How cute is today's {Friday Find}?  The seller calls this a vintage telephone table.  "THIS IS A NICE PIECE MADE OF QUALITY TEAK WOOD AND MEASURES 25 INCHES HIGH X 35 INCHES WIDE.  IF INTERESTED CALL 707/824-0607.  $65"  

Since I have been teaching myself to sew, I know for a fact how easy and inexpensive it would be to recover that seat pad.  And if the color of the wood doesn't match your decor, a little sanding and a coat of earth-friendly paint, and voila!  For $65, I'd guess $4 for fabric/thread, $2 for sandpaper and $10 paint, you'd have one stylish sitting area or landing strip.  Remember, let's keep these vintage pieces going with a little TLC instead of spending the same amount on a new, lower quality item (i.e., IKEA, Target).  As a consumer we do have a choice!  No more junky furniture that doesn't last!  Hurray for re-use! 

The It! home accent trend this fall is apparently burlap. Wikipedia says that burlap is "a coarse woven fabric usually made from jute or other vegetable fibers." Sounds like a natural, earth-friendly fabric to me. But how can you incorporate something 'coarse' into your home decor? Lots of ways! Poppytalk blog has a whole article inspired by a Canadian House and Home piece -- find it here.  Apartment Therapy has a related post too, here.

Shopping for a kid gift and found this cool, multi-use toy. 

"Children enjoy rocking back and forth on the rocking boat just as though they are rocking on the ocean waves. Turn it over and it becomes a sturdy set of stairs; children as young as two especially enjoy climbing up and down the stairs, having great fun while they develop coordination and motor skills.

A {Friday Find} on Monday!  This one is too cute to pass up.  Instead of spending much more on a side chair, get this one for $40 and you can easily put in a fabric of your choice.  Also, take advantage of the trend in dining chairs by having a hodge-podge of chairs -- a mix 'n match of sorts.  It looks like the seller has three of these chairs. 

"Great classic mid century modern chair, tightly grained wood, not sure if teak or oak or ?? Very sturdy, solid chair, comfortable padded seat, recently covered in cotton muslin fabric in a linen color. A few small knicks and scratches. Great as a side chair, desk chair, in entry, great style for fabulous fifties kind of price."  Link is here.

Good Housekeeping has come up with a new seal of approval, launched last month, it is called simply the "Green Good Housekeeping Seal."  Here is everything (and then some) that you need to know:

"The Green Good Housekeeping Seal was introduced in 2009 by Good Housekeeping magazine and the Good Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI). It was developed to help consumers sift through the confusing clutter of "green" claims on hundreds of products on store shelves today. The Green Good Housekeeping Seal helps them make environmentally responsible choices.

In evaluating products that apply for the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, GHRI reviews and verifies a wide range of data related to the product's measurable environmental impact. Reduction of water use in manufacturing, energy efficiency in manufacturing and product use, ingredient and product safety, packaging reduction, and the brand's corporate social responsibility are among the factors considered.