My old college bud, Kenny Scharf, is arguably the original green artist – a brilliant guy from L.A. who began his career nabbing trash from the streets of Manhattan and embellishing old appliances with his phantasmagorical, Fifties-inspired, squiggly creatures and symbols.

Working alongside East Village graffiti muralists like Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat, his uproariously spacey icons were quickly embraced by Andy Warhol and other enthusiasts with clout. He quickly rose to the ranks of artist superstar.

Scharf  conveyed his …

Tags: AIDS , alternative transporation , Andy Warhol , art , bikes , Brazil , Brooklyn , carbon footprint , Cosmic Cavern , East Village , emissions , graffiti , Jean Michel Basquiat , Keith Haring , Kenny Scharf , los angeles , New York City , pop art , recycle , reuse , sculpture , trash art

3 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Not since Scarlett O’Hara upcycled those curtains to make a crazy green velveteen dress have we seen such industrious textile make-overs on the screen.

Yes, Anne Fontaine’s Coco Before Chanel is the quintessential tweed rags-to-riches saga, in which a poor but clever French girl and her sister climb the ladder from the orphanage to the chateau by making great contacts at a tavern where they sang a funny ditty, entitled Coco (hence the nickname for Gabrielle Chanel).

I took away much from Audrey Tautou’s brilliant portrayal of the iconic designer, mainly a …

Tags: Audrey Tautou , Chanel , CoCo , couture , fashion , France , handbags , Octoberfest , Paris , Project Runway , recycle , reduce , reuse , Scarlett O'Hara curtain dress

3 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

The flu is already spreading like a Malibu wildfire in my Bay Area community with dozens of kids out the first few weeks of school and contaminated parents unable to play nurse.

It’s going to happen, no way of avoiding it all together, but there are some simple steps to build immunity and combat the spreading of germs at home.

Some people opt for the influenza vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says protects against the three main flu strains causing the most illness during the season. …

Tags: aches , cdc , cellulose fiber , chemical-free , colds , coughing , dehydration , EPA , flu , garlic , germs , handwashing , health , home remedies , natural , organic , prevention , recovery , recycle , sickness , sleep , stress , tea , thyme , Triclosan , vaccine , Vitamin C

6 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Besides being impossibly adorable, this painted enamel adaptation of the Asian field worker’s tacked lunch box is the ideal container for a dieter on the go.

I received one as a gift from my boss over a cup of Joe and a lesson on social networking. She said, “Here, take this and have fun with it. Maybe your kids can use it.”

Maybe, not! I’m not about to let them have another cool gift of mine so they can abandon it on the blacktop, allowing the contents to rot over the course of …

Tags: Asian , bento , Conserve , dieting , enamel , fruits , Japanese , lunch boxes , organic , protein bars , recycle , snacks , veggies , weight loss

16 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

If you haven’t heard, fancy-shmancy cupcakes are stealing the hearts of America as we downsize our celebrations with treats that fill us up, not out.

For a growing number of sweet teeth, four bites and one candle do the trick as we replace the wasteful sheet cake of old with an indulgent Red Velvet vegan confection made to order at your chic neighborhood cupcake boutique.

Call it theater in the round for the bakery hound!

The new stars are the vegan assortments  introduced by bakers such as Yummy Cupcakes in …

Tags: baby , birthdays , compost , Conserve , dairy-free , decor , design , gluten-free , Gourtmet cupcakes , green , parties , recycle , showers , special events , sugar-free , vegan , weddings

2 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Your principal incentive to recycle? That one’s a no-brainer: the environment, of course. But, it doesn’t just have to be a green act of good will; it can add a little extra cash to your wallet as well. Recycling for money sure won’t make you a millionaire, but these days every penny counts. So, cash in on your good conscience with these items.

Aluminum Cans
I’m a soda addict, and I can go through a 12-pack faster than a roll of toilet paper. Even if you only drink a …

Tags: aluminum , glass , money , plastic , recycle

9 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

While we generally avoid traditional paper gift wrap these days, a Berkeley MBA and mom has developed a line of more responsible coverage for those gifts: reusable, recycled bags.

Josie Gaillard’s Living Ethos made its debut in San Francisco this summer in selected boutiques. Now, the versatile and vivacious eco-chic wrap is available on the web.

What makes this attractive paper one to chase?

The sustainable gift bags come in 30 varied prints that are as attractive as upholstery fabrics. But instead of being assembled …

Tags: anniversaries , birthdays , Conserve , eco friendly. gifts , gifts , occasions , paper , PET bottles , plastic , recycle , resuse , showers , sustainable , weddings , wrapping paper

Add Comment |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

Only three weeks left of summer and the ads to stock up and save on school gear are invading our space. Grrrr!

Anxious kids sense the clock is ticking as they try to prolong the inevitable. Meantime, I refuse to listen, look or buy when it comes to the ads for “must have” clothes and supplies for fall.

I can’t stand it when the Christmas ads and music start playing after Halloween. I cringe when the Easter cards appear once Valentine’s Day cards are cleaned off the shelves, or when …

Tags: Conserve , consumption , fall , kids , parents , recession , recycle , retail , reuse , sales , school , summer , sustainable

6 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark

This is the third in Luanne’s new lifestyle column, Life in the Green Lane. Read the inaugural column, “The Pros & Cons of Being Married to an Eco Man” and the follow-up, “Why Is it So Hard to Get My Mom to Go Green?”.

My dog has fleece. And that’s not all. There are dozens of reasons why this impossibly adorable pug is leaving behind a puny carbon paw print.

If you consider dogs part of the family then it’s important they’re pulling their weight in the eco …

Tags: bio bags , biodegradable , birds , carpool , china , compost , Conserve , dog beds , dog food , dog toys , dogs , endangered , fleece , fuel , green , hybrid , Life in the Green Lane , organic , pets , plastic , pugs , recycle , reuse , Smoky Bear , walking

9 Comments |

Link to this post |

|

Bookmark