Green Living

{Green Living} Waging War on Ants

February 22, 2012 by lorigami

As much as I hate freezing temperatures and blustery weather, the one good thing that usually comes out of a cold winter is fewer bugs. However, this year we’ve barely gotten a token blast below the freeze mark and I’m pretty sure I can hear the ants chuckling about their impending world domination. The giant [...]

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{Eco Tips} Scaling a Mountain of Fabric Scraps

February 19, 2012 by LindaEve

Recently I posed a question to my fellow seamsters of Team EcoEtsy: is it safe to put fabric through a paper shredder? Why, you may ask, would I consider such a hair-brained idea? If you’re like me, you hate wasting fabric, even the smallest of scraps, and I have a veritable mountain of them! I [...]

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{Green Living} Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Household Cleaners

February 15, 2012 by ekofabrik

The ingredients in most of the more popular household cleaners today include harsh or toxic products that can harm the environment and you. With the “green” revolution in full force these days, there are more and more non-toxic products being introduced. I personally love the “Seventh Generation” products. These products smell great, come in [...]

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{Eco-Tutorials} DIY Scratch-off Tickets

February 12, 2012 by Myra @ HerbanLuxe

Have you ever wanted to offer discount codes in a fun way? Or needed a cool promotion for your event booth? Scratch-off ticket may be the answer. Scratch-off tickets can be a highly effective promotional tool for your shop and they are so easy to make. I’ve ran a little experiment during a recent event by [...]

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{Green Living} 10 Surprising Uses For Baking Soda

February 8, 2012 by kanelstrand

Baking soda can be used in all spheres of life, from treating different disease to extinguishing fires. Its universal qualities as well as the fact that it can replace dangerous environmental pollutants we use on a daily basis make it my all time favorite and I hope yours too!

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{Green Living} Eco-Friendly Tips for Painting Your House

February 1, 2012 by fashiongreentbags

We’re getting new counter tops in our kitchen sometime in the next couple of weeks. It took us forever to choose the right granite for our project because of course we wanted the counter tops to match the rest of the kitchen. We found what we were looking for in terms of complimenting our existing [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} The Itch-Free Shrunken Wooly Sweater Hat

January 28, 2012 by LindaEve

Have you ever mistakenly tossed a wool sweater in the wash and wept over its transformation into something that might fit a 6-year-old child? I have. More than once. I recently came across a great remedy for the shrunken sweater blues - a wonderfully informative crafting video by Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of craftsanity.com. Jennifer presents super-simple instructions for making [...]

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The Economics of the Reusable Bag

January 25, 2012 by DrinksToDesign

I’m always wondering why people don’t bring reusable bags to the store. For me, reducing the use of plastic is very important and I see it as the “right” thing to do. I do realize that not everyone sees the world through those same green glasses and that has gotten me thinking…. The other day [...]

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Making Chevre at Home

January 11, 2012 by lorigami

It’s incredibly easy, and so much fun when you get to meet and play with the happy goats who provided the milk. One morning not too long ago, I got up at an unreasonable hour and waited impatiently for a very important call. Shortly afterwards, I had taken a hat shower, grabbed my camera, donned [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Seasonal Eating: Caramelized Fennel Pizza

January 4, 2012 by Pierogi Picnic

The New Year is here and with it come a mound of goals, resolutions, and if you’re anywhere north of Alabama, snow. To address our need for warm comfort food and sustainable seasonal eating I am sharing my favorite recipe of the month: Caramelized Fennel Pizza. Follow the directions below and you’ll be mmmming and [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} How to Make a Coupon Wallet Without Sewing Using a Reusable Grocery Bag

December 28, 2011 by ecokaren

If you haven’t heard yet, Hawaii County is working to ban plastic bags from grocery stores, as Seattle and so many other cities and countries also have. Banning single use grocery plastic bags means saving marine lives and not being as petroleum dependent for producing these wasteful plastic garbage. It also means that we will be [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Fudge Brownies

December 14, 2011 by antiquetochic

Fudgy brownies; delicious delights I never thought I’d be able to thoroughly enjoy again. With a gluten free diet, or any diet for that matter, treats are hard to come by, but yummy treats are even harder to find. These brownies are so good I had 3 right out of the oven as you can [...]

