Apartment 528 3rd Ward Contest

Apartment 528 is doing another contest. Yea! This time, you can enter for a chance to win a 10% discount on classes at 3rd Ward, a design center based in Brooklyn, NY. The contest starts today and ends Sunday, June 28th with the winner announced Monday, June 29th.

About 3rd Ward

If you're able to make it to Brooklyn once a week, I HIGHLY suggest looking into 3rd Ward. They offer classes in everything from woodworking, furniture making (my two faves!), and welding to jewelry making, illustration, and video production. They even have Etsy craft classes!

All of 3rd Ward's classes are super affordable...whether you're a hobbiest, DIY-er, or looking to develop your skills professionally, you'll be able to work a few classes into your budget. If you're looking to save a little while still getting the most bang for your buck, check out one of 3rd Ward's memberships, starting at just $39/month. By becoming a member, you gain access to their 20,000 sq. ft. space, discounts on classes, use of their studio space and media labs, exhibit space, and invites to their social events and networking opportunities. It's enough to make you want to move to New York!

Classes at 3rd Ward

I'm all about building so I will of course highlight their woodworking classes. To get started, you take Intro to Woodworking to get a feel for working with both hand and power tools. Then it's off to Furniture Design and Construction class. The class is taught by Steve Pino, a custom furniture designer who's done pieces for Brooke Shields and Steven Tyler, just to name a few!

This next offering is probably number one on my list. Yesterday, I electrocuted myself while rewiring a hanging light into a sconce for my headboard. Not fun! If I'd taken 3rd Ward's Light Fixture class, maybe I wouldn't have mixed up the wires! The class, taught by designer Daniel Rossi, incorporates wiring and woodworking, all while using eco-friendly materials.

3rd Ward also offers classes in furniture refinishing, screen printing, handmade skincare, jean assembly, and much MUCH more. Check their website for a full list.

How do I win?

First, only participate in the contest if you're serious about taking a class at 3rd Ward. We don't want a good discount to go to waste!

Like last time, there are THREE ways to enter.

1. Post a comment below telling me which 3rd Ward class you'd like to take. Each comment counts as ONE entry.


2. Post a tweet about this contest on Twitter (@Apartment528) linking back to this blog entry. Put the link to your twitter post in a comment below so I can find it. Each twitter link counts as TWO entries.


3. Link back to this contest on your blog. Put the link to your blog post in a comment below. Each blog link counts as TWO entries.

The contest ends at 11:59PM on Sunday, June 28th. One winner will be chosen at random and announced Monday, June 29th.

Good luck!

Method Madness!

My favorite cleaning brand's been busy again! Method now offers Smarty Dish dishwasher tablets in an even more eco-friendly package. The pink grapefruit scent (also available in unscented) will have you jumping for joy when it's time to do the dishes! If you don't have a dishwasher, check out the dish soap which comes in four scents. Cucumber is the best - we use it at work!

If you like the convenience of cleaning wipes, Method now has wipes for every surface. I'm addicted to the Steal for Real stainless steel wipes with their amazing orchard blossom scent...it's like heaven! The almond Wood for Good wipes are my second pick.

Have a baby shower to attend or have a little one of your own? Try the Squeaky Green baby line. I bought my future cousin-in-law a bunch of Method Baby products for her baby shower. They're made with rice milk and mallow...I have no clue what mallow is but it sounds soft and fluffy and the packaging is cute! That's all that matters, right!?!

Apt528 Reminder: The Apt528 lamp giveaway ends Sunday...better enter today!

Spring Re-Style: Accessorize!

This year's Spring Re-Style posts are dedicated to those looking to spruce up their apartment without breaking the bank. That's always been the goal of Apartment 528, but in these tough financial times, it's even more important than ever.

So to start things off, we're addressing the little things. Like these adorable barnacle bowls from Alma Pottery ($36/set of 4). The soft white exterior and deep turquoise inside add just the right amount of color to help you break out of the dark tones of winter.

Use them on an entry table to hold your keys, in the bedroom to hold your favorite jewelry, or in the living room as planters. Alma Pottery even suggests hanging the planters upside down (there are holes in the bottom) to make a mobile.

Don't have the funds? Try turning every day household items into unique accessories. Not only is it cost effective, but it's eco-friendly too! Wine bottles can become vases or carafes and kitchen canisters can hold office supplies (I use red canisters in my office!). I even use empty peanut containers as stylish coin holders...remove the label to reveal the silver container below and nobody will be the wiser!

