For an outdoor or nature-themed wedding, this moss pillow is lovely. Glue green ribbon around an ice cream-pint top, and glue green felt to bottom. Arrange spikemoss in top. Anchor ribbon to moss with floral wire. Slip rings through ribbon; tie a bow. For a fall wedding, this pillow with embossed velvet leaves, made with a rubber stamp and an iron, dress up a silk ring pillow. So pretty!

In the same spirit, if you love flowers, you can make your ring pillow into a flower… or out of a flower! The pillow below on the left is made from a silk flower! The one on the right is actually made from flowers! Cut a block of floral foam to size and poke ‘Kermit’ chrysanthemum stems into top and sides. Push a U-shaped piece of green floral wire through foam; bend tips flush against bottom of block. Tie rings to wire with ribbon.

For a vintage look, make a pillow embellished with an heirloom handkerchief or another meaningful bit of linen. A few stitches keep everything in place and can be snipped later. Another idea that’s warm and cozy is a knitted pillow… maybe you can ask Grandma for help with this one!

And if your ringbearer is an ever-faithful canine friend, sew a special collar with the ring pillow attached, like this Lab’s gingham collar!

Visit Martha Stewart Weddings for even more ring pillow inspiration!

As well as making gorgeous shoes coveted by the likes of Natalie Portman, Beyond Skin’s philosophy is to ‘…trade in a manner that is non exploitative to humans, animals and wherever possible the wider environment. Using no animal products, all our footwear is hand-made to order in the UK promoting ethically-sound and less energy intensive working practices.’

Ok, so it seems that the UK has a monopoly on ethical shoewear, and the 10 shoes pictured at the Wishopt blog are actually all from the UK. Does anyone know where you can obtain shoes in the USA that meet these standards? And look this pretty?

Some use recycled rubber for the soles, or recycled vintage fabrics and trimmings. Others are produced under a Fair Trade agreement and are careful to use less energy intensive working practices. And of course, no leather, unless it’s recycled!