Photo by Alyce Santoro via Flickr

Sonic Fabric, woven from a 50/50 blend of recycled cassette tape and cotton, can actually be played. Just run a tape head over the fabric. It sings a different tune than what was originally recorded on the tape, however, sounding more like scratching a record or radio static.

But as Sonic Fabric’s creator Alyce Santoro explains, being able to play back the tape as is isn’t really the point:  “To me it’s the concept that makes it meaningful…all those sounds mixed together to form a totally unique new sound.”

For an excellent example of how Sonic Fabric both looks and sounds, check out footage from this 2004 Phish show. Jon Fishman, the band’s percussionist, not only models a dress woven from Sonic Fabric, but also proves that it can indeed double as a musical instrument.

So how was this crazy singing fabric idea born? Growing up, Alyce’s dad employed a strand of cassette tape as his “tell tail,” a small bit of fabric or yarn sailors use to determine the direction of the wind:

“When I was a kid I used to imagine that I could hear Cat Stevens or Beethoven’s 6th …wafting out into the air if the wind hit the tell-tail just the right way. Years later, I learned about Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags…[that are] hung outdoors…where their blessings can be activated and sent off into the world on the wind. It seemed a natural progression to me to combine these two concepts…”

The Sonic Fabric shop has a variety of goodies for sale. Right now neck ties and strings of flags are all the rage. If you’re feeling crafty and want to design your own fashion statement (or musical instrument), you can also buy Sonic Fabric by the yard.

Get It Here: Sonic Fabric (Ties $140, Flags $50, Yardage – contact for details)

via Crafting a Green World

Photo via Flytrap Gear

For those of you looking for new ways to experiment with your sound, check out Flytrap Gear’s Dragonfly. The Dragonfly is an all-analog effects pedal with an eco-friendly twist: it’s made from 80% recycled computer components. It’s also energy-conscious, requiring little power to run and featuring a rechargeable 9-volt battery.

The Dragonfly’s creator got the idea while looking to enhance his own computer-based music:

“I thought, ‘How can I process my sound while staying true to making music with old computers? I know, I’ll make effects *out* of old computers!’  I looked through the guts of an old computer…and decided that it would be sacrificed to the Gods of Rock!”

Just connect the pedal to your guitar, synthesizer, computer, or any other music or recording gear for some extra crunch or sizzle. Intrigued? Hear the Dragonfly in action for yourself.

Not content to simply promote its own green gadgets, Flytrap Gear hopes to inspire other would-be innovators to turn computer trash into treasure by hosting a clearinghouse of information about computer components and circuit designs. Eventually, the website will include resources to help builders market and sell their creations as well.

Get it here: Flytrap Gear (Economy Lite Edition $281.11, Full Edition coming soon)

Photo via Etsy

If you’ve ever taken a peek inside a piano, you were no doubt impressed by how complicated an instrument it is. All those strings and tuning pins and dampers and hammers… In fact, your average piano has over 10,000 moving parts. No wonder these things are so big!

When properly maintained, pianos can last decades. But even the most cared for pianos will eventually age beyond repair. What happens then?

Melsville is giving retired pianos new life by reusing the “action” – the parts that work together to produce sound – to make jewelry and accessories. She states in her bio:

There is excitement in discovering “new” parts and imagining their possible uses. I have an appreciation for the simple mechanics, detailed architectural shaping, and the warmth and antique quality of the wood that makes up the inner workings of the piano.

After removing and disassembling the action, Melsville cleans, sands, reshapes, and stains the individual pieces to create her designs. Her piano hair sticks, pictured here, were once “stickers” from an upright piano. Each one is adorned with a colorful glass or metal bead. Also check out her equally charming pins, pendants, and earrings.

Get it here: Melsville’s Etsy Shop ($10-$35)

Photo via BTC Elements

I am having a hard time believing that that these Pop Rock & Roll Earrings by designer Millie Hilgert are made from recycled records and not from those tasty lollipops you got at the bank as a kid.

However she achieves their candylicious color and shine, you gotta admit these earrings are pretty darn cute. And like other stuff crafted from vinyl featured on this blog, no rare LPs were harmed in the process.

Speaking of process, Millie Hilgert hand-cuts and hand-crafts these earrings herself. You can see more of her rock & roll-inspired repurposed handiwork at Etsy.

Get it here: BTC Elements ($18)

Robert Smith by iri5 via Flickr

Yes, it’s exactly what you think it is.  Self-taught artist iri5 has ripped out the innards of cassettes and molded them into the likenesses of musicians. The original cassettes remain intact, serving as vessels not unlike Aladdin’s magic lamp.

Robert Smith, pictured here, is joined by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and others in a series entitled “Ghost in the Machine.” The collection, which also includes a few portraits of Hollywood icons made from old film reels, can be viewed at iri5′s Flickr gallery.  Iri5 explains the inspiration behind her art:

The idea comes from a philosopher’s (Ryle) description of how your spirit lives in your body. I imagine we are all, like cassettes, thoughts wrapped up in awkward packaging.

I’ll end with some good news and some bad news. The good news: she accepts commissions! The bad news: completely out of my price range (prices start at around $700). But if you’ve got the cash, visit iri5′s website and get yourself one of the most interesting pieces of art made with reused materials ever, music-related or otherwise.

Photo via Agent18

Although mp3 players have many advantages over the personal music players of yore (I sure don’t miss having to lug around tapes or CDs), durability isn’t among them. One too many drops on the floor and it’s your $300 iPod Touch’s funeral.

The best thing to do – for our wallets as well as the environment – is to take good care of these devices so they last their longest.

You can protect your iPod or iPhone the eco-friendly way with Agent18′s EcoShield line of cases made from recycled postconsumer plastic bottles.

The packaging is also recyclable, unlike that awful rigid plastic packaging many consumer electronics and accessories use. Opening a box should not require a crowbar and 45 minutes of my precious time. This alone is worth choosing Agent18!

Get it here: Agent 18 ($13-$30)