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{Eco-Tips} Decorating for a Home Party

December 7, 2011 by antiquetochic

‘Tis the season for holiday parties and now more than ever you need to get the biggest bang for your green bucks! Holiday parties are popping up everywhere you turn and even I tried my hand at one this year. Whether it’s a gathering of friends and family for laughs and sharing memories or a [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} DIY Bibliophile Wreaths

November 30, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

The holidays are almost here – and what will you be doing to keep your celebrations green? Will you be dusting off those hand-me-down ornaments? Pulling in your potted spruce? Looking to handmade indie businesses for your shopping needs? If so – it sounds like you’re already on a roll planning for the season sustainably. [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial}} Dressing the Table: Gourd Lanterns

November 21, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

One of my favorite holidays is in a few days – Thanksgiving! And with it come the joys of family, food, and reflecting on the blessings of the past year. No doubt cooking up protein, cranberries and dressing is a top focus – but what about some eco-friendly table dressing?! To get you thinking about how [...]

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Stock Up on the White Vinegar!

November 16, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

I do a lot of cleaning with vinegar. I spray it on the shower walls and let it sit for a few minutes before I wipe the walls with a damp cloth and baking soda and the scum just slides off. We soak our humidifier filter in white vinegar to dissolve the mineral deposits that [...]

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{Eco-Tutorials} Sunflower Seed Butter

November 9, 2011 by antiquetochic

After finding out many of my allergies were common, I had to figure out other ways to enjoy my favorite foods by substituting. I love peanut butter and jelly, I mean who doesn’t? Since I’m allergic to tree nuts and peanuts as many are I had to find an alternative spread to pair with my [...]

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{Business Tips} Get Local with Holiday Craft Fairs (bonus Recycled Newspaper ToteTutorial)

November 4, 2011 by Myra @ HerbanLuxe

Can you believe that Christmas is only 7 weeks away? Let me repeat – CHRISTMAS IN ONLY 7 WEEKS AWAY! Now that I’ve planted the seed and a sense of urgency into your brain {as if you weren’t already stressing over it}, let’s talk Holiday Craft Fairs. Craft Fairs are a great way to gain [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Oven Roasted Veggies

October 26, 2011 by antiquetochic

I know there’s no enticing photo this week, but I promise one next week. This recipe has actually become my mom’s favorite way to eat veggies especially broccoli. Ingredients: your favorite veggies (can be frozen or thawed) sea salt pepper garlic powder oil (I use sunflower) Preparation: Cut veggies in bite size pieces and arrange [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Falling for Fall: Leaf Garland

October 19, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

There’s something that soothes the senses about autumn. The cooling temperatures, cozy fashions, stunning colors and earthy smells make you wish this transient season would never come to an end. Though we can’t prolong these beautiful fall days – we can bring a touch of them indoors with some foraging and clever eco-friendly crafting. Try this [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Homemade Caramel Apples

October 12, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

There’s nothing that beckons the dawn of fall like crisp yet rich caramel apples. The moment I see them hit the grocery store end caps I know that autumn is in full swing. If you’re an addict like me, try your hand at this simple recipe that will not only give you the freshest results [...]

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How to Make Wine Cork Christmas Trees

September 28, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

My daughter just recently began her part-time job at Jo-Ann Fabrics and was aghast to see that the Christmas items were already being prominently displayed in the store. Upon inquiry, she was informed that the reason for the early displays (It was, after all, the beginning of September.) was to ensure that crafters would have [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Pizza Dip

September 21, 2011 by antiquetochic

I figured with the football seasons just starting up, a yummy game day snack would be a great post for this week. It’s not exactly a really healthy recipe to begin with, but you can add ingredients to make it a wholesome munchy for your crew. Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature) 1/2 cup [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

September 14, 2011 by antiquetochic

Recently, I learned I am sensitive to potatoes in addition to gluten and some dairy. As many of you know a lot of gluten free baked goods are made with potato flour and/or potato starch. I was getting discouraged since I couldn’t find a yummy chocolate chip cookie without potato in it. So, I turned to my own kitchen. [...]

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[Eco-Tutorial] DIY Deodorant

September 7, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

Over the years I’ve tried every natural deodorant imaginable….Tom’s, Jason, Dr. Hauschka, Burt’s Bees, Lush, crystals, lotions, and good ole’ soap. All left me either stinky and slimy, or red and rashy. Determined to win the battle, I began to scour the internet to find an effective DIY Deodorant recipe. After two failed attempts using Essential [...]

