eco craft & design feature: Anna Ruby King

This is the second in a new series on interviews with eco crafters from across the globe. As part of the Eco Etsy Team, I have met many talented people dedicated to creating items which cause as little impact on the planet as possible. These interviews offer me the chance to showcase some of the fantastic talent to be found in the team.
Don't forget to search 'teamecoetsy' when looking for eco friendly products on etsy


Fabric Squares Gift Cards - Set of Two - Japanese Red and Blue


Name: Anna

Shop Name: Lila Ruby King/Anna Ruby King

Shop Link(s):
http://annarubyking.etsy.com
http://lilarubyking.etsy.com

Location: Athens, Greece

Ships To: Everywhere and Anywhere!

What do you create?
I have two lines of work, hence the two shops. I have a jewellery line, and also a paper goods/art line of work. With my jewellery I create mostly with glass, sterling silver and found wooden twigs. With my paper goods (mostly gift cards) and art, you will see a lot of birds!

How did you get into your craft?
When I finished school I went into Visual Arts at university, I majored in print media and minored in painting. After I finished this degree, I really had a desire to start making functional objects, so I went on to study jewellery design and production.


The Scrub Birds Gift Cards - Set of Two - Lime and Deep Blue


What materials do you use for your eco friendly products?
My main eco friendly product is my gift cards, the card stock I use is made from recycled paper, and the envelopes are made from surplus map pages which I think is really cool! The designs on my cards are made with fabric, and as much as possible I try and use recycled fabric, offcuts, remnants, scraps, etc… I really like the idea of using the remnant fabric, not just because of environmental benefits, but because it means that I can only make so many cards out of each piece, so I am forced to keep coming up with new colour combinations and patterns.
With my jewellery, it is a bit more of a challenge to work in an eco friendly way, but I have started a collection that uses found twigs. I love how I can use an item that is overlooked and discarded and turn it into something beautiful and desirable.


White Branch Brooch - No.2


Why did you decide to make eco friendly products?
It was just something that I had to do, there was no other option for me. I am quite concerned about what is happened with the planet right now, so I think it is important for all of us to start making eco friendly choices with what we purchase. When I purchase my recycled blank cards, this supports another eco friendly business, and prevents my money from supporting a company that is not. Things like this is something all of us can do, and if enough of us start making these choices then it will make a difference.

What inspires you?
Nature, endlessly! Maybe this is another reason why I am so passionate about being eco friendly!

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
It is really more of a lifestyle- it is something I do everyday, and I would be miserable without it!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I love going for walks, reading, going to the movies and cooking sweet things!

Do you have any advice to share on how you have made your business grow?
I think it is important to have a product that is distinctly yours and to keep creating new things to keep the attention of your customers.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Hopefully I will still be creating, still happy, still healthy!

new listing: Vintage burnt orange and brown dilly tote

This is the latest Dilly tote from Pouch
I am completely in love with this recycled fabric, it features a classic vintage orange, brown and taupe pattern
Fully lined with jet black cotton fabric

Perfect for shopping, carrying college books or you latest knitting project
Would also make a great baby-changing bag, this large tote is perfect for carrying lots of baby paraphernalia
Comfortable wide strap, it wont cut into your shoulder
Features two internal pockets
Pretty and stylish, great for year-round use

Vintage burnt orange and brown dilly tote in our etsy store

new listing: orange zest and chocolate brown oversized tote

Here is the latest listing in Pouch's etsy shop!

Perfect for taking to your local market or grocery store to stock up on provisions
Also makes a great knitting bag, book bag, gym bag, diaper bag, you can carry many things in this handy tote!

Made with stunning vintage Irish linen fabric and fully lined with lime green cotton
The outside is made from floral vintage fabric in shades of tangerine orange, lemon yellow, crimson red and pure white on a rich chocolate background
It features 1 internal pocket in matching vintage linen, perfect for keeping mobile phone, keys, shopping lists etc
The handles are reinforced with jet black cotton webbing so that over time the handles will not stretch

forget plastic bags, use this stylish, eco-friendly alternative instead!

orange zest and chocolate brown oversized tote

new listing: teal and slate grey clutch purse

This is the latest purse in a new range of Autumn/Winter clutches made by Pouch
This luxurious clutch is made from recycled corduroy fabric in a beautiful shade of teal
It features a slate grey vintage buckle with a hidden magnetic snap closure underneath
It is fully lined with recycled silky teal fabric
Interlined with padded fabric to give this clutch a great shape
In a previous life the corduroy was a vintage dress and the lining was a blouse
eco friendly and stylish, perfect for Autumn and Winter
teal and slate grey clutch purse

new listing: pistachio and oatmeal pure wool plaid clutch

This winter clutch is made from recycled, vintage, pure wool fabric
It features checks in shades of pale pistachio green and oatmeal cream
It is criss-crossed with thin blue, red, pink and taupe stripes

In a previous life it was a wool blanket!

