Check out the collection of upcycled denim bags over at Ajmac Studio on Etsy. Wow! An entire page of ideas for upcycling wood pallets just like this Adirondack style chair. Look here at Make Magazine. The good folks at Factory Direct Craft have a tutorial on their blog showing how to make yarn from old T-shirts. It is much easier than you think and the detailed instructions show how to make a continuous strand from one T-shirt. Pretty cool! Aunt Peaches has a tutorial for upcycling political …

(We hope you enjoy this article. It is the first of many we have lined up to showcase creative Etsy artists. Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling handmade and vintage goods. A large number of Etsy artists use upcycled and recycled materials.) These sweet little slippers are made from upcycled sweaters and leather jackets and skirts. What does a manufacturing engineer do when she can’t find the perfect slippers for her baby daughter? Design and make her own of course! Josie Marsh spent 12 years …

What’s better than a recycled gift bag? A gift bag made of recycled material that is designed to be used and reused multiple times. Many of us have a stash of gently used gift bags that we hold on to so they can be “regifted.” I will admit that I usually try to hide the fact that the gift bag isn’t new. I remove the old gift tag and put in fresh tissue paper. Now, it’s trendy to reuse gift bags. I love this idea. Not only …

Need a unique gift idea for the eco-consious friend in your life? I bought this cool bowl for my Sister-in-Law. She loves it and uses it for storing her keys. It is handcrafted from discarded magazines and posters in Southern Vietnam. The producer of the bowls, Mai Vietnamese Handicraft, works to develop economic self-reliance and training to poor and neglected women in Southern Vietnam. Each bowl is colorful and unique and is made in compliance with Fair Trade practices. That might make it a triple win! For less …

I love the look of these ballet flats.These upcyled shoes are made from Chinese language newspaper that are woven together and then dipped in plastic for durability and weather protection. Each shoe is unique and very chic. This makes for a perfect combination of upcycling and fashion. The style of these shoes also remind me of the totally awesome and rad jelly shoes that I used to wear in the 80s. These are like my grown-up version of jellies. Happy Upcycling, Jill

We love this Farm Table. It looks so sturdy and durable. Very different from all of the particle board and laminate tables that you see in most furniture stores. The craftsman at Hammer & Hand were already established as green builders before they tried their hand at upcycled furniture. We’re glad they did because this table is beautiful. The wood from this table comes from century old barn timbers and they use a natural and environmentally friendly oil to finish the wood. That means you don’t need to …

Check out these earrings! Can you believe they are made of old skateboards? I don’t think the creativity of upcyclers will ever cease to amaze me. They are not just cool because they are made of upcycled skateboards, they look awesome and kind of have a retro 80’s feel to them. At a very reasonable price, who wouldn’t want these earrings? If you want to be completely bedecked in old skateboards, they also make belt buckles and necklaces. http://www.etsy.com/shop/MuKee

The eco smart poly-flax is a super-cool, earth-friendly cutting board from our friends at architec. Architec is known for making hip & unique kitchen supplies and for their efforts in green manufacturing. These cutting boards are designed to be functional and visually stunning at the same time. They’re made in the USA, come in three fun colors, cost around $20, and are part of their “eco smart” line which features a ton of great environmental-friendly bonuses. What makes it “eco smart?” Even though it looks like a regular plastic …