From guest blogger Marina Chernyak

A mosaic is created by inlaying small pieces of colored materials, whether of the same size and shape or not, in order to form a picture of a pattern on a surface. Often times, it is made with the use of colored tiles, broken pieces of glass and stones.

However, mosaics can also be created in many other ways, such as with the use of pieces of paper. It can also be a painting style, where in one draws and paints on these shapes on. In addition to these techniques, eggshell mosaics are popular arts and crafts projects for kids.

With the advent of modern technology, too, computers can also generate mosaic-style images using a set of your own pictures. Whatever form of mosaic one chooses, the end result is still the same: it adds a WOW factor to your space.

Creating your own mosaics can be a fun and relaxing way of spending a lazy afternoon, and believe it or not, it’s quite easy to do.

Plus it’s a great way of recycling old stuff in your home. Talk about turning trash into treasure!

The chosen material is chipped or broken ceramic plates; the best options are  when these materials are colored or hand-painted. Old floor tiles are also good options. You can also buy some, like this package of 1000 Tiny Mosaic Glass Tiles An added bonus to using these materials is that breaking these into smaller pieces is a great stress reliever.

To be safe, I put them inside an old pillowcase before breaking them with a hammer. The only drawback with this type of material is that you often end up with unevenly shaped pieces, which is not necessarily a problem unless you prefer using a uniformed tile. You can also try using a tile cutter, but I prefer the uniqueness of the hammer method.

Other materials you will need for a project like this would be the following:

• A project “base” or something to stick the pieces on. For example, an old terra cotta pot or empty wine bottle. It could also be your old table top, a mirror, a wooden box or even the lid of an empty ice cream can.
• Tile or cement glue such as Duco Cement Multi-Purpose Household Glu An alternative for this is a glue gun. Although the glue gun does not harden as much as the tile or cement glue does, it is quite effective and in case you make a mistake, it’s easy to remove.
• Mosaic sealant, although if you’re doing a glass table top or a mirror that does not need waterproofing, you can forgo this.
• Tile grout like Weldbond Tile Grout Sealer to fill up the spaces between the colored tiles (stones, plates, or whatever it is you use)
• A tile squeegee to spread the grout. Don’t use your fingers as this can lead to a lot of cuts and injuries!
• A sponge or paint brush to clean up the final project and cover with sealant.

How to go about it:

1. Prepare the tiles you will use (be it the broken plates, cut-up pieces of paper, etc.). It would be best if your tile pieces were flat and of the same thickness. This ensures that your final design will be even and have a flat surface.

2. Sketch out your pattern on your base. If you are using an old table top, you may need to prep this This will help guide you in placing the tiles.

3. Glue on the tiles on the appropriate spots of your design. Make sure you leave a little space in between each tile for the grout. This is what will make your design stand out.

4. Prepare the grout by following instructions in the package. Using the squeegee, spread over the entire design making sure to fill up the spaces between the tiles. Scrape of the excess and wipe the design down with a cloth or towel. Be careful when doing this as the tiles may move since the grout and glue may not have set yet.

5. Leave to dry for several hours before wiping down with a damp sponge to remove excess grout. If need be, cover with sealant.

Of course the easiest way is to go out and purchase a mosaic tiling kit, just choose your design and everything is all set. However, doing this from scratch adds a more rewarding feel to the project.

These projects can also be a good family activity, given of course that the tiles you decide to use are suitable to your child’s age. This can be a fun way for them to learn colors, patterns and more importantly, patience and perseverance!

Marina Chernyak is the co-owner of 1001Shops LLC, a one stop shop of unique imported products like Limoges boxes, antique Walking canes and many more.

Image: Recycled Bangles Mosaic Art Bird Sculpture Nek Chand India – Ant Smith

They will also save you money, they say. Over $1600, in fact, each year.

In addition to the odourless feature, they produce less waste – one cartridge is equivalent to thirty cigarettes.

What do you think? Great alternative or just fueling the “keep on smoking” fire?

For more information about the cigarettes visit Greensmoke.com

Web design is no exception, and we love that more and more designers are choosing nature and eco-themes as their inspiration.

