Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

by , 03/31/09

diy cd photo cube, mahar dry goods, polar bear pull toy, homemade goodie bags, use eggshells as planters, eggshell sprouts, reuse egg shells

Cookie Magazine highlights the Mahar Polar Bear Pull Toy in their Daily Finds. We love this sustainably designed toy’s milk paint finish, which is non-toxic and boasts anti-bacterial properties. We also like the inherent message that we must “pull” for the polar bears by stopping climate change.

…all the little things shows us a clever way to use broken egg shells, as planters for sprouts. With Easter around the corner and spring in full swing, this is a great way to make use of extra eggs and the blooming season.

Lovely Design gives us good reason to celebrate with her homemade goodie bags, bearing party guest’s initials. These sweet satchels are sure to hold tiny treasures long after the party has ended.

Check out this inventive DIY CD Photo Cube featuring a photograph of baby Kenzie from the Kenziepoo blog. What a festive way to reuse empty CD cases! The original tutorial may be found on Design Mom.

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Creative Color by Number Wallpaper

by , 03/31/09

Color by Number Wallpaper, Creative Wallpaper

Give your kids a creative outlet on a surface they’re already hankering to make their mark on — by turning your walls into their next art project. Wallpaper-By-Numbers takes a much beloved hobby of coloring by numbers to an entirely new scale, running floor to ceiling. Rolls of 20.5″ x 33′ start at $95.00 and come in a variety of bold prints with brightly pre-colored backgrounds, the adults will have just as much fun as the kids with this project.



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Fig Kids: Hip Organic Tees for Boys

by , 03/31/09

casual boy clothing, cool clothing for boys, cool organic clothing, fig kids, organic boy clothing, organic tees, Paper, picky boys, Rock, Scissors, tees for boys

Finding totally hip organic clothing for young boys can be a challenge. Many of the organic tee choices out there are offered in muted colors, and they lack pop appeal. Or as my picky 8-year-old says, most organics just aren’t “COOL enough!” Luckily, Fig Kids offers super fly organic tees for that stylin’ little man in your world. The colors are rich, the designs are playful but cool enough for your discerning kid, and the tees are made with 95% organic cotton. Among the many fun tee design choices are Rock, Paper, Scissors and Olli Oop, both shown above.

+ Fig Boy’s Organic Tees $36

+ Fig Kids

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Kids Build Dream Homes with qb Playhouses

by , 03/30/09

qb playhouse, customized playhouse, build your own playhouse, qb, eco-friendly playhouses, eco-friendly playhouse

Kids are full of boundless, vibrant creativity, and qb Playhouses enable a child to channel his or her fanciful imagination and colorful take on life into a one-of a-kind miniature abode. Via an easy, 1-2-3 process: “Choose, Build, Play,” “everything is possible” when it comes to designing and customizing a qb playhouse. What a wonderful philosophy to encourage a child’s dreams.



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Lovemore & Make a Difference

Lovemore & Make a Difference

It’s great to come across uplifting brands with a mission. Such is the case with Lovemore. This sincere shirt company offers a variety of super soft tees and onesies with a simple message, “Love, more.” Using 100% Skal-certified organic cotton, non-toxic azo-free dyes and nickel-free snaps, these comfy garments are a great way to start off your tiny, eco-friendly humanitarian’s wardrobe. A portion of each sale goes toward an amazing non-profit organization called Earth Birth. Earth Birth is run by midwives whose mission is to foster an international women’s health movement that encourages and promotes safe and peaceful birth as an act of social justice and community healing.


