For the past several weeks, my family has been using water bottles from Liberty Bottleworks. From the minute I took the bottles out of the box, I was excited about them. They just look cool. Perhaps because the unique graphics are designed by actual artists from all around the United States. They go way beyond just looking cool though. They are made from recycled aluminum with BPA free materials. The bottles exceed FDA requirements. They are non-toxic and non-leaching. The deep drawn aluminum construction results in less dents …

Meet Jessie Katz, a formally trained artist and graphic designer from Nyack, New York. Among her many artistic endeavors, Jessie crafts creative and trendy jewelry from recycled and repurposed materials. The materials she uses include: plastic gift and credit cards, vintage and broken jewelry, scrap wood and more. The necklace she shared with us is crafted from a piece of scrap wood left from her Dad building the neck of an octave mandolin. The handmade necklace is beautiful, unique and well-made. We love the story behind it too! …

For the last few weeks I have been wearing this elegant Zulugrass jewelry. I must admit that when I first heard of jewelry made from grass, I thought that it would look primitive or rustic. I was wrong and pleasantly surprised at the elegance and beauty of this jewelry. It is versatile and can be worn with your best dress or your favorite jeans. The strands are light and comfortable to wear. The single strands can be worn in a variety of ways from a …

Where do old skateboards go when they die? If Matt Mercurio has anything to do with it, they receive a new life. He recreates them into colorful jewelry and unique wall art. He was an artist and skater in his younger days while growing up in Orlando,FL. Life happened and for a time he left art and skating behind him. Then in 2006, he followed his family to Portland, Oregon. The community was filled with artists and skaters, igniting a new passion for Matt. Inspired by a few …

Do you want to look like an artist? Then start shopping at the Etsy shop Decomp. This artistic shop is filled with creative and nature inspired clothing, jewelry, and accessories made mostly from recycled and upcycled materials. Meet Nicolette, the creative mind behind Decomp. Each of her organic pieces are planned in great detail. They are visually interesting with a perfect combination of texture and color. Her love of nature shines through in each of her designs. Her favorite material to work with is leather scrap that …

[Editor’s Note: We invited our friends at ReuseThisBag.com to write this article about their custom reusable bags. They have an interesting story to tell- we encourage you to check them out.] Turning Water Bottles into Custom Reusable Bags? PET, which stands for polyethylene terephthalate, is a plastic resin and a form of polyester. You may be asking yourself the question, “Hey wait, I’m just here to read about cool and interesting things. Why are you telling me this stuff?” To make a long story short, PET is …

Check out the beautiful upcycled furniture from our friends at Farm Chic. Farm Chic specializes in upcycled and antique furniture. They will also create upcycled pieces for you if you have a specific piece you would like repurposed or redone. Farm Chic sells most of their furniture in the United Kingdom and Europe. If you’re able to visit their Cotswolds store, be prepared for an entire furniture shopping experience. Each customer receives individualized attention and service. The owner also runs a B&B where you could stay the night …

Our latest Etsy feature is our friend Heather of Re-Zip It! Heather takes vintage zippers and turns them into some of the most beautiful and unique creations we have seen. Last week, Heather’s creations were featured on The Today Show. She was in the top 10 finalists in the Art of Reuse Contest that was sponsored by NBC and Etsy. Congratulations Heather! Heather is a full time working, married mother to a beautiful son named Benjamin. She works in a jail as a therapist helping individuals …

Mother’s Day is coming up on May 8th. Time to pick out that perfect gift for Mom and have it ready to go by Mother’s Day. Look through our list of upcycled gifts, click on the link, and order your gift today! 1. Remember the Trashy Earrings we featured a while back? They make a great Mother’s Day gift. Your Mom will love them and they help other Mother’s in Honduras by providing them with income. Read our story about them here. Buy them from Trashy Earrings …

What does a former forensic scientist do when she stops dismantling meth labs to raise her four children and take care of her family? She starts dismantling T-shirts to create adorable dresses for little girls! As a child, Carrie Poniewaz’s mother gave her some good advice: “learn to type and learn to sew then you will always have a job and you will always have something to wear.” While her love of sewing and creating started at a young age growing up with a family of creative women, …