Growing Up Green Presents: The Green Guide – Environment & Kid Friendly Picks, October 2010
Posted: October 15th, 2010The Green Guide is brought to you during the first week of each month by expert in the field Raquel, from Growing Up Green (affectionately dubbed ‘GUG’), the Australian authority on modern eco, green, environmentally friendly and fair trade options for kids.
Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.
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1 – I know a little English pig named George who’d be roarrrring with delight over these magnetic dino sets! Consisting of 24 pieces, Edtoys’s building system is made from beech wood with rotating magnetic connectors allowing kids to join and move parts. The set has four dinosaur types for kids to play with and learn about, including everyone’s favourite baddie, Tyrannosaurus Rex. If your kids aren’t satisfied with the way things have evolved, they can go ahead and mix up the parts to create their very own species of dinosaur.
2 – If dad’s not exactly busting a move to carry the nappy bag, here’s a little something that may just tweak his enthusiasm. DYRT (Do You Recycle Too) recycled billboard nappy bags look like hip messenger bags but inside they’re completely kitted out for daddy duty, with internal bottle holders, tissue storage, changing mat and zippered pockets. Handmade in Indonesia, the sale of the fair trade bags provide micro finance and sewing machines for artisans in poorer communities.
3 – When it comes to spirited girl’s wear Coco and Ginger’s dresses pack plenty of pep, from the flowery fireworks of ‘Alba’, above left, to their quintessential ode to summer, ‘Mica’, a fashion gem shimmering in sunny lemon. Amongst the lively range, there’s also a fair splash of electric turquoise and pinks, and each pretty number has been gorgeously hand detailed with embroidery, crochet or smocking. Coco and Ginger’s garments are fairly made with handwoven fabrics by small family businesses in Indonesia.
4 – Showing they’re not shy when it comes to colour – who’s afraid of Cerise?! – the husband and wife team behind kid’s textile company Humm Graphics and Products combine glowing shades with modern animal prints in a collection celebrating all that’s diverse and wonderful in our world. It’s fair to say, if Humm Graphics’ bed linen were a drink, it’d be a ice cream spider: a bubbly, fizzy, sweet refreshment; and there’s a special treat for baby too, yummy sets of sorbet hued bedding handmade in 100% organic cotton.
5 - I’ve spied plenty of brown bears in my time so I’m particularly diggin’ this fair trade gal’s delightfully pink profile. Made with hand spun naturally dyed cotton filled with healthy, hypo-allergenic kapok fibre, traditionalist tikes will no doubt love his brown and charcoal friends too. Eco Bear comes in small (32cm) and large (45cm) sizes but which ever size and colour she chooses, once home I’m sure your little one won’t bear to be apart from her newfound buddy!
6 – If you want to add some wow to kid’s spaces, there’s no better way to transform drab to fab than with tissue pom poms. Plus, they’re darn inexpensive and now, thanks to Etsy seller Blossom Lane Boutique, they’re a doddle to make. Using tissue made from recycled paper, Blossom Lane has a stunning collection of pom pom kits in no less than 50 – count ‘em! – colour choices. Available in multiples of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, the kits come with monofilament and instruction sheet, all you have to do is fluff and hang. Handmade, green and gorgeous? My order is in!
7 – Textile designer Julie Lyderson-Jackson is channelling your little miss’s inner cowgirl with her spunkily designed A-line pintuck dress. Made from rough n tumble proof linen, it’s perfect for wild west exploration, i.e., garden play and any other ‘mucking’ about of the high spirited kind! Cutely detailed with hemp/organic cotton ribbon ties and a cool hand-block printed linen horse patch, the funky frock can be worn as either a dress or tunic for girls 3 to 8 years and is one of many lovely, naturally compostable garments and homewares of Julie’s Spool and Sparrow label.
8 – Adding a bit of creature feature to kid’s rooms is a natural affair with Graphic Spaces’ handcrafted wooden book ends. This family business is headed by daughter and graphic designer Christy Wernert, who designs each piece in South Carolina before dad brings them to life in his Florida wood shop, using a mix of beautifully crafted walnut, birch, okoume and maple woods. There’s over ten delightful designs, from hedgehogs to foxes, and each comes packaged in an earth friendly burlap bag and can be bought separately to mix and match how you please.
9 – It may not be up there with death, divorce and moving but for some of us choosing the perfect pressie is pretty traumatic! Here to rescue us – and the recipient – from shopping misdeeds is Giftboxology, who’ve got lovely Australian handmade items all wrapped up in beautifully curated gift sets. Bundled in an eco friendly box with coloured paper and twine, their baby themed gifts include Earthslings Earthwraps, handmade rattles and teethers, organic soaps and lavender infused cold packs. Plus, for each one sold, this socially responsible business makes a donation to the Children’s Starlight Foundation.
10 – Dog may be man’s best friend but Moose here thinks he’s the right animal for the job, and with a lovable face and huggable body, I’m guessing your munchkin won’t hesitate to enlist him in the coveted position of favourite play mate! Ecochums softies are made from unbleached wool and have a few tricks up their woollen hoofs: Moose here is also a sometime microwavable comforter and at other times, he’ll keep kid’s jammies tucked tidily away.
Discover more green finds at Growing Up Green the Australian authority on modern eco options for kids.
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