Obsessed: Recycled Skateboard Goodies

Made with recycled skateboard lids, these containers come in 2 varieties, $49.50

When we saw these MapleXO "Coney Containers" at Portland store Betsy & Iya, we had to have them. Once we brought them home, we became officially obsessed: they're functional, stylish, green and affordable, all at once! These little ceramic containers with recycled skateboard lids are the perfect size for storing salt, spices, tea, jewelry—anything. They also come with a wipeable china marker for labeling. Genius!

Check out some of our other favorites from the MapleXO website...

Screw drivers with recycled skateboard handles, $60 for a set

Gorgeous recycled skateboard table lamp, $595

Multi-puprose glasses with coaster/lids, $35 for a set

Best of Outdoor Eco Dining

These bamboo tumblers from Terrain are reusable, biodegradable, and available in an awesome color palette. See the whole collection here 

The season of outdoor dining is upon us again! What do you serve outdoor meals on? Melamine? Paper plates? Your everyday dishware? Plastic (recycled, of course!)? We have yet to find the perfect outdoor dining solution, but this year things are looking up. From biodegradable bamboo cups and plates that don't look throw-away, to stainless steel options that won't break, here are our favorites for outdoor entertaining this summer.

Finally, recycled plastic dishware (melamine and BPA free) that's as chic as it is functional. In 3 colorways, from Terrain

Some of our favorite local restaurants, including Bollywood Theater (above), serve  their food on stainless steel. Easy clean-up and no breakage makes his another top choice for outdoor entertaining. Visit Life Without Plastic for a wide variety of stainless steel options

Perfect for parties: Susty Party makes a colorful array of compostable dishes made from renewable resources. Doesn't get any cuter!

Spring at Schoolhouse Electric

This Tallboy Cooler, $140, is a perfect Father's Day gift, no?

One of our favorite Portland shopping destinations, Schoolhouse Electric, just released its Spring lookbook, and it's chock-full of goodies that we want NOW. See for yourself: below are our picks for summertime entertaining and gifts.

Love these! Tabletop lighting in their colorful Ion-C Series, just $109 each

Sure, these cafeteria trays (available in 3 colors and sizes) could be used for desk organization, but we see them as summer BBQ staples. What could be better for outdoor entertaining??

These Motor Lodge Keychains are only $4 each. Collect them all!

This stationary set from Egg Press includes a notepad, note cards, envelopes, gift tags and the fiberglass tray for $45. (Vintage pencil sharpener not included, sadly.)

Handmade & Organic: Plover Laundry Bags

Laundry bag in "Pink Roses," $58

A brand-new Plover Organic + Anthropologie exclusive: Plover laundry bags! Available in 5 prints, these bags were handmade  in Portland, Ore., and are available in VERY limited quantities. At 28" high and 21" wide, these bags are roomy enough for multiple loads of laundry, or just for toting your stuff around stylishly. Happy laundering!!

Limited-editon "Thorns" laundry bag only on Anthropologie.com

Pillow Power

A big thank-you to House Beautiful magazine for featuring our "Circles" pillowcases in Teal in their "Make (Over) Your Bed" story in the February 2014 issue! We couldn't agree more...just changing your pillowcases provides a pop of color and can completely change the feel of any room. Pillowcases are our favorite way to mix-and-match bedding with little commitment. (Because let's be honest...it's HARD to pick a duvet or quilt to commit to, right??)

See the full slideshow of great ideas here, and shop all Plover Organic pillowcases here.

Happy almost Spring!

Make Your Bed!

Who needs Spring cleaning? We love doing a massive cleaning in the dead of winter, when you're stuck indoors—and stuck picking up after all the holiday parties and presents and paper—anyway. On our to-do list: saying goodbye to magazine stashes we've had for almost a decade. (How does that happen?!?) Now that our beloved Lucky magazine is back in print, it was time to let the old ones go. But not without one more read-through (a totally worthwhile way to spend a couple of nights, by the way), during which we rediscovered some forgotten gems, such as this one from April 2006: "The World's Comfiest Bed."

It's a step-by-step guide on how to make your bed à la a Four Seasons Hotel. The tip that's changed our lives: don't tuck your top sheet! Fold it into a 6" "Z" instead. Try it, you'll see.

Avant Gardener

Piet Oudolf's work at Hummelo (Netherlands), Photo by Piet Oudolf

Happy Monday! We've been listening to the new Courtney Barnett song "Avant Gardener" and getting excited for Spring—verrry prematurely, we know. But why not share some inspiration? Now is the perfect time to start planning, after all. One of our favorite Christmas gifts this year was Planting: A New Perspective, by legendary landscape architect Piet Oudolf. Take a look, take a listen, and get inspired yourself!

County Cork garden in Ireland. Photo by Piet Oudolf

Another shot at Hummelo. Photo by Piet Oudolf

Plover Holiday Pop-Up!

It's time again for Plover Organic's annual holiday pop-up shop! This year is especially exciting, as we're teaming up with Makelike and Portland Apron Company for a local holiday textiles party. Come join us for last-minute shopping, bubbly beverages, Theo chocolates—or just to say hi!

There will holiday discounts of 50% off, sample sales, and the debut of some new sheets and bedding.

