Coveting...Green Patriot Posters

Green Patriot Posters is a communications campaign involving the production of posters that encourage sustainable living. The website www.greenpatriotposter.org invites designers and artists to submit posters dealing with sustainability and some of these are now available in a book. Green Patriot Posters, by Dmitri Siegel and Edward Morris, contains 50 detachable posters and has been printed using 100% recycled paper and vegetable inks. It can be purchased via the Design Museum shop.

Coveting....TOMS University Navy Classics

I have noticed an increasing amount of interest in a shoe company that have actually been around for a while now. It seems that TOMS have made it onto some one's 'trends' list as there have been a number of press mentions lately as well as the obligatory sightings on young and lovelies out and about in London. Which has made me think again about how much I like these shoes, not only for their simple, comfortable design but also for the company's philosophy and 'One for One' movement. One for One means that for every pair of TOMS purchased, the company gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. For more information visit the TOMS website. Their shoes can be bought direct from them or from various retailers in the UK, including Office and Schuh.

Coveting....Neal's Yard Remedies Cosmetics

Neal's Yard Remedies have recently launched a cosmetic range. As per their usual product philisophy, none of the products have been tested on animals and contain no parabens, bismuth oxychloride, mercury, phthalates, talc and carmine.

Although there is an increasing range of organic, 'no-nasties' beauty products available now, cosmetics are one area that can be tricky for make-up lovers who are looking for more natural products. Neal's Yard Remedies new range, which includes lip glosses, eye shadows and eye liners, is a welcome addition and I personally have my eye in particular on the English Rose Lip Gloss, which at £9.50 is fairly reasonably priced.

Coveting....Northern Lights Birchwood Tray

Along with teapots and enamelware (and many other things) I have always been a big fan of trays....it's not that I use trays that often to be honest, but I just love them and am particularly loving this one which is now available at Amnesty International's online shop for the reasonable sum of £21.50. The illustration is by Finnish artist Emma Laiho. And should you be browsing the Amnesty site....I am also loving these gorgeous hand-painted cups, although I would probably want them more if the Winter wasn't closing in as they seem to me more of a Summer purchase.

On the note of Amnesty's website though, it is one of a list of online 'shops' from NGOs and other organisations that are a great source of inspiration for original Christmas shopping (aah, yes...I am joining the hordes of annoying shops that have already started pushing Christmas in our faces!).....but seriously, just thought I'd mention it now for all the super-organised out there......

Coveting....Magno Cube Wooden Radio

The Design Museum London's Sustainable Futures exhibition is currently showing and will be until the 5th of September. Hopefully I will get there sooner rather than later (such as after the 5th of September!) and will be able to tell you more about it but in the meantime....in conjunction with the exhibition their generally-fabulous-anyway Design Museum Shop has a number of gorgeous things in stock with an 'eco' aspect and I am loving the 'Magno Cube Wooden Radio' by Singgih Kartono. Not only beautifully designed and manufactured through an environmentally sustainable process; profits also support the development of the plantation surrounding the production facility. Plus it's MP3 compatible so can be used as speakers for one's iPod/MP3. It does cost £175 so this is very much admiration from afar on my part....but I can still enjoy its sheer existence! And that is what I am going to keep telling myself......