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{Eco Tutorial} Labor Day Craft Party

August 31, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

If you’re looking for a fun twist for your upcoming Labor Day soiree then you’re reading the perfect post! Rather than bringing friends over for the typical lunch and loitering, put those pals to work and teach them how to get crafty with an eco-friendly spin. Make the most of your guests’ day by planning [...]

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When Life Gives You Lemons, There’s SO Much More to Do Than Make Lemonade!

August 24, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

Most of us know by now that lemons are yummy. We use them on salads, in drinks, with recipes for main dishes and desserts and a lot of us know that we can use lemon juice for cleaning as well. I recently came upon a list of 24 things we can do with lemon! It’s [...]

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Two Categories of Consumer Waste and How You Can Reduce Both

August 17, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

Thank you so much to Bee from The Wooden Bee for giving us this great article she wrote about consumer waste. If you’re reading this post you are probably already conscious about your impact on the environment and the amount of waste you produce. Hopefully, this article will inspire some new ideas or reinforce what [...]

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{Eco-Tips} Finds Redesigned

August 10, 2011 by antiquetochic

Like so many of you I go to yard sales, flea markets, and antique stores to help recycle items people no longer want. I buy beaded necklaces for my jewelry, furniture to refinish, and other household items to keep them from being thrown out. I even try to convince the sellers I see at yard sales to [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Vegan Rice Tortilla Chips

August 3, 2011 by antiquetochic

This recipe is the best one I have found for a yummy snack while being gluten free. It is also the easiest one I have; it only has 3 ingredients! Ingredients & other materials you will need: 1 package of Food for Life Rice Tortillas high heat sunflower oil sea salt paper bag or other item to soak [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Homemade Popsicles for Pooches

July 27, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

If your dogs are anything like mine they love rolling and romping through the summer heat. And while we already know how important it is to keep our furry friends hydrated on warm sticky days – what’s some summer sun without tasty frozen treats?! To give your canine a yummy snack that will cool them [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Blush & Flush: Natural Cheek & Lip Stain

July 20, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

There are many secrets cosmetic companies intentionally keep from consumers. Thousands of toxic chemicals abound in lipsticks, fragrances, shampoos, and eye shadows being sold in the United States and beyond. Take one look at the Cosmetic Safety Database and you’ll see for yourself that we’re literally killing ourselves for the sake of beauty. For this [...]

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Making Your Summer Picnics Green

July 13, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

We all know that there are ways to make a summer picnic an eco disaster. Just make sure that everything is Styrofoam and plastic and that you include lots of disposables to pack your food so you can walk away without a mess. It’s quick, easy and there’s very little to clean when you get [...]

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How to Green Your Summer Travel

July 6, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

If you are traveling to somewhere for the Fourth of July holiday, or a vacation destination sometime this summer, you have probably already begun or completed your traveling so it is probably too late for you to read this post, right? Wrong! This is great advice for all whether you’ve traveled yet or not. [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} A Festive Fourth: Upcycled Decor

June 29, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

With the Fourth of July creeping up this weekend you may be on the hunt for fun decorations that will set the mood for your patriotic soiree. But before you skip away to your local party store – try your hand at these simple upcycled crafts that you can make at home with things you [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Simply Lovely: DIY Braided Headband

June 22, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

Looking for an elegant way to fight frizz this summer? If your hair is anything like mine then you know that heat and humidity can equal only one thing: bushy out-of-control fly-aways. An easy solution is using a chic headband to hold all your fringe in place. But finding a hair accessory that’s cute, effective and [...]

