Posts Tagged ‘shopping’

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Oberlin could get a new grocery and distribution center…

Monday, February 8th, 2010

I wrote before about the plans to turn a defunct grocery store into a new grocer and distribution center.  Among the plans for the site are a cafe, organic produce, green paper goods, and wholesale distribution.  Think Costco meets Whole Foods.  Adaptive reuse of the existing building means less wasted empty real estate.  Among the things discussed were solar power, geothermal, bio fuels, waterless urinals, tying to the bike path, storm water management, and grey water reuse.  Here are a few of the preliminary renderings for the project just to wet your appetite.

Model of the Oberlin site

one look at the inside

Amplify

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Give me hopes…seven of them.

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

One of the problems in the world is the lack of some peoples to make a living. We all know that most of the goods imported from countries in Eastern Asia are made in sweat shops. People of all ages, children to adults work long hours in horrible conditions, so that we Westerners can have cheap t-shirts and running shoes. We like being able to buy inexpensive coffee, so we support a system where peoples along the equator harvest coffee beans for pennies a day. I could go on a soap box and talk all day about how the world is exploiting so many less developed countries while destroying much of our own economy and the environment along the way. If you are bracing yourself for the usual rant, hang on, as I am going to spare you. Instead, I wanted to talk about a company that is doing a lot to change this system for the better. It gives me hope that we can truly change things.  The company is called Seven Hopes United.  Their mission is clear:  help make the world better by supporting efforts to help impoverished peoples on all 7 continents by selling handmade goods of artisans who earn a living wage, all with the least impact on the environment.  Their website is very informative and tells more about their efforts, but here is a lead in:

Seven Hopes United aspires to enrich the lives of communities worldwide through providing a means to a living wage for thousands of artisans and their families, while moving forward to build an alternative market based on the dignity and worth of all people. Seven Hopes United specializes in marketing fairly-traded handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor and personal accessories from producers around the globe. Seven Hopes United supports a trading partnership aimed at obtaining sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers by operating according to fair trade criteria, and investing a portion of our proceeds back into their communities.

At Seven Hopes United, we believe that above all else, our business should be based on respect:

  • Respectful of ourselves and our own personal commitment to integrity.
  • Respectful of basic human rights and the dignity and worth of all people.
  • Respectful to our environment by reducing our carbon footprint, and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
  • Respectful of our commitment to invest in disadvantaged communities, and provide a living wage to our employees and producers.

I am a big believer in fair trade as a way to help promote world peace. I think more can be done to stabilize the planet’s governments and economies by eradicating poverty and disease than can ever be done with guns and ammo. If no one had to worry about food, shelter, or medicines, why would there be radical uprisings? I also believe that we should start now to show countries that are following us into the modern global market place that there is away to support themselves without destroying the planet or its peoples. So how can you help? Think clearly about the products that you buy and support Fair Trade products. Companies like Seven Hopes United have done all the hard work.  By buying from their site you can be assured that you are doing the right thing and you can buy some unique gifts!  For example…

You can buy hand carved wooden figures from Africa.  These help support local artisans who hand carve these goods and make a decent living doing it.  The wood they use is harvested in a sustainable manner and the money raised helps support conservation efforts, either directly or by giving locals another means to make a living other than by poaching gorillas or destroying the natural habitats of endangered animals.

Many of their products are made using common recycled goods.  These programs encourage the collection of waste products and trash and help keep their environment litter free.  These goods come from around the globe from places like Nepal and Kenya, and are made from common goods like plastic wrappers and pop cans that otherwise would be tossed out.

 I encourage you to check out the Seven Hopes United website to see more of the cool goods that can be purchased to help make the world a better place.  You can even start a gift registry, so your next wedding can do wonders to help the world (how many blenders do you really want anyway?) You can find things like carvings, baskets, jewelry…like these cool bracelets.  They’re made from flip flops.  Ever wonder what happens when you leave a flip flop on the beach?  Many of them float back up on other beaches around the world.  In Kenya, a unique combination of currents drives thousands of flip flops from around the world onto the beach.  What a better way to use them, than by making attractive jewelry out of them?  Those folks who collect this “garbage” are paid a living wage and the beach benefits from their efforts.  I LOVE this idea. The next time you are giving a gift, think about giving a gift of hope along with something physical.

