SF Green Labs is now one year old. Thanks to everyone who has helped by reading, sending it tips, and especially to the designers who created all the fabulous, inspiring, and wonderful eco-goodness that has graced our pages. Now we're off to eat some organic chocolate cake and make a wish on our soy candles.
There are a lot of people out there making recycled circuit board coasters and clipboards, which are usually just boards cut to shape. Then there's Debby Arem, who brings an artist's eye and discipline to the design of housewares, office supplies, and jewelry. Her work is in museum shops and galleries all over the world, but she's not too fancy to have an Etsy storefront, too. Some of the pieces are so well thought out that you hardly notice the circuit boards. I especially love her lamps and switchplate covers.
But by far, my favorite piece in her shop is this ornate recycled cigar box. Just lovely.
Images from Debby Arem Designs. 
One way to spruce up that curb find or second-hand furniture find is with a fresh coat of paint. If that’s too dull for your tastes, you can always do something more like this:
Sans Parapluie (aka Lucas Rise) out of Buenos Aires features elaborate paint designs on salvaged armoires. It may not be for everyone, but it’s pretty amazing.
Following up on our seltzer bottle lights, these are made of vintage glass insulators.
No need for glue or screws. Rope is where it's at."Aïssa Logerot took into account packaging, transportation, storage, mounting, dismantling, and of course, mantling."
More photos at Yanko Design.
Felt meets ribbon candy. Delicious!
...he might have put this in his pad.
From the artist: "Handcrafted wooden toys of recently extinct animals. I selected these four creatures for their beautiful shapes and patterns. Choosing an anthropomorphic approach, I designed them with simplified, humanistic shapes and statures. Once unfolded, the packaging becomes an information graphic about the animal inside. These toys are meant to incite wonder and interest in creatures that existed only a short while ago." 
Images from Josh Finkle. Thanks to NotCot for the tip.
Our latest design crush offered up his home for a sneak peek on Design*Sponge. Some of our favorite pieces ended up in his house. 
We're going to kick off the new year with a little inspirational eye candy--Lovely bits of retro this and that, put together brilliantly by artist Michael Johansson. This guy has a knack (OCD talent?) for making things fit just-so. I'd love a tour of the studio where these things come together.
My favorite is this one, with 5 solid forms, each the same size, and each comprised of smaller and smaller boxes.