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{Eco Tip} Last Minute Green Gifts for Dad

June 15, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19. If you are like me, it sneaked up this year and just popped out of nowhere leaving me unprepared. But fortunately, there are many last minute ways to give green gifts for Dad. If you can order them online in time to be delivered, great, but if not, you [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Creamy Vegan Pasta

June 8, 2011 by antiquetochic

For the last week I have been doing a lot of experimenting in the kitchen. I had to take all dairy out of my diet, so no more mac & cheese for me. Then I came up with this recipe and my mac & cheese was back but in a different and unexpected way. Ever [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Vegan Apple Cinnamon Bread

June 1, 2011 by antiquetochic

I have been gluten free for a little over a year. I had to do it out of necessity due to medical issues and I really don’t mind it as much as I thought I would. I feel better, I’m eating better, and I would recommend it to anyone. They make so much now for [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Sweet & Simple Mint Syrup Recipe

May 25, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

Memorial Day is this weekend – and there’s nothing as refreshing as a cool glass of lemonade laced with homemade mint syrup! And if you’re anything like me, you have plenty of this tasty herbal weed growing throughout your garden already. So gather a small harvest and pull out your favorite pitcher and some [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} From Picnic to Pillowcase: Napkins Reinvented

May 18, 2011 by Pierogi Picnic

Does Spring give you that itch for change? Are you aching to give your pad a face-lift? Do IKEA catalogs and the latest issue of Home & Garden fill you with decorator’s lust? Well toss aside those consumerist temptations and grab your nearest needle and thread to redecorate Ecoetsy style! One of the simplest ways [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} How to make foam handwashing soap

May 11, 2011 by ecokaren

Do you ever wonder how to use up all of that little bit of soap that’s left on the bottom of the soap dispenser or a refillable soap containers? Like this one? It looks empty, doesn’t it? But don’t let the outside color fool you. There’s enough soap inside to make at least another bottle [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Non-Toxic Way To Clean Stainless Steel Pans

May 4, 2011 by ecokaren

All my pots and pans are stainless steel. I ditched all the non-stick Teflon pans years ago because of PFOA – perfluorooctanoic acid – a solvent used to make Teflon coated pans that are toxic to our health. I admit; it took months of getting used to stainless steel pans because, as you can imagine, [...]

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Delicious Chick Pea Loaf Recipe

April 27, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

Tonight I was pondering what in the world to fix for supper. I seem to have gotten into somewhat of a rut when it comes to cooking lately and this looks like a delicious way out of that rut. Next time I go grocery shopping I’ll be buying these ingredients and making this tasty treat. [...]

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Amazing Grilled Veggies and Cous Cous

April 20, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

It’s 7:00 PM and I still haven’t eaten dinner. For some reason, after posting this recipe from Tiffany, of Picnic Basket Crafts, I find myself wanting to gnaw on my computer screen! This recipe looks absolutely delicious and, if it EVER stops raining here in NE Ohio, I may “have” to make this for my [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} Making Your Own Duster from Evil Fleece and Velvet

April 13, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

For today’s tutorial Rain of Re-Maine Wicked shared her tutorial which was borne out of her dislike for specific fabrics. Wondering what to do with your fleece and velvet discards? Read on! I have a love/ hate relationship with fleece and a very volatile relationship with velvet. I am a notoriously staticky (I know that’s not [...]

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Making Mailing Envelopes from Recycled Store Paper Bags

April 6, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

Chriss Smith (Art of Zen Crochet) kindly shared this tutorial for making mailing envelopes from recycled brown paper store bags. (You know, the kind you get at the store when you forget your cloth bags?) These will save you some money and save some trees as well. PLUS, it’s a great way to spend a [...]

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{Eco tips} How to Make Compost

March 23, 2011 by moonbeads

The lowly compost pile is actually one of the most eco-friendly things you can do. It decreases the amount of garbage set out for pick up, while reusing the nutrients. It saves money by providing essentially free fertilizer for your lawn and/or garden, while decreasing the use of chemical fertilizers which deplete soil in the [...]

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{Eco Tips} 4 Ways to Garden Sustainably

March 16, 2011 by moonbeads

It’s been warm some days here in the Midwest, turning many people’s thoughts to spring gardening. Gardening in the city is a big deal these days. There are many federally funded programs for bringing gardening to schools and nursing homes. People living in rural areas have known and received the benefits of sustainable gardening for centuries. Even [...]

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2011 Heart of Green Awards

March 9, 2011 by moonbeads

I want to tell you about a website, the Daily Green www.Dailygreen.com. It is a daily web paper billed as the ‘consumer’s guide to the green revolution’. You can vote on their website for the “2011 Heart of Green Awards”. Here’s the list of categories: 2011 Heart of Green Awards: Full Coverage Local Heroes Lifetime Achievement [...]

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Is Your State in this for “KEEPS”?