Night Owl!

I love these cards! The wood grain, the adorable animals, the vintage feel...it's like they were made for me!

Which is why I ended up framing the cards and hanging them in my bedroom instead of sending them out to friends and family...who needs communication anyway!?

Check out the Night Owl Paper Goods website for more unique designs - I've already ordered several more cards! They also have cute totes, notebooks, gift cards, artwork (for under $20!), and even wood-grain wedding invitations. You better believe I'm using Night Owl for MY wedding!

Apt528 Tip: Want to frame a few things on your own? Instead of paying for expensive matt board, get it for free! Many framing shops will give you their scraps for no cost at all.

Corny Bug Jotter $8


Owl Flowering Branch Tote $29

Modern Folksy Blue Bird Postcard $4.95 (on sale)

Stray Dog - Products > Sale

Stray Dog's having a sale on lighting.

Started in Mexico's back roads, Stray Dog's products are created from recycled materials and handmade by local artists...earth-friendly AND people-friendly! To take things the extra mile, Stray Dog donates a portion of every purchase to a worthy cause with their Stray Giving program.

If that's not a good reason to shop, I don't know what is!

White Tree Sconces - $160

Randy Floor Lamp - $325

Branches Lamp - $295

Check out the "Made In..." section of the website to see where all of Stray Dog's materials come from.

The Smells of Christmas

Leave it to Method to come up with great housewarming gifts just in time for all those Holiday parties.

As if the original scents weren't wonderful enough, Method's created a new line of winter-inspired aromas like toasted hazelnuts, frosted fir and winter berries. I love the Spiced Pear Bamboo Aroma Ring...I use Method rings in our bathroom and they're great at filling the whole room with gorgeous scent.

Check out the Method website for more eco-friendly Holiday scents and don't forget to grab a couple products for yourself!

Going Green

I tend to be a little weary when it comes to "green" products. A lot of the time they cost more, aren't that attractive, and require a lot of research. In the time it takes to find info for eco-friendly products, I could have purchased a shopping cart full of conventional items.

But there's a new blog in town helping to simplify all that is green. Jennae Petersen is the blogger behind Green Your Decor (found via No Accounting for Taste). Green Your Decor does all the work for you. Not only does Jennae show you eco-friendly products, she also tells you WHY the prodcuts are considered green. And don't worry about style, even the cat trees (pictured below) are hip and modern! That translates into less time researching and more time shopping!

To the Market!

No I haven't been slacking, the internet's been down. I guess that's what I get for stealing wireless from the neighbors!

I've been pretty productive though. I read some new design books for upcoming reviews and made it out to the Sowa Open Market in Boston's South End. The Market is full of local artists and vendors showcasing their merchandise. We found some great things: popcorn bowls made out of reshaped records; turned wood serving platters; funky purses and wallets; organic clothing; handmade breads; and amazing jewelry. You could do all of your Christmas shopping here if you wanted to!

The vendors change from week to week so there's always something new. Not all of the artists have business cards or websites but many offer mailing lists to keep you up to date on the latest happenings. I mangaged to grab a few cards...here are just a few of my favorites this week:

Vonica

purses, wallets, accessories

http://www.vonicadesigns.com/

I love the Chic Chick bag...it's SO cute :)

Bella Bags by Marcia

purses, totes, messenger bags, accessories

http://www.bellabagsbymarcia.com/

There's no such thing as too many purses!

Jolly Bike

hand-painted bikes

http://www.jollybike.com/

You've never seen a bike until you've seen one of these!!

Summer Cooking

With Memorial Day comes the start of everything summer. That means outdoor parties and backyard barbeques. In my case, it means front porch barbeques.

This past Friday was Jerome's birthday. In celebration, we had a few friends over to celebrate. But before the fun could begin, I had a lot of work to do to get the porch in party shape.

1. Lighting
Most times, adding festive string lights and tiki torchces is the easy way to transform an outdoor space for a party. If you only have a porch, like me, torches aren't an option. Neither are string lights if you don't have electricity on the porch. My alternitive, solar powered outdoor lights. Normally, you'd stick these around the edge of your lawn or walkway. Instead, I filled planter boxes with soil and rocks to hold the lights. Now for $40 I have eight, earth-friendly lights to keep the party going long into the night.


