Design^Sprout | Your Guide to Green Design

Bike style

     We all know that cars=bad in terms of the environment. But giving up the habit and convenience of cars in favor of bicycles is pretty intimidating. However, it helps that you can look cool while doing it. My recent obsession on bikes and bike-related accessories has turned up some truly styling finds.

1. Ultra-chic "Dutch City Bike" for the urban cyclist by Jorg & Olif
2. The coolest bike basket ever, by Design House Stockholm . This made the blog circuit awhile back, but my interest was renewed last week when I saw one in person. And, I tell you, it is even cooler than it looks in the photos.
3. Handlebar umbrella holder by Dry Bike .
4. Vintage-style helmet, by Bobbin. This classic shape has been girlified with a hip damask/scroll design.
5. Also from Bobbin, vintage-inspired "box bags" for keeping your possessions secure on the back of your bike. I love them all, but the plaid ones win my heart.

- Kristen

Paper Cuts You're Happy To Get!

     So you never became the doctor your parents always wanted? Well, there's still hope for those of you with a steady hand. Artist Heather Moore proves the hand of a surgeon and the patience of a saint is all you need to create these delicate works of art. She spends hours making the precision cuts then uses the finished products as a basis for her lovely hand screen-printed aprons and towels.

     And OMG - what can possibly be said about "book autopsy" artist Brian Dettmer except "wow"? His work is painstakingly gorgeous, his use of found materials is inspiring and the end product? Well, in my humble opinion, genius.

 

The Coolest Bowls You've Never Seen

     Anything this colorful draws me to it like a bee to honey but upon closer inspection the true beauty of these pieces is stunning! Each bowl is handmade using only locally reclaimed trees of all varieties (fallen or cut down due to infrastructure, re-landscaping, droughts, or stormy weather). The trees are hand selected, gathered, turned and finished by the artisans of Loyal Loot Collective and local crafts people. 

     Of course, they're $76 a pop so I won't be buying a set anytime soon but they're definitely on my Christmas list (hint, hint).

A Chic New Mag for Earth Lovers

     In an online sea of green, there’s a stylish new destination about to launch with a focus on editorial fashion photography, eco-fashionistas, and the budding industry swirling around them.  Coco Eco Magazine fuses high fashion and high gloss with earth-friendy content. Think Cosmo with a conscious.

Love the One You're With

    A phrase that no longer pertains solely to your beer guzzling husband. With her bespoke furniture and textile pieces, designer Zoe Murphy has turned this "making do" philosophy into a successful eco-business. Drawing inspiration from th British seaside community Margate, a rundown, former 50's beach haven, Zoe believes that with good design and loving attention all things formerly icky can be fabulous yet again. Bright colors and optimistic images are printed onto old dressers and salvaged Formica - even the silks she used for her wall hangings are hand-dyed and pieced together from vintage wedding dresses. Just goes to show that in today's green-crazed world all our old, crusty junk deserves a second look. After all, if you can learn to love his hairy back why not an old dresser?

D^S Contest - WINNER!!!

  Congratulations Jenny! Thanks for all of the great links! Please e-mail me with your info. and have fun in your Toms!