March 2, 2011 by moonbeads

The US EPA and Dept. of Energy have a national Energy Star program. Starting in 2004, Kentucky developed the “Kentucky Energy Efficiency Program for Schools” (KEEPS). The state started with two school systems. In 2010, all 174 Kentucky school districts were required to enroll, thanks to a stimulus fund grant. The grant provided money to hire [...]

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{Eco-Tutorial} How To Make A Gift Bag

February 23, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

Here’s a tutorial from Jen of Winkydinks showing how to make a reusable gift bag. If you read Monday’s post about recycling paper you know how important it is to preserve trees. These gift bags are a great way to reduce, reuse and save many trees in the process! You can make gift bags for [...]

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We are getting better and better

February 17, 2011 by ecokaren

We are excited to announce some great changes to our humble abode here on Eco Etsy’s site. We have added some new tenants and moved the furniture around a little so that you can appreciate the comforts of our home better. As you have probably noticed, we’ve added a new feature called, {Tuesday Treasury} where [...]

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How to Make a Skin-Nourishing Herbal Salve

February 13, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

I don’t know about you but this winter weather has me searching for relief for my embattled dry skin. For a lot of us this tutorial from Mary, of herbanlifestyle, will be useful once the snow melts and the vegetation begins to grow once again. Planning ahead for next winter by making this luxurious salve [...]

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Messenger Bag Tutorial by Re-Maine Wicked

February 6, 2011 by fashiongreentbags

Sunday’s posts this month will feature fabulous tutorials by our generous Ecoetsy members who have kindly shared their projects with us all. Thank you to everyone who contributed. This is going to be a fun and instructive month! Re-Maine Wicked shared the following tutorial showing how to make a messenger bag from all recycled pieces [...]

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25 Ways to Eat Sustainably

January 30, 2011 by ecokaren

This post was originally published on my blog, ecokaren, last year but with the recent disappointing news about GE Alfalfa being approved by the USDA, I thought I’d re-post this list so that we can remind ourselves how to eat more sustainably. I know many of you are already following these practices but I thought [...]

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Absolutely No-Sew Draft Dodger

January 22, 2011 by moonbeads

I don’t know what temps are like where you are, but here they were in the single digits last night. I was lucky to be able to stay inside where it was warm and dry. We installed new weatherstripping this fall, and, of course, our house has added insulation. Another way to keep it warm [...]

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What is Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Paint

January 16, 2011 by moonbeads

On “Happy Eco New Year” post, one of the eco-resolutions I suggested was using low VOC paint for your next painting project. Some of you were probably thinking “What the heck is low VOC paint and why should I use it?” I’m going to answer those questions now. VOC is short for Volatile Organic Compounds. [...]

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Less Meat Black Bean Soup

January 9, 2011 by moonbeads

Everyone adopted all of the recommended eco resolutions from last week, right? Well, I hope some of you are doing some of them, anyway. Here’s a soup recipe to help with eating less meat. This can be vegan, vegetarian or a meat stretcher, depending on your desires. Black Bean Soup 1 large onion, chopped 2 c canned [...]

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Happy Eco New Year

January 1, 2011 by moonbeads

Well, it’s over. All the winter holidays I know of except Epiphany and Valentine’s Day have come and gone. I still have a few more scheduled hours at the department store, but the holiday season is over. The real issue for this time is a fresh new year full of possibilities. An opportunity to try [...]

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Tinsel Wreaths

December 18, 2010 by alexkeller

With the kids out of school for the holidays, it’s always a challenge to keep them busy! Have them make some holiday decorations. All you need for these tinsel wreaths are embroidery hoops, which are readily available at any thrift store, and garland tinsel, which you might already have. Then just wrap, wrap, wrap and [...]

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Tutorial: 6 Ways to Upcycle Glass Jars and Lids

December 12, 2010 by ecokaren

Before I share how to make some cool things with glass jars and lids, I have to tell you that our little Eco Etsy blog was listed in “Who’s Who” of green crafting blogging world. In this recent list by, Accredited Degree Online blog, Eco Etsy was listed among the top Green Crafting Blogs. And [...]

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Ten Tips for Winter Heating

December 5, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

We all want to save energy and money this heating season. Greenwala published these ten ways that people make mistakes with their heating. I found them to be very helpful and will, for instance, not shut down my unused rooms any longer. Even with a constant flow of information about energy efficiency, homeowners make major [...]