Tartan and plaid are very hot right now and featured in many 2008/2009 catwalk shows
Fun and stylish, perfect for Autumn and Winter
Treat yourself to a truly unique bag!

pistachio and oatmeal pure wool plaid clutch

vintage find: Jersey Pottery

I love retro ceramics, especially from the 1960s and 1970s. It ties in with my love of vintage fabric. I just love the bold patterns and colours found in vintage items.
I found this little Jersey Pottery pomander in a local charity shop and was really taken by the smooth brown and taupe loops on an off-white background.
I was even more taken by the price, £9.99 reduced to £1.99. Bargain!

New colour sleepy owl: aqua green

I've added another colour to the sleepy owl collection!
The new owls are made from recycled vintage fabric is shades of aqua green and royal blue.

Each owl is filled with chemical-free, French Lavender and non-allergenic stuffing
You can either place them on your pillow to help you float off to sleep.
Or put in your wardrobe (they don't mind the dark!) to make your clothes smell nice.

Did you know?
Lavender is a good moth repellent.
Lavender makes an eco-friendly alternative to conventional moth balls which are full of hazardous chemicals

They make a great eco-friendly stocking filler this Christmas!
Sleepy owl in aqua green
Sleepy owls in other shades here!

eco craft & design feature: Chakra Pennywhistle

This is the first in a new series on interviews with eco crafters from across the globe. As part of the Eco Etsy Team, I have met many talented people dedicated to creating items which cause as little impact on the planet as possible. These interviews offer me the chance to showcase some of the fantastic talent to be found in the team.
Don't forget to search 'teamecoetsy' when looking for eco friendly products on etsy

First up is the lovely Rikkianne of Chakra Pennywhistle!



Name: Rikkianne Van Kirk

Shop Name: Chakra Pennywhistle

Shop Link(s): www.chakrapennywhistle.etsy.com

Location: Tucson, AZ USA

Ships To: Everywhere

What do you create?
In my shop, you will find organic cotton pillows, organic onesies and tees, along with recycled money bag pillows and wallets.

How did you get into your craft?
Oh Goodness, that is a long story. I will try and make it short. I have always enjoyed art in all of its forms. I started out in performance art and actually went to a dramatic arts school in NYC. I guess that I got caught up in just living in the city and basically trying to pay the bills and art just became nonexistent. With acting on the back burner, I eventually found myself in need of a creative outlet. I went through countless mediums! Collage, painting, knitting, felting, and finally sewing. I received a sewing machine as a gift and never looked back. I recently took a screen printing course and think that I have finally found my true passion.

What materials do you use for your eco friendly products?
I use organic fabrics along with recycled materials.
Currently in my shop you will find organic cotton pillows that are hand printed with waterbased ink. I stuff the pillows with raw organic cotton and sew them with organic cotton thread. The thread is a joy to use. It is smooth and very sturdy.
I also make pillows out of vintage money bags. These are so much fun to transform! Each one is unique in the fact that they were once working bank bags and carry the wear and tear of their past life.
I also collect and make goods out of vintage calendar tea towels.



Why did you decide to make eco friendly products?
I have always found pleasure in making something new out of something old. I also feel the need to support forward-thinking businesses and, specifically, those that incorporate organic farming. Speaking of something old turned new, there is a quote that I love which comes from an organic farmer….
“Organic farming is rediscovering old techniques, and applying them with a new plough.” La Rhea Pepper
There is something to be said for businesses that do their part to create a sustainable future. No matter how small a part I may get to play in this future, I have the opportunity to use eco-friendly materials and choose to do so….