Amplify

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My new favorite T-shirt at C.L.E. Clothing Company

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

During the holidays, I wrote several posts highlighting local companies.  One of my favorites is the C.L.E. Clothing Company.  I love their fun and relaxed designs, and their insistence on highlighting the pride that all of us who live in Cleveland should feel about our beautiful city.  I wanted to interview them, but they were so busy this past holiday season that they even opened a shop at Strongsville Mall.  Now that the bunting is down and most people are through with shopping and decorations, I had the chance to interview the folks at C.L.E.  President Obama spoke last night about the small business people who take risks that are the backbone of our economy.  Here is one small business that is doing a great job.

What made you decide to start this business?

Well, people are always coming up with ideas, and people are always saying “hey that could be a t-shirt” well….we are also people and also have ideas for t-shirts, we just put our foot down and some cash down  and started a t-shirt company. It started out as a creative outlet from our day jobs that was also fun to do, then it kind of exploded into a success….which is also very fun!

Why Cleveland themed merchandise?

Clevelanders have great civic pride, and we see the glimmer of what Cleveland could be as a City. We see the restoration and updates of neighborhoods and downtown areas as well as the attention we’re getting nationally for that effort as well as the foodie movement here. We wanted to be a part of the positive movement going on, just using t-shirts as our vehicle. The T-Shirt is Pop-Culture’s greatest vehicle for marketing….as our slogan says…we’re “Spreading Cleveland Pride….One T-Shirt at a Time” and that’s what we’re trying to do.

Has the community been supportive?

The response from the community has been immensely supportive. We just celebrated our 1 Year anniversary over the Holidays, and it seems like every event or local boutique we go to we sell out. Our greatest enjoyment is having a connection with someone through our t-shirts, that and its fun to watch people come to our table at events and point to the shirts and say…” I have that one, and that one, and that one, and that one….Oooh! I want that one.” That just hits us right here (pointing to the heart) it’s so cool to have that kind of reaction to something as simple as a T-shirt.

Where can people see and buy your designs?

visit http://cleclothingco.com/ and make sure to follow our blog http://cleclothingco.blogspot.com/ and twitter @cleclothingco

What makes your products different?

We think we’re doing fun, hip, cute (can I say that?) and positive designs. We always try to stay creative in our approach to our designs, whether it’s the full design or the tiniest detail.

Where do you see your company going in the future?

We’re always evolving. We’re always coming up with new ideas and ways to stay creative and 10 steps ahead of the next guy….only time will tell you’ll just have to wait and see.

Do you have new designs coming in 2010?

Plenty…..you’ll just have to wait and see….but the “recyC.L.E.” design will most likely come out this year.

Do you plan on staying in Cleveland?

We’re not prophets….just a Graphic Designer and a Sales Engineer, living life and having fun doing it….time will tell….I might move to Bath when I’m 40…it’s nice out there in the woods, plus it’s really close to Swenson’s which has the best Cheeseburgers ever, and we’ll fight anyone who says different, but anyway C.L.E. Clothing Co. will always have it’s base in Cleveland, where it grew up.

Do you have plans for a brick and mortar location?

the thought has crossed our mind….but again, you’ll just have to wait and see…

Amplify

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Follow up on H & M.

Monday, January 11th, 2010

I mentioned the H & M “scandal” in NYC in a post the other day about green and greenwashing.  In all fairness, I received this email from H & M in response to this query and wanted to post it.  Here is the email that I got:

Thank you for contacting H&M regarding the recent article in the New York Times.