2. The Grill
Many cities have rules about the use of gas and charcoal grills on porches or rental spaces. One way around it, buy electric. My old roommates had the George Forman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill ($70, Lowes). Like the original Forman countertop cooker, this grill is great at cooking and is easy to clean. If you're willing to spend a little more, check out the Perfect Flame Dual Purpose Electric Grill ($200, Lowes). With extra cooking space and fold-down prep tables, this is a great grill for anyone planning to host a few BBQs this summer.




3. The Silverware
If you're looking to impress without making a mess, try First Impressions Plastic Silverware. It's just like regular, stainless steel silverware until you pick it up and realize how lightweight it is. Jerome's family used it for an event. I was truly convinced it was the real thing. His mom ended up giving me a pack...you know you're in when your future mother-in-law gives you the good silver!

If you're looking for a green (in color and eco-friendliness) option, try Diamond's Renew Dinnerware made of 100% recycled plastic. Even the box is made of recycled materials. The silverware features a unique cut-out design on the handle that uses 10% less plastic than normal disposable flatware. I don't know about you, but I'm all over any green idea that also allows me to party in style!

*Renter's Tip: Nowadays you can get everything from champagne glasses to dishes in paper or plastic for easy disposal. Many options look like their real counterpart. If you don't find what you're looking for at your local grocer, check online, at the wine store, or at a party supply store.

4. Flooring
A nice way to spruce up any porch party? Add a rug! Not only will you give the deck that comfy, warm feel, but you'll also provide a nice place for guests to hang out flip-flop free! I used a rug to cover up some paint marks and give the porch some style. Make sure to keep the rug away from the grill and any open flames! Pottery Barn's Palm Leaf rug ($99-399) is my favorite...gotta love a little tropical flair!

6. Furniture
Outdoor furniture is a must for any summer soiree. My tip, go for something out of the ordinary. Can't afford to get anything special? Don't underestimate the power of paint. Krylon makes a paint just for plastics that will transform your ugly white plastic lawn chairs into colorful pieces. If you have wood or metal furniture, make sure to use a paint that keeps the rust out and protects wood. If you're still looking for the perfect chair, don't forget second-hand options. Craigslist is full of people practically begging you to take their patio sets off their hands. They're usually in great condition with little work needing to be done. You can find anything from cool picnic tables to cool retro chairs. We were able to get our metal cabinet for free on craigslist. With a couple coats of spray paint, it's now the perfect place to store our grill accessories.

5. The Little Things
Now that you've got everything else you need for a party, it's time to add the important thing: decorations! Lanterns, candles, sconses, and outdoor fireplaces are great options. Hanging plants are great for summer, though be careful to read the care directions before buying anything. I bought a gorgeous Fuscia plant and didn't realize till I got it home how difficult it is to take care of. For color mix in a few bowls of lemons or limes or put out frozen berries. If you're looking for some real fun, add a few glowsticks to the ice chests for a neat glow that looks great bouncing off the ice.

Let's Go for a Ride

Once again, I'm here to show you some creative geniouses who've turned transportation into furniture art. This time, it's the guys over at Bike Furniture Design. Founded by Andy Gregg in 1990, all of the furniture is made of bike parts, mostly recycled! He also incorporates train and car windows for the glass of his table tops. Talk about great green design!

If you have a few extra bikes laying around and don't know what to do with them, donate them to Bike Furniture Design. He's always on the lookout for new parts.

Happy Earth Day

Last Saturday, I wrote about wood care products, several of which were made by the eco-masters over at Method. Now, thanks to a tip from an anonymous reader I have more news for Bostonians. Method has setup shop (temporarily) on Newbury Street.

The shop, located by the Hynes Convention subway stop, is open now through April 27th. Bring your old, toxic household cleaners to the Method shop and they'll properly dispose of them for you. They'll also give you some of their eco-alternatives to help you detox your home.


If you don't live in Boston or simply can't make it out to Newbury Street, you can go to the Method website and purchase a detox kit for $28. The detox kit includes french lavender all purpose cleaner, tub + tile spray, almond scented furniture polish (my fave!), a wood for good microfiber cloth, sea mineral hand wash, lemon ginger all floor cleaner, and pink grapefruit dish soap. With all of those great scents, what can go wrong?!