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Eco-Wrap Your Holiday

November 27, 2010 by moonbeads

The holiday season has officially arrived. Time for family, friends and food. And Tradition. Most families have many holiday traditions that define the holidays for them. Some holidays wouldn’t be the same without Grandma’s stuffing and Aunt Carol’s decorated sugar cookies. Others would be hollow without certain decorations and activities. While traditions are the stuff [...]

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How to be a Conspicuous Consumer

November 14, 2010 by moonbeads

The election ads are over. Hallelujah! I hope your candidate(s) won. This year (lack of) finances has put me in the lair of the Conspicuous Consumer. I have taken a seasonal job as a Sales Associate at a major department store. I have never worked anywhere except in offices, so this is a major learning [...]

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Chilly weather tips

November 7, 2010 by moonbeads

Dawanna Young of Peacesofindigo shared this great timely eco-tips and I am adding some great items by fellow Eco Etsy members. The first frost is expected here any night now so thank you, Dawanna. News flash~ people are still unemployed, money is tight and we are all looking for ways to save money. With the [...]

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Eco-Tips for Fall

October 31, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

Winter is getting closer and closer and with it are several things we can do to be a little greener. Some reminders for fall: Cooler temperatures mean that your tire pressure will be lower in the cooler mornings. Save your tires and some gas by making sure your tire pressure is correct for your car. [...]

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Caution: Food Additives May Be to Blame!

October 17, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

When my son was a toddler I became very concerned about his nearly constant “crankiness” and about how much he would swell with even the most gentle of bumps. I could scratch a word on his forearm and the word would appear, swollen, on his arm and last for hours. Bumps on the head looked [...]

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Eco Car Tips for Tree Huggers

October 10, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

I love Saturdays on NPR (National Public Radio)! I’m a regular listener to so many of their Saturday shows including Car Talk. If you’ve never listened to Tom and Ray answer callers’ questions about car problems I highly recommend that you tune in some Saturday (10:00 A.M. on our local stations) and hear what you’ve [...]

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Affluenza: A Major Assault on the Environment

October 3, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

I happened on this quiz while searching for an eco-tip for today. It made me think about consumption and exactly why we, at our home, have reduced our consumption drastically over the past several years. Are you suffering from “Affluenza”? From http://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/diag/what.html 1. Which of the following is comparable to the size of a typical [...]

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Have an Eco-Friendly Halloween

September 25, 2010 by moonbeads

Now that fall has officially arrived, thoughts turn to Halloween. It is said to be one of the 3 biggest holidays of the year for retailers. A lot of flimsy decorations, individually wrapped candies and costumes destined to be worn only once, are proliferating in stores across America. Dare to be different. This hat made [...]

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Preserve without Canning

September 18, 2010 by moonbeads

Since humans were hunter/gatherers, autumn has been harvest time. In keeping with Ecoetsians’ choices to reduce our impact on Mother Earth, I’m sure many of you are frantically canning, drying, freezing and preserving before nature dies down for the winter. Some people find canning too scary, overwhelming, and/or time consuming. Here are a couple of recipes to get [...]

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Eco-friendly Granola Bars Recipe

September 12, 2010 by moonbeads

One of the things that bothers me most about portable food is individually packaged serving sizes. Reusable bags and lunch kits are great. But there are some foods that you can only get individually packaged. Granola bars, for example. But, you can make your own. There are oodles of different granola bars out there, some [...]

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Pack Your Lunch

September 4, 2010 by moonbeads

Now that people are going back to school, it is time to think about portable food. For centuries, people used non-disposable items to carry lunches. Pouches, saddlebags and fabric wraps were commonly used. A familiar icon of post industrial America is the hinged metal lunch box with domed top for a thermos. In my school days, in the ’60s [...]

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STOP! Don’t Throw It Away!

August 29, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

Most of us are aware of the perils of consumerism and have made conscious decisions to buy used or not buy at all. We frequent our thrift stores and garage sales and use sites like Etsy (Eco Etsy, that is) to find goods made from “trash”. We use Freecycle, Craigslist and Ebay to find items [...]