An example is CSS Nature (cssnature.org), highlighting the best in nature designs. So why are these environment designs becoming the next best in show?

I can assume its because the simple and rustic – yet flawless – designs have a homey and pleasant feel to them.

They are slick without being pretentious, and gorgeous without being over done.

What are your favourite eco-friendly websites? Any designs that you absolutely love? Post your favourites in our comments below.

But now, the car-maker is ridding itself from its typical construction in favour with going green.

At this week’s Geneva Motor Show, the company unveiled their newest creation: the Ferrari 599. This 200mph electric hybrid has been developed with the environment in mind.

Ferrari’s classic performance, combined with its notable good looks, is married to a pollution and fuel consumption cutting initiative, making their brand just a little greener.

The vehicle is equipped with an electric motor that backs up a more traditional 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine. The typical two-seater design will accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds (which, by the way, is faster than its standard counterpart) and to 125mph in 10.4 seconds.

The electric part of the hybrid system also comes into play with braking, taking the energy that is often wasted from putting on the breaks and using it to recharge the batteries. This, then, can move the car simply by electric power.

Carbon dioxide emissions are cut to 270g/km, which is a 35% reduction on conventional models. The company also claims that it is expected to do up to 25 miles to the gallon (petrol- only versions, on the other hand, can do just under 16mpg).

The company’s aim is to harness this green technology as an option in all its cars by 2015, a must with today’s environmental targets to cut CO2 emissions.

It does have a price though. The 599 seems that it will cost twice as much as the £207,000 petrol 559 GTB Fiorano (it’s conventional counterpart). But the company assumes that by time the technology is mainstream, the price will come down to below £300,000.

See other cars unveiled at the 80th International Motor Show’s website. The show runs March 4th through 14th in Geneva.

Images courtesy of carspyshots.net

Also, be sure to check out aluminum radiator manufacturer Mishimoto, who has recently announced their green plan to reduce wasteful packaging by 75%!

Some big ticket items are the most hazardous to the environment, but are deemed crucial in the home, so how can we make them more enviro-savvy for our world?

Your Old Mattress

The Washington Post reports that most mattresses are made out of petroleum based ingredients such as polyurethane foam, and contain flame retardants which are required by law, but are often made up of chemicals harmful to human health.

Aside from the make-up of your mattress, regular tossing and turning can result in a break down of the foam within the mattress and causes dust particles to float into the air your breathe.

In 2006, a Consumer Product Safety Commission study estimated that “the average adult sleeping  on a conventional mattress will be exposed to 0.802 milligrams of antimony and 0.081 milligrams of boric acid, which is commonly used to kill cockroaches every night”. This fact alone has me questioning my Serta Beauty Rest and considering the positives a chemical free mattress may have not only on the environment, but on my peace of mind as well.

Purchasing Your New Mattress

If your in the market to purchase an organic mattress, many retailers such as JC Penney offer organic lines. Another great website to check out and purchase organic mattresses (within the US only) is The Organic Mattress Store (theorganicmatressstore.com).

They offer a wide range of mattresses for babies to adults which are made from 100% pure rubber latex (not synthetic latex) at its core and quilted with pure wool, certified organic cotton, and wrapped in a certified organic cotton fabric cover. The site also boasts duvets, pillows, organic sheets, and wooden and metal bed frames- all environmentally sound.

Lets All Do Our Part

So now that you’re doing your part and trading that old mattress in for an upgrade, it is comforting to know that others are following suit. Mattress giant Sleep Country Canada is taking initiative at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games and donating mattresses for all our athletes to get their rest on, and when the Olympics are completed, they are donating all mattresses, box springs and frames to charitable organizations throughout the Sleep Country chain region.

To read more on environmental sustainability within the 2010 Games check out vancouver2010.com/sustainability and rest at ease on some organic (bed) support.

Image courtesy of smh.com.au

(from guest blogger Matt Lantz)

But in the polluted atmosphere of Guangzhou  City, which rests in southern China, a new 71 story tower is to be constructed. This claims to be the most energy efficient building in the world.

