Thick linen napkins

 

I have this thing about linen and cotton napkins.  I love them!

A while back, maybe 3 years ago I decided that we needed to go paperless in the napkin department.  I was buying paper napkins in bulk and we used them for everything.  Such a silly waste.  Now I buy wonderful linen and cotton napkins that we use for every meal.  They are easy to find on sale and will last you forever.  I just toss them in the washer with whatever I am washing and rotate them back through.  It is a great way to save paper, time and money!

They look so great with a little string tied around them with a letter as a place setting too!

Vintage storage and display

 

I love this vintage metal cabinet for storing glassware.  So clean and totally cool!

Recycled furniture- Headboard

 

Love this!  and the antlers to hold necklaces!

Fun

via wabi sabi

Reused storage...

 

A great statement- and a great display.

image via country living

Eclectic love....

 

I am so falling for the mix of styles and pieces in here!  Fun!  

The lighting is my favorite.  It is like putting on that super cute pair of shoes with jeans and a t shirt!

Chair redone... an adventure in restyling a piece

 A few months ago (let's say it was 2 when really it must have been at least 5 or 6) I picked up a great set of vintage chairs at a garage sale for $40.00.  I was very excited to redo these little cuties, aside from the nasty comments my husband and mother made about them....  So let us say it has been interesting.  I purchased fabric super cheap in the wholesale district one day months later with the help of one of my favorite customers (thank you Liza!).  Sanded and painted the legs and bases on both pieces (my first adventure with black spray paint).  

A month or so later I took one of these little guys in to the upholsterer with some pretty detailed instructions and much to my surprise picked it up looking like a whole new chair.  What do you think?  I still need to get the other one done (maybe before the end of the year????) but I like the results so far...

Here they are side by side... before and after if you will...

We added the nail head trim, beefed up the seat cushion and the back and removed the attached back cushion. 

You realize of course that no one is allowed to sit in them but hey- they look cool!!

Vintage metal baskets as lights..

How fun are these hanging metal baskets made into lamps from Mary Bairstow...  I love these!

image via Mary Bairstow

Paper bag wrapping and a thank you!

I just had to share this with you! One of my clients needed to leave some books for me on her porch to pick up and when I arrived this is what I found. the cutest little wrapping job with a brown bag and rubber bands! I am sorry but this girl can make everything look good! I love it- Thank you Liza!

Green Design: Reuse containers and crates for potted plants

I just love this outdoor space from a great shop in Copenhagen. A great way to reuse and reduce is to pick up vintage crates, pots and other containers to pot your patio or indoor garden. They work wonderfully for herbs and veggies to keep them close at hand for harvesting.

Stop by the InteriorRevolution this week were we are doing a series of guest posts..

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Green Design: Vintage suitcases and luggage

Design is my major passion so as I was sitting here I was wondering - would you want to know what I think about Green Design...? Humm. Well I don't know if you really want to know, but I am going to share a few things with you once in a while when the mood strikes, so here you go..

Vintage pieces are always a wonderful way to give your home personality, style and a sense of history. I read the other day somewhere that each room in a well designed home should have at least one antique or vintage piece in it- So true. Here a few fun ideas for vintage luggage. They make a great display when stacked and are a simple eco friendly design choice for a side table. If you are short on space they double as storage. I have a few in my office that I use to store samples.

The great thing is you can find them everywhere- flea markets, ebay, etsy and at antique shops.
We list them often in our one of a kind items on Etsy.

images via Anthropologie, Country living and country home

Eric Trine Artist and Designer

I have met so many wonderful people through SEED People's Market and I am excited to share another amazing artist and designer with you, who makes the most creative furnishings and displays! Eric Trine has made a large amount of the pieces at SEED in addition to his many other art installations in the area. Take a peek at some of his work below and check out his blog/site with information on everything he does.

Eric uses Vintage pieces and re works them in many of his furnishings which makes each one unique and eco friendly. He has a few pieces for sale at SEED (the tables shown above) and he takes on private commissions- so he can make something just for you!

Images from Eric Trine and My Sparrow

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Reclaimed materials can be stylish..

I am loving this bedroom featured in Canadian House and Home. What a great use of reclaimed pieces... So stylish and responsible!!

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility

Green for the garden..

Green inspiration at Starbucks... Can you believe it.. After dropping the kids at summer camp I ran into the local Starbucks for some juice and a piece of their super yummy lemon bread (not the best breakfast- but what can you do) and I noticed on my way out that they had a bucket of Grounds for your Garden- I was so excited! This is the first time I have actually seen them in the store. I read about the concept about a year ago and drove around and around looking for a local store that participated... Not too many around my area - so I went to the local Coffee Bean and Tea leaf and just asked if I could have some grounds for my garden- what do you know they gave me a giant trash bag full!!! I have been back several times (getting weird looks every time!) So today this bag of garden gold inspired me to spend a little time outside in the garden before it heated up.

If you have not heard of the program and the concept- it is simple. Used coffee grounds are great for your soil, plants and attract big juicy worms to your garden. When you pick them up at your favorite coffee shop or use them from your morning cup they will be kept out of the local landfill and help to renew and fertilize your garden naturally.

Check out what Starbucks says about it here.

Personally I mix them in with my soil not applying them directly to any one plant. They make the garden smell really great for about a week. What ever I don't use in my garden I put into my worm composter- they love it! So don't be shy ask your local coffee house for a bag and give it a try for yourself! Oh and don't forget to bring your reusable coffee mug- that's good for the Earth too!

My Sparrow -stylish responsibility

Summer Camping and picnics

Well, it is almost that time of year again- Summer! It's time to get outside and camp, picnic, hike or whatever you are into.

We went camping this weekend, and realized that when we do we bring so many things with us that are packaged and are one time use items. In an effort to make our summer trips less taxing on the environment we decided to make some changes for the better. We will now have a large designated trash can in the center of camp for recycling bottles and cans- so many get tossed in with the regular trash! We also will be using compostable and biodegradable plates and utensils- I love the BAMBU line - cute and compostable! So do yourself and the environment a favor this summer when you camp or even picnic remember to recycle and to use products that have a low impact on the environment!

Bambu can be found at Branch online.

Happy Camping!

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility