Porcelained out? Carve your niche with an alternative sink for soaking up greener materials like certified teak, bamboo, recycled metal and glass and friendly painted ceramics. You can even experiment with poured concrete with 50% recycled fly ash, as seen in the striking orange basin by Jeremy Levine Design.

Here is a handful of other options we rounded up:

From William Garvey’s Fusion Line of handmade sinks from certified teak grown in the mixed deciduous forests of South Asia.

Spotted at the Story Hotel in Stockholm, these decorative ceramic bowls make brilliant bathroom basins.

Recycled aluminum and brass vessel sinks from ECO round out the eco bath and are paired well with a bamboo plywood or stone tile counter top.

Handblown recycled glass emerges as sensuous craft for the bath with the clear tortoise trim Classic design (above) and Ocean shell (below) from Bear Creek Glass.

Main Image: Jeremy Levine Design

Stuck inside on a rainy, dreary day? Have a hankering to start a new, crafty project? Using random objects and materials from around your home, these fun and eco-friendly DIY projects will cost you little to nothing.

Scrap Paper Notebook

You have a scrap paper galore in the drawer next to your desk, but this clutter is starting to get out of control. No problem! Stack your scrap paper to make all of the edges line up neatly. Punch three holes along the length of the paper an inch from the left margin. (You may want to divide the stack to make this step a little easier.) Cut the front and back sides from a cereal box and punch three holes in each side to align with your stack of scrap paper. You can cover the box panels in anything you like – get creative. Use decorative ribbon to tie together the individual sheet and the cardboard cover.

Portable Scrap Paper Pad

Need something more portable for taking notes on the go? Remove the staple from an empty matchbook and slip out the piece of cardboard that mounted the matches. Measure the matchbook and cut pieces of scrap paper to fit neatly inside. Tuck them underneath the bottom lip and staple them down.

Magazine Envelopes

After flipping through your magazines dozens of times, what else can you do with them? Take apart an envelope to use as a template and trace this outline onto a cover or page of an outdated issue. (If you plan on sending this envelope in the mail, use pages with images instead of copy. This way, the address will stand out more clearly.) Cut along the lines and fold it along the creases that match that of the original envelope. Use non-toxic flue to seal down the flaps.

CD/DVD Coasters

When your favorite tunes or films start skipping too much to enjoy, just turn them into coasters. This one is a cinch. To cover up the images and text with something a little more decorative, trace the outline of the CD/DVD onto contact paper leftover from lining drawers and cut along the lines. Seal it to the surface with non-toxic glue.

Scented Drawer Satchels

Who wears nylons anymore? I know I don’t, but they’re still lurking in the lingerie drawer. But, just because they are no longer wearable doesn’t mean you have to toss them. Cut them up into sections and seal one end with a decorative ribbon. Fill each makeshift pouch with dried herbs, tie the other end shut and put them in your drawers for a fresh fragrance.

Magnetic Dry Erase Board

Measure the outline of a broken CD case and cut a piece of blank white paper down to the same dimensions. Slip it inside and use non-toxic glue to secure the front and back of the CD case together. Secure a magnet to the back and hang it on your refrigerator for quick notes.

Homemade Drip System

Interested in conserving water in your garden? Use a pin to punch tiny holes into a plastic bottle. Shred pieces of scrap fabric and stuff them in through the neck of the bottle. (This absorbent material will cause the water to drain gradually.) Bury the bottle in the soil up to the neck next to plants in your garden, so that it releases water almost directly to the roots. Use a funnel to fill the bottle with water.

Reusable Shopping Tote

Dig through your pajama drawer to find an old, baggy t-shirt. Flip it inside out and remove the sleeves. Cut around the neck hole, making it several inches wider. Stitch the bottom hems of the shirt together. (You may want to sew a reinforcement seam for extra strength.) Flip your new reusable shopping tote right side out and use the sleeve holes as handles.

Tea Tin Candle

Following these steps, turn empty tea tins into decorative soy candles.