We'll be at the Cleaners @ the Ace Hotel in Portland (403 SW 10th) this Saturday and Sunday:
Sat., Dec 21, 10 am-6 pm
Sun., Dec. 22, 10 am-3 pm

Hope to see you there!

Wish List

Christmas shopping under pressure is not our favorite activity, but it is a good excuse to shop locally and see all the fun new things that are out there. Herewith, a list of Plover's favorite gifts to give and get this holiday season.

Play Red by Comme des Garcons. Our favorite unisex scent right now, with the best packaging

Heart Measuring Spoons by Beehive Kitchenware, $45

The Art of Simple Food II is the latest cookbook from Alice Waters—another classic

In love with these beautiful ceramic honey jars from Stakceramics in Pittsburgh

What we're doing this winter: reading Latin for Gardeners

Gorgeous and practical Senegalese baskets from Lotus Blue

Handmade ceramic pots by Esser/vesper. Made is Portland and worth every penny

Card-Carrying Feminist

We're in love with these small but powerful pieces of art that make you—literally—a card-carrying FEMINIST. Available for pre-order today from one of our favorite Portland creative minds/consultants/conceptualists, Jennifer Armbrust, aka Armbrust & Co.  $8.

Introducing...Plover Shower Curtains!

We're very excited to announce that the brand-new Plover Organic cotton shower curtains are in stock at Anthropologie! Available in Aqua, Gold and Sky in our signature Circle 'Round pattern, now you can enjoy organic cotton luxury in the shower as well. Perfect for brightening up your winter bathroom!

Our organic shower curtain in Aqua, $88

Circle 'Round shower curtain in Gold

Soft Sky curtain, 72" square

Destination: Los Poblanos

The tunnel of cottonwoods you drive through the enter Los Poblanos

Every so often, we're lucky enough to visit a place that is incredibly inspired, down to the finest details. Los Poblanos, in Albuquerque, NM, is that kind of place. A 25-acre working organic farm that specializes in lavender, Los Poblanos also has beautiful guest rooms, an amazingly well-curated Farm Shop, a saltwater pool, and a restaurant specializing in local and organic food. Did we mention it's on the National Register of Historic Places? Just one afternoon at Los Poblanos, and you won't want to leave. (And when you do, you'll dream of recreating the whole atmosphere at your own house.)

The dining room, which features Weck jar glasses & Dinuba water containers

The saltwater pool, surrounded by grape vines Tuuci umbrellas

Albino peacocks wandering the grounds

So in love with this screen-printed canvas curtain material in the Farm Suites!

You can't leave without stocking up on their house lavender products (the hand salve is unbeatable)

Vintage Back-to-School

As long and eagerly as we wait for summer to come, by the middle of August, we can't help but start to feel excited for fall. Especially back-to-school shopping. We love the challenge of finding awesome vintage clothes for the kids....around town at consignment and vintage shops of course, but also online. Here are some of our favorite finds so far. Get them while you can!

Sweet vintage kid's (size 3) wool coat on Etsy, $81.08

Leisl dress (4T)  from The Littlest Shop, $24

Vintage plaid dress, $20 on Etsy

Petits Habits has the most darling vintage ensembles (129 Euros for the above), usually on the pricier side

This fringed sailboat top (for 7 years) is 54 Euros on Petits Habits

Cuuute vintage Mexican dress from the '60s, $48 on Etsy

Portland Pattern People

Courtesy Pattern People, via Portland Monthly

Loved this article in the new Portland Monthly about local design studio Pattern People. The best part? Seeing in 5 parts how exactly they devise their prints: start with photos, mix-n-match them, add background and tweak the colors, build a repeating geometric pattern, overlay. (The pattern above is the final product.) It's probably more complicated than it sounds, but still, don't you want to try it at home??

This "Camo Floral" pattern can be download for free on Pattern People

"Feathers" is another free download on their site

Sounds of Summer: Washed Out

What we're listening to right now...from the new Washed Out record, "Paracosm," due August 13 from Sub Pop.

An Anthropologie Spring

Plover Organic's "Foulard" table runner, $68, only at Anthropologie

Here at Plover Organic, we're pretty partial to Anthropologie. And our favorite time to shop is Spring, when the garden's starting to pop, friends are emerging from self-imposed winter seclusion (ourselves included!), and it's time to think about entertaining again. Some of our favorite warm-weather inspirations from Anthro are below, including, of course, two new tabletop offerings from yours truly: Plover Organic cotton napkins and table runners in "Redux" and "Foulard." Happy Springtime!

Genius! We make ice cream all summer long, and have struggled to find the perfect (i.e., NOT plastic) presentation.   These porcelain and enamel ice cream holders come in 5 colors and are great for picnics.  $48

We're in love with the colors on the Knotted Melati Hanging Chair, $498

This sweet Carved Anemone Vase reminds me of my grandmother's house...in a good way.  Perfect for fresh clippings from the garden. $24

Our "Redux" napkin, $12, at Anthropologie

The Hobnail Tumber is a staple at Anthro, and we stock up every season on this vintage reproduction.  $10

Not only does this Coral Cliffs Butter Dish look rad, we're betting it doesn't slip out of your fingers (like so many of our now-broken butter dishes of the past), $18