Sustainable is Good | Where design, lifestyle and packaging meet

Handmade Holiday Gift Ideas

Handmade items always make wonderful gifts for the holidays.  I've selected some handmade items I think represent some excellent ideas for holiday gifting this year.  Don't worry there is still plenty of time to get the perfect gift.

Crabby Kitten Pet Bed in Pumpkin and Barley by Prairie Dog Art Shop.  Beautifully made and available in a variety of colors.  $40.

Hachimitsu Needle Felted Weasel - incredibly charming this adorable creature is handmade by a current student at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). $25.

Eco Friendly Resuable Sandwich bag - Perfect practical stocking stuffer.  Made with unbleached cotton and nylon lined.  Made in Providence, RI.  Many other styles.  $8.

Eastern Bluebird - handmade by a Connecticut-based artist who specialises in felt birds.  Check out her shop she has many birds available. I am giving one of her delightful birds to a bird loving family member this year. $41.

See more gift ideas from our 2010 holiday gift guide.

Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide: Green Gift Ideas

 

Here are some excellent handmade gift ideas that are both eco-friendly, stylish and unique.

O&G STUDIO:  Fish Cheese Knife and Spreader.  Handmade in Rhode Island.  Lead-free cast pewter handles, English blades.  Perfect for the foodie on your list. $26/ea.

AUSTRALIAN SCENT:  100% Beeswax candles.  Available in two scents.  Made with local honey in Brooklyn, NY.   See their Facebook page for more info. 

CALF PASTURE WOODWORKS:  Incredibly charming handmade toys.  Made in Rhode Island.  Numerous toys available.  Priced between $8 - 20 per toy.   Discovered at the RISD Holiday Sale.

See more items from the 2010 Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide

Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide: Computer Accessories

Today's installment of the holiday gift guide includes suggestions for green computer accessories. 

FELTPLANET:  5mm Merino Wool Felt Mousepad.  I've used one of these for several months and love it.  $15

CUSHCASE:  Corduroy laptop case.  Available in many sizes designed for Apple laptops but fit most others.  I've used one for a while its both functional and stylish. $18.95

PORTEL:  Laptop case.  Available in many sizes, also cases for iPad cases.  $69-81

See other recommendations from the 2010 Sustainable Gift Guide

Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Vintage Antiques

 
A sure bet for wonderful holiday presents are vintage items.  Buying vintage items is the ultimate in sustainability.  Here are some wonderful ideas I found from Etsy. 

NICK HAUS:  Victorian Black Forest Wall Shelf.  Openwork beautifully carved wood. This shop has a coupon for 15% for all items enter NHBLACKFRIDAY2010 at check out through Monday 11/29.  Shop has more than 60 carefully curated items. $75.

CALLOOHCALLAY: Vintage set of small copper molds with tin lining.  Shop has hundreds of other items. $25

MOXIETHRIFT:  Vintage planter white and brown light blue inside rectangular.  Shop has hundreds of other items. $8

HINDSVIK:  Mid Century Wood and Metal Lamp.  Lots of visual pop. Shop has more than 50 other items. $89

JOHNNYVINTAGE:  Retro lunch box.  Shop has more than 100 other items.  $23.

 

See the other recommendations from the 2010 Holiday Gift Guide

See my list on ETSY of additional gift suggestions

Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Practical Presents Dryer Balls

Today's installment of the Holiday Gift Guide focuses on practical presents for the home.  For eco-friendly practical presents there is no better place than Etsy.  Etsy my favorite place to look for handmade and vintage items from small businesses all across the country and globe.  Etsy has made tremendous improvements in their site over the last few years and it really makes it easy to search and find wonderful items.

Today's focus is on dryer balls - makes the perfect stocking gift.

Farm Fresh Fibers:  Wool Dryer balls.  Made from wool from their farm's Romney sheep and Angora goats in Vermont.  Dryer balls help reduce drying time without the use of harmful chemicals or toxic plastics like many of the conventional versions.  These natural dryer balls also do not leave a residue on clothes like dryer sheets.  Farm fresh also sells a lavender scented version.   $12 for 3.

The Yarn Box:  Recycled Wool Dryer Balls.  These dryer balls are made from recycled wool in Seattle Washington and come in a nice little bag.  $18 for 3.

Green Belle Designs:  Dryer Balls 6 pack.  Here is a nice value pack of felted wool dryer balls from Green Belle Designs in Belleville, PA.  This assortment features natural colors which we like.  $24 for 6.

Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Toys

Back in its 2nd year the Sustainable is Good holiday 2010 gift guide kicks off today Black Friday.  This year I will be featuring a variety of products over multiple days which can help you choose more sustainable gifts this holiday season. 

Items in this years gift guide are selected by me and must include natural or recycled/re-purposed/reused components and have responsible packaging.  This year you'll see some great handmade items, some wonderful suggestions for vintage finds and of course some excellent products worth mentioning from retailers.

You can always check out last year's guide for some excellent products still available.

Today's gift guide suggestions focus on gifts for kids.
 

Fuzzy Dalmatian Puppet:  Adorable puppet made by Puppets by Margie.  Each Puppet is designed and made by hand.  Margie currently has over 50 puppets for sale in her online shop.  $7.50

Idbids Waverly Eco-Friendly Starter Kit:  Include storybook, soft plush toy and cinch sack made of organic cotton.  Components made from eco-friendly and recycled materials.  Company is participating in Amazon's Frustration Free packaging program which means there is no excessive wasteful packaging.  $19.99 on Amazon.

 

 

Squishy Press:  These books are designed with babies in mind.  They are printed in the US using eco paper, inks and printing process using no harmful glues or chemicals.  They currently have two titles Opposites and Silly Faces.  $11.95

Green Mountain Wee Woolies:  Felted Wool Castle with King and Queen Dolls.  Green Mountain specializes in unique wool items handcrafted in Vermont.  Check their Etsy store for a number of dolls and other fun toys.  $22.00