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Add Pizzazz to Your Switch Plates

August 22, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

Another great big THANK YOU to Linda, of A la Mode Stuff , for giving us this easy to follow video tutorial for decoupaging household switch plates. Taking magazine pages, food labels, photographs, etc. and using them to personalize light switch and electrical plug plates can be a great way to craft with the kids [...]

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Making Paper Flowers from Magazines

August 15, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

This is a great craft project to complete with the kids or on your own. What a great way to use a WHOLE magazine to create something beautiful! The completed flowers are suitable for decoration in your home, at your craft booth, a wedding, a shower…almost anywhere you’re decorating with “green” items. If you have [...]

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Tutorial: How to Make Wristcuffs with Neckties

August 8, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

This tutorial assumes a basic knowledge of hand-sewing and comes with a serious caution – be super careful with the box cutter! Another caution – if you value your fabric-cutting scissor, do not use it to cut plastic – it will dull the blades. When working with neckties (my favorite material to repurpose), I often [...]

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Beautiful Hemp

July 25, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

Sewn Natural presents her praises of hemp: Hemp is absolutely fabulous. As a fiber and fabric, it has moved well out of its earlier phase of use in slightly scratchy, not-very-glamorous granola wear. It’s everywhere now, and it’s durable, beautifully eco-friendly and very pretty. We are also only at the forefront of learning about how [...]

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How to make homemade potpourri

July 24, 2010 by moonbeads

Humans have used natural scents for 6,000 years. People used flowers and spices in their homes, and carried them around. In the middle ages, people carried around bouquets so that they could sniff them when they smelled the odors from the gutter where people emptied their chamberpots. Herbs and flowers were also used underfoot in dirt floored [...]

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How to Make a Disposable Razor Last Longer

July 11, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

In a perfect world perhaps no one would ever have to shave. For those of us who do shave, the following is a tip from Winkydinks that will make our razors last longer. I can’t wait to try this. I don’t use disposable razors but I use replaceable razor blades and this should work on [...]

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Herb Harvest Time

July 3, 2010 by moonbeads

As I walk out onto my deck, I see that it is harvest time for Basil. To me, that means pesto. I’m sure most of you have made traditional Basil, Pine nut, Garlic, Parmesan Pesto. This recipe has been used for centuries throughout Europe. And for all I know, all over the world. But, what [...]

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Edible Weeds, with a Fresh Herb Vinaigrette

June 27, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

With the hot summer days here in the Northern Hemisphere, cool refreshing meals are a welcome treat. Fortunately you don’t have to look far to enjoy a tasty treat. Mary Kearns of herbanlifestyle sent this recipe you can gather in your own yard. To make it even better, she’s given us a recipe for a [...]

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StashBuster Potholders

June 20, 2010 by moonbeads

Lorigami, www.Lorigami.etsy .com has generously given Ecoetsy a tutorial from her blog. I remember making pot holders in Girl Scouts that were similar to these. So thanks again to Lorigami. Here’s her tutorial. Y’all may recall the big Michigan House-clean-out project from last spring after my Uncle passed away? Well, one of the things I [...]

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Freecycle-More Than Just a Place to Recycle

June 13, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

Founded on May 1, 1993 by Deron Beal Freecycle has grown from a single location in Tuscon, Arizona to an international organization having chapters in 85 countries. Whether you’re in need of something or having something you need to get rid of that’s just too good for the landfill, Freecycle has a few guidelines in [...]

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Eco tips from the city

June 5, 2010 by moonbeads

I’m impressed by all you back to the land and off the grid people. But I was raised in a city and that is where I am happiest. I tried living on a farm. It made me very anxious. But I have found it pretty easy to use eco friendly practices here, as do many [...]

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How to Make Shipping Envelopes

May 30, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

Melody of Kindercotton shared her blog tutorial about how to make your own waterproof mailers from recycled store bags. If you know someone who uses store bags instead of reusable totes, ask him/her to save them for you! I recently ran out of the Tyvek envelopes that I had been using to ship out my [...]

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{Eco Tips} Tradeaholics

May 23, 2010 by moonbeads

There is one activity on Etsy that I find has saved me a lot of money, and gotten me some exposure that I don’t think I would have had otherwise. I am a member of the Tradeaholics team. I have been to the Ecoetsy traders site, so I know some of you trade as well. [...]

