by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

There are always more ways we can make our studios and work spaces a little more environmentally friendly. Looking around me, I thought I’d share a few of the little things I do that can make a big difference in the long run. Here are some ideas:

1. Use old, cut up t-shirts for rags, rather than using paper towels or buying new rags. You can either donate your own t-shirts that you don’t wear anymore to your art-making cause or go to your local Goodwill and pick up some cheap, used t-shirts. I also make sure I properly dispose of my used rags (check with your city to find out if there is a place to drop off hazardous waste. It is often associated with the city’s recycling facilities.)

2. Use coffee canisters as brush holders and other containers to hold odds and ends. If you’re feeling especially crafty, you can cover over the outsides with paper bits from your studio or from the recycling bin. Why not print on it with a potato stamp? Then cover it with an eco-friendly sealant like Safecoat Polyureseal, a low-VOC, low-odor, water-based clear gloss coating, for a lasting and attractive container!

3. Much of the furniture in my studio has come from garage sales, friends giving things away, things found in alleyways, flea markets…. this way, I’m not buying anything new, I’m saving money, and my furniture has some character to it!

4. Ask your grandparents! So many of the amazing things in my studio have come from my grandmother, who was also an artist and general maker of things– piles and piles of yarn, stacks of fabric, sheets of incredible watercolor paper….
Even if the products are not necessarily eco-friendly, it is most definitely an eco-friendly practice to REDUCE (the buying of new things), REUSE (use something that someone else doesn’t need anymore), and RECYCLE (someone’s old goods can become your new treasures.)

GREEN CHALLENGE:

Find a coffee canister or jar that you would like to decorate and use as a container to hold something. What about flowers? Paint brushes? A container to hold coins? The possibilities are endless. Post your photos of your creations to the Indie is the New Green flickr group!

About the contributor: Jessica Gonacha is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

For those of you who live in the US, I’m sure that you’ve heard that the economic stimulus checks have started to go out this week. I’m also sure that plenty of you are going to do exactly what the government doesn’t want you to do, put it in savings or pay off debt. I know I plan on doing that with most of mine, but before I deposit mine in my savings account, I plan on treating myself and supporting some independent design as well. According to the U.S. Government, that certainly would be the most patriotic thing to do (written with a certain amount of tongue in cheek sentiment).

So, I plan on doing my civic duty and here’s some of the goods I have my eye on. What are you planning on doing with your check? Whether we agree with the strategy or not, the checks are on their way, so are you planning on supporting indie design?

I’ve had my eye on the carved resin necklaces from Hotcakes for some time now, ever since I first saw them in person at my local indie brick & mortar shop, Bloom. I’m attracted to their bold statement and graphical pendants.

I really, really , really love the screenprinted bags from Jenna Rose. The Rooftops Porter Bag in natural cotton canvas is the one I’ve been coveting.

I featured the handmade journals by Five and a Half earlier this year and ever since I’ve wanted one. I always carry a journal around with me to record thoughts, to help me stay organized and to sketch new designs.

I’ve been a long time fan of the Bella Lucce line of skin care products and the Wildberry goodies are among my favorites.

I have a pair of the Mohop bent ply sandals and now I’d like to get their newest addition, the Wedge Sandal.

The Split Pod from Whitney Smith Pottery would look so lovely on my desk and now that’s spring, I could use it to bring a little bit of color in from the flowerbed.

The only problem with getting one of the recycled skateboard necklaces from 2ReVert is, which one to pick?

These cross-stitch pieces from Chez Sucre Chez would look fabulous in my new office.

The Mimosa Earrings from Prismera Design are just absolutely stunning. I really feel that I need to own them!

Andre is so sweetly melancholy and cute! From Morninglori’s cast of adorable little characters.

The porcelain cup and saucers from Bailey Doesn’t Bark are so lovely in all their quirky simplicity.

I’m also thinking of adding one of the Chair series of prints from Desire to Inspire to my office.

Today for Tutorial Tuesday I thought I’d share a recycled material tutorial with you today in honor of Earth Day.

From artist Patricia Zapata of A Little Hut, this tutorial utilizes those magazines that seem to breed like rabbits around my house. I try to get what magazines I can from the Library, but unfortunately my library system does not carry Bust, Venus, Craft:, Adorn (well, I won’t be getting any new issues since they folded) and the others that I like to read, so I do end up with a fair amount of mags that need to be recycled. With all the potential bowl fodder I have in my recycling basket, I can’t wait to try this easy peesy sounding tutorial since I do have a couple places in the house I could use a lightweight colorful bowl to collect stuff in. All you magazine addicts out there should try it too.

