Etsyblogger Carnival: Go Green

This week's Etsyblogger carnival is hosted by Honey from the Bee. With St Patrick's day right around the corner, the two topic choices were:

1) St. Patrick's Day will be our next holiday. Write about any St. Patrick's Day traditions you have or memories... crafts.... food...
2) Thinking Green... write about what you're doing to make this a greener planet. This could be about your art or just around the house or at work.

I have only done something for St Patty's day once. And it was the "usual" for the U.S....hit the bars early & stay all day. Once was enough. Is the U.S. the only place that equates St Patty's day with getting stupid drunk?

Anyway - I like the second choice better. Green around here is also the "usual"...recycle (we are lucky to have a good curbside program), buy local when possible, go organic when we can afford to, give clothes & household items away rather than toss them...you know, the "usual". But I always want to do more.

I am starting to incorporate more upcycle into my crafts. Scraps have always been kept to make small items and I PIF scrap bags on my Tilt Too site. PIF= pay it forward...I list them for the $0.20 that Etsy charges per items plus shipping, so it is as close to giving it away as I can get online.

I made a batch of market totes from a "rescued" slipcover. I have another that I will be making into a new batch sometime next month. Older, gently used, clothes are also falling in line to become something "new".

The first thing I have made is this skirt for a little girl, size 5T. I am going to have one of my son's friends try it out for me.

My mom passed on some jackets and things for me to play with as well. There is a bright teal raincoat just itching to be a fun tote. Now I just need to find some pattern designed specifically for upcycling. I know I can just adapt a regular pattern, but it would be nice to practice and get my chops with something already tried out.

I did find one shop, Fox and Doe (patterns now relocated to Lily Giggle), where I got a couple great patterns for kids that I am looking forward to making for my son and niece. The Krew jacket will be the first one I tackle. Isn't it adorable?

Anyone here know a good place for upcycle patterns? Mostly for adult clothing?

And to add to the fun - an Etsy treasury featuring Etsybloggers and Green :)