H&M is committed to taking responsibility for how our operations affect people and the environment. Globally, we donate garments that do not meet our quality requirements to organizations such as Gifts In Kind International, UNHCR, Caritas, the Red Cross and Helping Hands. Since 2000, H&M US has donated more than 350 pallets of our products to charitable organizations throughout the United States and around the world via Gifts In Kind International.

When possible, we also donate garments that have been returned to our stores. However, we do not donate clothes that do not meet our safety requirements, chemical restrictions or are damaged. We have agreements with reputable aid organizations in most of our sales countries. In total, more than 500,000 pieces of H&M garments were donated during 2009.

We have thoroughly examined the situation surrounding the garments found outside of our 34th Street store. We have determined that these garments were damaged, did not meet our safety standards or had been used for in-store display. For example, shoes that had been punctured for use on mannequins. The garments in question were not excess inventory that did not sell well.

Going forward, we are reevaluating what we categorize as “damaged” garments and we continue to be committed to donating as many of these items as possible to our aid organization partners.

Overall, I do not know what to think.  I have been to H & M stores, and there is little in the way of displays that warrant large cuts and slashes across merchandise.  I am also a bit dubious, as since this is a known spot to folks who pick through trash for treasures, that this is an isolated incident.  I am glad that they donate factory items that cannot be reused, but is it enough?  I have a long history of retail, so I also get that there is always a possibility of people trying to return items to the store for cash, when they never purchased it in the first place.  That being said, simply removing the tag could be enough to solve the problem.  In general, H & M does have a pretty good track record in terms of charity and the environment, so I can cut them a little slack.  On the other hand, since they are launching a new line of eco-friendly products, They should have systems in place to reduce their waste and consumption.  Perhaps only second quality shoes that could not be donated should have been used for display, or their merchandising team could have come up with a display plan that didn’t involve destroying perfectly good merchandise for the sole purpose of putting shoes on a mannequin.  Knowing that this is a multi-national corporation with a huge team that plans displays for stores across the globe, what does it say about their team that they decided to cut up hundred (thousands? ) of shoes to put them on mannequins?    I remain unconvinced in their true commitment to the environment, and will refrain from giving them any of my money for a while until I get better answers.  This situation sits right at that border of green for the sake of being green and for the sake of greenwashing.

Here is the respnse I sent back to them:

Just to be clear.  You are a multinational corporation with a merchandising team that plans displays for its stores around the globe.  Your team thought the best use of perfectly good clothing was to punch holes in it so you can put it on display?  I remain skeptical.  Given the thought, time and effort that was put into your new line of eco friendly clothing for the spring, it seems to me that your merchandising team should have been a part of the overall planning in your stores.  If you want to more beyond greenwashing and into sustainability, then the entire corporate team needs to be involved.  Adding eco fabric lines to your palette of choices is great, but given the state of the environment, far from being good enough.  Please consider a corporate wide approach to reducing waste and impact on the environment, or you will not convince the smart shoppers that you are doing more than greenwashing.  Until then, I think my money can best be spent elsewhere.

I am posting your letter and my response at www.greatlakesgreenpages.com

Amplify

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Posted in Arts & Culture, Green | 1 Comment »

Ways to make the holidays greener in 2010…

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

The winter holidays are almost completely over. As we round out the year, I am thinking about next year. I made a stand this year and sent no paper cards this year. While I enjoy hearing form all my family and friends, I just can’t justify the paper trail the holidays leave behind. My mother always saved the bows and usable paper from the gifts. This was to save money, but little did we kids realize how sustainable she was being. Every year the world creates this huge spike in trash around the holidays. Check out this video by Ed Byrne. He is funny, but makes some good points:

So how do you make an impact, without losing all the fun and magic of the season?

