Fans of the late pop artist Andy Warhol take note: Sandy Schimmel's portraits of the rich and famous can lay claim to one thing Warhol's canvases can't. They've got a bit of superhero in them: having rescued postcards from the edge, and homeless, post-season Christmas cards from the depths of disposal. Trash to treasure never looked so bold, emotional, raw, and mosaics never looked so modern.

Schimmel's masterpieces call upon junk mail, other discarded ephemera to create something eye-catching and tactile. A self-proclaimed "art room brat," she traveled to Turkey to master the art of mosaics. She was looking for a way to create the look of stained glass and after experimentation perfected her signature method. Check out this video interview with Schimmel to learn more.

THE METHOD TO HER MADNESS

First she paints a portrait. Jimi Hendrix. John Lennon. Twiggy. Even you (for a custom fee).

Next, she dives into what I imagine to be Olympic-sized collection of paper ephemera to create her palette of colors and textures. Schimmel hand cuts each piece, applies them to a painting, and well, you can appreciate the rest.

I discovered Schimmel's appropriately enough, through my mailbox. She mailed me a postcard from her Phoenix studio and I was drawn immediately into her world. You can view the full collection and learn about gifting a custom artpiece at Schimmel's website.

ON EXHIBIT

Sandy Schimmel is on exhibit across the U.S. See the events calendar for more information.

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Sweet dreams are made of this: modern, botanically inspired linens that just might be healthy for you. One of my favorite decor designers Amenity Home has gone completely organic. Nice going!

They also have introduced their once-custom order Muir Bed as a regular offering. Mid-century inspired, it's made from mostly reclaimed Douglas Fir, finished with non-VOC stain, and is made by local artisans here in Southern California.

You can view the entire line of organic bedding, wall art, and nursery linens at the Amenity Home website. To learn more about the benefits of organic cotton check out this great primer on organic cotton at Treehugger.

Related Posts:

>>Fall Sample Sale @ Amenity Home

>>Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

>>See more posts on modern green beds and bedding

Some designers push the limits. Dame Vivienne Westwood blows them up. At Paris Fashion Week showcased Vivienne Westwood's collection was colorful, wild and childlike and -- eco outrageous. How's that for a new term?

It all began with a letter mailed to the the queen of punk fashion from an elementary school class in Nottingham, England. Westwood not only wrote back, but knowing how imaginative children are, offered an art assignment that would turn into the unexpected opportunity of co-designing her Fall 2008 collection.

Westwood challenged the students to think into the future, and paint for her their ideas of what an eco-warrior would look like:

imagine soldiers who had been fighting in the jungle but when the war was over had so fallen in love with nature that they decided not to go back to the city."

Who else but an eight-year old would grab a brush and paint straightaway on a yard of silk? While Westwood experimented with silhouettes, the kids experimented with print and pattern. Catch the show, the interviews with Westwood, the students and their teacher below.

More on the Eco-Warrior Fashion Show:

The collection in pictures at Telegraph
Style.com
Hello Magazine
Coutorture
Elle UK Magazine

Thanks to One Tiny Spark for the find, and the Lohasian for the video link.

Use UK is the brainchild of designer Nicola Prodromou, a "recycled interiors company" that transforms old textile sample books, fabric remnants, and recycled cardboard into elegant, high style lampshades, throw pillows, wall art -- even bookmarks for bibliophiles (that's me).

The studio's raw materials are gathered from Nicola's day job as a design technician, "I got the idea looking at an old sample book, thinking how beautiful the material was, and wouldn't it be good if I could make something out of it...the samples are small so each cushion cover is made from four hand-sewn pieces of material."

The lampshades are digital prints on recycled cardboard. Over 20 styles in all: from modernized Baroque to clean stripes. Gorgeous color palettes. Some samples are currently on sale (£25-35) directly through Use UK. Read more about Use UK and other eco-chic British designers in this article in the Telegraph.

Jewelry and bags have followed as well. Use UK would probably be better named re:Use UK. Yes?

Don't be put off by the overabundance of Victorian prints and cabbage roses, there are some modernist gems to be found. The Geometric Collection features a range of modern designs from deco to Vienna Secessionist to the 70's. The Mylar Collection features lots of seventies retro pop designs. Mylar is also recyclable.

Secondhand Rose
138 Duane Street
New York, NY 10013
212.393.9002
The store is open by appointment only.

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

Thanks too to the AT gang for slinksn-ing Fab Green earlier this week!

Tools: a paper shredder that can turn those Vogue mags into long and lean ribbons. Cross-cut patterns will work too, but you will have to work harder with smaller pieces. Old magazines (if you're a pack rat, consider clipping out the pages you want to keep and shredding the rest. If you haven't looked at a magazine in over a year, shred away!).

See the full post at decor8. Photo and idea originally taken from Budget Living: Home Cheap Home.

Make it Fabulous:

Get creative with your materials. Play with recycled newspapers, old greeting cards, wrapping paper, colorful junkmail, the West Elm catalogs that arrive in your mailbox every other day, past IKEA catalogs, maps. The choices and patterns you can design are endless.

If you design it, send us a photo!

The DIY Version: Create your own storage unit from empty paint cans or coffee cans. Peel off the labels (you may need to soak them in water first). Paint the interior (and/or exterior) a sassy color for a two-toned graphic effect.

