Keeping with the Labor Day barbecue theme...how could I not share this eco-friendly handmade felt play food from bugbitesplayfood?

Stackable burger toppings? Mini felt kabobs...that slide on and off their skewers? And don't even get me started about the other mini stitched wonders, like the turkey with stuffing kit or the apple pie assembly set. The little green felt wasabi that comes with the sushi set? Perfect. And all stitched from eco-felt made from recycled post-consumer plastic bottles.

Visit the shop for more play food fun... you'll wish you were a kid again.

What do you get when you take wonderfully-executed freehand drawings and silkscreen them onto organic and sweat-shop free shirts? And then put those shirts onto what might possibly be the cutest model in existence? You guessed it: klt:works.

klt:works is the label of Kristin Loffer Theiss, a trained artist and arts educator, who, according to her bio, walked into the studio one day in 2005 and just started producing lovely things until she had created a wonderful line of apparel, mobiles and homegoods. Much of her clothing line (particularly the items shown in her cosa verde shop) is printed on organic tees or sweatshop-free American Apparel shirts.

And those lovely, loose drawings? They are silkscreened designs created from Kristin's original freehand sewing drawings, which are absolutely amazing. Watch the video below to see her draw an owl on the sewing machine at Hutch Studio in La Conner, WA. I promise you, your jaw will drop.

Thread Drawing from elSage on Vimeo.

Very often when searching for things to write about here I find myself focusing on the materials that items are made out of. I've come to think of that as the easiest way to look for the eco-friendly ethic in a product: like checking the Nutrition Facts on a food product, or reading the clothing tag before I bring a new shirt home from the store. So I find myself searching the internet for terms like "hemp," "bamboo", "organic" or "recycled".

But equally important is the way that those items are made. We've all come to value sweatshop-free clothing, and I think for many of us part of the value in buying handmade comes from the fact that the items we're purchasing are made by individuals who we can actually reach out to and contact, rather than being made in dark, unknown factories hidden far off somewhere where we cannot see.

Beyond the actual manufacturing, though, is something equally important: the design of the product itself. An item that is designed to last can make a big environmental impact.

That is what I love about these eco-friendly girls' dresses from goGa. They are constructed to grow with the wearer through an ingenious corset-like cross-ties on the back of the dress. Meaning that dress turns into tunic into blouse, and one piece of clothing will fit a little girl from age two to age nine. If that's not grand enough as it is, each dress is reversible—two durable fashions in one—and yes, most all of the fabrics goGa uses are upcycled or organic. And, well, they are just adorable to boot.

March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers. Or so I hear.

Adorable upcycled girl's dress from Lillipops Designs; kids organic messenger bag from SewnNatural; Rain Drops Pencilcase in Organic Cotton from Pocket Carnival; recycled pages journal from spacedogstudios

The fact that I'll have my very first nephew in a few months has me slightly obsessed with all things baby boy. And since the role of long-distance-aunt allows for some extra spoiling, I know that my search for fun and well-made baby gifts has only just begun. (Which, by the way, I am completely OK with!) So far, my favorite finds are these hanging mobiles by PinkPerch. Each one is made-to-order from eco-felt or fleece, and stuffed with a soft, bamboo filling. These made-to-order mobiles, like Outer Space Adventure, or Counting Sheep, will add a bit of whimsy to any baby's room, along with some guaranteed sweet dreaming.

I don't have kids, and I don't plan on having any for a while, but if I did, then they would absolutely be decked out in bright Merino wool hoodies and tops from Sew Katiepie. Of course, it helps that she has some truly adorable models to help showcase her wares, but really, how cute are these bright tops with contrasting edging? (I love the red hoodie in the last photo with the striped lining! And the cardigan below that ties with a bow at the neckline to close! How sweet!)

Now, I was not familiar with all the benefits of Merino wool until Sew Katiepie joined cosa verde. Here are just a few of the reasons she lists for working with the fabric: it's a renewable, 100% natural fibre which is ethically farmed. It allows the child's skin to breathe and is warm even when wet. It offers natural UV protection and is naturally flame retardant and self-extinguishing.

And if you, like me, sometimes avoid wool because it's too scratchy or too tough to care for, read what Sew Katiepie has to say: As a mother, I am conscious of what I feed my daughter, her environment and what I clothe her in. I love the fact that Merino wool is now available in silky soft weaves that are not scratchy and that I can throw in the washing machine—just as easy as polar fleece/minky but oh so, so much nicer!

Sounds great to me!

How amazing is the work of Lillipops Designs? Beautiful, beautiful recycled clothes for kids! Perfect for the end of summer or back-to-school time. And I love these photos—the sense of whimsy—she's lucky to have such lovely models!

From Lillipops Designs: Each of my pieces is crafted using recycled garments. That skirt may have been a man's shirt, and that lovely dress may have been a vintage tablecloth. I select only fabrics that are high quality, durable and beautiful....They are designed to withstand washings, tree climbing, tea parties and mud pies.

The shop tagline says it all: Recycling Never Looked So Sweet!

It has been pouring rain all week here, with little rivers forming in all the gutters. It reminds me of a time when we were still in college and built little boats to sail down the center of town in one of these summer storms. (Yeah, I know that would be a better story if we had been kids, but we've never actually grown up.)

So when I saw these boats from Willow Baus, I got all warm and fuzzy inside. Perfect for a summer afternoon, or maybe a summer storm, these boats are made from non-toxic and earth safe materials, finished with natural beeswax and orange oil. She even offers a vegan-friendly option to the beeswax finish, if requested.

I love this photo, too—it reminds me of the boats you'll see sailed by little children in the fountains in Paris. Such a lovely, lazy, summer sight.