Bird Feeder

Rinse out an empty milk carton. Cut out two ample-sized openings on parallel sides and, about an inch below each, poke a hole using the tip of a pencil. Insert a rod through both holes to act as a perch for your feathered friends. Run a wire or string through the top of the carton to hang from a tree branch. To make it a bit more ornamental, embellish the carton with milk paint and secure popsicle sticks on the top slopes with non-toxic glue to look like shingles.

Upcycled Picture Frames

Rinse out some glass jars and completely remove any labels. With the images on the outside, roll up pictures of your friends and family, and insert them upside-down into the openings of the jars. Flip the jars over and display them on tabletops and shelves around your home.

Drawer Dividers

Do you cringe at the thought of organizing your infamous junk drawer? With some homemade cardboard dividers, it’s easy to keep it orderly. Just measure the length, width and height of your drawers. Break down a cardboard box and, based on your measurements, cut enough strips to create as many compartments as you want. Slice a slit halfway through the width of each strip to easily interconnect these pieces.

Bonus idea: taking inspiration from the image at the top of the post, why not spend an hour at the park or in the garden collecting seeds, nuts, flower bulbs, twigs, leaves or other pretty organic items to make a seasonal still life? All you need is a favorite dish or bowl and a spot to place it.

For more projects, check out Mike’s ideas.

Images: Er.We, adiything, ♥ellie♥, thebittenword.com, ***FanchTheSystem!***, How can I recycle this, Mulad, Niffty.., Indie Bands With A Mission, Edgar Zuniga Jnr., sfllaw, Idle Type, Vali….

The people in my neighborhood really get into Halloween whether they’ve got their own little ghouls and goblins or not, proving the most fun night of the year is for the kid in all of us. You know, that kid who is addicted to Halloween chocolate!

I’m big on using decor to lift my spirits each fall, ideally with the surfeit of tools and supplies stashed in my green storage bins rather than ready-made plastic junk on the shelves of stores.

I found inspiration in Etsy’s Voter Page for the best Handmade Halloween items, from spooky bloodshot eyes (which get my vote) to crocheted spiders and DIY costumes. Go to the site and place your vote.

Here’s a look at some of the amazing crafts whipped up in kitchens across America:

Mister Skully Hand Carved Stamps by Tresijas

These cool articulating jaw motifs were made into stamps (salvaged manzanita, foam and rubber) that you can use to create Halloween art for your windows, doors or other creepy places.

Lost Zombie Brooch by CityroadFelt

“I made him using felt from a lovely stripey sweater, along with bits of wool blend felt, & beads & thread – designed by my partner, who is much more into zombies and such things than I – I think he’s quite proud of the end product, too!”

Crocheted Spider Web by Spacestitch

Like the spider web but want to make it yourself? But of course! See the Spider Web Crochet Pattern here.

Gaggle of Spooky  Ghosts Prints by Luminous Dreams Designs

“The ghost was hand drawn, inked then scanned where he was given different grungy digital backgrounds,” explains the artist.

Upcycled Pumpkin Hat by Imogens Garden

“I raided my son’s clean laundry pile to construct this hat from a recently outgrown thermal shirt,” explains the maker. “The flower is created from scraps from my studio, and the button embellishment came from the shirt. No more thermal shirts = a one of a kind garment.”

Main Image: Work of Whimsy

Whenever I go shopping for linens, I always have a very specific idea in mind of what I want – flowers just so, or the perfect teal green. The problem is that even after scouring every store in the county, nothing I find ever really matches my mental image. So, taking inspiration from the methods of my favorite designers, I’ve begun to entertain the notion of creating my own. I’m no artist, so I was a little nervous about taking on such a project at first. But with a bit of research I learned this is definitely within the realm of DIY.

If you want to give color-blocking a try, just follow these easy steps:

1. Sketch a pattern onto a large piece of cardboard with a pencil. For the best results, avoid overly elaborate designs and stick to something simple until you’ve done a few pieces.

2. Once you’re satisfied with your design, cut it out with an exacto knife, including any details within the basic outline.

3. Iron the fabric and stretch it taut onto a smooth surface.

4. Fill a tray with eco-friendly fabric paint and use a roller to apply it generously and evenly to one side of the cardboard block.

5. Lay the cardboard block face down onto the fabric and gently cover it with newspaper. You may want to try a test run on a piece of scrap fabric first to make sure you’ll be satisfied with the outcome.

