2008 November | Inhabitots

Collectible Wooden Be@rbricks

by Desmond Williams, 11/30/08

The Be@brick craze has been going strong for seven years now. Be@rbrick paraphernalia includes watches and clothing items; and there are various blogs, zines and online communities dedicated to all things Be@brick. The small figures, with teddy bear heads and humanoid bodies, come in various versions ranging in size from 3-inches tall (or 100%) to two-and-a-half feet tall. Handsomely sculpted, the Be@rbricks would make a fine addition to a very fortunate child’s environmentally-friendly toy chest, or any collector’s grouping of unboxed ‘Bricks.

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Earthentree Eco Wooden Toys

by Neelam Misra, 11/29/08

Earthentree toys are stunning, natural, exquisitely beautiful toys with a colorful backstory. Earthentree is based in Kirkland, Washington, however, each toy is handmade by an artisan in a community in South India. Deepti Shanker, the owner of Earthentree, was raised in this same artisan community of Channapatna, India, to which she now maintains close ties via her business. Earthentree toy-making techniques are over two centuries old, and oftentimes artisans have learned and inherited their skills as they were passed down by previous generations of family toy-makers.

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Baby’s First Christmas Ornaments

by Jennifer Chait, 11/28/08

Will you be celebrating your baby’s first Christmas this holiday season? Make it extra special by starting an eco-holiday ornament collection for him or her to cherish for years to come. Earth-friendly holiday decor items and tree ornaments are popping up just in time to trim your tree. One of our favorites is the beautifully simple Baby’s First Christmas miniature toy ornament from the Little Sapling Toys’s shop at Etsy.

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Matthew Carden’s “Small World” Serves Up Food for Thought

by Beth Shea, 11/26/08

Thanksgiving traditions vary among families, but the tie that binds us is the indulgent, gastronomic feast set on dinner tables across America on this holiday. We collectively pull up our chairs to gobble up pounds of savory food, and then unfasten the button of our pants to make room for sweet pumpkin pie. Photographer Matthew Carden’s “Small World” photographs are a poignant, artistic reminder to cherish every tiny morsel of food this Thanksgiving. Finding bounty in each bite will help preserve the planet and foster a healthy, mindful approach to consumption.

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THANKSGIVING ECO-CRAFT: ‘Thank You’ & Place Cards

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, and counting the earth among our greatest blessings, why not teach your kids about recycling and preserving the planet to celebrate gratitude? Tailor the following ideas to your family’s preferences to help your children make some very cute, completely recycled thank you cards and place cards that your family and friends will love!

THANKSGIVING ECO-CRAFT: Homemade Gratitude Journals

One of the most important lessons a parent can teach a child is the gift of gratitude. Our children typically learn lessons about thankfulness by watching us; but it never hurts to employ a hands-on technique that makes learning this incredibly important virtue a great deal of fun! Bond with your kids by creating these recycled gratitude journals out of everyday items you probably have around your house.

Kid Kustoms Stroller Converts into a Trike!

Wondering what do you with your old stroller once your kid grows out of it? Kid Kustoms extends the life of the typical stroller with an ingenious design to convert a stroller into a tricycle for a growing little one. Kid Kustoms has been making racy, auto-inspired strollers for the hot to trot, and most recently added a tricycle conversion kit to their fabulous line. Using many of the same parts as their original stroller, a classic Roddler stroller can now convert into a low-riding tricycle for added years of fun after your baby has grown into a rambunctious tot. Reward your kid for walking by giving them the coolest set of wheels to roll around town. With no need to put the old pram in storage, you’ll be saving space, material and money.

HOW TO: Delight Tiny Tastebuds with Homemade Baby Food

One of the main ingredients of the holiday season is delectable food. Families and friends gather over feasts to celebrate and enjoy home cooked meals and traditional dishes. Babies should be treated to the same savory, lip smacking meals; and we’ve whipped up some delicious homemade organic baby food recipes that may be cost effectively made from the same ingredients you’re bound to have on hand while preparing your festive dinners.

LANA ORGANIC Stuffed Animals

We all know from The Velveteen Rabbit and Toy Story, that the second we leave the room, toys come to life. Swinging from table lamps, sliding down rocking chairs, and jumping on the bed, toys never quit when it comes to showing their playful side. Lana Organic stuffed animals are wholesome creatures with animation woven through every eco fiber of their being. One need not turn their back on these 100% organic cotton toys for them to energize a child’s room with liveliness.