  1. Shop smarter. Instead of buying stuff that is funny or cute, but will end up in the bin on December 26, shop smarter.  Buy gifts that are usable and lasting.  If you are the kind of person that finds gift buying difficult or exhausting, try buying gift cards.  If you think that that is too impersonal, then be sure to buy something that can easily be returned or donated-and include a gift receipt with every gift.  While you may think that Christmas sweater with the snowman is delightful, the receiver may not.  Allow them the opportunity to return it for something they will use, rather than have an ugly sweater in the bottom drawer that will only see the light of day when they meet up with you next year.
  2. Make gifts and cards from salvaged materials. For those of you that are creative, this is not a difficult task.  It can be fun to make a nice bracelet by weaving old Christmas tree light strands together, or stringing that cool doodad on a leather strap to make a unique necklace.  You can make your own cards by reusing the fronts of cards that are glued onto simple construction paper that is folded in half or quarters.  Some can even become holiday postcards by simply cutting off the front.  Wrap your gifts in old magazine pages or newsprint, and make bows from interesting doodads, fried flowers from your yard or a freshly clipped pine branch.
  3. Use less materials that will be thrown away. Why use wrapping paper from virgin materials when there are so many other options available?  I wrap gifts in things I find in my travels.  Vintage (or even brand new) dishtowels make great wrap, as do pillow cases and table cloths.  Pick them up cheap at flea markets and garage sales throughout the year.  Skip the ribbons and use raffia that will bio-degrade, sea grass, or clipped and dried flowers from your garden that are saved throughout the year.  Hydrangea blooms and baby’s breath are both ideal gift garnishes.  Or try some pressed fall leaves as gift tags.
  4. Don’t use a cut tree.  Sure most trees are made of chemicals, but properly taken care of, and a fake tree can be used and decorated easily year after year, saving tons of CO2 emissions in the cutting, hauling and disposal that comes with a cut live tree.  If you must have a live tree try using a tree that is truly alive and potted.  Water it and it will survive nicely and can be planted in your own yard or donated to a local church or other charity to beautify a green space.  There are plenty of other alternatives as well, and now that Christmas is over, you can scan the internet for a great deal.  I ran across trees made of cardboard that fold up flat that I thought were ingenious. My buddy Jim Fish even made his own “tree” from materials that he salvaged.
  5. Send e-cards. While there is something nostalgic and fun about having a real Christmas card in hand, it is a tradition that we need to start phasing out.  E-cards can be sent from a variety of sources for free or for cheap.  You can create your own form templates, so it can be truly personal.  Or if you like, make your own Christmas ecard that can be saved as an attachment and sent out from your email client.  Want a card that is truly personal?  Create a card that is made from pictures of your family from throughout the year.  Even better, dust off that video camera and capture all the moments of your life and edit it into a video that you can post to a site like YouTube.  send the link to your family and friends.  For our business, I have vowed to create a video card for 2010 that will be fun to watch.  Who knows, maybe it will go viral….
  6. Donate to charity. Giving a gift in the name of someone you live can be touching and personal, without adding to your carbon footprint.  For those who have lost loved ones due to illness, donate to a foundation that is searching for a cure to that illness.  There are charities for animal lovers, for treehuggers, for the young and the old.  This is really the true meaning of giving anyway, isn’t it?
  7. At the very least recycle! There are plenty of ways to reuse some of that wrap, those bows, and cardboard boxes.  But if you don’t, at the very least make that trip to the recycle center to divert them from the landfill.  Even that Christmas tree can be recycled.  Most areas have a boy scout troop of other charity that will recycle your tree.  In Cleveland, I am told, the city will grind the trees put out on the curb into mulch that is free to residents in the spring-just get it out there before Jan 30.  You can put it in your yard to give cover for birds and insects, and it will decompose at its own rate.  Here is one more video to give you more helpful hints:

Being greener and making a difference is not easy.  But with plenty of thought, you can make your next holiday season one that is greener and cleaner.  And if you think about it all year long while you are out and about, you can enjoy the holidays all year long!

Amplify

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Posted in Cleveland, Green | 4 Comments »

Feed your inner shopper and Feed a Friend.

