Hand-Knit Safari Finger Puppets

by , 03/11/09

finger puppets, eco-friendly finger puppets, safari finger puppets, animal finger puppets, hand knit finger puppets, sustainable finger puppets

Veteran parents know that it’s a ‘must’ to have an array of items and activities on hand to occupy your tot while on the go. Pack these hand-knit safari finger puppets in your diaper bag, and entertainment will always be at your fingertips. These personable animals, sold in sets as: lion, giraffe, elephant, or monkey, zebra and snake, will foster your tot’s imagination and encourage their understanding of wildlife. Crafted with wool yarn and treated with vegetable based dyes, these creatures are handmade by a collective of knitters in rural Kenya. Whether you’re on an airplane, in the car, dining out, or even at home, the safari finger puppets will keep wiggle worms entranced when life is a ‘zoo.’



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DIY: Recycle Your Winter Wear – Turn Your Coat into Diaper Covers

by , 03/11/09

diy diaper cover, donate clothing, ll bean repair clothing, patagonia recycle clothing, recycle lothing, reuse clothing, swap clothing, turn coat into diaper cover, uniqlo recycle clothing

The days are getting longer. The sun feels a bit warmer. Could it be that spring is in the air? Yes, it’s time for your kids to shed their frumpy winter coats and don smart tees and dresses (I trust that they are already doing this). Thankfully, thrift stores are still able to take your old coats, but that doesn’t reduce the 1 trillion tons of discarded clothing and textiles we pack into landfills each year. Here’s what you can do with your outgrown, or worn out, winter coats… turn them into diaper covers!



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Inhabitots Blog Picks of the Day

by , 03/10/09

best brain foods for kids, just do one video contest, old-masters inspired portraits, organic cotton/hemp pillows

If your tumbling toddler could use a soft landing, or your nursery could use some plush decor, check out Print*Pattern*Paper‘s new line of handmade organic hemp/cotton pillows, embellished with whimsical hand stretched canvases, original artwork by Rebecca Peragine.

Cool Mom Picks introduces us to Just Do One, an online community which encourages peeps to just do one little thing to make a big difference in the state of the environment. Inspire others with your simple go green ideas in Just Do One’s video contest, and win five thousand dollars.

Ohdeedoh highlights these charming Old-Masters Inspired Portraits produced by a mom and son duo. We really dig this use of household items to create artistic keepsakes and promote bonding with your kids!

Ideal Bite‘s Mama Bite informs us about the best foods to help develop a child’s brain. Go see which foods to load your kids up on, so they can continue to outsmart you!

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Villa Julia: A Cardboard Playhouse with Character

by , 03/10/09

cardboard playhouse, cardboard house, javier marsical, magis me too, mariscal, outdoor playhouse, studio mariscal, villa julia

Villa Julia is a beautiful cardboard playhouse designed with odd angles and ‘country’ aesthetics. The ‘slab’ roof, ‘stone’ foundation, and thankfully non-working chimney, make Villa Julia stand out from all other cardboard constructions. It even comes with its own ‘pot’ of creeping berry vines. The earlier version (pictured after the jump), is even more unique with a crooked roof.



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Oeuf Baby Angel Slippers

Oeuf Baby Angel Slippers

Cushion the pitter-patter of little feet with a pair of apropos Angel Slippers from Oeuf. Your little cherub may dress the part by donning these precious, winged slippers made of 100% Bolivian Alpaca wool. Knit by indigenous women in Bolivia, Oeuf’s Angel Slippers enable Bolivian women to earn an income so they may afford to send their children to school. Good style coupled with …

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HOW TO: Make Your Own Pop-Up Book

HOW TO: Make Your Own Pop-Up Book

Book publishers have recently been embracing the somewhat forgotten genre of children’s pop-up books. This renewed interest seems to have started with David Carter’s ‘One Red Dot,’ and has grown to include last year’s wonderful ‘AB3D‘, a Marvel series (which my son is intent on collecting all of) and various classic (‘Alice in Wonderland‘), educational (Dinosaurs) and fantasy (Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy) titles. But don’t be intimidated by the two paper masters who are mostly responsible for this resurgence, Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhartse. There are very simple steps that you can take in creating your own one-of-a-kind pop-up book. Some of which are illustrated here using images from Sabuda’s website.



