DIY: 10 Summer Shorts You Can Make at Home

Need to summerize your wardrobe? Our friends at EcoSalon shared these ten great DIY printed summer shorts you can easily make at home.

Summer time is shorts time. Hot days and warm nights means you won’t have to wear pants for at least another few months. Cute print shorts are all the rage this season, and you can channel that trend without breaking the bank. Just get out some basic tools and make a few of these great summer shorts.

Scarf Print Shorts

Recycled Bomb Shards Become Olympic Bangles

Want to celebrate the Olympics in style? Our friends at EcoSalon spotted these unique bangles.

The start of the 2012 London Olympics will be celebrated with a lavish opening ceremony on Friday. Whether or not you’ll be following along on the television, you can show your Olympic pride by wearing these limited-edition Peacebomb bangles from Article22.

Created in honor of the unity and spirit of Olympic competition, the bangles are inspired by the Olympic rings, which were designed in 1912 and debuted at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics and represent the five continents involved in the games. Like all pieces in Article22′s Peacebomb collection, each bracelet is made in Laos, entirely out of melted bomb shards. The bangles are hand cast by artisans who collect scrap metal from the 250-260 million bombs that were dropped over the Laos countryside during the Vietnam War and wrapped with nylon (colors) or leather cord (black).

For each Peacebomb product sold, Project Peacebomb donates funds equivalent to the cost of clearing 1 to 15 square meters of land in Laos from unexploded bombs. In true Olympic spirit, you are also helping people in war-torn areas of the world earn a living wage.

Be Cool: Summerize Your Clothing!

It doesn't take a meteorologist to know that it's hot out there! This week, we'll share tips to help you beat those triple digit temperatures without warming up the planet any further.

Tip #3: Summerize Your Clothing

Light-colored, loose clothing has long been touted as the best way to stay comfortable during the summer. But before you rush out to buy new clothes to compliment the rising temperatures, check if there's anything already in your closet that you can modify. Baggy old T-shirts can be refashioned into loose tank tops and jeans can be turned into shorts. Instructables.com has great sewing-free tutorials for both. If you're not willing to cut up your clothes, simply cuff your pants for instant capris. You can also cuff newly cut shorts for a neater look. Thrift stores are another great source for summer clothing and basics to refashion.

Ditch Plastic Bags in Style

San Francisco is ditching plastic bags. Or at least making it inconvenient to use them. The city and county's Checkout Bag Ordinance mandates that stores will not give customers plastic bags, starting October 1. Stores that continue to give customers plastic bags will have to charge at least 10 cents for them.

To prepare city dwellers for the ban, San Francisco's Department of the Environment will host five reusable bag vendor fairs in the next few weeks.

Many cities such as Los Angeles, Toronto, Portland have already parted ways with plastic bags, which may take hundreds years to biodegrade -- they're made from polyethylene, a man-made petroleum derivative that organisms don't recognize as food. It's not a sacrifice to give up the plastic bag either. Despite the perceived convenience, single-use bags are no longer in style.

On the other hand, reusable bags have become a bit of an accessory, a practical piece of art. Do a quick search on Amazon or Overstock and you'll find grocery bags that you definitely want to keep around. But if you're feeling artsy or don't want to spend a dollar, you can always DIY. 

The easy tutorial below shows you how to upcycle a T-shirt into a grocery bag in minutes. Essentially, cut out the sleeves and deepen the neck as if to make a tank top and then sew the bottom shut. Experiment with different tees gathering dust in the bottom drawer. If green fashion is your thing, match your bag with some of our favorite eco-pieces.

DIY in 10 Minutes: Rustic Jewelry Holder

Got 10 minutes? Our friends at EcoSalon have instructions for a quick DIY jewelry holder made from reclaimed wood.