It is being built in a curve that faces the prevailing winds and at that has been shaped specifically to increase the wind speed and funnel it into incoming turbine ports in the side of the building. The turbines will be located on the mechanical floors of the building, which the Chinese Government stated are to be used as emergency muster floors, which leaves all usable office space intact. The American architects of the building – SOM – claim that the building will be able to create as much energy as it uses.

Many buildings are still being erected with few green features often used as extras, and not included in the primary design stages. In this new Green Tower the cooling system will be using water, rather than large and wasteful heating ducts. The water flows through concrete beams and cool air ominously floats down to the employees through water radiators in the ceiling. By utilizing this design and function SOM said it was able fit in five extra stories of usable office space at little extra cost.

There is considerable use of photovoltaic technology on the frontages of the building. Currently due to cost, they did not cover the building in energy-generating glass, but still made gains where possible. There is also a double glazed wall, that channels hot air upwards towards the mechanical floors. There it’s harnessed for dehumidification.

Given these features amidst some others the building ought to be able to make money within five years according to SOM and the owners. Though SOM says it would have been able to add more self generating power to the building, there are no facilities that allow self-generated power to be fed back into the grid in Guangzhou.

The director of SOM’s East Asia office Ame Englehart said, “This building is so radical it could have only been commissioned in China. The owners are very self-confident and have been prepared to push the design as far as it will go.” Though the design is site specific and cannot be replicated, it does use systems that could likely be utilized in other areas.

To think of one is a building in Elmira, Canada my hometown. The site of Geothermal heating company NextEnergy. It’s commercial building maintains energy consumption levels of 1/15th of a comparable fossil fuel installation. All energy consumption and production can be monitored and modified in real time. The building eliminates the emissions equivalent of 70 cars, making it a 0 emissions building at 25,000 sq. ft.

Though I’m sure we would all like to see more and more of these buildings that incorporate energy-efficiency in the primary stages of the design, it doesn’t seem to be growing at the pace we would like to all see. Construction is a slow to grow industry. And though the recession has shown considerable advances in technology in terms of solar power, and energy consumption, there are massive upfront costs to energy friendly buildings that turn investors and owners away. The key is to spread the word of the long term benefits and paybacks of these energy friendly buildings. Let’s hope that this Pearl stands as a diamond in the rough, and lets investors see the light.

*Information provided by the BBC

Image courtesy of wikipedia.org

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Our friends at Cafe Press contacted to tell us the latest news: they’ve added organic tee-shirts to their popular line of community-made gear. And now, we’ve partnered with them to let you, our readers, have a chance at scoring a shirt of sustainable style.

Here’s how to win:

Step One

Go to www.cafepress.com.

Step Two

Select an organic shirt (men’s, women’s, or kid’s) that has the best image or message of being eco-responsible. Here are some areas to get you started: Women’s Organic, Men’s Organic, Children Organic

Step Three

Post the link in our comments below.

Step Four

Wait until October 15th – that’s when the contest closes. And we’ll pick a comment at random, and they’ll win the shirt!

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This year, it falls on the 5th of the month, and we welcome you to join Habitat for Humanity to observe a day where we come together and support an initiative towards affordable housing.

Over 100 million people worldwide are homeless, according to the United Nations. Millions more have housing issues; ones that lack sanitation, electricity, and security.

In order to solve our international housing crisis, more than two million homes per year, for the next fifty years, would be needed to be built. But with growing populations, this number will only increase.

Raising awareness to this current crisis is what is needed, and that is why World Habitat Day has been developed: a reminder that a decent home for everyone should be a priority.

With other issues such as climate change, a decrease in resources, lack of food security and economic woes further affect the developing countries where housing is needed most.

Population growth is also an issue, with overcrowding abundant in these areas. Supply, then, also has trouble meeting its demands.

This year’s theme is “Planning our Urban Future”, an an excellent opportunity to get involved. From policy forums to presentations, along with luncheons, house-building and exhibitions, groups and individuals worldwide can come together to make a difference.

Read more from World Habitat Day News.