The materials sure are simple enough:

- a magazine
- glue gun

Read more here…

You can read Patricia’s blog for more wonderful paper tutorials as well as check out her flickr page.

Also, be sure to join the Tutorial Tuesday flickr group and share your own magazine bowl results or any pics from your completed Tutorial Tuesday projects.

Image from The Nature Conservancy

Since today is Earth Day, I thought I would share some Earth Day tips with you. I’ve included some of the things I do to be more eco-friendly and some things that I am striving to implement. This is by no means a comprehensive list, there are plenty of other ways that you can reduce your impact on the planet and many others that may fit your lifestyle better. I’m also including lots of links and resources, so you can find out more about how can do more to become more Earth friendly. Every little bit does count!

My list of 22 things you can do to reduce your impact on the Earth.

1. Use cloth towels and napkins instead of paper ones.
2. Take a ‘Navy Shower’, which basically means turning of the water when you are soaping up.
3. Use Craig’s List, freecycle, swaptree, peerflix, bookins, half.com and others to get rid of stuff you don’t want anymore. Of course, you can always donate it to local charity shops as well.
4. Cut your grass less, use an electric mower or plant clover or another good ground cover that does not need to be mowed.
5. Use reusable shopping bags instead of paper or plastic as much as you can.
6. Hang your clothes out to dry on a clothesline or drying rack instead of using the dryer all the time.
7. Combine errands, so you don’t make as little trips in the car.
8. Reuse plastic and glass containers to store your leftovers in instead of buying those disposable containers. You have to wash them out to recycle them anyhow. Use any paper bags or newspapers you collect as wrapping paper. Cup up any 8 ½ x 11 scrap paper you collect into quarters and use padding cement to make your own notepads.
9. Buy local food and produce.
10. Eat less meat or become a vegetarian.
11. Have a home energy audit.
12. Replace your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and turn the lights off when you leave a room for any length of time.
13. Reuse shipping and packaging materials. I reuse as much as I can in the Indie Fixx Shop.
14. Buy goods that are made from recycled material.
15. Fly less.
16. Use the library instead of buying all your books, magazines and dvds.
17. Share magazine subscriptions with friends and/or donate your magazines to the library, doctors’ offices or senior centers.
18. Plant native species in your yard and replace and avoid planting invasive species.
19. Try to make your workplace more environmentally friendly by organizing office recycling, affecting purchasing decisions, encouraging less waste and more.
20. Recycle used electronic equipment responsibly.
21. Eat out less.
22. Walk more, drive less! It’s good for you and the Earth.

Please feel free to share some of the eco-responsible things you do in your life.

Here’s a list of resources to learn more:

National Audubon Society
Environmental Defense Fund
Friends of the Earth
The Nature Conservancy
Natural Resources Defense Council
Sierra Club
National Wildlife Federation
Rainforest Action Network
American Wind Energy Association
Worldwatch Institute
World Wildlife Fund
Earthday.gov
Carbon Footprint Calculator
Conservation International
EPA
National Recycling Coalition

Earth Day coverage from some of my must read blogs:

Etsy Storque
Treehugger
Craftzine
Apartment Therapy
Crafting a Green World

I’ve been collecting recycled skateboard accessory shops for a while now and I thought it might be time to share them with you. The coolest of cool found objects, skateboard decks with their vibrant and graphically intense images just lend themselves to being remade into hip & fashionable accessories. The shops and designers I’ve featured below create everything from bags and jewelry to iPod covers and shoes and all are made from recycled boards. Enjoy!

Becy(y)—bags, iPod covers, money clips, belt buckles and jewelry

2ReVert—jewelry and belt buckles

Claire McDermott—jewelry

Maplexo—jewelry and pocket mirrors

Kris Lovett—shoes

I always get really excited when I’m about to run out of hand cream. I know that sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but it really truly is something I look forward to, because it means I get to make MORE. That’s right folks, I make my own eco-friendly hand-cream (more like body cream– I use it for everything!) and my skin will accept no other. It has become spoiled and snooty about what it likes to have soaking into it, and I love dreaming up new concoctions when the time comes.