This easy project costs pennies and adds rustic charm to any decor. Hang it in a bathroom or above a dresser in the bedroom to keep your necklaces untangled and organized (also, so you don’t forget to wear them). The piece of wood used in this project was found on the beach. Try taking apart a pallet or sourcing reclaimed wood in your area.

Supplies:

Plank of wood, drill with ¼” bit, knobs (found at Anthropologie for approximately $5.00), hammer and nails.

Directions:

 

10 DIY Gifts for Dad

Father's Day is just around the corner. Luckily we have a few ideas to help you celebrate your dad on June 17. Check the Green Life blog all week to find more inspiration. 

10 DIY Gifts for Dad

There's nothing like a handmade gift to show your pops that you care. Whether you're a pro with tools or just a creative tinkerer, these DIY projects will help you construct an unforgettable Father's Day. 

1.) Keyboard Wallet: For the techie dad, transform an old circuit sheet into an geek chic wallet.

2.) Blazer Backpack: Turn Goodwill-bound threads into an unforgettable bag.  

3.) Blender Lamp: Reminisce about margaritas past by the light of a repurposed blender lamp. 

4.) Solar Oven: For the adventurous chef, make a solar oven for summer food fests. 

5.) Wall Art: For creative types, construct memorable masterpieces from repurposed materials.

6.) Microwave Mailbox: Make mail more fun with this quirky post box made from an old microwave. 

7.) Key Rack: Dad have trouble keeping track of his keys? Give him an eye-catching key holder. 

8.) Car Air Freshener: Pair the key rack with a DIY scent for his hybrid. 

9.) Bike Upgrades: Sew a bike bag, re-cover an old seat, or build your bicyclist dad a new ride. 

10.) Drink Coasters: Make a set of personalized beer coasters for game day.

Bonus: Dress your present in DIY wrapping paper!

Green Moms: Cloth vs. Biodegradable Diapers

Green moms, you inspire us. This Mother's Day, we've got cost- and earth-saving tips just for you.

Tip #3: Know your diaper options.

One of the most heated discussions in the mommy blogosphere is on the efficacy of cloth diapers -- whether the waste reduction is outweighed by the laundering required and if the clean-up is worth new mothers' already-limited time. To make the debate even more interesting, some moms are ditching diapers altogether.

We asked a few moms to weigh in.

Cloth: Sierra Club employee and green mom Kelly G. opts for cloth diapers, so we asked her to share her story: "Using cloth diapers has been great! We always knew we would go in this direction and it couldn't be easier. Many parents have misconceptions about cloth diapers. I would say if you're thinking about it using them you should at least try it! I highly recommend using a service to help you out for the first few months."

Diaper Free: Actress and green mom Mayim Bialik traded diapers for "elimination communication" with her children. "When I first learned about it I thought it was the craziest thing I’ve ever heard," Bialik told Sierra magazine. "But it’s being talked about a lot more. It’s a diaper-free movement that’s based on the fact that children give signals. It’s a really profound level of communicating with your child. My second son was dry by 11 months."  Read the complete interview.

Biodegradable: On-the-go mom Erin B. normally uses Huggies, so we asked her to give compostable diapers a try. Here's what she had to say about the new line of biodegradable diapers from Elements Naturals: "It worked really well. They were very absorbent. I didn't like the material, which felt plastic-y, but the diapers seemed to do the job."

Tell us what you think in the comments!

Bonus: Do you remember the Million Baby Crawl?

 --Image from iStock/Julie Fairman

Green Moms: Swap Meet!

Green moms, you inspire us. This Mother's Day, we've got cost- and earth-saving tips just for you.

Tip #2: Trade baby gear.

Vintage fashion is in, and there's no reason babies can't take advantage of the trend.  Frugalista moms can exchange baby clothing and outgrown gear through online or in-person swap meets. These pocketbook-friendly swaps also help reduce clutter and avoid waste (not to mention the carbon footprint of manufacturing new car seats and baby furniture).  

