Becky Stern’s cool bike tube headband at Craft: is simple to make and a great way to use up punctured bike inner-tubes.  We get through these in our family.  Lots of thorns in South Africa.

Bike Tube Headband [Craft:]

Dumpster pool [Recyclart]

The rest of them are here.

chandeliers [artwork by marin camille]
Recycled works by Marin Hood [Recyclart]

What makes this WALL-E robot project so perfect is that in the movie he’s the guy cleaning up after us humans who leave the planet in a jolly big mess, so why not have him clean out your recycling bin at home too. You can see exactly what was used and how to make your own WALL-E robot out of stuff from your bin at Kitten Muffin’s blog, Filth Wizardry (note to self: file as something cool to do for the upcoming school holidays).

Home made recycled WALL-E [Filth Wizardry]

[via elephantjournal]

There’s something particularly special about the Cape Town Green Map launch that I wanted to share with you. It’s probably the lowest carbon launch of all the Green Maps, and I’m quoting from the launch invitation to illustrate why/how:

The venue is “your laptop, PC or iPhone so there are no travel costs or [additional] carbon footprint. The dres code is “optional – but locally designed garb from hemp/bamboo/organic cotton is encouraged”. There are no speakers – “an untold saving on hot air and CO2 emissions”.

In addition there are “no printed invitations (save on ink/chemicals, paper/trees), no printed media packs (save on ink/chemicals, paper/trees and packaging), no travel to the venue (save on CO2 emissions, time and roadwork frustration), no food or beverages (save on packaging, waste, energy and food miles) and no speakers, official openings, ‘live’ performers (save on CO2 emissions, uncomfortable silences and the effort to look impressed)”.

Isn’t that cool? And in this very wet weather I’m extra-specially glad not to be going anywhere!

Here’s a bit more about Cape Town Green Map for Capetonians who are interested in giving it a test-drive:

Cape Town Green Map is updated by interested green Capetonians, making it a direct, democratic communication of local knowledge and action. You can find community gardens, craft centres, recycling drop-offs, areas of natural beauty, shops and markets that sell green and organic products, restaurants and bars who serve organic food and drinks and more. If you know about somewhere green that’s not on the map, you can suggest it to the mapmakers, or become a mapmaker yourself.

More great green news for Cape Town is that in October A&C Maps, who print “Not the official guide to Cape Town”, the “Pink Map” and the “Food Map” will be bringing out a printed version of the Cape Town Green Map. Look out for it!

A big thanks to Open Green Map, the City of Cape Town, urban sprout and A&C Maps for this great tool.

*Read Treehugger’s great article about why maps are such a good tool for helping us go green.

What becomes of the rest of the boxes cluttering up my house is yet to be seen. If you have any brilliant recycling ideas, please leave a comment. Alternatively, if you live in the Cape Town area and are moving soon, you’re welcome to come and collect the boxes from me to reuse.

Beautiful and ecological, cardboard laptop case [Instructables]

My pick of the bags are these dragonfly print jute shoulder bags with cotton lining (the handles are lined too to be comfortable on bare shoulders) with a cell phone pocket.

“Each Freeset Bag tells a story of one woman’s journey to freedom. She used to stand with 6,000 other prostitutes in a small but well known area of North Calcutta. She didn’t choose her profession; it chose her. Poverty does that. It robs people of their dignity and children of their innocence.

She still lives in the same area, but instead of selling her body she makes Freeset Bags. Now she has choices, the choice to work decent hours for decent pay, to re-establish her dignity in her community and to learn to read and write. Now her daughter won’t have to stand in the street selling her body like her mother used to. Freedom has been passed on to the next generation.” – from the Freeset website.

Also check out these wood-free Kantha journals. They are handbound, with a kantha- stitch multilayered cover, a screen-printed pencil and white wool paper. Each journal is unique. They are made by the daughters of sex workers. Freeset’s goal is to bring wholeness and restoration to their lives. Many tragic stories are told by the girls. By giving these girls a dignified job, Freeset have given them a step up, to gain respect by society. The cycle of shame is broken!

Freeset products are available in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden.

What have you made out of driftwood? Leave a comment.

driftwood aircraft [esprit cabane]

1. The plastic bag football
“Where the world sees trash, Africa recycles. Found all over Africa, these are the balls that children create out of old trash to play soccer.” – White African

2. The drink can 2CV
“Need a new car? African recycling craftwork.” – Gertrud K.

3. The Coke Scooter
“African recycling craftwork – Karneval der Kulturen 2006, Berlin Straßenfest” – Gertrud K.

4. Old gear dumbells
“Old gears make great weights. From Ashifi in Ghana.” – White African


5. The recycled plastic beaded curtain
“Rubbish curtain.” – NeonMan

unjenesaisquoideco

6. The wire truck
“The truck. This is a common past-time of South African children and many African children in general. This flippin’ thing is hand created and features functional steering, wheels, flat bed and even rear-view mirrors, all out of recycled materials. Unbelievable.” – Sunshine Rabbit

7. The recycled plastic lampshade
unjenesaisquoideco

8. The old tyre planters
“Old, painted tires make great flower pots. From Ashifi in Ghana.” – White African

9. The plastic bag chicken
Rev. Santino

10. The recycled plastic trophies
“Ecological trophies” – unjenesaisquoideco

11. The recycled rubbish township scene
“African art” – Vilseskogen

12. The scrap-metal animals
“Zimbabwean Elephant. I love recycled scrap-metal objects from Zimbabwe. Purchased these from a vendor in Grahamstown, South Africa. ” – caribbeanfreephoto

caribbeanfreephoto

13. The recycled home
“Informal settlement wall detail” – John Charalambous

“Informal settlement shack” – John Charalambous

“Informal settlement window detail” – John Charalambous

Get a new outfit for free at this fun Swishing event as part of East Festival in London. Fashionistas are hunting down the best pieces at Swishing events all over the country. Who knows what treasures you may find…

12noon – 2pm Clothes drop off:

Bring your clothes, shoes or accessories to the swishing area and drop them off, you will receive a stamp for each item (minimum 1, maximum 5)

2.30pm Browsing time:

Take time to browse the goodies on display – look, but no touching until the Swish begins

3.00pm Swishing officially opens:

There will be a brief introduction to the Swish and it will then be declared open for you to start swishing.

The Rules

• Bring at least 1 good quality item of clothing, shoes or accessories that you no longer wear but would be proud to pass onto a fellow Swisher – no rags please!
• You can bring up to 5 items, you will recieve a stamp for each, so feel free to take as many items as you brought along.
• You will have time to browse the rails and look at the fantastic free goodies on display – but remember, you cannot claim these items until the swish is officially open!
• Once declared open, swish to your hearts content! Remember, be kind to your fellow Swishers…no scratching, spitting or biting!
• Have fun!