The facts

Source: World Habitat Day News:

• Approximately 95 million people  have housing problems including a high-cost burden, overcrowding, poor quality shelter and homelessness. (National Low Income Housing Coalition: 2004)
• One in three US households spend over 30 percent of income on housing; one in seven spends more than 50 percent. (Joint Center for Housing Studies: 2006)
• Health issues result from lack of stable housing: About 21,000 children have stunted growth; 10,000 children between the ages of 4 and 9 are hospitalized for asthma attacks each year because of cockroach infestation at home; and more than 180 children die each year in house fires attributable to faulty electrical heating and electrical equipment. (Sandel, et al: 1999)
• By the year 2030, about 40 percent of the world’s population, will need access to housing – approximately 4,000 every hour. (UN-HABITAT: 2005)
• One out of every three city dwellers  lives in a slum. (UN-HABITAT: 2006)
• Women are more likely to contract HIV and children are more likely to die due to poor living conditions (UN-HABITAT: 2006)
• Housing generates a growth in economy and housing investments expand tax base. (Kissick, et al: 2006)

Image courtesy of blog.memory-of.com

They call it “Fridgehenge”, adorned in a cow-print design. Recently unveiled, it’s on display until September 29th at Encie Farm in Somerset.

From the BBC:

Robert Foote, organic farmer, said: “It’s a marvellous idea, anything that will promote organic sales has got to be a good thing hasn’t it? It is quite eye-catching from the road.

“It brings the attention to people – perhaps they’ll realise spending a few pence more is a good thing, not only more healthy for them but for the cattle which have been fed on grass without chemicals or artificial fertilisers on them.”

Do you think this is an effective way to spread the word about drinking organic milk?

If you’re not going the dairyless route, check out these brands:

• Horizon Organic Milk
• Organic Valley Organic Milk
• Earths Best Kidz Organic Chocolate Milk

Read the full story from the BBC.

Image courtesy of the BBC.

The crew from  CSIRO Manufacturing Materials Technology in Melbourne, claim the device increases the shower stream’s volume while simultaneously reducing amount of water by approximately thirty percent.

The average household uses roughly 200,000 litres of water per year, showers reigning about a third of this. Not only will the  Aerated Showerhead save a substantial amount of water, but also save you a few dollars, too. And because it delivers the sensation of a steady water stream either way, it definitely is a great move towards living green – while staying just as clean.

See more innovation from CSIRO.

After much enjoyment reading through many comments, we have picked Kelly and John for the prize, with the winning slogan of “Built without Guilt”

Congratulations Kelly and John!, we will email you to get your address, and CafePress will mail you your SIGG of choice!

For those of you who would like to enter in another givaway, keep your eyes on the Ecoki home page for the next giveaway. We are talking with CafePress about another giveaway soon!

—

Time to ditch the BPA for good with your chance to win an eco-designed Sigg bottle from our friends at CafePress!

The team at Ecoki.com have partnered with CafePress, self-design marketplace to bring you the chance to win one of their new Sigg bottles!

When we were asked if we thought our readers would love receiving one of their greenest designs, we enthusiastically replied, “you betcha!”

Over 6.5 million users visit and design at CafePress to get online to create, sell, and buy “print on-demand” products. And we have to say, their emerging green-centric goods are right up our alley!

How to Win

Comment on this post below, with your clever ideas for eco-slogans (check out what they have over at CafePress to get some ideas… Check them out here.)

You can enter as many times as you’d like.

Slogans cannot contain any obscene, racist, or derogatory words/phrases. In the event it does, your comment will be removed below.

Deadline

Ongoing until early August, then we’ll choose a winner from the entries!

Good luck!

Visit our eco friends via Natural & Herbal Remedies

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1. Agreement: These rules govern all contests running on or sponsored by Ecoki.com. No purchase is necessary to enter any contest. The act of entering a contest constitutes acceptance of the contest rules and the decisions of the contest judge.

2. Eligibility: The contest is open to those ages 13+.

3. Contest: The selected winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 48 hours to maintain eligibility.

4. Prize: Ecoki.com and CafePress hold no responsibility for customs charges, additional shipping charges, taxes or other fees as determined by your country.

5. Privacy: We use your personal contact information to administer contests, including contacting, announcing and promoting prizewinners. It will not be given to any third-party companies.

