Mixed Media Moda Model.

Recycling occurs in the fashion business, season after season. Often the materials used, as well as the design resources, are a combination of old and new. On the fashion trashwalk today we see a refreshing blend of old and new in terms of both style and materials. Our model is sporting a white Colgate cap atop a fine example of firmly sculpted facial hair. The mood reminds us of a bygone era, perhaps a reflection of the stiff, portly character Dr Watson from the 1930s Sherlock Holmes films or a friendly station master from an Enid Blyton novel. Personally I think a touch of colour would bring this look firmly into the twenty first century, but then there's nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia, now and then.

The Matrix, Spiderman, and now The Castaway.

Heroes throughout time have struggled against forces of darkness, sometimes winning, sometimes not. Recalling turbulent scenes from films like The Matrix and Spider Man where those heroes are almost consumed by evil, our hero draws from those lessons as he tries to defeat his own black vinyl enemy.
Our very own Castaway recognizes the need to be firm, the need to say no, the need to be true to ourselves and our passions. Demonstrating this kind of personal strength could be enough to keep the dark plastic parasites at bay. The constant threat of being consumed by over-consumption itself lurks dangerously in the shadows so we must stay vigilant. We must say NO to poisonous plastics.

The Castaway Characters' Story Unfolds - 2

Once I had found a way to link the bread tags to the carton stoppers which allowed for them to be easily taken apart and used to make other characters, I looked for other components that could do the same. Key rings and bulldog clips were an obvious choice as they were readily available in the house too. Simply by a continuous process of trial and error, combinations such as the character in this photo began to emerge.

Is LEGO Still Awesome?

As the controversial relationship between LEGO, the world-famous toy maker, and Shell, the petrochemical giant hits the news, LEGO Lovers may start to question where their loyalty lies. LEGO has a positive, family-friendly image, whereas Shell has been accused of environmentally-unfriendly practises. Should long-term LEGO fans stick with the 'awesome' toy maker despite the branding of its bricks with the Shell name or logo, or should these consumers, many of whom are parents, take a stance on the potential brainwashing of their kids.  The argument against this controversial relationship between toy and chemical giants is that LEGO users will grow to see the two brands as one, resulting in a much softer public image for Shell than it currently has.

As this report states, "LEGOS are the perfect toy. They’re affordable, easy to clean up, and they allow children to create objects, people, and worlds using their IMAGINATIONS." Of course, there are alternatives to LEGO, some of which cost nothing. People do have the option of voting with their feet, or wallets.  The alternatives may not be as 'awesome' as LEGO, but should issues other than the range and quality of the product be considered when making future purchases? If the alternatives are free but also allow children to create objects, people, and worlds using their imaginations, perhaps they do a better job. 

If your children's bright future was the reason for choosing LEGO in the first place then perhaps you might consider the bigger picture and how that future may not be the one you imagined when you first considered LEGO as a building block for it. Why not check out what others are saying about this on the internet, or from other sources, to get a more complete picture?

   

Ready For Adventure!

Here are two of the three little guys who took off to visit the USA a couple of weeks ago. The poor little heartbroken baby at the top looks scared stiff at the thought of travelling so far, but with the promise of a new start he was brave enough to go ahead with the plan. His friend in the other pic looks a little glassy-eyed: some Dutch courage perhaps before the flight? Neither of them had flown before so I'm not surprised they were nervous. Stay tuned for news of their adventures with the one and only Darth Kitten at her home in the American desert..

Recycled Art: We Like It!

There are a lot of really great artists out there using recycled products to create their pieces. To inspire you to try this yourselves take a look at these great pieces.

The Castaway Characters' Story Unfolds - 1

The Castaway Characters story started in 2011.  By experimenting with pieces of plastic packaging that would usually be thrown away without a second thought I realized it was possible to link pieces together without using adhesives.  A hole punch was the only tool I used to link bread bag tags and milk carton stoppers to make the first of the characters. By trying different combinations I saw the potential to create a variety of free-standing figures that could be assembled and taken apart without damage to the components. This meant that the parts could be used again and again in a variety of different combinations to create quite a range of colourful characters.

Landfillharmonic: Classical Landfill Castaways

These kids live in poverty. Each of their homes is valued in monetary terms at less than a violin. Despite this they have come together as members of a classical orchestra. How? By making and playing cellos, violins and other musical instruments from discarded items found in the landfill that dominates their lives. It's an awesome story that portrays creativity and determination on so many levels.

The Battle Between The Light vs The Dark

Take control of your lighting, don't let it take control of you.