6. Apply pressure to the cardboard block while holding it firmly in place.

7. Pull off the newspaper and gently peel away the cardboard block.

8. Repeat the process until your once plain curtains, tablecloth, duvet cover or cloth napkins are pieces of handmade art. Before you know it you’ll be taking orders, girl!

9. One final note: before you wash your new and improved linens, make sure to set the design according to the instructions listed on the can of fabric paint.

For additional helpful instructions, visit Design Sponge.

Image: geishaboy500

I love big rings, but sometimes big rings don’t love me – making my fingers spread uncomfortably or being so top-heavy they swirl upside down. Don’t get me animated lest I go clocking someone in the head with my hand. It’s happened before and it can happen again.

If you wear big rings, you know what I’m talking about. So when I came across Patchwork Pillow rings by Raeburn Ink I was elated.

Raeburn Ink designer Jenn Cooke says at her site: “I’ve been saving odds and ends of fabric for a while now. I recently started collaging them together, and loving the results. These became my Patchwork Collection.

They are pieced together from linen, cotton, and silk fabrics, and filled with ultra soft stuffing. The printed fabric pieces are original screen prints from my Macro/Micro and Geographic collections – the placement of the print varies a little bit on each ring, so they won’t all look exactly like the picture. I’ve added contrast stitching in a stripe pattern with orange thread. The finger loop is made from a soft and stretchy material that is super comfortable.”

Choose from smaller chunky to totally funky big pillow rings that spice up an outfit or, for you designers, serve as a place to put your pins while working.

The designer pads her cushy line with other accessories as well as organic t-shirts, pillows and bags.

By surrounding yourself with Raeburn Ink pieces there’s the potential to make your life that much softer. And people will absolutely be transfixed at parties when you talk. Not to mention you’ll avert potential injuries as you gab.

Now that’s a way to keep friends.

I was an artistic kid, but I had not an ounce of interest in learning how to sew, much to my mother’s chagrin.

She was quite the seamstress. Her Singer sat prominently in our playroom where she’d stitch and sew me new dresses, always searching for the coolest Vogue patterns”¦but nothing could change my mind. In the years since, I’ve had brief pangs of regret but they never lasted long. The kinds of crafts I like are more of the random sans-pattern variety, which is probably why I’m drawn to OutsaPop Trashion.

Here’s a classic case of DIY. OutsaPop’s real name is Outi, a self-proclaimed “crafty fashion addicted girl from Finland…[who's] most into customizing clothes for herself.” Her brand of sewing involves secondhand sweater reconstruction and the rules she follows are all her own.

Take the Lightning knitwear sweater (above) she made using material from three of four thrift store finds. Interested in making your own? Her detailed tutorial guides you through each step – and voilà, your old clothes are transformed into something new and unique.

You can see more of her reconstructed creations on flickr and at OutsaPop.

Every time I browse EcoEtsy to see what our favorite artists are up to, I’m reminded that their resourcefulness knows no end. In the minds of these creative individuals, a clock can be much more than just a face, hands and numbers. Made from the most cleverly recycled materials, the unique timepieces below are functionally funky works of art.

When was the last time you actually played that backgammon set buried deep in your closet? As it turns out, this dusty old game’s geometric shapes and contrasting colors make the Board Game clock a fun accent for modern interiors.

You can continue your board game collection with the Candy Land Time lunchpail clock from Imotime. Sweetly vintage!

A temporary brain drain caused me to recycle my newspaper on the fifth of November like it was any other day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Thanks to Makin Time, I can still have a keepsake from this monumental moment in history: the Obama Headline clock (shown at top).

If you are anything like me you probably didn’t pay too much attention in home economics class. Cooking comes naturally to me because I had to help prepare meals at home – and I eat every day of my life. But sewing? That’s always been something I’ve outsourced or avoided.

Now that I’m supposedly all grown up, I admit to feeling a little envious of friends who are handy with a needle. However, since every skilled dressmaker I know started out making dolls’ clothes when they were children, I don’t think I’m ever going to catch up. I’m also not prepared to wear years of second-rate clothes while I learn my craft, when there are so many gorgeous ready-made fashions.