Another Earth Day treat - a Captain Planet marathon is playing on the Boomerang Channel today from 8am to 8pm. If you're a child of the 80's/90's, you'll love this. This is also a great time to get your kids into Captain Planet and his gang of Planeteers. It's not often that you find a TV show nowadays that actually has a message to it! Check out the amazon.com store to find Captain Planet on DVD. And remember, the power is YOURS!

Spring Review: Got Wood?

Spring is FINALLY showing itself in Boston which means it's time to start the weekend spring cleaning and DIY projects. To help you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the weather, I'll post product reviews and project tips every weekend.

Today is all about wood. If you live in an older city like Boston, you're used to wood floors. Though some landlords gave up a long time ago on keeping the floors nice between tenants, other landlords can be real sticklers about even the tiniest scratch. In my case, our landlord had the floors refinished right before we moved in. They were so clean and shiny I didn't even want to walk on them! Since then, I've made a few scratches moving furniture and even spilled paint a couple of times.

In my search for wood care products, I fell in love with Method, a brand sold in Target and online through the Method website. Method is a cheeky, eco-friendly company that specializes in non-toxic, compostable cleaning products for both your apartment and you body. They make being green easy, AFFORDABLE, and hip. Look for Method products in today's post and many future reviews.

1. Microfiber Mop

The first step in cleaning your wood floors is purchasing a microfiber mop. Hardwood isn't meant to be cleaned with a regular mop and needs a gentle touch. Before I use any type of floor cleaner, I always go over the floors with the microfiber mop to gather all the dust and junk. These mops are great at trapping dust and won't leave dustbunnies behind. Most microfiber mops come with removable/replacable cloths. When mine gets dirty, I simply throw it in the washer and it's good as new.

2. Floor Cleaner

For my wood floors, I found the Method Wood For Good Floor Cleaner ($6) works best. I tried the Swiffer wood floor cleaner and Murphy Oil Soap, but both left my floor streaky and my house full of that lemon, sterile smell. The Method cleaner left no streaks and is easy to use! Simply squirt the cleaner directly onto the floor and use a microfiber mop to clean to a shine. Best of all the Wood for Good cleaner has an almond scent so addicting that I clean my floors just to smell it!

Method Wood for Good also comes in a starter kit ($30) that includes a microfiber mop, compostable sweeping pads (yea for saving landfills!), and the almond-scented floor cleaner.

3. Scratch Cover

One thing Method doesn't make is a scratch fixer. For that, I use Old English Scratch Cover. It comes in two different colors - one for dark wood and one for light. To use, squirt the Old English onto a towel and wipe the scratches. Next, apply the scratch cover to the larger area where the scratches are located and buff to a shine. While this doesn't get rid of scratches, it does make them less noticable.

Renter Tip: Get paint on your floors? No problem! Latex paint easily wipes up with water or can be peeled away once it's dry. Spill oil or spray paint? I found the Old English Scratch Cover to be great for getting rid of these hard to remove paints. Squirt it on the towel and rub until the stain disappears. It does take a little elbow work but in the end it's worth it!

4. Furniture Polish

Back to Method again! The Method Wood for Good Furniture Polish and Furniture Wipes are top knotch for wood furniture care. Like the floor cleaner, they're also almond scented and leave you furniture shiny and protected.

Think Tags

Finally, someone's come up with a way to put those annoying tags to use. Bridget West, founder/designer of Pieces of You is putting clothing tags front and center in home design.

Bridget, a native African turned designer and lecturer on all things environmental, hopes her unique designs will raise awareness about making ethical purchases and help people pay attention to where their products are bought and how they're made. Says Bridget, "In terms of design opting for ethical is oftentimes more difficult and always more pricey; it's cheaper to mess up the environment and that's the bottom line. To encourage consumers to shop ethically and to read their labels I use recycled and ethically sound textiles to make contemporary homeware."

As she mentions, it is a bit pricier to create eco-friendly design, so don't expect to pay Walmart prices for Bridget's work. Snagging a couple of her "Handle with Care" pillows ($217 each) will set you back a pretty penny. There are a few items on her site that are a little more affordable, including the "Join the Dots" pillow ($43.50) and the "Made In" canvas shopping bag ($36).

Well, if you ask me, it won't be long before this London-based company catches on in the States. With her one-of-a-kind furniture pieces and statement-making pillows, anything you buy from Pieces of You is sure to spark some interesting conversation and, hopefull, help us all be a little more proactive in our buying.