A New Bag in Town

Manhattan Beach City Council proved they were up for the eco-challenge when on July 15th they unanimously adopted an ordinance banning plastic bags! Manhattan Beach is the second city in the Nation to adopt the plastic bag which begins in February 2009. Plastic bags are often carried by the wind into storm drains and into the ocean where fish and birds mistakenly eat the bags thinking it is food and end up dying. Also, plastic bags end up in the trash where they take a very long time to breakdown.

Go Manhattan Beach! I'm very proud of you!

If you haven't already started bringing your own bags to the store the time is now. You can read my post on reusable tote bags.

For more information on the plastic bag ban in Manhattan Beach visit www.citymb.info

Not a Chinese Junk, Our Junk!

A friend recently sent me a link to a very interesting blog. It is the story of a raft named Junk, and made of just that, junk! Made from 15,000 plastic bottles, Junk, as I type this, sails from California to Hawaii with a strong message aboard: Recycle! There is more trash and plastic in the North Pacific Ocean now than ever. It never completely breaks down and pollutes the ocean and it's inhabitants with various chemicals. The 2 man crew of Junk recently reach the halfway point of their journey and you can follow them day by day on their blog.

To check them out and to learn more visit http://junkraft.blogspot.com/ and spread the word. The more people who know of Junk and its message the stronger that message will be!

Wear Your Ride Well!

I am very enamored with the new breed of eco-crafter. So much fabulous junk exists in this world and it is just begging to be re-fashioned. Alicia and Brad of Hi Octane Jewelry are no exception to this excellence in recycled craft.

The hot rod inspired jewelry Alicia and Brad create begins from drawings which they then make into molds. The final sterling silver products are divine! But from my view, that of the obsessive recycler, their best jewelry is made from old car parts. Using emblems from cars that now spend their golden years in junk yards and scrap heaps, they clean each old car emblem carefully. They then attach hardware to the emblem so it can relive its days of glory on the open road, only now, it rides around your neck! Each necklace is completely handmade, recycled, and finely finished. Really, what more could you possible want!?! So maybe your first love was a Mustang, or even a Buick (don't worry, I won't tell); what better way to commemorate the former 4-wheels of your heart than to wear a piece of it around your neck.

You can see all of Hi Octane Jewelry's designs on their site. But you may want to contact them to see what car emblems they have in stock.

http://www.hioctanejewelry.com/