Instead, I am making a conscious effort to learn how to maintain and mend my clothes. In the old days I would either take my clothes to a shop – a costly habit – or they would sit in a basket gathering dust. In the mean time, I would forget them and buy more clothes. So I’m planning to give a new lease of life to my wardrobe just by mending my existing clothes. Why don’t you join me?

How to sew on a button by hand or by machine.

Frankly, if you just have one button to sew on then it’s faster and easier to do it by hand – nothing simpler.

Here’s how to darn a sock.

I avoid synthetic materials because they’re made from unsustainable petrochemicals and don’t let my feet ‘breathe’. Sadly socks made from natural fibers such as cotton or wool are prone to getting holes around the toes or heels. Instead of discarding them, the frugal and eco-friendly option is to repair them. (It takes about 10 minutes, judging from this video – but they’re working on quite a big hole, and I expect a small toe hole would take less time).

How to repair a tear with a machine (part 2 here). Or repair the tear by hand.

How to mend a hem by hand.

Image: wakalani

When it comes time for a green refresh, you can fill rooms with vintage and sustainable furniture, embellish tabletops with recycled décor and spice up your walls with a couple coats of milk paint. But how can you reduce waste as you revamp your living space? All it takes is a little imagination to solve these common redecorating dilemmas:

A fresh finish isn’t enough to save your dresser. The wood is warped and it takes at least ten minutes to get the drawers back on their tracks every time you need a sweater or a pair of socks. There’s no way you can sell this on Craigslist, but you don’t want to send it to the landfill, either. Easy fix: just sand down the drawers and repaint them to create stackable storage units for displaying books and objet.

As much as you love the pattern on your cracked kitchen tiles, their dilapidated appearance is far past wabisabi. Instead of tossing them, spruce up your garden’s stepping stone path with the broken pieces for an artistic touch.

To let in some more natural light, you replaced your opaque curtains with something sheer. Well, you don’t have to be a master tailor to make use of your old window treatments. As long as you can sew in a straight line, you can easily transform them into fabulous new throw pillows – and if they don’t technically match (say you’re replacing multiple window treatments), that’s fine, because grouping them can look really cool on a sofa or bed. If the curtains are high quality, upcycle them into dressy wraps or tablecloths.

You finally decided to give your no frills neutral-toned bathroom some much needed color, and that means new accessories. But, what about your old set? You can use your tumbler as a pencil holder for your desk, transfer your hand towel tray to the foyer as a place to stash your keys and recycle your shower curtain into a stylish table runner.

How creative can you get? Here are a few more ideas: Old placemats and doilies can make clever wall collages. Rather than throw out old vases and pots that you no longer use in the kitchen, group them on the coffee table for an unusual artistic statement. Spruce up dining room chairs by painting them different colors. Let us know what you’ve done to refresh your space for free!

Image: thisisbossi

Known and adored for his kinetic modern sculptures, paintings and avant-garde mobiles, Alexander Calder was also an eco jewelry maker long before anyone knew what that meant.

During his lifetime, the American artist produced some 1,800 pieces of brass, silver, and gold body ornaments, using wire he twisted into wearable art. Like the stunning flower necklace below, these were often embellished with found objects such as beach glass, wood cuttings, ceramic shards and pieces of mirror.

About 90 of his inventive designs are on exhibit at the “Metropolitan Musuem of Art” in New York beginning December 9th and running through March 1, 2009. Calder Jewelry is the first museum presentation dedicated solely to the artist’s extensive jewelry designs.

According to his bio, the young Calder began collecting copper wire in the streets back in 1906 to adorn his sister’s dolls. That lead to the creation of gorgeous, modern baubles in the 30s and 40s which, like his other installations, were inspired by trees and branches and other shapes and objects found in nature.

Word has it he made many of the necklaces, earrings, bracelets and brooches to give as gifts to his friends and family. Weren’t they the lucky ones! I get banana chocolate chip muffins from my sister but no cool, handmade art.

Among the savvy collectors of Calder’s pieces were artist Georgia O’Keefe and Peggy Guggenheim, two women with discerning eyes, to say the least. Learn more about the sculptor and see more of his fascinating jewelry at the Calder Organization.