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Meet the Maker: Samantha Cotterill of mummysam

Meet the Maker: Samantha Cotterill of mummysam

When my son was a little over a year old, we attended an arts collaboration between photographer Davina Zagury and the DUMBO kid’s store, Pomme. Kids were encouraged to bring along their doudous (French for ‘security blanket’) in order to be photographed. As I stood on line observing all of these kids tugging their heirloom soft toys, I suddenly felt that my son’s toy was sadly lacking. Instead of a plush doudou, he carted around a vintage umbrella his mom owned as a little girl. This memory came to mind while I was reviewing the items offered in Samantha Cotterill’s shop, mummysam. Each plush item in the shop is handmade and has that expertly crafted, yet instantly classic aesthetic. Had I come across this shop sooner, it would have been a mummysam creation that my son would have posed with for his first official photo shoot. I recently had a conversation with Samantha, during which she explained exactly what goes into each mummysam creation.



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Timbuk2′s Pack-Away Shopping Totes and Backpacks

Timbuk2′s Pack-Away Shopping Totes and Backpacks

Even though we are strong believers that every day should be Earth Day, eco-friendly choices are not always evident, given all of the dirty greenwashing one must sort through to garner truly green tips. Consumers are also rightly confused by the plethora of reusable shopping bag options, some of which seem like marketing tactics or unnecessary gear. Timbuk2 is making a difference, though, with their smartly-designed ‘hidden’ totes and backpacks for shopping and hauling your necessities around town. Given their lightweight and compact, zip-away packability and the PET recycled fabrics used in their design, we think that these chic green sacs are an ideal way to shop while also looking sustainably stylish.


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Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

Ohdeedoh reminds us that good things often come in small packages, like the miniature garden above! Kids will delight in this tiny, green utopia, bursting with a variety of plants. Go read more about this charming creation designed by John Millman.

Droolicious plays on our penchant for owls with their post on …

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Legos Inspire, Top Off Fashion Line

Legos Inspire, Top Off Fashion Line

Not to be outdone, the fashion world has also been flirting with Lego’s blocky pieces and rainbow color scheme. While searching for images to go along with my Lego architecture post, I came across designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac’s Lego inspired clothing line and video (below). Says the World Construction blog post, “fashion designers are like builders with nicer fingernails or like architects but worse at maths.” But judging from the photos and video, …

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Architects Use Lego Bricks to Build Contemporary Villas

Architects Use Lego Bricks to Build Contemporary Villas

“My kid could do that,” is one of the most bombastic statements any parent could make. But in the case of Lego’s new architecture project, any spectator hearing a parent utter this claim, might have to concur. In recent months, “Five of Scotland’s top architecture practices have accepted a challenge to design a building out of Lego,” according to a BBC report.


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Is Dutch Fashion House Oilily Guilty of Plagiarism?

Is Dutch Fashion House Oilily Guilty of Plagiarism?

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but Rosa Pomar isn’t smiling about the recent unauthorized, alleged copying of her dolls by Oilily. Rosa, a children’s clothing and accessories designer living in Portugal, came across a doll that bore an uncanny resemblance to one she created and has been marketing online since 2004. Rosa’s bonecos (dolls) are beautifully hand-detailed soft toys made from fabrics bursting with color, and bearing what she thought were trademark details such as daisy eyes and a stitched harelip smile.


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Turn off Your Lights for Earth Hour on March 28th

Turn off Your Lights for Earth Hour on March 28th

This Saturday, March 28th, Earth Hour begins at 8:30pm local time. This worldwide event will allow every citizen on the planet to vote against climate change with the flip of a light switch. 2,712 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries will be participating in this year’s Earth Hour… and the list keeps growing. Hundreds of major landmarks will be going dark to honor this event, from the Eiffel Tower …

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Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Day

KidsHaus reckons that the quilted bibs from RikRak shown above are small works of art you could almost display on your walls. We love that they are handcrafted from re-purposed vintage fabric and will have our babes looking fresh for spring.

