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Category Archives: eco design
Robert Bradford creates sculpture from discarded toy pieces
It is the start of a lovely long 4 day weekend in Melbourne to celebrate Easter, so I thought it fitting to share with you the fascinating recycled sculptures made by UK designer Robert Bradford - Inspired by discarded toys in his children’s toy box, he has again put them to use, creating all
sorts of animal sculptures.
Look closely at each piece – You’ll be surprised at what you see. A plastic gun, a purple dog, toy cars …. What can you spy?
Happy Easter all! Enjoy your break wherever you are!
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Timber blocks by Mokuroku
I have always been impressed by the myriad of lego designs that keep coming out. Whilst being made from plastic doesn’t quite put them in the “eco design” category, it certainly is one toy that children keep on playing with year after year, and gets handed on to others ~ and in my household I can attest that a number of 30 and 40 year old male don’t need
any prompting to sit down and “help” put a number of structures together either! Today I spotted a new lego design, and it doesn’t involve the latest movie or emergency services theme! This time, Japanese design brand Mokuroku have come up with a timber version!
Coming in 50 piece sets, you can dream up your own little design piece (44 blocks make up the tree below). Alternatively, mix them throughout regular lego as they are compatible!
I am seriously tempted to purchase this timber block set. I just have to work out first how to keep my kids and husband’s hands off them!
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Another Vision Design release new cushion range
After wowing us with a bright Scandanavian influenced cushion range in 2012 (see interview here), Therese Gustafsson of Another Vision Design has just launched her second eco friendly cushion range. Moving on from the bright coloured retro prints of last year, the new “Ruben & Friends” range is arty, a little bit quirky, and a whole lot friendly!
He is a man of few words but some would describe him as a true gentleman and the perfect companion.
May I introduce to you……Ruben!
Therese Gustafsson shared that she made “Ruben” for a friend who needed a “man in her life”, and the “friends” range evolved from there!
My friends say I’m a dreamer… and who am I to disagree.
My name is Fleur. Pleased to meet you!
With their intricate expressions, I love that I can almost see their personalities! I could imagine meeting Ruben wearing a cravat in a smoky Parisian basement bar. I could go cycling with Fleur down cobblestoned laneways stopping by a funky cafe. And just imagine the deep and thought provoking conversation I could have with Leon!
Meet Leon…
He is social, very charming and always well dressed.
As with her first range, Therese has
continued to use natural fibres, prints with water based solvent free inks and uses soft recycled plastic inserts. ”I am proud to be supporting our environment and our future!” says Theresa.
To view Therese’s beautiful eco friendly homewares range, do pop on over to her store for a peek.
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Jennifer Maestre designs at the pointy end of the stick
If you are a parent, child, artist, or even just an avid scribbler, you would know coloured pencils get to a certain length when they cannot be sharpened any
further, let alone comfortably held between fingertips. The last 4cm are basically unusable ~ at least that is what I thought until I spied the creations of USA based sculpture artist, Jennifer Maestre.
Turning pencils into beads which are then expertly sewn together, Jennifer’s amazing sculptures replicate sea urchins, marine crustaceans and plant life amongst others. Her careful selection and placement of various colours and hues really capture their true form using a very unusual choice of materials. And there is something to be said too for those perfectly sharpened tips – I’m seriously impressed as I would have more breakages than points!
Colourful Sea Urchins
In addition to her jaw dropping sculptures, Jennifer also uses pencils in her jewellery range, making some very colourful pendants.
Are you now inspired to do something with those left over pencil tips at home? Even if you are not, I bet you never look at them quite the same again. I certainly won’t!
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Traditional crochet gets a modern day lift
I love discovering new local creatives who are designing fabulous sustainable products. Today my heart was all a flutter when I came upon Michelle Harvey’s hand crocheted jute homeware designs which she sells under the brand name Crayon Chick. Natural jute is given an eye popping lift with bright neon splashes at the base or top of beautifully hand woven sleeves which fit snug over glass vessels ~ perfect for holding fresh cut or dry flowers. I also love the idea for storing pens and pencils too – would suit me down to a “T” as I tend to leave them on bench tops all over the house.
Vessels that pop!
