Well, if you have the imagination and skill of Etsy crafter Screaming Chee Toes, it will look like this fantastically giant plarn rug.  Plarn is a type of yarn made out of plastic grocery bags.  This is upcycling in it's truest form -- taking something of absolutely no value and transforming it into something with an inherently high value!

I can't begin to imagine how many hours were spent crocheting this gorgeous rug which can both indoors and outdoors.  Hundreds of yards of yarn was also woven into the design.  The resulting rug aptly entitled Living Large measures in at 5 x 7 feet!

This rug is more than just planet friendly though, it's also foot friendly!  One would imagine that the repurposed plastic bags would be crunchy or crinkly under the feet but the crafter says that it is soft and tender on the toes.

Imagine how fantastic this rug would look in a main entranceway.  The rug naturally creates static which helps to trap dust.  This could make for a much tidier front entranceway!  I think it would look especially amazing in an outdoor living space.  Many people are bringing outdoor living to a whole new level with couches, reclining chairs and chimineas to help set up the perfect conversation and relaxation area outside.  A rug like this would really help to define the space and give it even more of a living like you're indoors outdoors kind of feel.

This crafter has a range of these rugs in different styles, colors and sizes to suit every need.  Definitely worth grabbing your organic fair trade coffee and poking through.  Happy shopping!!

The Etsy shop Londons Gate is jam packed with wonderfully steampunk designs.  Their pieces range from steampunk to gothic to victorian to just plain dark.

Many of their pieces involve the use of watch movements being repurposed into the focal point of the entire piece of jewelry.  They've got a fantastic selection of rings available on their site featuring many different kinds of watch movements.  One thing that I really like about this site is that what is pictured is exactly what you receive.  It's not similar to or like what's pictured, it really is the actual item.  This means you know exactly what the piece you choose will look like!

They do custom pieces or you can choose from their ever expanding selection available in their store.  I use the term "store" loosely as they claim this is not a business.  Just two young people working together developing their craft!

The pieces are quite affordable as well.  The ring pictured here is priced at $35.  It's a 17 jewel watch movement attached to a filigree adjustable band.  That's a steal of a deal for the huge statement that such a piece would make!  The ring prices vary in range but all are extremely budget friendly.

They've also got a variety of necklaces, cufflinks and even earrings for sale that utilize various watch movements.  My favorite necklace is the one pictured here with the black flower.  What a stunning accent piece that would look good in everything from casual wear to the office to a beautiful necklace to go with that little black dress.  It uses a vintage watch movement mounted to a vintage silver setting.  The black rose is what really set it off though.

This is definitely an Etsy shop worth checking back into again and again.  It sounds as though items are added almost daily.  They currently have 273 items for sale and I love almost each and every one.  Some of my favorites are the Lolita gothic hair clips that they have available in vintage silver settings.  Absolutely adorable!!  I love the flower designs and the skull designs.  You can even have them made in a different color to match a certain outfit!!

Check out the gorgeous hand crafted mobile from Etsy crafter atomicmiss.  The mobile is hung by natural jute fibers with bamboo or willow branches forming the bird perches.  The birds themselves are made from a variety of fabrics and stuffed with organic filling.  She's got a huge range of fabric patterns available and is open to customizing the mobile to suit your decor.

Items such as this one are clearly crafted with love, care, an eye for detail and design.  A mobile such as this one would bring years and years of enjoyment to a child whereas a licensed mobile bought from a big box store would be junked within a year or two.  This elegant, nature inspired mobile could hang in a children's room for years to come!  Handcrafted items such as this that are themed after nature instead of the latest cartoon are a much better investment.

This design was created by the artist making a mobile for her friend's baby.  When the design turned out so beautifully, she was inspired to make more and offer them for sale in her Etsy shop.  I'm so glad she did!

Check out her shop for some more great eco-friendly finds.  I especially love her range of coffee cup sleeves made from upcycled fabrics.  They are lined with felt to help keep in the heat and can save 6-8 pounds of carboard over the course of a year for an average consumer who buys coffee to go!  It's much better to bring your own cup but if you just can't, these sleeves would make a huge (and stylish) difference.

These adorable bunnies and their stacking hill are made by Etsy crafter Imagination Kids who specialize in making handmade, eco-friendly wooden toys.  As a parent, I know how hard it can be to find toys that are "safe".  Toy stores are full of made in China labels with toys that are constantly being recalled for having chemicals such as lead and barium being found in them.  It's enough to scare the bejeebers out of you!

Imagination Kids takes all that worry away with their sweet and simply designed toys that kids will love.  This bunny family set would make the perfect addition to any Easter basket.  It comes with two adult rabbits and two baby bunnies although you can custom order more bunnies to reflect your own family.  They are hand made with sustainably harvested hard wood, non toxic paints and homemade wood polish of beeswax, jojoba and essential oils.  These types of toys will last through several generations of kids as well.  There are no fiddly parts to break or batteries to charge.  There's nothing, in fact, to get between kids and their imaginations!

