The charm and value of handmade craftsmanship can never be underestimated. This little fashion accessory is created from a variety of upcycled and recycled materials, including: an old deerskin, fabric from a vintage sofa, and brown leather from an old shop display. The book stack has a hole drilled in the center to allow the books to spin and twirl independently. Handmade to order.

$160 @ Peg and Awl

A great deal of our modern way of living literally rests on the simple use of cement. Without this useful substance we could not produce concrete, the fundamental ingredient of our houses, buildings and skyscrapers. Unfortunately, one of the costs of making cement is that it is highly damaging to the environment. To obtain the raw materials for cement requires quarrying, which has various impacts on the surrounding ecosystems. During the production process of cement, CO2 emissions come from both the heating of calcium carbonate as well as from the machines needed for production. This production process has also been found to release heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and thallium into the atmosphere. (more…)