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Cards That Blossom into Wildflowers!

Cards That Blossom into Wildflowers!

Herald your baby’s arrival into the world with sustainably designed birth announcements that blossom into beautiful flowers in his or her honor! After delivering the good news, these Garden Greetings by Botanical Paperworks may be planted and enjoyed, getting your baby off to an eco-friendly start in life. These announcements are handmade with 100% post consumer waste fiber and embedded with wildflower seeds. Each may be placed into a pot of soil, for the inherent wildflower seeds to germinate and grow into lovely plants. Read more about how to plant the paper here. Your little sprout can enrich the lives of all your friends and family as they think of your babe every time they look at their flowers. Birth announcement designs range from giraffes and elephants to featuring a photo of your new baby. Botanical Paperworks also offers plantable wedding invitations, thank you cards, party favors and more.


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John Lennon’s Sketches Become “Imagine a Better World” Toys

John Lennon’s Sketches Become “Imagine a Better World” Toys

John Lennon fans will be thrilled to learn that the late musician continues to be immortalized through his art. Dandelion, creators of earth-friendly goods, has introduced their new collection of organic plush toys based on sketches of animals that John Lennon drew for his son Sean. The “Imagine a Better World” plush toy collection includes a cuddly Rhino, Elephant and Giraffe. All are made from organic terry cloth and soft velour, with teethable canvas accents. The toys are stuffed with fluffy natural corn fiber, making them super squeezable. Dandelion’s special edition John Lennon line also includes an Organic Canvas Diaper Bag, featuring Lennon’s whimsical sheep drawings and bearing the message: “Peace, Love, Organic.” The “Imagine a Better World” John Lennon collection will be available for purchase April 1, 2009.


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Inhabitots Blog Picks of the Day

Inhabitots Blog Picks of the Day

Minor Details takes us along on her journey thrift-ing for vintage children’s  furniture. Go see what she unearths, including her finds in the photo above.

Throwing a green baby shower or looking for a savvy, sustainable baby gift? This eco-friendly cloth diaper cake via Enchanted Dandelions is a must have.

Baby Style Watch raves about Misha Lulu’s Spring 2009 collection. …

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Hand-Knit Taxi Baby Rattle

Hand-Knit Taxi Baby Rattle

Give the apple of your eye a small piece of The Big Apple with this hand-knit New York City taxicab baby rattle. Handmade by local artisans in Peru, this rattle toy fits right into the palm of baby’s hand. Stroll to your next destination, and save the cab fare to buy your little one this tiny taxi that we all hail as the quintessential clutch for hip, urban dwelling babies.


+ …

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5 Natural Ways to Increase Fertility

5 Natural Ways to Increase Fertility

Talk of fertility clinics has been making headline news on a near daily basis in recent weeks. Sensational news stories such as the debates surrounding the “Octo-mom,” and the apparent build & customize your own baby ploy are stealing the spotlight and distracting people from the important, day to day issues surrounding infertility. Many women and couples struggle to have a baby, but why is infertility assumed to be the automatic culprit behind any delay in becoming pregnant? This is not to say that infertility is not a very real, and very heartbreaking issue that many people struggle with. However, in our increasingly technology-aided culture, where immediate gratification has become the norm, it seems that more and more women are turning to fertility clinics to solve their fertility problems before trying less invasive strategies. There are many natural solutions available for women to try to increase their fertility of their own accord, before visiting a fertility clinic.


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The Obamas Install a Wooden Swing Set… Is it Eco-Friendly?

The Obamas Install a Wooden Swing Set… Is it Eco-Friendly?

The Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, came home to a pleasant surprise recently: an all-wood swing set. “The 100 percent cedar and North American Redwood structure has four swings, including a tire swing, a slide, a fort, a climbing wall and climbing ropes. There’s also a picnic table with brass plates etched with the names of all 44 presidents” – AP. But the question on the minds of eco-conscious parents is: Are the Obama’s staying true to their promise to paint the White House green?