Here is a very versatile recipe for a rich, emollient, decadent cream that will last you a good long while. And I promise you’ll be excited when yours runs out, too!

Ingredients:

6 oz. raw shea butter
1/2 oz. jojoba oil
1/2 oz. sweet almond oil
1/2 oz. grapeseed oil
1/2 oz. apricot kernel oil
1/2 oz. lanolin (melted)
1/2 oz. aloe vera gel
1/2 oz. glycerin
1/4 oz. Vitamin E oil
5-10 drops favorite essential oil (some of my favorites are geranium, rose, clove, clary sage, cinnamon, and lemongrass.)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl (I like glass or stainless steel). Mush together with your hands to get the lumps out of the shea butter. (Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer, but doing it by hand is the eco-friendlier way, because it saves energy!) Adjust accordingly– if you like a thicker cream, more lanolin and less oil will do the trick; a thinner cream can be made by adding more oil or aloe vera juice)

P.S. This recipe is very fudgeable—what I usually do (since I’m the type that doesn’t really measure things and just eyeball it!) is just toss everything in a big glass bowl and mush it up with my hands and if it needs adjusting I’ll add a little oil here, a little lanolin there…!

Have fun!

WHERE TO BUY:

*My personal favorite: Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary in Boulder, CO
*Goldthread Apothecary in Florence, MA
*Botanica Medica in the UK
*Florapathics
*Mountain Rose Herbs
*The Essential Oil Company

If you want more information about essential oils, herbs, oils, aromatherapy, etc, here are a couple of great resources:
*Herbaldiary.org
*Aroma Web
*The Herbal Body Book by Jeanne Rose

GREEN CHALLENGE: change 1 (or more!) light bulb in your house or studio to a compact fluorescent bulb!

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

I have a couple of surprises in store for you today on Indie Fixx.

1. We are going green all day long! That’s right, all day-all green! Every post today will be completely green in honor of St.Patrick’s Day, so you don’t have to worry about pinching me.

2. This next surprise is a big one…I’m debuting my Guest Blog today! Yay! The Guest Blog will feature special guest writers and will include totally fabu topics like indie fashion, eco-conscious indie shopping, indie city guides and more. I’m super excited about all of the writers I have lined up for you and I just know you are going to love the addition of the Guest Blog. Jessica Gonacha is helping me to debut the Guest Blog today and for the time being she is going to be writing a weekly column called Indie is the New Green. Jessica will tell you more about her column in her post below

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

Howdy indie-lovers! Welcome to post #1 of the new Indie is the New Green column on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog! Let me introduce myself—my name is Jessica Gonacha and I am an artist in Atlanta, Georgia. I originally hail from Boulder, Colorado, which is where my eco-conscious roots were planted. I am an obsessive recycler and as a kid I carried a copy of the book 50 Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth with me wherever I went. So yes, I am thrilled to be able to share my passion for the environment and all things eco-friendly with you.

This column is going to be a mix of information, including interviews with artists who are setting examples in the world of eco-friendly art and design, resources on how to find more environmentally-friendly materials and supplies, features on green products and the people who make them, and fun DIY projects that you can feel good about creating! There will also be a weekly GREEN CHALLENGE at the end of every post: your task will be to take on the challenge, photograph it and post your photo to the Indie is the New Green Flickr group. I will share some your submissions the following week on the blog! Sounds fun, huh? The challenge details can be found at the end of this post.

So this week, I am pleased to introduce you to an artist from my hometown (shout-out to Boulder!), creating her eco-friendly goods under the name of ReLove Projects. Anne Pendergrast was kind enough to answer some questions for us and give us a little peek into her studio! Here’s what Anne had to say:

1. What fueled your decision to create eco-friendly products?

I was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, which is a VERY eco-friendly town. Growing up here it was just normal and part of the everyday to recycle, reuse, and be environmentally conscious. That was my foundation. The other part of it was following my passions and creativity. I’ve always had a passion for environmentalism and it just happened naturally that my creativity collided with it.

2. What does ‘green’ mean to you?

‘Green’ to me means doing everything possible to make less of a negative environmental impact.

3. How did you get started creating your product/line?

I love going to thrift stores, finding something unique, and altering it to make it even more unique. I made myself a little purse from a funky 60’s mumu, and got so many compliments that I started making them for other people too. The cards just sort of developed over time. I had a lot of smaller scraps left over from making the bags. I couldn’t throw them away and they kept piling up! I had to find a creative use for them before they took over my studio. I started off by sewing little hearts onto paper, and it grew from there. Now, I have even smaller scraps left over from the cards….

