Wooden Toys

Posted on December 19, 2011 by admin

Have children lost the art of actually playing? When most kids toys these days come with a screen you swipe, controllers you wave around in the air and batteries, it’s refreshing to see there’s still people who hand make and craft beautiful kids toys.

This week we’ve stumbled upon some stunning handmade wooden toys made right here on the Central Coast by Fairy Ring. They’re made from renewable plantation timber and are all hand painted using non-toxic paint (which is handy if your kids think their toys belong in their lunch box!)

Fairy Ring Cup & Ball

There’s the classic choice of wooden vehicles, but we also love the wooden toys & games. There’s a stunning cup & ball, spinning top & train whistle. Whether you’re buying them for little kids to play with or for big kids wanting to relive a simple youth, they’re a gorgeous gift for Christmas or any time of the year.

Fairy Ring also have beautiful felt toys, knitted toys, play mats, dolls & teddies and all at very reasonable prices.

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Environmental Artist Judith Price

Posted on November 13, 2011 by admin

We recently stumbled upon a great artist on the Central Coast who specialises in Environmental Art. Judith Price collects rubbish from the beach and turns it in to some of the most clever and imaginative art I’ve seen in a long time.

One of our favourites, Blue Bottle is a 3D rendition of a blue bottle using discarded water bottle caps, straws and other bits and pieces found on Avoca Beach, the artists local beach.

Other stunning pieces use discarded McDonalds wrappers, lost thongs, disposable cutlery, discarded children’s toys, pegs and more.

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Shopping Bag Mockumentary

Posted on September 22, 2011 by admin

We fell in love with this mockumentary on the migration habits of the plastic shopping bag when we spotted it on YouTube. With the voice of award winning Jeremy Irons, you get to follow the hilarous journey of a plastic bag making its way through a city and out to the ocean to it’s final resting place.

It’s cute and funny and also a timely reminder to make sure your reusable shopping bags are with you when go to the supermarket. Try a funky and fashionable Envirosax if you’re sick of the drab green boxy numbers you get at the supermarket.

Envirosax Shopping Bags

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Eco Friendly Toys

Posted on September 22, 2011 by admin

Walk in to any toy shop and it’s a giant wasteland of overly packaged goods. The amount of packaging wrapped around toys that gets tossed in landfill each year is just ridiculous.

We’re always on the lookout for eco friendly toys for kids. We found a great range of eco friendly toys at Entropy. Our favourites are the range of Green Science toys that are education and good for the environment. The toys / kits include:-

  • Dynamo Torch
  • Eco Science Toys
  • Enviro Battery
  • Paper Recycling
  • Recycled Bottle Light
  • Soda Can Robug
  • Top Generator
  • Windmill Generator

They also have the new Wishbone Flip Ride-on Rocker, a 2-in-1 toy that is a ride on with wheels and also a rocker.

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Farmers Markets

Posted on September 17, 2011 by admin

There’s a really great way to help reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to buying food, and that is to attend your local farmers market. I had the pleasure of attending the farmers market at The Entrance today for the very first time. It was choc full of vendors selling fresh fruit & vegetables, locally made organic bread and banana bread, home made pet treats, flowers, meat, condiments and so much more.

Visit the Australian Farmers Markets association to find your nearest location.

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Sydney Theatre Company going green

Posted on December 22, 2010 by admin

The Sydney Theatre Company are leading the world when it comes to being eco friendly. The project, called Greening the Wharf, which award winning Aussie icon Cate Blanchett is involved with, is using renewable energy, and becoming self-sustaining.

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Minimal packaging

Posted on December 20, 2010 by admin

Back in the good ‘old days, you’d walk in to a corner store, ask for a pound of flour and they’d put it in a paper bag for you or in to a container that you brought along with you. Today, you walk in to a supermarket and it’s in a bag, inside a box.

I was pleasantly surprised that our local organic supermarket had a bulk area where you can buy flour, oats and all manner of organic matter and it gets weighed out in to your own reusable bag or container. What a fabulous idea!

Next time you’re buying cooking ingredients in bulk, ask if you can use your own packaging. Take along an air-tight bpa free plastic container. Anything with the #5 recycle sign is adequate. Our favourites are the Lock & Lock brand, but Decor or Sistema from your local supermarket will suffice, as will most containers found at Howards Storage World.

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