This week's Featured Buyer is Kate Bingaman-Burt, who makes her painfully mundane purchases, well, irresistible. Or at least she makes us feel less self-conscious as we spend to fill the void. She is Obsessive Consumption.

Obsessive Consumption started in 2002 when Kate decided to photograph all of her purchases. In turn, she created a brand out of the process. She is currently hand drawing all of her credit card statements until they are paid off. Everyday, she draws something she purchases, along with making piles of work (zines! pillows! photographs! dresses! buttons! more drawings!) that all fit into this brand she's built, which mocks her own relationship with her purchases.

She is the founding partner of the Public Design Center, which is a non-profit graphic design resource center. She is also an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Mississippi State University.

Most of the time I am a guilty consumer. A lot of guilt-free shopping occurs on Etsy because I can get my shopping fix while supporting people who sell handmade. Since Earth Day is upon us, let's take a look as some of the more rad green items available on Etsy (translation...really guilty-free shopping).


I would love to throw on this great handmade dress by shaybelle over a pair of jeans and head out the door. I love the idea of having a uniform (a la Andrea Zittel) and this dress over jeans would be it. Simplify!



Let's face it. It would be ideal if we all brought our own mugs to the local coffee shop, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. This coffee sweater by ThinkingMama is easy to stash in your bag and you can ease part of your guilt from forgetting your mug by leaving the cardboard cup sleeve behind.



Now there are a billion awesome tote bags on the market (which is great! screw plastic bags), but this tote by  andyeatsonlycandy stands out to me simply because I am amused by naughty talking animals.

Recycle or these animals are going to eat your pants!



Speaking of yucko plastic bags, these bracelets by GarbageofEdenDesign are HOTT. I would like a dozen please and thank you.



One of the great things about Etsy is that it caters to a broad range of people...like my MOM! Yeah! Along with weaving and dying yarn, my mom aka sherrybingaman loves to knit plastic bags while watching Law & Order. Check out her totes!


 

My husband and I are pretty much dumb in love with our dog Miss Maybelle, and I would be so happy for her to sleep in style on this great pet bed made out of earth friendly materials by Annie's Sweatshop. I hear that sleeping on it makes puppies dream about recycling. And composting.

 

I have a habit of buying blank books, filling one or two pages and then being seduced by a bigger badder blank book that will simply change my life if I purchase it. I would feel much better about my paper waste if I stocked up on these great Reporter Style Eco Journals by  heatherlea.

 
Sedum Tectractinum Cuttings


Hen and Chick Trio

I really want to be that person who has an amazing garden. I want to be that person who is able to grow great green things...perhaps I can be that person if I purchase this amazing Hen and Chick Trio and Sedum Tectractinum Cuttings  from  thegardensage. Oh, and how cool is it that you can buy PLANTS from Etsy?



After I dirtied my fingers from all of my gardening I would most certainly wash my hands with this Gardener's Soap by  SistersSimpleSoap. Not only is this amazingly natural and oh so good, but I am pretty taken with the packaging as well.



I would make sure to scrub extra hard if I had these hand crocheted wash cloths by EcoKate. I swear. I would even clean under my nails.



Some of my favorite items on Etsy are those that are made from materials that would normally be thrown away or used for a totally different purpose.

This Hoodie (full name: Umbrella Hood Walk eit out Texas Ranger...I LOVE that) by ruffeoheartslilsnoty is made from salvaged sweatshirts and reborn into something pretty fierce.



I have a weakness for wood. Real wood, faux bois, whatevs...just give it to me. That is why I am so in love with the YO YO YO by  Ben Floeter. I want a wooden yo yo and I want it now.



I cannot skate, but that doesn't mean I can't wear old deck parts around my neck, like this super fab Recycled Skateboard necklace by  2ReVert. I don't think I would even look like a poser. SK8 or DIE!



I am a big fan of  trixiedelicious  and was thrilled to see that she has a Treehugger plate that I can include in this mix.  Go on, Hug it out!

 

Will Bryant Likes Nice People Who Make Cool Things. I like nice people who make cool things as well. This piece is screen printed on reclaimed thrift store book covers that were just going to be thrown away. Come on, don't you all like nice people who make cool things?

I love nice people who make cool things!

Further Resources:
Check out the teamecoetsy tag, along with common tags such as eco, sustainable, upcycle, and recycled for more earth friendly products!