Maybe even better than the ipad itself, is the coolie case I bought for it. It’s the one above, center…from Temple. It’s made from re-purposed military fabric, as are some of their other bags. I love the look of a high-tech gadget tucked into something that looks so old. I like their other bags too…so rugged and masculine.

I love the creativity that goes into repurposed goods. To be able to envision a cute little purse from an old, funky jacket is pure genius…The creative part of MY brain totally doesn’t work that way, so I’m always impressed.

I you read the Storque, or check Etsy’s home page regularly, then you might already know about found by nicky‘s fantastic bags and things. Almost all of her pieces are made from other items…right down to the zippers! I especially love the bag with the little flowers {above, right}.

Laundry is my LEAST favorite household job. It’s awful. The sorting, the stain-removing, the folding, the putting-away. URGH!

I’m going to sound a bit like a commercial here, but I love Eco Everyday laundry soap! I was sent a few samples, and was pleasantly surprised! The scent is mild and fresh, without being perfume-y. And our clothes came out clean! My daughter is allergic to most scented soaps and lotions, but wasn’t bothered by the natural fragrances in this environmentally friendly soap {they do offer an unscented version too, just in case}. So, even though you may be stuck with doing the laundry, you can at LEAST feel a little better about it!

Eco Everyday explains all about the natural qualities of their soap in their shop.

Improbable Projects makes some of the coolest items I have seen…fabric woven from recorded cassette tapes, and made into ties and hats! Incredible, and done with style.  I think the ties are great {and apparently, so did Jason Mraz…he wore one to the Grammys} What a perfect gift for your favorite music lover {look at me…finding more stuff for guys!!}…

You can can even “play” the fabric if you use a tape head! Here’s a video with more info:

I’ve been a fan of Art Mind‘s ceramics for a while {here’s my post}, and was excited to see the collaboration with Lila Ruby King…I think their porcelain jewelry pieces are beautiful {especially the earrings with the red string!!}. More styles will be posted in February, so make sure you check back! Lila Ruby King strives to make her business carbon neutral, too….win win!

The handbags from Denise Tjarks couldn’t be more fun! Many of them are made from repurposed mu’umu’us and vintage Hawaiian fabrics which makes them bright and cheery! Perfect for spring and summer…or if you’re lucky enough to live in paradise *sigh*

Who knew?…that a vintage tractor could be turned in to a super-cool table…or that an old piece of farm machinery could make some cute earrings?! Pennsylvania based, The Steel Fork, is a collaboration of husband and wife Ben & Kate Gatski, who create some unique pieces from their rural hilltop in PA. I also love their softer goods…pillows featuring images of their metal animals. and a handwoven hemp table runner {above}. Wonderful stuff!

Wearing scarves is a necessity for me in the Midwestern autumn and winter. I have an entire wardrobe of them {mostly, it’s because I can’t seem to resist all of the fantastic ones out there!}.

I love the unique ruffle-y scarves {neck pieces} by Crutch…the raw finish makes them not too frou frou! Just gorgeous. The plum colored scarf is made of upcycled fabrics too…I’m totally loving these…

Veronica Riley Martens‘ booth was set up right next to ours at a craft show last weekend…I totally fell in love with her work, and ended up buying two pieces {the single tagua with chains, bottom right…and another, not shown}. I especially love the tagua nuts* she uses in her jewelry. They are extremely light, and the color combinations that she uses are fantastic. Love love love!!

*about the tagua nut:

“Tagua (tog-wa) Nut Beads are made from the seed of a tree similar to the palm tree. It is an eco-friendly product that helps sustain rainforests in Ecuador, by providing jobs for almost 35,000 people. It allows them to harvest a product that can be sold without having to destroy the rainforest.”

Friends of ours just started a business making water bottles. Concerned with the environment, BPA leaching, and the recent negative press about aluminum bottles, three moms got together and created HydraSip…stainless steel bottles with BPA free tops {you get two lids with every bottle}. It’s hard to tell from the picture just how cool these bottles are…I love their ergonomic shape…they really are nice to hold! Ice water will stay cold forever in the double-walled bottles, and not sweat either…nice!

The gals at HydraSip gave me a pink double-wall bottle to give to one of my blog readers. It’s sitting on my desk just waiting for one of you! I’ll choose a winner after noon central time Friday, October 24, so enter before then!

So, if you want a chance to win a bottle, leave me a message below. For an extra entry, tweet about the giveaway, and make sure you let me know about it in the comments!

Make sure to check out the Hydra Sip website too…they have 3 colors to choose from, and you can order online.

Have a fun weekend!