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6. Other: All decisions of the contest judges are final. Contests are governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. The sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify any contest or the contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash. The sponsors reserve the right to substitute any prize or portion of the prize with a prize of equal or greater value. All prizes are awarded as-is and no warranties or guarantees are implied or expressed, beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty. The odds of winning depend on how many eligible entries are received. Sponsors are not liable for any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this contest, including technical failures on the part of contest software, website down-time, human error or property damage incurred by any contest entrant Health insurance salon equipment. Canadian Pharmacy

From the Rainforest Alliance:

First Biomass Pellet Mill in US to Receive FSC/Rainforest Alliance Certification

Richmond, Vermont – The Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program has certified the first biomass pellet mill in the United States to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards, a significant step in the FSC’s entry into renewable energy sources.  Curran Renewable Energy, LLC, based in Massena, New York, is the first FSC Chain-of-Custody certified producer and distributor of wood pellets for national and international markets.  Produced by compressing pulverized dry biomass — in this case from wood  — biomass pellets are an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional energy sources like coal, which emits more carbon dioxide (the gas largely responsible for global warming) when burned for fuel.

“With global concerns over the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, governments and businesses are looking for renewable energy alternatives,” explains Richard Donovan, Rainforest Alliance chief of forestry.  “The certification of the first biomass pellet mill in the US opens up a new industry to the FSC system.  FSC-certified products can be found in all wood and paper markets including building materials, decking, flooring, packaging, furniture, books, magazines and business papers.”

“With the increasing importance of biomass as a source of energy, businesses are recognizing the risks that could result from placing increased pressure on finite forest resources to fill the demand for their production,” explains Dave Bubser, SmartWood regional manager for the Rainforest Alliance.  “The FSC/Rainforest Alliance certification acts as a guarantee to consumers and producers that their efforts to promote energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are not compromised by destructive impacts to forests, communities and wildlife that can result from overharvesting.  Curran Renewable Energy’s efforts establish FSC certification as a guide for balancing environmental and social values with the production of forest-based biofuels.”

By making the commitment to FSC certification, Curran Renewable Energy is leading the way for other biomass energy producers by sourcing from well-managed forests that conserve biodiversity and ensure long-term productivity.  Curran’s FSC/Rainforest Alliance Certified wood pellets use wood fiber from FSC-certified forests in northern New York State. These certified forests have undergone rigorous FSC forest management certification processes.   The FSC-certified wood is harvested by Seaway Timber Harvesting Inc., a family-owned business based in the northern Adirondack region of New York, run by Patrick, Timothy and Lee Curran.  Seaway Timber Harvesting Inc. has been in the forestry business for 19 years.

“We have been harvesting FSC timber on land that is either managed or owned by Fountain Forestry, LandVest, New York State and Northwood Forest Consultants all in New York State,” said Patrick Curran, president and CEO of Seaway Timber Harvesting Inc. and Curran Renewable Energy.  “Over the past several years, we have seen demand increase for FSC fiber in both the paper and lumber industry.  We feel this demand will carry over into the wood pellet market, giving us a better opportunity to develop within that market.”

FSC is the global standard-setter in responsible forest management. Chain-of-custody certification guarantees that wood that comes from certified, responsibly managed forestlands is tracked throughout the supply chain, from the forest to the consumer. Conscientious consumers can look for the FSC label on wood products to know they are supporting forest management that protects biodiversity and supports local communities.

FSC certification ensures that forestry operations meet a set of environmental, social and economic criteria covering compliance with laws and international treaties, land-use and indigenous peoples’ rights, community relations, biodiversity conservation and maintenance of high-conservation value forests, among other things.

The Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit conservation organization, is the world’s leading certifier of forestlands to FSC standards. To date, the organization has certified over 300 forest operations, covering some 126 million acres (51 million hectares) of forest area (roughly an area equivalent to the size of France or 4 times the size of New York state), and over 2,600 chain-of-custody certified operations that buy, sell and distribute FSC-certified products in 66 countries around the world.

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

Image courtesy of the Rainforest Alliance

Read more about FSC certification
Read more from the Rainforest Alliance

The Riversimple Urban Car is capable of moving along at 50 miles per hour and has a 240 mile range. The developers claim its greenhouse gas emissions are that of a third less than hybrids like the popular Toyota Prius.