Cheekeyes Wooden Artistic Toys

In Japanese animation, the bigger the eyes, the cuter the character. But in the hands of Dutch designer Rogier van Zijp, characters can be just as cute even if you don’t see their eyes at all. Cheekeyes, van Zijp’s latest creation, is a collection of handmade animal characters. With their closed eyes and blushing cheeks, each character seems to be experiencing a moment of deep, delightful thought. Whether those thoughts are blissful nirvana, (see Mr. Hippopotamus above) or a little bit cheeky, (see Ms. Triceratops below), Mr. van Zijp never lets on.

Petit Collage: Animal Alphabet Sustainable Screenprints

Petit Collage’s screenprint posters provide eco-friendly decor for your kid’s room that also serves as a stylish lesson in learning their ABC’s and animals. The lively Animal Alphabet shown above, is a three color screenprint which is hand-pulled and printed on uncoated, 100% post-consumer recycled paper. In the case of Petit Collage, “M” is for “must have” this hip artwork.

JELLIO LED Gummi Bear Lamps!

How cute are these gigantic Gummi Bear LED Lamps? By day these oversized JELLIO rubber Gummi Bears make great room decor for your tot, and in the evening, they do double-duty as nightlights when illuminated by the LED lights in their butts!

Eco-friendly Handpump Penguin Night Light!

What’s black and yellow and green all over? Why the hand-pump penguin flashlight of course! We recently spotted this adorable eco-friendly flashlight on Babygadget, and we were super excited to read about its environmentally sustainable elements. In addition to being extremely cute, this hand-pump penguin light is batteryless, which means it will keep toxic disposable batteries out of landfills. The versatile light can function as both a nightlight (standing up), and flashlight (when held in the hand), and is charged by repeatedly squeezing the penguin’s wing. One minute’s pumping will produce hours of light.

Xeko Pals Organic Plush Toys

Every tot deserves to have a furry friend as a cuddly toy, but what to do when fluffy pals made of synthetic fibers begin to populate a playroom intended as a non-toxic, safe zone? Add to this, the fact that endangered species are on the verge of extinction every day, and it is no surprise that both the planet and kids’ imaginations are in peril. Xeko Pals plush toys are the safe alternative to the usual stuffed animal menagerie, as their eco-friendly materials and conservation-minded agenda provide a greener outlook on interactive and engaged play.

MOTRIN BASHES BABYWEARING?

Here’s something I never thought I’d be writing about on Inhabitots…..I just spotted my favorite brand of pain reliever bashing babywearing in a totally thoughtless and tone-deaf commercial for Motrin. See the commercial here >

SECONDHAND KIDS SHOPPING

Last Economy’s Trash = This Economy’s Treasure
Once thought of as a case strictly for charity, reusing clothing items has become an integral and environmentally savvy facet of green parenting. Now that Goodwill clothing is ‘hip’ (the D.C. stores have a Goodwill Fashionista on their payroll), and we are witnessing the advent of the ‘frugal teen’, can a shift in thinking among parents who once turned up their noses at the idea of hand-me-down or gently-used options for children be too far behind?

Warm Feet, Small Footprint: Patagonia’s Tadpole Boots

Soaking socks plus chilly ankles do not equal a fun time. Especially when those wet feet belong to a pint-sized, snowbound adventurer. Patagonia, a company with unquestionable environmental ethics, offers boots for kids that serve to snuggly wrap eco-friendly feet in sustainable materials that stay warm even in freezing temperatures.

LITTLE LARK: Eco Chic Kids Clothes

Here’s a bird’s eye view into Little Lark, a company featuring adorable one-of-a-kind, eco-modern clothing for kids, and boasting environmentally conscious practices as well. At Inhabitots, we are birds of a feather who flock together with folks we believe are doing their part to create sustainable, compelling wares which both decorate and preserve our planet. Little Lark, based in Portland, Oregon, has us singing their praises for their beautifully designed, environmentally thoughtful kids clothing.

Petit Collage: Adorable, Sustainable Kids Art

Petit Collage wall art is a refreshing departure from typical child’s room decor. Original concepts and limited edition availability elevate these adorable pieces high above wallflower status. Petit Collage’s pleasing array of eco-minded art pieces will enliven your tot’s surroundings with whimsical flairs of nature. We love their handmade wooden collages created from vintage and painted papers, and the cute Pink Monkey seen below is one of our favorites.

WoodPecker Walker Puts Tiny Footsteps on the Green Map

The eco-friendly WoodPecker Walker from Plan Toys carved a niche in my heart with its precious features, and quickly became our baby’s favorite companion. Crafted entirely of sustainable wood, this walker is as beautiful as it is functional. Two playful little woodpeckers perched at the front cheerfully peck away, making a charming clacking sound as the walker is pushed. The sound they make is lively and frolicsome, encouraging babies to ‘walk on’ down the path to a green lifestyle.