Friday Faves: Notebooks, Pencils, Paper, Oh My!

pencil case, sidney ann; bell jar desk set, Midwest Finds; shoulder bag, Byrd and Belle; letter organizer, the vintageholic frog

I love browsing Etsy-it isn't a suprise to anyone by now. They always have great gift guides and guides for men, women and children. They have also curated a great School and Office Supplies guide that showcase fun little notebooks, pencil cases and other supplies one would use at school or at their desk at home. Its fun to upcycle something into a useful item for the classroom-especially when money is tight. Enjoy!

DIY: Knit Washcloths

washcloths by Cocoa Beans

I've been seeing more and more people selling hand-knit washcloths and scrubbies on Etsy, and according to many they are even better at cleaning than store bought sponges. Bonus-they are eco-friendly and will last far longer than sponges (and you can pick colors to match your kitchen!) Heres what you'll need:

Knit Washcloths

-ball of yarn, preferably on the rough side (cheap yarn should do fine)
-knitting needles, smaller or larger depending on how stretchy or tight you want your stitches

Create a square by casting on a multiple of 10 stitches and using the moss stitch to create a bumpy texture.

Moss Stitch
row 1: K1, P1 -repeat til end
row 2: P1, K1 -repeat til end

continue this pattern until you reach the desired length, and bind off.

Be careful not to use scalding hot water as this may "felt" the yarn. Enjoy!

Friday Faves

This week's inspiration is all things map related. There is something going on about maps that are so fascinating to me, especially when artists make their own interpretation of existing maps.

Eco Friendly: Coffee Cups/Cozies

Theres snow almost a foot thick on the ground (!!) and this has just got me thinking about warmth and warm drinks! I could go for a nice hot chocolate right now...yum. So this got me thinking about coffee and paper cups.

I always try to drink all my coffee at work, which means I use ceramic mugs and glasses instead of using a paper or plastic cup each time I go on a break. I've also invested in a great aluminum water bottle from Ethos Water and a really cute coffee tumbler from Starbucks. I was thinking, what else is there out there that will help others in creating good coffee-drinking habits? Well I've found some really cute things to help you save paper and minimize waste during your coffee/tea trips.Of course I have to put this one up. The I Am Not a Paper Cup porcelain mug is a fantastic option for those who would rather like the look of a paper cup, without the paper!


How hilarious are these coffee mugs? Let them all know which side you represent with mugs from Urban Soule.

Ever get tired of cold french press coffee right after you make it? (Me! I do!) Heres a super cute faux bois cozy for your french press from pinkdixie.
Etsy store second chance store uses old sweaters to create great coffee sleeves. They look so comfy and cute! She also makes great sweaters for your thermos. Great idea and itll give personality to any coffee cup. Shop here for these great finds.

Earth Friendly: Ecoist

Ecoist is an online design and accessories website that uses recyclable and sustainable materials in their products. Billboards, glass, vinyl records, maps and bike chains are recycled to create Ecoist's line of bags, jewelry and assorted goodies. Check out their site to score some cool recycled swag! Above: Norbit laptop bag.This sturdy portfolio is made from recycled candy wrappers. This makes great storage for magazines, files, etc. Love the industrial silver color to complement any modern office space.



You can choose from a variety of movie posters that create a cool abstract bag. This one is from Shoot 'Em Up. Bags range from wallets to large totes and laptop bags.

Store your makeup in these funky cosmetic clutches made from rice bags without guilt.

Earth Friendly: Envirosax

I can remember seeing my first Envirosax during my second trip to New Zealand and thinking how cool a reusable all-purpose bag could be especially in the fun and funky prints they offered. Now I spot Envirosax all over, which asserts their power in the eco-friendly trend that has (hopefully) swept (clean) the globe. I just wanted to share their awesome totes that can save all those plastic bags used at grocery stores, which REALLY add up quick! They even have an organics line that boasts bamboo, linen and hemp bags, all in summer-worthy shades and prints. Envirosax are also available in themed packs of 5 (store them in the car! you never have to worry about forgetting them again), I personally love the Retro and Mikado (as seen above).

Top: I adore the circle design with the yellow and grays, I would never think of it as a grocery bag!

Bottom: LOVE the organic bamboo bag with the circle design, so dainty and fresh.

Its great to see a company that is leading the pack in our global awareness. Even if you don't use an Envirosax, using a durable, long-lasting bag for groceries and shopping can save plastic and even trips to and from the car (Envirosax bags can carry twice the amount of one normal sized plastic grocery bag), so ask your cashier to save the plastic and load up your bag–even a small difference is a difference!