See What Dr Gonzo Has Created With Castaway Characters

This post is dedicated to the work of master mold-maker and artist Dr Gonzo from ETC Toys. He's recently molded and cast a tiny Castaway Character that I made and sent him in colored resin and named him Digit. You can see this little guy in the two pictures below.  The original Castaway Character I sent was made of plastic clips, electronic components and a bread bag tag! If you'd like to see more of Dr Gonzo's amazing work, or you're interested in buying any of his work, click on the pics. The link will take you to his Instagram page.

Free Fun Face Templates App

The Castaway Characters' Fun Face Templates can be used in numerous other face changing apps. In the image below, the bread tag template has been uploaded to Zombie Booth app as an example of the changes possible.  To make your own fun characters simply click here to download the templates, then upload them to your favourite face changing apps to create some Monster Makeovers of your own.

LED Bulbs Won't Bite a Hole in Your Wallet.

Longer-lasting LED light bulbs lead to a more efficient use of resources and money. As you need to find replacements, go ahead and replace old bulbs with efficient, cost effective LED bulbs.  Save 30% on LED Bulbs. Limited Time!   Discover how to dispose of old bulbs properly and enjoy all the benefits of an eco-friendly lifestyle.  Old bulbs will bite a hole in your wallet while you are still using them and then turn around to bite you from the landfill if you don't dispose of them properly. Don't let your old light bulbs turn into vicious landfill zombies!

Summer Lovin' Video

The little guys decided to put this video together to celebrate the coming of summer.  The dance moves need a bit of work, but the spirit of love cannot be denied.

LED Bulbs - Shedding New Light

The most powerful light lord that once hovered above us, that made us see what others could not, and created time for us after the sun disappeared each day, now lay motionless before us. His brilliance that was once blinding, that demanded we never look directly at him, is now dim and powerless before us.  This light lord, the once omnipotent, omnipresent lord of the night has faltered  for the last time, his filament no longer intact. Now he has been carried into our sight from behind the shield that once separated him from us. We can look directly at him and see his strange face.  It is the head of a monster of old, an alien from another dimension. It has a bulbous, bulging forehead, not evolved for this time and place. Without power, without light now, it is an ugly thing, a thing of pity. Although it performs no movement, the bulbous-headed creature seems to speak.  It seems to realize that its time is up, that a new power will take over.  We had heard of a new king of the night, a king who may reign forever, a king who will be gentle to our eyes, a king who will demand little of us and who will live as a friend among us.  We are glad for a new king, a creature of balance and harmony who will replace our old master of dominance and power.  We welcome the new king of the night although his ways are new and different to our own traditions.  This new lord is a light lord for the people, of the world, of the universe, a lord who unites all elements of the world through light and reason. We cry his name out loud, "LED!".

As if the tired, bulbous-headed relic now laid before us can read our minds, he relinquishes his hold on the world. He gives in to the advancing presence of glowing wonder and awe, and with a final fizz of energy he agrees to join atoms with the new world order.  He agrees to be touched by the gentle green hands of our new giver of light.  The last request of the old seems to say, "Do not blame me, do not waste me. I did what I thought was best, but now it is time to give my old atoms to something new and worthy."

Rejoice in the new. the gentle, lasting light. Pick your bulbs wisely so that they will benefit all who bare witness to their rays.

"It has not evolved for this time and place."

Why Choose LED?

Energy Efficient − LED Lamps use 1/3rd to 1/30th of the energy an incandescent or CFL uses.

Economical − Although LED Lamps are initially more expensive, the cost is recouped over time in energy and replacement savings.

Longer Life − LED Lamps last up to 10 times as long as compact fluorescents, and far longer than typical incandescents.

Cool − LED Lamps cause less heat to build-up and linger within a room then incandescent lamps. By preventing heat build ups, LEDs help reduce Building cooling costs.

Durability − LED Lamps are solid and do not have a filament so they hold up well to jarring and bumping, or circumstances that would normally cause other bulbs to break.

Environmentally Friendly and RoHS Compliant − No toxins, such as lead or mercury, are used in the manufacturing of LED Lamps, aiding in bulb disposal costs.

Versatile Bread Bag Tags

Recent on-line research shows that people re-use bread bag tags in a variety of ways.
Some use them as id. tags for electrical cords at the end closest to the wall socket or multi-socket. By writing the name of the appliance on the tag, or using a colour code system, they can easily identify which of the many plugs to pull.
Others use the different coloured tags on clothes hangers to quickly identify ownership of similar garments such as school uniforms. Alternatively, garments worn once may have a certain coloured tag placed on the hanger, while those worn twice, if not ready for the laundry basket, may be tagged with a different colour.
Another suggested use for large collections of tags is to send them to charities who then get the proceeds from recycling the plastic. A lot of energy can be wasted in this process compared to re-use by the individual, but the benefits are surely obvious.
If you use bread bag tags for anything else, please leave a comment and tell everyone about it.