotton Plus, NearSea Naturals, PM Organics and soon to be available through Pure Fabricz (EU).

Now if I could only take a minute to run out and get some granola, my tummy would stop reminding me that I’ve been staring at these images for far too long this morning.

Since 1856, when the first aniline dye was invented by William Henry Perkin, the use of natural dyes has seen a steady decline – supplanted by cheaper and easier to produce synthetics.  It is only recently, with the renewed interest in more sustainable forms of textile production, that the world has started to rediscover how amazing natural dyes can be.

All images by David Handschuh

Even with the renewed interest though, the use of natural dyes in the United States has thus far been on a very small scale.  Really little more than a loose network of dedicated textile artisans and crafters, up to their elbows in vats of tea and berry juice.  Small scale that is, until Noon Design Studio came along…

Madder Root

The only commercial scale natural dye production house in the United States, Chicago based Noon Design Studio developed their system for colorful, consistent, large scale natural dyeing while pursuing better dyeing methods for the portable solar bags of sister company Noon Solar.  They now provide their dyeing services to designers around the U.S., and can work on both a yardage or by the piece basis.  Best of all, they dye by weight and are capable of taking jobs as small as 10 pounds.

Cutch wood chips

Says founder Jane Palmer…

“I love naturally dyed textiles because of their unique beauty; they have a presence of hand and luminosity that cannot be created with chemical dyes.  I also love the dyes because of their sustainability with the earth and connection to thousands of years of history.”

Cochineal

Noon Design Studio uses only sustainably harvested natural materials in their dyeing process.  Their materials consist of fruits, woods, roots and even insects.  For example, they use madder root, pomegranate, walnuts, indigo, cochineal bugs, and many other dyestuff to achieve a rainbow of luxurious colors.

Just launched in January, Noon Design Studio may be the beginning of a real revolution in fabric design here in the States.  Certainly many textile, fashion and interior designers will be knocking on their door soon.  Imagine the possibilities!

Image of Harmony Art organic cotton fabric - Eyes of the World.

In honor of St. Patrick (and the fact that it’s my birthday) I’m going to go have a little breakfast and a day off, but you will still be getting a great post today on green kitchens, courtesy of Susan, from Susan Serra and Associates

And in the tradition of giving gifts to others on your birthday, please accept this bit of inspired silliness…

So here’s what caught our eye this week…

Image via design*sponge

Spied on design*sponge, this set of nesting tables, made of recycled wood and old rebar.  They are really kinda cute, which is not something I usually say about things made of rebar.

Next up, a cozy blanket giveaway and some great sale items seen on Green Your Decor, as well as musings on printed countertops and why existing buildings are greener…

Image via Green Your Decor

I couldn’t resist showing this adorable photo Jennae, of Green Your Decor, took of her daughter snuggled up in a Yumi & Laurie BlanQuette.  Green Your Decor is having a giveaway for three of these cozy 50% organic cotton, 50% bamboo blankets, in the winner’s choice of colors.  Giveaway contest ends March 22nd.

Image via Green Your Decor

Also from Green Your Decor are these great “Green Steal of the Week” items.  A stool woven from water hyacinth, for only $40, and a pair of organic cotton napkins for $5-6.

Image via K=BB Collective

Eric Corey Freed, green architecture advocate and all around nice guy, muses about the future of countertop materials, and if “desktop manufacturing” technologies will change the way we create them.  Imagine using a 3D printer to create your next kitchen!

Image via Treehugger

Treehugger looks at some pretty severe demolition plans the city of Brantford, Ontario is considering, and says perhaps “The Greenest Building is the One Already Standing”.

And speaking of Treehugger, please consider voting for us for Best of Green in the Architecture and Design Blog category.  Thank you!

Now on to business…

image via Green Your Decor

First up, GreenYourDecor found some pretty pillows from Gianna that are not only organic, but Fair Trade too!

Next, some new mod wallpaper from Mod Green Pod, an old-fashioned folding bathtub, and a bed made of plumbing parts…

Image via design*sponge

Like most designers, I love perusing design*sponge, and I’m always delighted to see when they promote something green.  This week they highlighted a brand new wallpaper design from one of the first hip and trendy green design companies to hit the market, Mod Green Pod.

Image via The Steampunk Home

This turn of the century, folding bathtub seen on The Steampunk Home really amazed me.  Apparently there were once 18 different versions of this concept, complete with self-contained water heater.  My only question,… how on earth do you drain the thing?

Image via Craftzine

And speaking of steampunk, how’s this for a DIY project?  An easy to assemble, easy to disassemble bed frame made of pipe and fittings, seen on Craftzine.

Well, that’s it for this week.  Next week we welcome guest blogger David Johnson of Sidecar Furniture, review a great new green design book, look at a bunch of new products, and muse on the meaning of it all.  I can’t wait!