Blue Yonder shows us how to make Read Buds, whimsical floral arrangements made from discarded newspaper and outdoor twigs. Kids will …

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MoMA’s Recycled Material Plush Gorillas

MoMA’s Recycled Material Plush Gorillas

What’s a cute and cuddly way to support humanitarian efforts and animal rights at the same time? Consider the recycled fabric gorilla plush toys, designed by the Eco Party Mearry Design Team for MoMA. “Made from recycled cloth, these lovable stuffed animals are meant to resemble the Highland Mountain Gorilla, an endangered species…” Making the packaging (above) seem a bit odd. “Each doll is sewn by hand and benefits economically disadvantaged single mothers living in South Korea.”


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Calling all LES Baby Mamas!

Calling all LES Baby Mamas!

Do you live in the Lower East Side of NYC? Do you have a baby between the ages of 3 months and 12 months? Are you looking for fun activities for your baby in the neighborhood? If so, please give me a shout!

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Convertible Bassinet/Desk by YiAhn

Convertible Bassinet/Desk by YiAhn

The “cradle to cradle” concept is really brought home in the YiAhn bassinet — an infant cradle that transforms as a baby grows, taking on new functions as a child’s needs change. The bassinet, intended for babies from birth to 4 months, converts into a toy bin and book shelf that a child can use until age 4, and then into a chair and table for kids to use while learning to read, write and draw. If a new baby comes into the family, the materials can once again be assembled into a bassinet. We’re big fans of this innovative, full-circle design scheme.


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DIY Project: Glass Jar Frames

DIY Project: Glass Jar Frames

I obsessively save my glass jars. I won’t throw them away, which is a good thing, because my city doesn’t have facilities for recycling glass. So, I’m stuck with a  bunch of empty glass jars, hoping that someday I’ll be able to use them for a neat DIY project. Well, that day has arrived! The folks at Photojojo have come up with a really cool way to recycle glass jars and create keepsakes at the same time! These Glass Jar Photo Frames are ingenious! Just grab an old jar and cut down a photo so it will fit inside. Turn the jar upside down, and you’re done! A half-pint jar was the perfect size for my son’s wallet-size school picture, and an old alfredo jar fit a 4×6 inch photo with just a bit of trimming. Surf on over to Photojojo for complete instructions.


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SIGG: Eco-Friendly Water Bottles for Kids

SIGG: Eco-Friendly Water Bottles for Kids

It’s common knowledge these days that water bottles are environmental sins. According to the Container Recycling Institute, only about 14% of all disposable water bottles are recycled, and those that are recycled are down-cycled into a lower form of plastic, rarely getting turned back into more bottles. On top of that, plastic can leach harmful chemicals into your kids’ apple juice. Even Nalgene is rethinking their plastic recipe. We say ditch the plastic altogether, and look to SIGG aluminum bottles, which are 100% recyclable, and 100% inert, ideal for kids and adults… and they come in tons of colorful designs in every size.


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Organic Skin Care: Mama Belly Oil and Cheeky Baby Butter

Organic Skin Care: Mama Belly Oil and Cheeky Baby Butter

In our loving search for the best organic skin care and bath products for our wee ones, it is rare that we, as parents might also partake in the product pampering and nutrients created for our babies’ soft skin. BabyBearShop creates their line with the entire family in mind – from mothers-to-be, to sleepy new parents, to tender babies – their certified organic and 100% plant-derived oils and butters offer luxurious and versatile skin care made with only the finest ingredients. Whether as a remedy for stretchmarks, a luscious massage creme, or even as a soothing butter for eczema, the Mama Belly Oil and the Cheeky Baby Butter are great sustainable investments for families that believe in organic value, through and through.


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DIY: Make Your Own ‘Owly’ Plush Toy

DIY: Make Your Own ‘Owly’ Plush Toy

‘Hoo’ wants to enjoy a fun DIY project? Menina, a crafty, elementary school aged, DIYer offers simple instructions on how to make your own plush version of our handsome Inhabitots mascot. She calls her creations ‘Owlies’ and even lists them in order of ‘birth.’ She also fashions her owls using simple, sustainable materials: “We chose wool (recycled skirt and pants).” Okay, so maybe she had a little …

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LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!