DIY | greenUPGRADER

How to Turn a Blown Out Bike Tire into a Fancy Headband

by Becky Striepe on March 17th, 2010

Last week, Beth talked about recycled shoes made from TVs instead of leather or vinyl, and I've been coveting them ever since. I love a good leather alternative, especially one that isn't vinyl, so you can imagine my delight when I came across Becky Stern's detailed video tutorial on making a headband out of a spent bike tube. Her tutorial is based on one for making a chain link leather necklace, but in a stroke of genius she subbed a blown bike tire for the leather. The results are stunning! Check out the video:

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Posted in DIY 2 Comments

The Cleaning Power of Vodka

by Becky Striepe on March 8th, 2010

Getting that green cleaning regiment together means gathering lots of household ingredients from lemons to baking soda to vinegar to... vodka?

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Posted in DIY, Living 3 Comments

Repurposed Pallet Adirondack Chair

by Becky Striepe on March 4th, 2010

What do you get when you try to solve a neighborhood problem from an industrial design perspective? Designer Shelton Davis did just that and came up with an amazing repurposed chair built from pallet wood that otherwise would have headed for the landfill.

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Posted in Concept+Design, DIY, Innovation 7 Comments

Discover Your Inner Artist With Eco-Friendly Wall Murals

by Beth Buczynski on March 3rd, 2010

Looking for an easy, eco-friendly way to spruce up the indoor decor without going all out on a wall paper or paint project?

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Posted in DIY, Home+Decor 0 Comments

Bokashi: Fighting Smelly Compost and Dirty Water with Microbes

by Becky Striepe on March 2nd, 2010

The more I read about bokashi the more amazing it sounds! Sometimes used in kitchen composters, this mixture of bran, molasses, and microorganisms is stellar at breaking down food scraps. The key ingredients are bokashi effective microorganisms.

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Posted in DIY, Living, Yard+Garden 1 Comment

Drinking Local: DIY Wine From Dandelions

by Becky Striepe on March 1st, 2010

If you're getting your veggies from a CSA or farmers market and working hard to reduce your food miles, it feels counterintuitive to purchase wine from hundreds or thousands of miles away.

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Posted in DIY, Food+Drink 1 Comment

Low-Impact Board Games Deliver Big Time Fun!

by Beth Buczynski on February 26th, 2010

You might be surprised to learn that board games are becoming popular all over again.

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Posted in DIY, Fun+Games 2 Comments

Sew to Serve Connects Seamstresses with Causes

by Becky Striepe on February 24th, 2010

Bernina, a popular sewing machine company is no stranger to sewing for a good cause. Now, they've launched a community to help even more seamstresses connect with charities in need: We All Sew.

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Posted in DIY 1 Comment

Fabric Flowers from Your Scrap Bin [Craft Recycled Tutorial]

by Becky Striepe on January 27th, 2010

Conventional cut flowers are bad news. Those lovely bouquets come from far away, and that means a gigantic carbon footprint along with your bunch of Gerbera daisies. Not to mention the water it takes to grow all of those flowers that live for a few days before wilting in their vases.

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Posted in DIY 0 Comments

Eco-Friendly Tissue Tips for Stuffy Noses

by Becky Striepe on January 25th, 2010

We’re right in the thick of cold and flu season, and if you’re anything like me, this chilly weather is not doing your nose any favors. Rather than relying on paper from virgin forests to clear your sinuses, let’s talk about some better tissue options!

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Posted in DIY, Living 5 Comments