Recycled Jewelry: Sea Glass & Vintage China

With two painters for parents and displaying an interest in elaborate beaded jewelry at an early age, it was inevitable that Jessica Lee would fall into a career that allowed her to explore her artistic roots. Equipped with a college education in jewelry design and apprenticeships with notable silver smiths, Lee now sells her own eco-friendly trinkets in shops all over the world.

In the world of jewelry making, Mother Nature often inspires artists to look deeper into their surroundings for ideas and materials to create their next masterpiece. In this case, Jessica Lee was introduced to the natural beauty of sea glass found along the Californian coast. Thanks to the ocean, lost glass vessels are broken, washed away, and naturally smoothed over by constant love from sand and waves. This means that each piece of sea glass possesses its own unique shape, size, and texture – making both unpredictable and one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. Today, Lee's product line includes sea glass necklaces in hues of green and amber; rings with sterling silver surrounding antique Coca Cola bottle sea glass; and amber-tinted sea glass double earrings. She also expanded her recycled wearable art to include stained glass, carved stone, and themed pottery pieces depicting floral and Asian designs. Sea Glass Bracelet From amber to green to gray, you can proudly wear the colors of sea and earth with this striking sea glass bracelet that offers exclusive shapes fashioned directly from California waters. Handmade in Bali and California, each piece is hand bezeled in sterling silver. Pottery Watch Some watches were just born to leave a statement and this Jessica Lee creation accomplishes just that with bold pieces of pottery that certainly catch the eye. The combination of sterling silver and inviting designs immediately draws attention. The watch face showcases a stainless steel back. The entire piece is handmade in Bali and hand finished in California. Lee is quite adept in creating the perfect match of materials. Other creations include red and white vintage pottery paired with clear sea glass; hand-carved pottery pieces in the shapes of leaves and flowers; and floral pottery pieces and pearls. Sea Glass and Vintage China Leaf Bracelet I absolutely love this bracelet, as the soft tones of green are not only soothing to look at, but the detail is also extremely interesting to explore. Comprised of vintage china and sea glass, this bracelet is sure to transform your wrist into an intriguingly delicate sight. This is just one of the many displays of what Jessica Lee can produce with vintage china that she collects from antique shops, auctions, resale stores, family, and friends. Handmade in Bali and hand-finished in Oregon, this bracelet is absolutely unforgettable. To browse an assortment of colorful sea glass and pottery jewelry by Jessica Lee, including rings, earrings, and pins, don’t forget to visit her store. Photo Credits: Uncommon Goods

Men's Accessories: Cuff Link Crazy

Welcome to the world of Ward Wallau, who has made discarded and discontinued items a usable art form. There seems no end to his imaginative cuff link creations, as he transforms everyday and nearly forgotten objects into the mark of a well-dressed man. 1) Old New York City Transit Tokens When New York City finally discontinued its 'Y' cutout subway tokens in 1980, a light bulb went off in Ward Wallau's head, as he envisioned the ultimate city-inspired pair of recycled cuff links. It actually took him 11 years to petition the New York Transit Authority to grant him permission to use the outdated tokens in his jewelry making. Thankfully, Wallau was granted an exclusive license and now you can own the final product of his labor, priced between $80 and $125/pair. Click here to find other subway token cuff links by Ward Wallau, including San Francisco, Honolulu, and Chicago Transit. 2) Typewriter Keys Long gone are the days where the diligent journalist pounds away on a heavy, manual typewriter, but the beauty and allure of our literary past is not yet a closed chapter. Set in fresh base-metal findings, genuine vintage typewriter keys are handmade into a striking pair of cuff links. A set of Typewriter Key Cuff Links (2 white keys, 2 black keys, or one of each) costs $38. 3) Vintage Watches The combination of levers, gears, and jewels create striking ornamentation for any cuffed shirt. Wallau uses genuine movements from stem-winding watches that date back to the early to mid-20th century. Set in sterling silver findings, these distinctive Vintage Watch Movement Cuff Links ($130) make the perfect Father's Day, birthday, or anniversary gift. 4) Stadium Seats Looking for the perfect gift for a Yankee fan? Imagine an authentic piece of history decorating the sleeve with a pair of Yankee Stadium Cuff Links ($150) – made from recycled wood stadium seats. Aptly molded into the shape of a diamond, this priceless collectible comes from actual seating removed during the renovation of New York's infamous Yankee Stadium. Each cuff link comes with an engraving of the stadium name on back. A certificate of authenticity also accompanies this timeless gift. Wallau also designed cuff links from Chicago's old Wrigley Field stadium seats. 5) Dice Thanks to the pairing of jewelry designers Ward Wallau and Dia Kline, you can display your high-roller status or increase your luck with a pair of Lucky 7 Dice Cuff Links ($90/pair) mounted in sterling silver findings. Why is this piece eco-friendly? The cuff links are made from recycled/reground plastics that are cast and hand-drilled – not molded and produced in mass quantity like the majority of department store selections. Other Ward Wallau creations include:

• Liberty Dime Cuff Links ($60)
• Old Buffalo Nickel Cuff Links ($62)
• Scrabble Tile Cuff Links ($80)
• Motherboard Cuff Links ($128)
• Wine Barrel Cuff Links ($130)

Photo Credits and Purchase Information: Eco-Artware.com

Creative Recycled Goods – An Art Form

From dazzling jewelry to eye-catching household décor, an increasing number of artists, entrepreneurs, and other companies are producing some of the most resourcefully creative recycled and reclaimed goods. While all of the pieces mentioned below serve a purpose, it's pretty hard to ignore their artistic value. Hopefully, if more people embrace the attitude of breathing new life into "old things" – we can all place less strain on the environment by decreasing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Recycled Windshield Glass Multi-Purpose Bowl ($48) The rock that shattered your windshield seems to have robbed you of its intended use, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road for the glass. Thanks to Colombian artisans, reclaimed glass from old car windows are being transformed into charming multi-purpose bowls with flair. A dye used to lower sun glare in the original windows contributes a striking green tint to finished bowls, which you can use to: · Decorate your home · Arrange fresh flowers · Serve punch to guests · Give your pet fish a classier home Recycled Skateboard Cufflinks ($20) Wear your wild child-at-heart spirit literally on your sleeve with a pair of recycled skateboard cufflinks. Stylish and full of color, these cufflinks come from used or broken skateboards – handmade in Nova Scotia, Canada by Jan and Jeff Whidden. Uncommon Goods also features the creativity of Laura Skelton, who recycles old suits and neckties into new wallets and necklaces. Round Flip Flop Baskets (Set of 2 for $120) You'll never look at your flip-flops the same again when you come across this vibrant explosion of color of flip-flop baskets made in the Philippines. Sparing landfills of further clutter, scrap foam rubber produced by the factories that bring your summer footwear to life are being transformed into multihued trashcans and storage containers for playrooms. While the flip-flop baskets can be used inside your home and in the outdoors – make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. Recycled Tennis Racquet Bottle Openers ($65) Calling all tennis fans and players! How would you like to open your next premium beer with a handmade bottle opener fashioned from a vintage wooden tennis racket (shown above)? Designer Ward Wallau, who also creates vintage typewriter key jewelry, is responsible for this one-of-a-kind work of art – a must for any tennis buff. Ammunitions Case Wine Bar ($300) Seeped in nostalgia, this Vietnam-era weaponry case visually speaks to military enthusiasts, but also doubles as a decorative wine bar – complete with spaces to hold three bottles, six glasses, and spare room for tools. To find other recycled barware items at Uncommon Goods, such as a recycled ski wine rack, click here. Image Credits: Uncommon Goods

Teach Kids to Respect the Environment with Animalopoly

As a nature and animal lover, I couldn't resist passing up a post regarding an interesting take on an unforgettably classic game. Prepare for a holiday gift idea that not only expands the minds of children, but also instills compassion for the environment. Animalopoly ($~27.99) offers just as much fun as the traditional Monopoly game, but instead of landing on Park Place and picking up Free Parking, you have the chance to get chummy with a few members of the wild animal kingdom. Designed for 2 to 6 players (ages 8 and up), the game features colorful, stimulating imagery and fun facts found on the back of Animal Certificates. With Animalopoly, you exchange the world of real estate and mortgages for the excitement of becoming a caretaker of animals. No need to collect rent from your opponents – players are expected to pay Meal Fees. The main objective of the game is to also collect all of the "4 Elements" necessary for animals to survive – land, food, water, and clean air. Hopefully, you can work your way up to obtaining a Habitat where an animal can live on its own. I personally would love to purchase this game for my nephew (which I found while browsing Eco Express), but sadly, he's too young to appreciate the message…or the directions. But, if you're in need of a unique eco-friendly gift – I highly recommend Animalopoly.