4. How do you reuse materials in your business?

Everything I make is 98% reused (the thread, glue, and some closures are not). My cards are made from paperboard packaging, recycled fabric, and paper grocery bags. All the bags and clothes are made from recycled fabric, and my business cards are made from paperboard and recycled paper. I create my patterns by reusing folders, I take notes on the back of envelopes. I make it a little game to reuse and recycle as much as possible!

5. How is your studio eco-conscious?

Every piece of furniture in my studio was bought at a thrift store or given to me, the light bulbs are energy efficient, and nearly everything that is discarded in my studio is recycled or reused for some other purpose.

6. Can you share your eco heroes/inspirations and your art/design inspirations?

eco heroes/inspirations
Elephant Journal is a regular inspiration for environmental, political, and spiritual issues. Doing yoga, teaching art to children (at Clementine Studios), and finding recycle symbols in unexpected places help keep me consciously active.

art/design inspirations
Fashion magazines, blogs, Etsy, people watching, dreams, thrift stores, necessity, desire…

7. Do you have a favorite eco tip for your readers?

If everybody just made a conscious decision to do everything they could to be more eco-friendly, it would make a HUGE impact. Doing something once a day, like changing light bulbs to the more energy efficient or starting a paper recycling box at your office. Every little thing we do makes a positive change, and the more little changes we ALL makes a bigger impact.

8. Do you have a favorite go-to eco blog or website?

I just heard about Green As a Thistle. It’s pretty great! Beyond that, the WWW is such a huge world with so many resources. I like to type key words like “environmental ideas” into a search engine and follow interesting links.

9. What are some creative ways that you source materials for your work?

In Boulder, I celebrate a thing called “Hippie Christmas” which is basically dumpster diving, but without all the nasty garbage. Boulder is a college town and every spring when classes end, students put everything they don’t want out on the curb. There’s a little bit of everything to be found—clothes, kitchen appliances, sports gear, furniture. Me and my friends make it an event and exchange “gifts” if we find something someone else can use.

10. Where would you like to be with your business this time next year?

By next year, I’d like ReLove Projects less of something I do in my spare time and more of a part-time or full-time endeavor. Right now, I only sell my work on my Etsy site, so I’d like to venture beyond that into stores, craft fairs, and other venues.

12. Anything else you would like us to know about you and your work?

I take custom orders and can take a special piece of clothing and turn into something great!

GREEN CHALLENGE #1: go on a walk and pick up 5 pieces of litter, draw what you picked up (and recycle it afterwards if possible!), then post your photos to the Indie is the New Green Flickr group. I’ll pick some of your drawings to share and post them next week! One person will be chosen to win a reusable coffee cup sleeve made by Textile Fetish and available for sale in the Indie Fixx Shop!

I’m going green and greener today on Indie Fixx…that’s green, as in the color green—and greener, as in eco-green. I’ve compiled a list of goodies that is bound to make you green with envy (yes, today is also going to filled with clichés). Some of my finds are eco-indie products, because I know you all want to be more responsible shoppers. Other finds are just great green lovelies in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Finally, some of my finds are both…green and green-er! Which ones are which????

1. Whale Preppy Print Tee from Charlie and Sarah

2. Shadow Pods Moleskine Journal from Gosh Darn Knit

3. Clover Card from Hello World

4. Owl Gocco Print from Matteart

5. Envy Earrings from August Lately

6. Canvas Tote from Peace Love and Canvas

7. Swirly Green Bobbies from Sprout Studio

8. Fuchsia Foliage Pendant from The Intuitive Garden

9. Coin Purses from Bird vs. Bird

10. Reconstructed Skirt from Secret Lentil

11. Four Cork Tote Bag from Cork and Cotton

12. Recycle or these animals are going to eat your pants T-Shirt from Andy Eats Only Candy

13. Vintage XO Typewriter Earrings from Webby Sue’s

14. Cork necklaces from Uncorked

15. Flirty Apron from Callie Micks

16. Ctrl, Alt, Delete Keyboard Pin Set from Acorn Studios

The Poppytalk Handmade Market for March, ‘Green Pop’, is up and once again there’s some really amazing shops participating. Poppytalk Handmade is a monthly online street market that is put together by Jan of Poppytalk to promote independent designers. The Indie Fixx Shop is one of the featured shops, which I am so proud of and happy about.