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

n196926824666_6389 I wrote a couple of posts about my new friends and their plan to feed Ohio City homeless for Thanksgiving.  We had a great time and it was so nice to see some regular people pulling together to do what they can for those in need.From their facebook page:

Feed a Friend is a grassroots community outreach that is designed to remember and help our friends in need this Christmas holiday. As we prepare to spend time with our friends and family, we ask that you take time to remember those in our community who are not as fortunate. These are friends that many of us have yet to meet but they live in our community, on our streets and in our hearts. If you have it in your heart to help with your time or a donation of food or funds, please call Tracey Dillard at 216-210-9069.

A little more information…Tracey and Mischelle are putting together a plan to make and deliver Christmas care packages and dinner to the homeless in our community where they live on the street as opposed to providing meals within the shelter. If you are interested in helping or blogging about the effort, please contact Tracey or Mischelle directly and they’ll be thrilled to give you more information.

Donations from Starbucks and a couple of fruit/vegetable vendors from the West Side Market have already been secured but anything that you can do to help make as big of an impact as possible would be appreciated. Whether it’s helping with your time, food donation, suggesting friends that might be able to help, blogging about it, spreading the word through your status update, giving thoughts on places where the most impact might be made during this time frame, and/or thoughts on where this might be needed most, etc… every little bit you can do will go a long way.

We are looking for your Help with these items : Coats, Gloves, Scraves, Mittens, Blankets, Sleepingbags, Bookbags, Sweathers/Sweatshirts, Food and/or Funds.

WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT ALL THE HELP AND SUPPORT FOR THANKSGIVING, IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!

Thank you in advance for your assistance with Christmas! Remember a little can go a long way!

So I know that you have an extra coat that you don’t need, an ugly Christmas sweater that you can get rid of without guilt, or a scarf that you are not wearing anymore. Why not collect all your unused clothing items and help these folks make the holidays a little bit nicer for those who will truly appreciate it. Ask your family and friends and see what they can spare. No extra clothes? What about a blanket, sleeping bag, or hand warmers. Even an old pillow can be a gift from heaven for someone living on the streets. Get some extra toothbrushes on sale? Deodorant? Soap? What we take for granted can be mean a lot to someone whose whole life fits in a bag-for that matter, a backpack can be a great gift for someone who keeps everything they own in one. Don’t worry, it will all go to a good cause. If there are leftovers, we know of several great churches and service agencies who can use any leftovers! Pick up a cheap scarf or an extra bar of soap for someone who needs it…stuff someone’s stocking with hope. Since Thanksgiving, they have also set up an email address and paypal account. You can send your words of encouragement to feedafriend@email.com and use that email address if you can spare a few dollars to help buy food for the Christmas dinner. This is a grassroots organization. All money raised will go directly to help Cleveland’s homeless. Let me share an email that I got after Thanksgiving:

We cooked and prepared food and care packages through the night and on Thanksgiving day all of the volunteers arrived at the house ready and eager to help. By noon, we hit the streets on the near west side where we found a lady going through a trash can near Fulton Park. We approached her and offered her a care package and hot coffee. She was completely caught off-guard but, at the same time, so grateful. At first, she wouldn’t make eye contact. She just kept her head down repeating “thank you, thank you!”. She finally looked up when we told her “Happy Thanksgiving”! The look of gratitude and appreciation on her face is one that we will never forget. Our spirits soared! We covered areas from the streets of the near west side to downtown Cleveland at the vents, where people sleep at night to stay warm. Everyone we encountered had the same reaction – surprise at first and then just complete gratitude. Many wanted to know if we were affiliated with some group or program. We just told them we wanted to do what we could to help a friend.

Wo while you are out pick up a spare stocking cap for that friend you haven’t met.

Amplify

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Buy more local for the holidays…

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

In my ongoing series of pointing consumers toward local companies for the holidays, I wanted to mention C.L.E. Clothing Company….