Websites like thredUP and SwapBabyGoods can facilitate the process. If you're feeling gregarious, organize your own champagne- and cupcake-laced night with a few pals and some hand-me-downs.

Bonus: Learn how to dress your baby like an eco-athlete!

--Image from iStock/Michał Rojek

FASHION: Four Key Eco-Pieces, Head to Toe, for Him and Her

Think style and conservation don't mix? Wrong: Even John Muir was a sharp-dressed man.

HIS

The Kampong shirt by GRAMICCI sits well on the body and, like many of the brand's laid-back pieces, was dyed using a low-impact process. Gramicci incorporates buttons made from recycled materials, as well as hemp, into many of its offerings. $27

The made-in-the-U.S.A. PET belt from CROAKIES looks simultaneously streamlined and rugged. Its webbing is made from recycled water bottles, and it's got one-size-fits-all versatility — just trim to your waist size. $20, available at REI

OUTLIER's 4Season OG pants may not consist of outright green materials (they're 80% nylon), but if you drive everywhere to avoid the sartorial hassles of a bike commute, these are your solution. They look like a crisp pair of slacks — so you can show up to work in them — but they stretch, wick, and breathe almost like Lycra. $188

Men's dress shoes with true eco-cred are hard to find, since most office-appropriate foot coverings are leather. Fortunately, the Portuguese company NOVACAS (the name means "no cows") makes the vegan Justin loafer. Their durable microfibers are 80% biodegradable, cranked out in factories with strict eco-standards, and are are free of PVC and other toxins. $135, available at MooShoes

HERS

A sturdy, comfortable sweatshirt with a flattering fit, PLAYBACK's Zip Hoodie is constructed from 100% recycled cotton and polyester. $55

MODO's polarized, retro-modern shades, from its Eco line, have subtle tortoiseshell accenting and the cool factor of those throwback Ray-Bans. They're made from melted-down plastic and metal and come in a recycled-paper box that you can use as a mailer via which to donate your old specs. Modo plants a tree for every pair of Eco frames sold. $175 for model 301 (pictured)

Denim is a notoriously water-sucking textile to produce. So LEVI'S began supporting more efficient cotton-growing methods and came up with a new fabric called WaterLess, which, the company claims, has saved more than 40 million gallons since its debut in late 2010. WaterLess comes in the classic 501 and many other styles, but we like the Modern Demi Curve Straight Jeans (pictured) for their clean, slim look. $33 to $78 (depending on color)

OKA-B's Taylor ballet flats come in an origami-inspired box so pretty it can be reused as a home accent. They'll add polish to any getup and are comfortable, flexible, and durable. After you've kicked them off for the last time, send them to the company's zero-waste facility in Georgia to be made into new shoes. $45

--Avital Andrews / photos by Lori Eanes

Damn, These Socks are Fresh

Shedding my worn white crew socks, which may or may not have been produced by the tears of countless exploited sweatshop workers, and slipping into a fresh pair of brown Sierra Club socks was like toeing a soothing alpine pool (with all the dryness of great fabric, of course). I'm not really sure about the technology behind the "virtually seamless" "Lin-Toe closure" that  "is the smoothest, most comfortable toe seam you can buy," but it feels freaking fantastic.  

And besides the comfort, your feet can rest easy knowing that they're surrounded by environmentally friendly recycled cotton yarn. Each ton of this stuff saves 4,817.6 liters of water, 512.5 kW/h of energy, and 233.8 kg of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere, along with a bunch of other really impressive stats. The family-owned and North Carolina-based company Parker Legwear produces them for the Club and we receive a portion of the proceeds. You can buy them now and get $1 off each pair during the rest of April in honor of Earth month. Go ahead, slip into glory. 

Ryan Jacobs is an editorial intern at SIERRA magazine. A proud graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, he also reports for The Bay Citizen and previously contributed to the Point Reyes Light and Chicago Reporter, among others. Follow him on Twitter: @Ryanj899