Michelle’s homeware range extends to great storage bowls for all those other bits and pieces we have lying around too. Great for everything from coins, keys and sunglasses to the kids toy car or jewellery collection!
Michelle also creates playful garlands which would look great strung across a girls room. But they’re certainly not just the reserve of kids. I could equally see them hung across my office space to soften the room. And they look particularly good against vintage furniture finds!
If you love what you see, do pop on over to the Crayon Chick store for a peek. She is one creative lass who is passionate about sustainable materials and design. A perfect mix.
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Celebrating the Pantone colour of the year
Here it is ladies and gents. The design powers that be have announced the Pantone colour of the year is Emerald – or colour 17-5641 to be exact. Announcing the colour for 2013, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman stated “Green is the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum.” So be-gone Tangerine Tango (colour of 2012)! Expect to see all hues of green popping up in fashion, homewares and interior design throughout this year. Whilst we don’t tend to celebrate passing fads, I have compiled a collection of green products (in colour and design!) we have at State of Green, that may just give you the on-trend coloured accent you need this year, and will last many more to come!
FOR THE HOME:
Green accents for the home
1. Transglass Vase (a wine bottle in its past life)
2. Organic Cotton Chevron Cushion
3. Birdcage Stainless Steel Drink Bottle
5. Calico screen printed Shoulder Bag
6. Recycled Timber KitchenBoard
Pantone Emerald – Coloured by nature
1. Porcelain Hanging Planter ~ Perfect for succulents or herbs!
FOR THE YOUNGSTERS:
Green Kids!
1. Organic Cotton Baby Blanket
2. Timber Bus
4. Freezer Pods
As you may guess from our name, I am quite enamoured with the colour green, and all nuances and inuendoes the colour attracts. What do you think of the Pantone colour of the year?
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Designers branch out in timber design
Have you ever sat back and simply marvelled at the natural beauty of a tree trunk? If only those knots, scars and growth rings could talk about the conversations that have occurred beneath them, the animals they have housed and the wild weather they have stood up against. Whilst it is common for us folk to chop them down, shear off their bark, and cut them down to make all manner of objects, some artists are maintaining their form, and showcasing their beauty close to their natural state. Today, I am sharing with you some of my favourites!
Cracked Log Lamp by Duncan Meerding, Australia
Tasmanian designer Duncan Meerding has hollowed out tree trunks to make the Cracked Log Lamp. A soft light dances around the cracks and edges casting a soft glow over the trunk’s surface.
Log Bowls by Loyal Loot Collective,
USA based Loyal Loot Collective hit the mark when they created their very popular Log Bowls with a scooped lacquered centre. No two are the same!
Stunning timber furniture by Mark Tuckey
Mark Tuckey’s range is all about showing off the natural state of tree trunks – wound cracks and all. Their stools and coffee tables capture the true essence of their origin. Don’t you just want to reach in and trace your finger tips over the cracks on that stool!
Woodtec on Etsy
I near fell over when I spotted this design. Woodtec are bringing reconnecting with nature to a whole new level! They make all manner of device stands using timber logs ~ beats a plastic one any day!
…And here lies its natural beauty
I couldn’t resist adding this last image taken on my recent holiday up near Echuca in northern Victoria, Australia. A natural piece of art.
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The Themis Prism Hanging Mobile has arrived!
Happy New Year all – I’ve had a great short break and now getting back into it. I have decided to launch into the new year with a look at the new Themis Prism hanging mobile that the cool cats at Artecnica have released, and have just arrived on my doorstep. Inpsired by polyhedra shapes, the Prism mobile is part of a series designed by Artecnica. Whilst previous designs have featured bright shots of colour, the Themis Prism hanging mobile is more subtle and serene featuring intricately folded cardboard coloured in block hues of salmon, bronze, white, green and black. The size of each of these shapes is much larger too ~ give or take each shape is about the size of a tennis ball!
I can equally see the Prism mobile swaying gently in a modern child’s nursery (great unisex colours), or jazzing up the corner of a smart office space. And making it oh so easy for you to assemble, is the fact that you can pick it straight out of the box pre-strung, and they even include a sturdy hook you can screw straight into your ceiling by hand – So no excuses for not putting it up straight away!
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