Image of Webster Slaughter (MensWomens)
Not to be confused with the Cleveland Clothing Company, which I have done, the  C.L.E. Clothing Company creates Cleveland themed t-shirts that show off your civic pride.  Hand silk screened on American made t-shirts, they feature unique designs that reflect some of Cleveland’s greatest assets.  They have the sports themed shirts that are unique enough to be a true must have for your sports fan on the list.  There is a nod to Cleveland’s great past as well, with tees that mention the Jake, Elliot Ness and the Coliseum.  I love the vintage styles as well as the trendy styles. For the true Christmas holiday Cleveland gift, get yourself a leg lamp tee. You can have that leg lamp without having to put your family through the trauma of having the leg in the window. Visit their site to see all the designs, but if you are anywhere near the Southpark Mall, they have a holiday store.  You can pick out just what you want and have it in your hot little hands right away….  why wander the rest of the mall at all? Hopefully after the holidays, I can get an interview with them. But in the meantime, know that any of these shirts makes a great Cleveland statement!

If you are not a mall person, try checking out the Last Minute Market this weekend. Hosted this Saturday, December 19, 2009 10:00am – 6:00pm at {The Screw Factory} The Lake Erie Building at Templar Industrial Park at 13000 Athens in Lakewood, OH

Together with our friends, I Made It! Markets and The Screw Factory Artists, Cleveland Handmade is once again enabling and encouraging holiday shopping procrastination. We’re giving Cleveland another great chance to shop locally and buy handmade from a delightful variety of local and regional artists and craftspeople. The Last Minute Market will feature more than 60 sellers of handmade goods. In addition, artists whose studios are located in the building will open their doors for a peek inside their workspaces.

This is a great way to finish off all your holiday shopping by supporting local companies.

Amplify

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Cleveland Foodie tells you where to shop!

Monday, December 14th, 2009

In my efforts to highlight local companies for the holidays, I ran across this post from local Cleveland food critic, Michelle V.  Her blog is called Cleveland Foodie, and she gets to visit local restaurants and review them for a living.  I completely hate her for having my dream job, but love her for her words.  She writes in a clear and friendly manner about all things in the Cleveland restaurant scene, and anything food related could become the topic of a post.  I was pleasantly surprised to read about all her favorite local places to shop. I  have followed her blog for about a year, taking in her tips about the best spots for a quick lunch, or a nice dinner.  She has written about some of the same favorites (like Jeni’s Ice Cream) and since we seem to appreciate the same things, I trust her judgement when it comes to food.  so I was surprised to read her take on local shopping.  she mentions some of my favorites, like Duo Home and Stove Monkeys, but also some places that I didn’t know about, like Mr Brisket (who is sending food to the troops) and Next.  She is even giving away a gift card and discounts on her blog!  So get your eyes over to her site for great shopping ideas, and subscribe to get the best updates on Cleveland eating there is!

I also want to add that Tuesday is your last chance this year to shop at the Tremont Farmers Market. From their email:

Available this Tueday:
Winter squash (acorn and butternut), onions, potatoes (red-skinned and white), collards and mustard greens, lettuce, arugula, carrots, and sprouts; (maybe even brussel sprouts and parsnips!). Pasture raised beef and chickens, and eggs from happy hens. Fresh roasted coffee and beans; tea and tea related gift baskets; whole grain breads, waffles, granolas, pies and yummy vegan food to eat on the spot. Cheese made from content grass-fed cows; vegan and hemp based baked goods; honey and maple syrup; awesome Irish soda breads and scrumptious Gaelic food; salsas and hot sauces with related gift baskets, and a vast array of spices. AND, knitted goods, jewelry made from silverware, artwork crafted out of found materials and stoneware pottery. Remember to bring your knives or other dull objects to be sharpened!

There will be local artists and vendors for gift giving, live music, and they even take the Ohio Direction Card. See you there, but leave me some of the sprouts…

Amplify

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Local AND Handcrafted

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

IMG_7459I am a firm believer in buying local, buying handmade and hand crafted, and supporting local arts and artisans. As you are thinking about picking up something for that special someone on your list, check out my friend Prasti Purdum. She sells a selection of handmade goods-including the almost lost art of embroidery. What I like about the things she creates, is that they are often one of a kind designs that you will not see anywhere else. Sometimes she works with her husband Aaron to create a completely unique design, which then ends up being the new design for a onsie or other small garment.

