Shells n' Bells Weblog

A new green blog

shellsnbells — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:39:22 +0000

I discovered this new green blog called getgreen.co.il. It’s pretty cool, it just started so sometimes there aren’t any write ups about a subject like green architecture or green fashion in Israel, but if the category is there, I am sure they will fill it.
It’s nice to see something that has been well designed as opposed to some of the other green sites which are very low budget, basic websites. It doesn’t take a lot to get find good design. You can even hire a student or freelancer. It all starts with design and concept. People like things that look good and work well. It’s that simple.

Take a look at the site here: getgreen

In times of recession …

shellsnbells — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:57:41 +0000

It’s our turn to decide.

shellsnbells — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:30:04 +0000

Farewell Cable TV, my life is mine again!

shellsnbells — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:45:09 +0000

Finally! I got up the nerve to disconnect myself from cable. I have no self discipline. I cannot not turn the TV on and do something creative instead. I get home, to my little apartment and it’s not like I have a big garden to hang out in and since I live alone (for now) I get home and start to zap to see what’s on.

Now I’m not a follower of any sort of program. I just see what there is and choose something that looks like I could watch it for the next half hour at least. Sitcoms are my favorite, but specific ones, “Friends”, “Seinfeld” and “Love Soup” (British). I love “Project Runway” to see how talented (or not) the designers are, but truthfully, I can see these things online and I prefer to choose when to see them.

This way I can spend my time writing my blog, being creative, making things, sewing, looking for new ideas of what to make. Meeting friends, wow, who would have thought life without TV exists!

Snazzy bags from used tyres

shellsnbells — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:31:30 +0000

I haven’t been around for a while to say the least, but I am back with more funky ways to recycle things that are so easy to throw out, like old tyres. What are you going to do with old tyres? Well, there is so much you can do, but Ilanit Neutra created a line of bags. Very stylish, good looking bags. The inner tyres which are tossed away and lay around not decomposing are soft and pleasant to touch and also have fantastic graphic elements, type and other markings that give the bags character.

Since no two tyres are the same, each bag is unique and one of a kind. You can find the bags on Ilanit’s website : Neutra .

You can even purchase her bags online and resellers have an option to order these products online in bulk.

Nice work Ilanit!

Handbag from Recycled Tyre

Laptop bag from Recycled Tyre

Wallet made of Recycled Tyre

Brilliant! Car Sharing in Crowded Tel Aviv

shellsnbells — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:59:15 +0000

Anyone who lives in Tel Aviv knows about the parking situation. Whether you own a car or have friends come to visit with a car, the issue of parking is one that can drive any Tel Avivian to drink. Riding a motorbike or a bicycle is the best way to get around this congested city if you’re going to get where you need to in reasonable time. A new concept called Car2Go allows Tel Avivians not to own a car and yet enjoy the use of one when they need it. This saves gas, parking space and is also environmentally friendly.

The cost is pretty reasonable if you’re just going out of town for a few hours. There’s a one time fee for joining up of 45 NIS. (around $12 depending on the exchange rate). There are two options: “City” which is best for short drives and “Freedom”, which is best for longer drives. There is an hourly rate an a daily rate. (Daily rate ranges between $50 – $100 depending on the type of care you rent).

This is fantastic news for all my Tel Avivian friends. Well done Car2Go

Abundance of Green Issues

shellsnbells — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:35:01 +0000

All of a sudden I am noticing that there is so much out there about Green issues. It’s great to see that people are finally waking up and doing something to save the planet, or at least trying to.

Maybe it’s a trendy thing, but I believe this is the way it should be. We should always be conscious that what we do, buy, eat and drink comes from somewhere and the waste products return to the earth. I don’t think that we can reverse all the progress and technology that has been happening and I don’t think that we should. However, we need to learn to balance technology with ecology and improving the state of the world and not just be focused on progress without giving the time of day to our environment.

This blog that a friend of mine sent me is very interesting blog called the Jew and the Carrot . It is about Jewish issues including food, which in itself has always been a Jewish issue . It has a section called Green Resources which offers a very rich list of interesting topics. From Sustainable Jewish holidays, to a book list containing spiritual cook books like -”If the Buddha came to dinner” by Hale Sofia Schatz. It also has a section with movies like themeatrix, which is a very amusing way to increase awareness of factory farming.

Awesome Green Shoes

shellsnbells — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:22:03 +0000

Along my meanderings on the internet looking for green subjects this weekend I found this store, the green loop. They sell organic cotton clothing and accessories for men and women and have an impressive list of very cool green designers.

I loved these green shoes by Mohop which aren’t the cheapest, but then again you get like 15 pairs in one. I loved the idea of the ribbon you can change as well as the 8 different ties you can make. Check out the different ties here and Mohop’s green shoes.

Enviro - friendly shoes

Environmental wave in Israel

shellsnbells — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:37:40 +0000

I heard of this very cool website called treehugger.com. For anyone interested in environmental issues this website provides information about all sorts of global green issues such as green architecture, politics, fashion, health. I was happy to discover this article about green laws in Israel from air to water polition where laws are being passed to heavily fine factories that polute Israel’s air or water resources.

Bicycle use is being encouraged by creating bicycle paths in cities as well as options for bicycle transport on trains and busses.

The use of plastic bags is being reduced in many supermarkets countrywide.

It’s great to see this happening and more awareness to these issues will create a more beautiful country for us to live in.

Conscious living

shellsnbells — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:54:10 +0000

It’s been so clear lately that I cannot ignore it any longer. I need to do something that will help to make this world a better place. I have to live in a more conscious way. For myself, for everyone and every thing on this planet now and in the future. I don’t think I can save the world, but I am going to take responsibility in my little arena and start doing more things that will help to lessen the rubbish that I produce and the junk that litters our planet.

We forget that everything we do has a ripple effect (you will hear that a lot from me). Whatever we buy will someday find its way to a rubbish dump, or the sea, or be dumped somewhere on this planet. We can’t ignore the fact that we are turning this world into a rubbish dump.

So, I separate paper and plastic from organic stuff, but does anything really happen to it? In Europe there are 4 dust bins at every corner. One for paper, plastic, organic stuff and glass. This is something that needs to be done here in Israel as well. We have plastic bins and some areas have paper bins, but it needs to be everywhere. Also, I find that the plastic bins for bottles are too far. They should be right under every apartment.

So people, think about what you throw out. Can it be re-used?

For now, this is just the beginning.