So why the open-source? The company hopes that entrepreneurs will harness the idea and adapt it to their local conditions (it’s currently hailing from the UK).

As reported in The Guardian,
Hugo Spowers, the founder of Riversimple, said:
“We want competitors, even if they’re in the UK. We believe that open source is commercially the best thing for us to do, as it will help grow the market for hydrogen technology, from parts to repairs and the refueling infrastructure.”

Spreading the eco-word – we love it. Check out the details of the new vehicle at their website riversimple.com and at their wikipedia site.

Image: courtesy of riversimple.com

Les Klein, of Quadrangle Architects, doesn’t believe they should tear down the expressway, but instead develop and “organic” alternative. “[The Gardiner Expressway] is an incredible symbol of change, economic growth, and progress,” Klein told the Toronto Sun. “If you tear it down, it is gone, not to mention the kind of incredible traffic crises it’s going to create.”

Crises, indeed, but Kevin Bechard, director of Environmental Assessments, simply called the idea “interesting”. Their goals, he adds, are among revitalizing and reconnecting the city with its surroundings, all while being sustainable. It seems like Klein’s “Green Ribbon” won’t be making the cut.

Check out the full story here . What are your thoughts?

Image courtesy of torontosun.com

We readily accept that all children are creative, but when does our creativity come to an end and why? I have worked with a lot of kids and third grade seems to be the cut off. In the third grade, children write more than they draw. When they do draw, they start to care about what their drawings look like. Unsure of themselves, they start copying their friend’s drawings instead of following and trusting their own natural style.

We are all creative; it is not some special talent that only a few people have.
When people look at my art and instantly say, “ I wish I was creative,” it surprises me every time. Creativity is part of being human. It’s like saying, “ I wish I had a personality.” Of course you have a personality; and yes, you are creative.

We get an idea; we toss it around in our heads; write it down, then share it with someone we trust. That’s all it takes to start the creative process. It doesn’t have to be a painting. And frankly, I think it would be pretty boring if we all expressed ourselves in the same way.

Some people assume that because I am an artist, my kids create art and draw; not so. I want my kids to be creative thinkers, not necessarily artists. To create from a place only they know and contribute in their own special way in whatever they decide to do. I want them to understand that their ideas matter and to take the process of creative thinking and use it solve any problem that comes their way.

To be environmentally conscious takes a lot of creativity, but I think we are all well-equipped for the task of improving our environment. We need to think creatively and collectively about everything constantly. Change will happen. Its starts from one voice, one original voice, brave and led by honesty. We are all on this world together and together we will creatively improve our environment.

I hope you will rediscover how creative you are and get the courage to share your thoughts with the rest of us. Just start with an idea…

Image courtesy of auroville.org

As an Art Director, I have been designing and consulting for the past 27 years. Currently, I work for a small design firm that specializes in branding and marketing for attorneys. My boss, Paula, has written and self-published three books on marketing and branding for attorneys and she sells them on Amazon. Our design work (like everything else) was slowing down, so Paula asked me to do some research to find out more about online marketing and social networking to see how we could increase her presence on the web.

With everything that I learned, I decided to try the strategies myself without telling my office. I wanted to see for myself if it would work. The first test was to search my name on Google. When I searched Google, fifty Nancy Martinis came up; not one of them mine. Then, I signed up for Twitter and began searching for things that interested me: green, eco, art and garden. I needed a background for my page and some sort of logo. Behind me on my studio wall was the art that I made recently out of trash. I didn’t even think about it too hard; being an experiment I didn’t care that it wasn’t perfect. I took a photo, made an avatar then I was on my way.

EcoArtist was the name I picked for my ID on Twitter. I even had to look it up. Was it two words or one; and what was the definition of a ecoartist? Different people had different ideas. Ecoartist wasn’t listed in the dictionary or Wikipedia, so I decided to list it myself. They could reject me if they wanted. I added my real name because I had nothing to hide, just wanted to learn.

After only three weeks of experimenting, I had met interesting people and artists from all over the world; got enough courage to do a video of myself and describe my art and thoughts about the environment; got my name listed first on the Google search; was asked by Ecoki to write an article (always thought I of myself as a designer, not a writer); and finally made a commitment to reach my lifelong goal of producing an art exhibit.