We met Aaron and Prasti through a mutual friend.  Both having ties to the west coast, and a love of all things coffee, we instantly hit it off.  I started following Prasti’s blog, Here to There.  I had no idea how creative she was until I started seeing her work pop up in her blog.  She teaches her kids through arts and crafts, and maintains an etsy store to sell her wares.  She creates such cute things, it reminds me of my mom every time I see them.  My mother could sew up a storm and her embroidery was always top notch!  In this technology age, I am glad to see that there are still people who are keeping this craft alive!  In addition, she creates unique greeting cards that are mostly origami based.  You can find these great cards on her etsy site, or at Lilly’s Handmade Chocolates in Tremont-where chocolates become art in their own right (and you can buy a great imported beer or dessert wine, too!)

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I asked her how she got started in this endevour, and here is what she had to say:

let’s see…i originally started embroidering (a/b 3 years ago) because i was just not into a lot of the baby/toddler clothes the stores had to offer.  and i also wanted emma to be in clothes that stood out from the bunch.   funny thing is, she was 2 years old before i embroidered her something…lol!  i was so busy embroidering gifts for other people that i kind of forgot to make her something.  anyway, i discovered that i was not really bound to the classic (grandma-esque) embroidery patterns, and that in fact i could make up my own designs (with the help of aaron) and put them on pretty much anything.  with origami, it was always something i enjoyed doing.  there’s a serene quality about the whole paper-folding process.  we’ve made our own cards for birthdays, weddings, etc. for a long time and i thought the origami cards would be a fun way to send our special messages to friends and family.  i also like keeping my hands busy (i’m one of those people who has to be doing something else while sitting and “relaxing” during a movie night) so embroidery and paper folding were a perfect match :) .

Check out her designs and buy something one of a kind for the little one on your list.  For more hand made and hand crafted items for your holiday gift giving, be sure to check out Bizarre Bazaar.  This weekend only at the 78th St Studios, you are sure to come home with the perfect holiday gift for that someone on your lift that is impossible to buy for!

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Amplify

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In LA you can rent Christmas…

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

So thanks again to Siel at LA Green Girl blog for this info. I read this article and I thought that this is an idea whose time has come. Why go out and buy a tree, when you can just rent one? I was talking with one of my friends the other day and they were talking about the chore of cutting down their own tree. They love the fresh tree, they like picking it out in the wild, and they like how much longer it lasts. What they don’t like is cutting it down, cleaning up needles, and recycling it after the holidays. They also said that half the time they pick the day to cut down their tree, they get a bout of rain and have to trudge through the mud and lay in wet grass to get their selection. Too bad we don’t have a company like The Living Christmas Company.

LivingChristmasThe Living Christmas Co lets you choose a tree from their stock and have it delivered right to your front door-no fuss, no muss. Because it is a living tree, it continues to freshen the air in your home, drops less needles and only needs a little watering. After the holidays, they come and pick up the tree and return it to th nursery for renting again the next year. This is truly eco friendly. Really love the tree you get? Reserve it for next year, and you can have the same tree every year and watch it grow! For Angelenos, this is a great way to celebrate the holiday. And considering what trees are costing these days, it might be even cheaper than buying one!

Once you have your tree, you can also decorate it with great ornaments:

We’ve searched long and hard to find Christmas ornaments and decorations to offer our customers. Our Eco-Holiday Store completes our vision for celebrating a truly Living Christmas. All of our products are either Fair Trade, Locally Made, or made Eco-logically Sensitive. Each product has a story to tell. We hope that you enjoy giving gifts that give twice!

They also sell recycled tissue and wrap, stocking stuffers, and LED lights. Remember those large bulbs of our youth that were a fire waiting to happen? Now there is an LED version that meets todays lifestyle! Consider picking up some of their items to make your holidays “greener,” but renting a tree is limited to LA.

Amplify

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