Personally, I've been wanting to design a room divider from cans for my home office. Open up the bottom with a can opener and paint the interior with a low-VOC paint (in a peacock blue). The trick is to hot glue them in an arrangement that becomes freestanding. Voila--a storage divider.

Not one to waste good material, Lily takes the remaining die cuts (the cut outs) and uses textile techniques to create masterful pieces of jewelry:

Lily's personal favorite? The blue Boa FB1:

"I think the blue boa is very successful. It is simple but dramatic on
the body and fulfills my goal to incorporate the closure mechanism in
the piece and it is also adjustable to fit different neck sized and
can be easily reconfigured to be a collar or a bracelet."

The Fab Factor: Lily's pieces are simply stunning and beautifully crafted. Wool felt as a material that is landfill-friendly and naturally fire-retardant (goodbye to chemically-based fire-proof treatments). We love that Lily sources her wool and cutting services locally (conserves fuel/transportation), and transforms otherwise wasteful leftovers into beautiful pieces.

You can meet Lily and see her work in person at:

Virtual/Tangible v2.0 Show
@ Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco
January 24, 2007

Interior Design Show 2007
@ Direct Energy Centre, Toronto
February 22-25.

If you're planning on attending either event, we'd love to have you share your field report with Fab Green readers!

You can see more of Lily's work here. If you're interested in buying or sourcing her pieces feel free to contact Lily directly.

Another entry on Lily's beautiful wire jewelry to come later this week. Special thanks to Lily Yung for answering our many questions and sharing your work with Fab Green!

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

Traffic Motif Graffiti Stencil, UrbanOutterfitters.com, $10

Sparrow Motif Graffiti Stencil, applied (neatly) with spray paint

Deer Motif Graffiti Stencil, and a tee people will fawn over.

Powerlines Motif Graffiti Stencil, no electricity required.

The Fab Factor: Vinyl is certainly not a green material, and we hope to see alternatives from Urban Outfitters in the future. However props go to the stencils' reusability. I also appreciate their versatility to update your home and your wardrobe alike and you can pass them on to another crafter when you're finished. For extra eco-health factor, try using an low VOC paint (how about Yolo Colorhouse, milk paints by Anna Sova or Old Fashioned Milk Paint of Benjamin Moore's Eco Spec paint.

Axel Rose playing Sweet Plate o'Mine...

The Fab Factor: Recycled and refashioned plates, we love their double duty function as dining accessory or a work of art. Made using non-toxic glazes and handcrafted by Sarah Cihat herself. Not to mention a positive example of rockers in rehab.

Sarah Cihat dishware is available in retail stores in the US, Canada and Japan. You can also e-mail her directly for custom orders. Ceramics range in price from $35-59 each.

Mod Tile Panel, Signed by Espinoza
Four beautiful decorative tile pieces square-mounted on wood with hanger. Orange, cream, brown and black, a combination of matte and gloss finishes.

Mid-early 70's Mod Wesclox Ballmatic Alarm Clock

They just don't make manual wind clocks anymore, but after hearing about the draining effects of sleeping in bedrooms with too much electricity, I'm thinking of going this way myself. How fun are these? Vintage and apparently unused. Available in orange or hot pink, $80

The Fab Factor: Vintage modern pieces that bring character to your home rather than the landfill.

For more beautiful vintage collectibles, ceramics, fabrics, and tableware visit hi+lo modern.

LUME's ingenious gang of four Talia Dorsey, Joshua Dorsey, Mathew Laiborwitz and Eran Plonski have created a revolutionary line of LED-lit fabrics that can be stretched, draped and tailored. Energy efficiency never looked this beautiful.

Why they're fabulous:

• Cihat's glazes are food safe and non toxic commercial grade.
• Products are packaged in Envirofill or reused packaging material.
• Plastic, glaze, water and porcelain slip bottles used in production are recycled in her studio.

Unfortunately they're not recyclable. But as gorgeous as they are, why would you want to?

Available in the U.S. and Japan. Visit SarahCihat.com for stores.

The V2 Wallpaper Tiles by Mio, available in three colors, add a bold playfulness to a space. They can be mounted temporarily with double-stick tape, or permanently with standard wallpaper adhesive. Cover entire wall spans or arrange a select few into your own custom art installation, Made with 100% recycled paper, these pieces are also made sustainably in Philadelphia. And wonderfully affordable starting at $28/dozen 12"x12" tiles through Branch Home.

Embossed Wall Panels by Inhabit create a subtler texture for a space. Made with 100% bamboo-pulp paper, they come in an off-white color, and can be painted with water-based paints or patina. They can be mounted directly over existing walls, and are allegedly "goof proof" to install. Available through Inhabit for $84/10 18"x18" panels. Seen at: Treehugger

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.

modularArts panels have graced the walls of Sony Design Center, Bloomingdales, CNN, Bellagio, Aveda and Burdine's Macy's.

What makes them Fabulous:
1. Made from 100% mineral composite, they're nontoxic and contain no retardants or agents.
2. Awarded a 2004 Green Products Award by Organic Architect,
3. "Greened" their manufacturing process: waste water is recycled, and minimal plywood is used for packaging.
4. Are tactile, modern and simply beautiful.

For a fee, designers can even create your own proprietary pattern--providing unique sculptural art to a space.

Fabulously Green reports on the latest eco-friendly products that blend style, sustainability and social responsibility. A resource for designers and shoppers alike, we showcase daily green style finds in fashion, furniture, decor pieces reflecting eco-modern chic.