Brooklyn Blossoms

Although the Brooklyn Botanical Garden hosted Sakura Matsui aka the Cherry Blossom Festival last weekend, the CherryWatch Blossom Status Map shows that the trees lining the Cherry Esplanade are still in first bloom.


I went a couple of weekends ago and caught the Japanese Garden in full bloom. Just beautiful - even on a cloudy day.




Pssst: When there aren't special programs running entry to the BBG is FREE on Sat mornings from 10 am - noon. More info on hours and admissions here.

Bright Idea: Plumen

I always find it a stroke of genius when the obvious is beautifully reinvented. Plumen's designer energy efficient light bulbs are a case in point.



Available here.

Etsy Handmade Portrait - Recycled!

Check out Etsy's Handmade Portrait of Reiter8 which was re-edited and shown on NYC Channel 25 recently. Just goes to show that nearly anything can be recycled!!


NYC Channel 25 is my new favorite go to for the inside scoop on NYC - they have great shows and features. Take a look at their online content if you are not in the viewing area.

Spring Cleaning

I've been doing some spring cleaning in the studio lately. I'm in the 'use it' or 'get rid of it' mode.

I came across a piece of great upholstery fabric from my fabric stash and gave it the ultimatum. Then grabbed a pair of leather topped handles that had been hanging around, too.

The result?





It's the latest addition to Reiter8's recycled sail BIG tote collection. It's so roomy and has the capacity to hold everything for a day at the beach ... and then some!

Available here.

The Perfect Beach Bag

The Perfect Beach Bag? Really? Well, yes! That's what people say over and over when they see this roomy light weight durable tote.




Bonus: Not only is it eco friendly for the outside material: upcycled dacron sailboat sails. But the inside, too! A lovely combo of hemp and organic cotton muslin blend with a wave pattern.



Available exclusively here

(Recycled Sail) Pillow Talk

New: Reiter8's Recycled Sail Pillows now available with Ikat backing!







More color combos and the above pillow available here.

Summer Shimmer

Introducing (drum roll please) 3 new Recycled Sail bags:
The Big Dipper Tote:



Guess I'm dreaming about warm summer nights spent star gazing.

The Silver Streak:


And The Prefect Beach Tote (Because that's what people kept saying when they saw it.)



All available in my shop on Etsy!

Earth Day 2011

Happy Earth Day!

Mark today as the first day you will take a small step (or big step!) to do something for the environment. All the earth saving tips are out there - especially today. Pick something you can do and start doing it today. You have the power to make an impact.

Reiter8's Earth friendly step starting today is to participate in UPS's carbon neutral shipping option with each UPS shipment. This means that through UPS, I will be supporting emissions reduction projects that help mitigate the climate impact of shipping of my parcels. More detailed info here.

Further, SHIPPING IS FREE on all orders placed today!

Happy Earth Day!

(image via UPS.com)

Reclaimed and Upcycled

Here's another 'new' tote.





The handle material was reclaimed form a local belt factory that went out of business. The same place where the red patent leather bands on the 'Look at Me' tote came from in the previous post. Both totes are available here.

Good news, the old belt factory building was reclaimed and upcycled, too. It's been restored and revamped into The Invisible Dog Art Center. They always have interesting events going on: art openings, plays, open studios. Definitely worth a visit if your in the neighborhood.

Have a great weekend!

Look At Me!

Say hello to my latest addition. It''s a kind of 'Cat in the Hat' don't take me too seriously tote.

Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me NOW!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.
-Dr. Seuss from The Cat in the Hat

More details on this recycled sail tote here.

Catch a Wave

I think this 'wave chair' is stunning in it's simplicity.

Designed and crafted by Carley Eisenberg in Boone, NC, it's made from walnut, bend ply in addition to walnut and birch veneer.

"All of my pieces are assembled the old-fashioned way, with wooden dowels and strong joints. There are no staples, nails or hidden brackets like most commercial furniture of today. My pieces will last a lifetime."

Every Piece that Carley creates is green and is made of wood milled in her own shop, instead of being shipped across the country.

More info at her website here and her Etsy shop here.

Sunshine Harnessed

Today is about as grey as it gets.

But, remember those fantastic bright sunshiny spinnaker sails that I posted about last week? Well, here is the sail upcycled and transformed into accent throw pillows. They are light and fun. Flip them over and you've got a different color combo.
Available in my Etsy shop.

No Impact Week

First Monday. New Year. Big to-do list brewing. Studio clean up re org planned. And if that wasn't enough. It's also day 2 of No Impact Week. Oops! I missed day one. Well, it seems fairly forgiving.



More info and registration on the No Impact Project website. Good luck!
If you haven't seen No Impact Man - the year long documented experience of a New Yorker attempting to live without negatively impacting the environment - I highly recommend that you check out. You can play it instantly on Netflix.

The Fish That Got Away

As mentioned in yesterday's post, there were several nautical decor items that didn't make it into the Shopping With feature that ran in the Homes section of the New York Times yesterday.

I like nautical decor when it's not hitting you over the head (with an anchor). But instead suggests the sea in subtle, yet graphic ways. Here were my additional picks:

OK maybe the wallpaper by isn't very subtle - but it sure is fun! ‘Shore Leave’ Wallpaper ($150 per roll) by Brooklyn based Flavor Paper.

Haus Interiors in Nolita has a lovely selection of modern nautical decor. So much so that it was hard to choose. I can easily picture the Feed Stripe Throw ($178) slung over a couch and I love the Sea Grass Cube ($72), too.

Made from re-purposed fishing line woven with vines around a strong metal armature this Fishing Sphere Chandelier ($410 – 630) from Seaside Inspired evokes a images of sand dunes and surf for me.

Hand-printed organic linen tea towels ($18 each) by Madder Root available on Etsy. I love the graphics and the fact that they are made with organic materials and thread as well as solvent free water based inks.

I chose this octopus pillow ($60) by Utilitarian Franchise, another Etsy seller, also for the great contrasting colors and graphic plus the white eco friendly water based paint that they use in the process.

Down East Doormats by Maine Float Rope Company. Above is a medium hand-woven stripe doormat made from reclaimed float rope formerly used by Maine lobstermen $49.95. great background story on their site - worth a visit.

Barmaid cast iron bottle opener ($30) by Nauti and Co a NY based company looks like an artifact that you might find while beach combing ... if you're very, very lucky!

Introducing: Recycled Sail Pouches

Say hello to Reiter8's latest addition: the recycled sail zippered pouch.

These pouches are perfect for when you are heading out for a day on the boat or beach and need to keep sun block, glasses, keys, an ipod plus a little cash from sloshing around loose in your beach bag.

Whether you use it as a pencil case or cosmetic case, the heavy duty chunky YKK zipper will keep your belongings from wandering away into the abyss that lurks in the bottom of every bag.

$25 each
Available here.

New Designs

To celebrate Earth Day, I am introducing several new recycled sail tote bag designs in Reiter8's Etsy shop that are nature inspired.

They are fully lined in 100% organic cotton canvas, a fabric was produced from environmentally friendly materials and fabrication methods using sustainable fibers and low impact dyeing methods preserving the Earth's precious resources.

Happy Earth Day.
Enjoy!

Etsy Shop Update

Check out the recent recycled sail bag additions to Reiter8's Etsy shop:



Blue 4 Messenger Bag


Red 5 Upcycled Sail Tote



Love the bit of red lining that you can see through the grommet in this Square Grommet Market Tote

No weathered wood shingles in Brooklyn ... these photos were taken during a visit to Martha's Vineyard not so long ago. Enjoy!