Some of my fave new discoveries from this month’s Market are: Orange Willow, Yellow Owl Workshop and Susan Schwake.

Love your valentine and love the earth at the same time with these heart shopper totes from Melissa Vest Designs. At 15″ x 18″ x 6″, they are much larger than your average tote and are available in a variety of designs.

Don’t forget to visit the Wolfie and the Sneak hosted One-day market to benefit the Sierra Club.

Why the Sierra Club? In 5 days, the US will vote whether to make available land for lease for oil drilling in the Chuckchi Sea. The Sierra Club, always a champion of the environment, has been working extra hard to get the word out and we know you want to ensure that they can continue to be the watchdog and protector of the environment.

Buy a Valentine’s Day gift for your “bleeding heart” and know that 100% of the proceeds are going to the Sierra Club. You’ll find wearable goodies, fine art, and other fun stuff.

**edited to add - this fundraiser has ended.

Today’s Reader Fixx Pixx were sumbitted by one of my favorite artists, Tara Hogan of INK&WIT. Tara’s list is a mix of sites and products with a socially conscious and green focus. Check ‘em out, it’s a great list!

Also, make sure to visit Tara’s site and her etsy shop for some lovely, lovely art.

We want to hear from you and so do the other readers! What are your indie favorites? Send us your list and make sure to include a link to your shop and/or blog, so we can include a link when we post your list.

2 Modern Design Talk - 11 ways to live green

Hugg - Seen some green? Hugg is your source for user-submitted green news.

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary - info about factory farming and you can sponsor a rescued animal.

Greenward - is an independent boutique specializing in eco-modern goods.

I’m Organic - Reusable Bags, Organic Clothes, Recycled Wristbands, Biodegradable Mugs and more!

Envirosax - a great reusable bag!

World Changing - a great site for news and info about green products, politics, building ad more.

Flip and Tumble - another great bag to throw in the car or your purse, so you always have a reusable bag for unexpected errands.

Make It Right - Help rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans

Crafting in a Greener World - DIY blog for Environmentalists

Renee from Wolfie and the Sneak is looking for donations of handmade goods for her Bleeding Hearts Benefit. After reading about the impact oil drilling will have on Alaska should the US pass legislation to begin leasing drilling rights in the Chuckchi Sea, Renee was spurred into action. Always interested in environmental causes, Renee decided to use the impending Valentine’s Day holiday to raise the awareness of this particular issue and to raise funds for the Sierra Club, a champion of the environment.

So, if you are a bleeding heart and would like to donate, contact Renee at nobiting [at] gmail.com. The sale will take place for one day only on February 1st, so make sure to visit and shop as well. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Sierra Club.

My friend Laura and I went out for dinner, drinks and to exchange Christmas gifts last night. I got her some cute Nut and Bee stationary and a matching print, a felt flower and some other cool little gifts. She got me the cutest elephant stationary set that’s made from poo…yes, I said poo. Elephant poo to be exact. Mr. Ellie Poo’s products are made from elephant poo from Sri Lanka. Elephants produce about 500 lbs of poo per day and since an elephant’s diet is all vegetarian, the resulting poo is basically raw cellulose. Thoroughly cleaned and processed, the cellulose is made into beautiful acid-free linen-like textured paper.

Mr. Ellie Pooh is partnered with Maximus and their goal, through what is called the Project Peace Paper, is to help reduce the Human/Elephant conflict that currently rages in the rural areas of Sri Lanka. One way they are trying to do that is to develop ways in which elephants can become a sustainable economic resource…and elephant poo may be the key. You can read more about ellie poo and saving the elephants of Sri Lanka at Mr. Ellie Pooh.

Here at Indie Fixx headquarters, a.k.a my basement, we do our part to try to reduce our environmental footprint. We keep the thermostat down in the winter time, combine errands to reduce trips in the car, eat as much local food as we can, recycle etc. One of the biggest things I am really trying to do is reduce the number of plastic bags that I use. What better way to do that than with a MamaGoToMarket Bag from BananaSaurus Rex?!?! Each bag is made from a recycled vintage tablecloth, so now we can be stylish & eco-conscious. Plus, save $4 when you buy a set of two!