They have a whole range of toys like this in their shop.  There's cars, helicopters, multi-colored blocks (imo best toy of all time!), fairy wands (which all little girls just must have!), a variety of wooden animals (from robins to narwhals), a fire stacker, an iceberg stacker, natural wooden eggs which would also be great in an easter basket and a rainbow stacker that I'm seriously considering buying in addition to a wand.

The colors are so bright, bold and beautiful that they are simply hard to resist!  Spring has been a long time coming here but this little rainbow really has got my hopes up that it will be coming sometime soon!!

Seriously consider buying toys like these that will be completely nontoxic, safe and last for years to come when filling up your kids Easter baskets this year.  I'm all for candy and chocolate in moderation but a holiday is no time to forget about the good of our planet and the health and safety of our kids.  Skip the dollar stores and walk right past those big box stores.  You really have no idea of where those products come from, who they are helping to support, what practices they use to make their products, what exactly is in that cheap plastic egg and stuffed bunny.  Shopping handmade from artisans takes all the worry out of the equation and helps to make Easter another sustainable green holiday for the good of the kids and all the bunnies in it!

This is our furry baby Bonsai.  Pets truly do become a part of your family.  That's why I was so pumped when I ran into this Etsy shop Joyful Canine.  I've been trying to live a green-er life as a family but that can be a little harder when it comes to taking care of the family's furball.

Joyful Canine has a huge range of natural products available for both cats and dogs at her store.  Everything from aromatherapy Calming Dog Mist to SLS free shampoos are available there.  And everything inbetween like motion sickness drops, Boo boo healing spray, litter box deodorizer, all natural tooth powder to brush their teeth with, flea and tick powders, massage oils, breath fresheners and a whole lot more.  This store is definitely worth dropping by and checking out!

This Etsy store is a subdivision of Joyful Girl Natural who I've already featured a couple of times.  The owner of Joyful Canine has a pitbull named Chuck.  This month she is honoring people who rescue pitbulls by sending them a care package.

I know that mainly humans in the household are the ones who are getting all natural aromatherapy products but if chemical laden products are not good enough for you (and the planet), then why should they be good enough for your pet?  My daughter calls Bonsai her "furry brother from another mother" so his health and safety is extremely important to the entire family.

Know anyone having a baby in the next few months??  These are definitely THE perfect baby gift.  Not only are they hand crafted, they are also eco-friendly to preserve the planet that the baby will inhabit!

These adorable little slippers are made from eco-felt.  If you don't already know what that is, where the heck have you been??  Kidding...it's felt that is made from recycled pop bottles.  How cool is that?  The soles are lined with velvet and are rubberized on the exterior.  They're finished off with some vintage ribbon that has been added across the front.  The colors are super seventies and definitely making a come back.  Who wouldn't want to receive these for their little one on the way.

Check out Etsy crafter Emily Island for these fantastic little slippers and a range of other items for sale in her shop.  She sews, crochets and paints!  Remember to buy handmade and support local artists rather than huge big box stores that are full of things that you don't need from places that you've never been to.  Buying environmentally friendly items that have been hand crafted can really make a difference.  Vote for the kind of companies that you want to see more of with your wallet!!

Clean lines, bold colors and eye catching graphics are what dominate this line by reiter8.  This company makes a range of bags, purses, wallets, pillows, totes and even Christmas stockings out of used sails.  The company name was chosen because it means to say or do again which is exactly what they are doing with these sailboat sails -- reiterating their value.

These are a great eco-chic find for every green design fan looking for something different.  Many of their items feature the original sail seams as part of the design -- check out the green stitching on the blue star pillow for example.  Better yet, if you have an old sail taking up valuable storage space, donate it to reiter8 for them to reuse.  They'll even send you a bag made out of the sail that you send.  Pretty cool keepsake if you ask me!

They've got their own Etsy store and blog running which would definitely be worthwhile checking out.  They've even got durable luggage tags made out of the small bits of sail left over.  Great practical use for small pieces of the material instead of just wasting it!!

A few months ago, I featured Etsy seller Joyful Girl Natural as my Hump Day Etsy find.  She is an extremely wonderful (and talented!) woman who has been making organic products for over 20 years and selling them for 4 years.  To thank me for my feature, she sent me a bottle of this massage oil for kids.  By the way, totally not necessary for people being featured to send me a gift but I probably won't refuse! lol

The massage oil is safflower oil infused with the essential oils of organic chamomile, lavendar and spearmint for added aromatic benefits to the massage.  My daughter is nearly 4 now and has been a handful to get to sleep since before she was even born.  Fiesty is really how I'd describe her at bedtime if I had to use one word.  This massage oil is fantastic at getting the fiestiness out of her a little bit so that she'll lay still long enough for the sandman to find her.

This oil is great for kids that love massage -- she's definitely a massage lover!  The scent of the chamomile and lavendar have the natural effects of sedation while the oils are warmed by skin to skin contact.  Kids especially enjoy the power of touch constantly wanting hugs, cuddles and kisses.  Massage is a natural extension of the need for touch with even the most traditional of doctors now recommending infant massage.