Obviously, I am very excited and nervous about my upcoming ecoart exhibit called: Lessons from the Dinner Table. All the pieces are constructed from 95% reclaimed material retrieved from the trash and recycled bin. The exhibit will also have a component featuring contributed photographs of people at their dinner table as well.

The exhibit title is not just about what you learn at the dinner table. It is about starting at a place that is comfortable; where you listen to those who love you most. Then, move out into the world and take those same values and ideas with you.

Contributing a photo it is really easy…

First, take a photo of yourself and your family/friends around your dining room table. Once you have your photo, go to photobucket.com/artexhibit and click on “add photos to this group” and you will be prompted to log in or sign up with a username and a password. Then, upload your photo (250k or less) with your name/title of your photo and a description/message. Once the photo is approved, you will see it in the collection. That’s it! Just be yourself and have fun.

Funny thing about experiments, you never know where it will lead you. My experiment continues and I’m not sure where it will lead me next. I hope you will decide to be a part of my ecoart exhibit and experiment by sending in a photo of yourself and your family at your dinner table.

Follow my art at my blog, nancymartini.blogspot.com and my twitter page, twitter.com/EcoArtist.

According to the National Post, the current logo proposed is a little mundane, especially in the creative mind of Allison Carter, a design student from Toronto.

This official logo is in the shape of a circle, featuring a green hillside with the words “Canada Organic Regime in red above, and “Régime Bio-Canada” below.

Carter, a 22-year-old Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) student decided to redevelop the logo as a part of her final thesis, posting the work online at her blog, carterdesign.blogspot.com.

Carter felt the title was the first adjustment that needed to be made. “The word ‘regime’ is just off-putting and unfriendly,”  she told the National Post, changing it to Organic Canada Biologique, combining the English and French phrases. It now runs around the edge of a circle, surrounding an apple graphic with a white maple-leaf shine.

Carter has also designed promotional materials, including pamphlet, transit advertisements, and posters, all available to see on her blog.

Read the full report from the National Post.

And before you enter, be sure to check out the rest of the line and explore their website to get familiar with the rest of the line.

How to win

Send us your idea for a new slogan for one of the existing species designed on Endangered Couture or another species. Aren’t sure what is included? Take a look here.

AND… If the winning slogan corresponds with designer Tamara’s next line at Endangered Couture, it may be featured in her next collection!*

Tips

• It has to be clever, smart, and witty, but not smutty or indecent
• It should be brief, akin to previous designs
• It must correspond with one of the aforementioned animals
• Check out their website for ideas, inspiration, and to see what they are all about

Submitting Your Entry

Send us your slogan, name and email address to laurie@ecoki.com

Deadline

Entries must be received by June 15th, 2009 at midnight EST.

Winners will be announced July 2nd, 2009.

Good luck!

The Fine Print

1. Agreement: These rules govern all contests running on or sponsored by Ecoki.com. No purchase is necessary to enter any contest. The act of entering a contest constitutes acceptance of the contest rules and the decisions of the contest judge.

2. Eligibility: The contest is open to all residents of Canada and the United States 19 years and older, except for employees, immediate families and anyone living with any employee of ecoki.com and Endangered Couture, its corporate affiliates. Limit one entry per person.

3. Contest: The selected winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 48 hours to maintain eligibility.

5. Prize: Ecoki.com and Endangered Couture hold no responsibility for customs charges, additional shipping charges, taxes or other fees as determined by your country.

6. Privacy: We use your personal contact information to administer contests, including contacting, announcing and promoting prizewinners. It will not be given to any third-party companies.

7. Other: All decisions of the contest judges are final. Contests are governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. The sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify any contest or the contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash. The sponsors reserve the right to substitute any prize or portion of the prize with a prize of equal or greater value. All prizes are awarded as-is and no warranties or guarantees are implied or expressed, beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty. The odds of winning depend on how many eligible entries are received. Sponsors are not liable for any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this contest, including technical failures on the part of contest software, website down-time, human error or property damage incurred by any contest entrant.

*Additional regulations will apply. Winner will be notified of pending details.