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PLAY PUMP: The Merry-Go-Round Water Pump!

PLAY PUMP: The Merry-Go-Round Water Pump!

It’s no secret that access to clean water is one of the most fundamental requirements for healthy individuals and thriving communities. The PlayPump system is bringing clean water into the hardest hit regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. There’s only one catch–users have to take a spin on the merry-go-round! The PlayPump has been installed in rural villages and primary schools where kids can easily access the fun, all the while pumping clean, potable water from underground up into a 660 gallon water tower above. A few hundred yards away, a spigot supplies fresh water for the whole community. The water is then used for drinking, cooking, sanitation and even growing vegetables.


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Exlibris Handmade: Custom Cloth Books for Babes

Exlibris Handmade: Custom Cloth Books for Babes

Preserve baby’s first words and favorites with a keepsake, custom, handmade cloth book from Exlibris Handmade. Crafted out of vintage and repurposed fabrics, and embellished with embroidered words and organic cotton batting, these cloth books are cuddly, educational, and one of a kind. Victoria, the artist behind Exlibris Handmade, will even fashion a custom-made book out of your child’s precious, quickly outgrown clothing. Choose a monogram book that highlights your baby’s first initial throughout, go with a theme of baby’s favorites, teach them with a book about fruits and veggies, or have a book made exclusively for your child, containing the words and items that are special to your baby and family.


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Mother’s Day Monster Art Contest from Celebrate Green

Mother’s Day Monster Art Contest from Celebrate Green

Your creativity could earn you some fabulous eco-gifts for Mother’s Day! Metal for Monsters has teamed up with the authors of Celebrate Green! for a very creative celebration of Mother’s Day. One lucky artist will win a custom-designed Metal for Monsters pendant and a copy of the book, Celebrate Green! But don’t despair if you’re not artistic, because one voter, chosen at random, will win the same prize!


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Inhabitots Blog Picks of the Day

Inhabitots Blog Picks of the Day

Green Mom Finds is giving away an eco-friendly, modern, minui HandySitt portable highchair. This chair is a must have for fans of green, minimalist, functional decor. Go enter to win the HandySitt!

Babyccino shows us how to make egg carton masks. Kids will scramble into superhero mode donning these fun masks!

We are loving the re-designed vintage toddler chairs highlighted at Tiny Decor. …

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Lead Testing Mandate Reversal: Bad for Kids? Good for the Planet?

Lead Testing Mandate Reversal: Bad for Kids? Good for the Planet?

It is a certainty that the new lead testing mandate enacted by the government on February 10th is a response to the increased numbers of cases involving children that have succumbed to the dangers of lead poisoning (currently approximately 4%). But at a time when environmentalists were celebrating the nation’s new turn to used clothing and home products, it served a brief, but damaging, blow to this new, environmentally healthy trend.

In the poll below we’d like to know what you think…


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Bamboo Belly Bandit

Bamboo Belly Bandit

Have you ever wondered how some women’s bodies bounce back so quickly after childbirth? For a few lucky ladies, the quick return to a pre-pregnancy belly is due to incredibly good genes. For the rest of us, there’s the Belly Bandit, which is now available in eco-friendly bamboo material.


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12-Year-Old Wiz Kid Fashions Trash into Shelter for Homeless

12-Year-Old Wiz Kid Fashions Trash into Shelter for Homeless

We suppose reality TV is good for something… especially on PBS. 12-year-old Max Wallack was awarded $10,000 and a Dell laptop computer for his use of ‘recycled’ materials to create a portable igloo called the ‘Home Dome.’ Wallack’s structure, made of discarded plastic bags filled with Styrofoam packing peanuts won Design Squad’s Trash to Treasure Competition.

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“Trad” Play Fort Wins Design Award and Captures Imagination

“Trad” Play Fort Wins Design Award and Captures Imagination

Trad Play Fort, by designers Josue Gamonal and Vicente Porres won the Third Industrially Produced Designer Furniture Award. The theme of the awards was “The Child’s Universe,” and judges unanimously chose Trad as the winner, based on its “innovative concept that broadens the typology of children’s furniture, thanks to its references to nature and its playhouse and shelter-like quality.”


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