Swept by Filters
I love the windows of Anthropologie. One morning in NYC, I walked through Rockefeller Center to get to a meeting and decided to peer through the windows. I grabbed my digital camera to share these amazing handmade creations that look like a foamy sea in the windows.
If you look closely, you can see the whole thing is made entirely out of white paper cups, coffee filters and muffin tin liners. It's folded here and there and there are cut outs here and there to give it character and texture.
I could imagine a special occasion---like a wedding---where you save the lace doilies, unused paper cups and other paper items to create something (smaller) and similar in a shadow box as a memento.
Speaking of fun ideas, here's one more I saw inside the shop: a fabric cover cord. Who doesn't have ugly cords from a lamp that are impossible to hide? Just wrap unfinished canvas fabric around the cord to hide it and give it character. Instead of hiding the cord, celebrate it!
Lovely, but it makes me cringe to think of all of those bleached paper filters and cupcake liners heading off to some landfill somewhere when the window changes. That is some serious waste! I felt guilty about my own personal use of coffee filters and switched to a reusable filter. Now I know where all of the filters I didn't use went.
Posted by: Lora | July 16, 2008 at 09:07 AM
What a wonderful picture of the coffe cups and filters making draping flowers, so unique! Even a bridal shower use is great! I have a bridal shower this weekend, may bring some of that idea into it for some fun. Thanks for sharing!
http://www.lifeislikechampagneblog.com/
Posted by: happyathome | July 16, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Agree with Lora. But it has green applications if you're using scavenged or sentimental items. (I do totally want one of those mason jar installments Anthropologie did another time, not least because I can't get glass recycled in my area.)
The wrapped cord... I don't know, it's kind of like putting a potted plant on a speaker, drawing attention to the thing you want to hide. Good out of the box thinking, though. Hmm... maybe if you coiled and tied it, it would look more like an art object.
Posted by: Summer | July 16, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Ditto Lora. My first thought was "people still use disposable filters?" The Anth windows are stunning though. The pink poodles will always be my favorite!
Posted by: Rachel | July 16, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Stunning!
Posted by: Beau | July 16, 2008 at 05:37 PM
Anthropologie ! no one does it better..
their creative team is made of interns [sans no pay,] I discovered while looking for work ...but it is the latest and greatest art students out there, they jet stream all the cutting edge trends for us to enjoy bravo to them
Posted by: nancy hart | July 17, 2008 at 10:40 AM
That is cool. Thanks, Kellie shoptheemall.com Ft Wayne, IN
Posted by: Kellie Syn | July 20, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Found your post while searching for lace doilies. Thank you for sharing the photos. Loved the idea for the lamp cord. Now if we could just do somthing with all those cords attached to our computers....
Posted by: Sandi | July 22, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Stop Plastic Bags by Grabbing Free Reusable Bags from ReusableBagsGiveaway.com
While searching for some green tips to replace my bathroom faucet, I came across this site: ReusableBagsGiveaway.com. I was skeptical at first that wondering what company will giveaway reusable bags. Well, when I landed on their site, I was immediately blown away by the free reusable bags that they're giving away. Not only the bags are free, but the bags must be coming from the hands of designers, they're stylish and chic. I quickly order my free reusable bags, the only cost to me is the shipping fee of $4.99, and the shipping fee actually covers up to 4 bags, so I pick 2 more bags of other styles and finished my checkout.
A few days later, I received the package, and the reusable bags are so good that actually when I carry them to work, people are all asking me where did I get the bags.
Afterall, it's really eay to go green, stay stylish and cheap.
Posted by: Ben | July 30, 2008 at 04:09 AM