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Make Your Own Business Cards

May 16, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

From Claire Baker (Montclairmade) here’s a tip for recycling materials to make your own business cards! 1). It’s fun and easy to create your own business cards that reflect your style and make a great impression! For this simple tutorial you will need a paper cutter, used manila file folders, mod podge, and whatever ephemera [...]

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Herb Pasta

May 9, 2010 by moonbeads

Sigh, late again. My excuse is that I had unexpected out of town company come to visit sat am. Here’s one of my spur of the moment pasta dishes that I make for unexpected company when I have fresh herbs in my garden. I like to make it as healthy as possible, so I use [...]

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Recipe for Eating Green

May 2, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

We eat a lot of leftovers at our house. I frequently make “dump dinners” where I take the bits and pieces of a few days’ leftovers and cook them together in a new and sometimes delicious dish. I hate throwing away food but despite my best efforts it still happens occasionally. Unni, of strandredesign has [...]

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Greening ‘Brown’ Bag Lunches

April 25, 2010 by moonbeads

I have been going gradually greener since the first Earth Day. I was engaged in college to an Environmental Engineering student. I learned from him a lot about pollution and efforts to stop it. I am proud to say that he is an EE at the Calif. air board. We’re friends, but we didn’t get married. [...]

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Introduction

April 18, 2010 by fashiongreentbags

Hi! I’m Linda Miles and my EcoEtsy shop is Fashion Green T Bags . I am very pleased to be able to bring you eco tips and tutorials for our blog. I’ve been eco-conscious since I was in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Truax (or Truex…I can’t remember) taught us to care. I’d [...]

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Eco Tutorial: Toilet Paper Roll Planters

April 4, 2010 by ecokaren

Tutorial submitted by LilFishStudios Toilet Paper Roll Planters Here’s a quick and easy way to get a jump on your spring planting by using a common household item, the empty toilet paper tube. What you’ll need: Empty toilet paper tubesSharp scissorsPotting soilSeeds or cuttingsA tray or lid to hold your plantings To begin, cut your [...]

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Eco Tutorial: Nutty Fruit Snack Bars

March 25, 2010 by ecokaren

Tutorial submitted by JanssendesignsNutty fruit snack bars prep time: 20 minutes yield: 12 snack bars These snack bars can be made with lots of different ingredients. The key is getting the right consistency so they don’t turn out too sticky or too crumbly. Here is my favorite version: 22 pitted organic dates½ cup organic raisins1 [...]

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Eco Tutorial: Carrot Biscuits

March 18, 2010 by ecokaren

This is a recipe submitted by Sheshanna of PieceuniqueThe measurements are converted from metric system. Carrot Biscuit 100gr butter – 7 tbsp100 gr sugar (I used brown sugar) – 7 tbsp50 gr grated carrots – 3 tbsp2 eggs275 gr buckwheat flour – 18 tbsp2g baking powder (or one small coffee spoon) – 1/4 tbsp1 coffee [...]

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Eco-Tip: The Good Guide App

March 14, 2010 by ecokaren

Eco-Tip Submitted by: KnitStorm The Good Guide App Here’s an easy way for smart phone owners to shop responsibly: The Good Guide app. This app allows you to scan a product’s bar code in order to determine how healthy it is for you and your family, how environmentally friendly the company that produces the product [...]

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Eco tip: eleven uses for used tea leaves and bags

March 7, 2010 by ecokaren

Submitted by: Ecokaren Last Thursday’s tutorial by Ojamiya on how to make reusable tea bags inspired me to think of posting this tip on what to do with used tea bags. I started to drink more tea during the day since there is so much information on how great tea is and how it’s with [...]

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Eco How To: Reusable Tea Bag

March 4, 2010 by ecokaren

Here is a great tutorial submitted by: Ojamiya Amy is the newest member of Eco Etsy Team and I am so delighted she took on this challenge even before she was inducted into the team. Thank You Amy!! Reusable Tea Bag Tutorial After seeing the delightful tutorial on DIY green coffee filters, it occurred to [...]

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Eco Tip of the Week: What to do with used coffee grounds

February 28, 2010 by ecokaren

Eco Tip Submitted By Ecokaren Are you drinking vats of coffee like it’s going out of style after reading super greening tutorial by Winkydinks on how to make reusable coffee filters? I thought so. Well, what are you doing with all that used coffee grounds? I have just the tip for you. I provided this [...]

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