I love, love, love this massage oil and so does my daughter.  It's non-greasy and I don't have to worry about what kinds of chemicals are seeping into her blood stream through her pores.  The bottles used by Joyful Girl Natural are made from PET (recycled plastic) containers that do not leech into the oils inside.  The bottles are easily recyclable as well as reusable if you want to refill them with another product when they're empty.

She now has her own blog that you can check out to keep up-to-date with this Etsy seller and her extensive (197 items for sale!) line of products.  The customer service is excellent but I do need to warn buyers that it may take some time for you to receive your order.  This is simply because each order is custom made instead of being made in big batches and then sitting on the shelf for months before reaching you.  Definitely more than worth the wait!!  Thanks for the great products Shelly!!

Why is it that girls are soooo much easier to shop for?  Maybe it's just because I'm a girl and I "get" it.  Girls like things that are soft, pretty, smell good, sound good or taste good.  Yup, it's pretty much that simple!  I've been trying to come up with some good Valentine's Day ideas for men that are not only things they would like but things the planet would like too!  Here's a few ideas of what I came up with...try not to laugh at me (and my poor hubby!).

How about a nice pair of manties -- you know panties for men?  These ones are made by Etsy seller Ruffeo Hearts Lil Snotty with the waistband being salvaged from an abandoned belt factory.  Yeah, I don't know where the would have found such a thing either but I think it's pretty cool!  The designer claims that he wore these all summer by the pool and that the ladies loved it.  The crafter says these are: " all season clutch pair of fighting shorts. Box, kick, dance, crump, move -do the jerk".  I'm sure my hubby would love these, right?  He's always busting out sick moves like the guy in the photo!!  Okay, maybe not for my guy but definitely somebody's would love these.

Perhaps tools, my hubby is always tinkering in his workshop with something or another.  Check out these vintage wrenches turned into hooks!  This is definitely more my hubby's speed.  Would be great to help to organize that workshop of his too!

These are made by Etsy seller Freak of Metal who's name is deftly fitting!  This artisan has a ton of very, very cool pieces made from (you guessed it!) metal.  There's belt buckles, a dinner triangle or two and even some roses made of iron.  Pretty amazing stuff.

Okay, what else do guys like....manties, tools and well, dudes love beer right?  Check out these handmade vegan beer soaps by Etsy seller Ethically Engineered.  The listing makes it sound super manly: "This soap brings you the sensations of a stroll through the pubs of Northern Ireland in all their majesty. Using organic and vegan stout beers this bar fits squarely in the working man's calloused hand. At the dawn of the Industrial revolution, and throughout, hearty stouts were the liquid bread and energy of the factory. Mill Workers to steelworkers clamored out of the factory doors and into their cherished pub to recharge."  This would definitely be a hit!!

This blog normally features one Etsy seller each Wednesday who is making a difference in this world by hand making something and using eco-friendly techniques to do so.  Hand made items are important as big box stores have lead to society wanting more of everything for less money.  This leads to cheaper products, more waste, underpaid labour, overshipping, and over consumption.  The etsy crafters chosen to feature are purely on a whim -- whatever we run into that we love is what is featured.

This Wednesday will be different though.  Today, we'll feature items from an eco-friendly Etsy seller who is going to contribute all of their proceeds for the entire month of January to the Haitian relief fund.  We must ensure that the tremendous needs of people in Haiti are met during this time as they attempt to recover from the terrible earthquake that has effected so many.  Please donate to Oxfam, Doctors without Borders or the Red Cross to help aid the suffering of people who are just like you and I and need our help.  Any amount would help and be appreciated.  Instead of eatting lunch out for this month, try brown bagging it and donate the difference to help out.

The first featured item (with all proceeds going to the Haiti via Partners in Health) is this adorable bracelet made from vintage European dominos.  It's absolutely adorable and would make a great Valentine's day gift for someone on your list while making a difference in Haiti at the same time.  This great item is made by etsy seller equalityuberalles who is a lawyer who believes in equality and social justice for everyone.

This unusual bracelet is made up of vintage silver pieces from 3 old pieces of jewellery.  The artisan simply took apart some old pieces that were not being used to remake them into a piece that is very fashionable, up to date and wearable.  Perfect little something, something for your significant other this Valentine's day!

Last, but certainly not least, equalityuberalles has these cute repurposed record crafts that are popular but still worth mentioning.  The one featured below is a Dr. Zhivago record made into a snack bowl.  For only $9, you might as well have her ship it or one of her other record crafts along with a piece or two of jewellery.  She also has coasters made out of records that are worth checking out.

Thanks to equalityuberalles and all of the other Etsy crafters who are pitching in to do what they can to help the victims of the earthquake.  There are quite a few who are donating at least a portion of the proceeds of their sales to the relief efforts.  Only a few such as the crafter featured here are donating all of their proceeds so be sure to see what percentage is being donated.  When looking for these charitable sellers, type Haiti in the search.