What inspires you?
A lot of things. My husband, daughter, and grandma are constant sources of inspiration.
I am also obsessed by both folk and outsider art. I just finished reading the book, The Folk Art Tradition, Naïve Painting in Europe and the United States. The author, Jane Kallir describes folk art to be a “catchall category for misfits – wallflowers at the dance of western civilization.” I swear, I have read that sentence over and over! Amazing!

Is this a job for you or a hobby?
I would say that it is both.
I stay at home with my daughter, Mia. She is 2 years old. When she was born, my husband and I decided that I would take care of her and start my business. We planned on giving it 5 years (until Mia goes to school) to see where I could take it.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I spend time with my family and friends. I go thrifting and antiquing quite often. I read mostly art and design books. I go to our local used book store every single weekend and look for issues of Selvedge Magazine for half the price :)

Do you have any advice to share on how you have made your business grow?
I am so thankful for my customers. I treat them how I would want to be treated.

I really try to have fun with it! I am addicted to making Etsy treasuries and recommend everyone to curate! The collections are so inspirational!

Join a team. I am so proud to be a member of Eco Etsy (teamecoetsy) and my local team, the Desert Indie Designers. I have learned so much from both of those groups and enjoy the people so very much.

I support handmade wholeheartedly.

I also think that it is important compliment someone else’s work. If you love another shop, convo them and let them know. We are usually one person in our workshop, sewing room, or corner of the living room. We all belong to a giant community of like-minded people. I think that we tend to forget that the person behind that amazing shop is just like us. Etsy is extremely inspirational - not only in the creations it offers, but in the community it offers as well.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Oh my…. I would love to be living out in the country supporting my family on my income, alone. It would be a complete dream to work with my husband and get to spend every waking minute with him, my daughter, and my grandmother.

Win an eco friendly tote and brooch

**PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRIZE DRAW IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ENTRIES AND LOVELY COMMENTS, WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER VERY SOON**



November prize draw!
If you sign up for our monthly newsletter in November, you will be entered into a prize draw to win a Candy Stripe tote handmade by Pouch

Also included in the prize is a detachable heart shaped pin-brooch made with recycled vintage fabric and golden yellow felt.

Perfect for taking to the shops to stock up on provisions. Also makes a fab knitting bag, book bag, gym bag, you can cram virtually anything into this handy tote

This is great opportunity to win a stylish and eco-friendly tote and brooch.




Pouch Newsletter
Sign up to keep updated on new Pouch products and to find out about the events, fairs and markets we attend. We hate spam as much as the next person, so we promise to only send you a monthly newsletter and no other email correspondence.

The winner of November's prize draw will be contacted directly at the end of the month
We will also make an announcement on our blog

new listing on etsy: reversible mini messenger purse

This is a robust, eco-friendly mini-purse
Made with recycled blue denim fabric and fully lined with vintage cotton fabric in shades of pale blue, pink and green

This mini messenger bag has no visible seams, so it is reversible – making this two bags in one!
This bag is extra special because the top fastens with a stunning ceramic button handmade by http://www.seaurchin.etsy.com
Check out her fabulous shop over on etsy!



to view more photos of this purse, please visit Pouch's etsy store
Blue sky and flowers reversible mini messenger bag

New Tags

I decided to start adding little 'thank you' tags to items when they are packed up to go to a new home.
I made these using recycled paper cut with pinking shears (an old pair I use for paper, I have a brand new pair for pinking fabric).
I then punched a hole in the top and threaded through some silver thread.
The tags feature an ink stamp of the Pouch logo which was custom made by foryoo.etsy.com.
I am really pleased with the way they turned out and think they add a nice extra touch to my gift wrapping of sold items.

New: Bottle green recycled tartan clutch purse

Just listed in Pouch's etsy store, the first of a new range of Winter clutches.

This luxurious clutch is made from recycled, vintage tartan fabric
This is authentic tartan, produced in Scotland and is 100% pure wool
Made up of checks in shades of bottle green, slate grey and criss-crossed with white and red stripes

It is fully lined with silky bottle green fabric
It features a tartan fabric strap which loops through a brass d-ring and fastens with a velcro closure
Interlined with padded fabric to give this clutch a great shape

Tartan and plaid are very hot right now and featured in many 2008/2009 catwalk shows
Fun and stylish, perfect for Autumn and Winter
Treat yourself to a truly unique bag!

Bottle green recycled tartan clutch purse

More to follow in vintage wool and yummy corduroy fabrics, all recycled and eco friendly.