Cover Me Up in Sustainability

Now that the cold weather is here to stay, it is time to keep warm without turning the heat up in your home,

Green Tip: For every degree you lower the thermostat, you'll save between 1-3% off of your heating bill...just imagine how much energy that would save if everyone lowered their thermostat in the winter.

instead turn up the heat under an eco-friendly blanket...

Angela Adams Baby Alpaca Throw in Olive currently on sale for $165 instead of $395 at One King's Lane (sale ending soon)

Designer Micheal Smith

Serena and Lily Alpaca Throw $148 in a variety of gorgeous and rich colors

Designer Miles Redd

Pendelton Glacier National Park Blanket $160/twin (my parents have had theirs for over 20 years and they look brand new...the blankets, not my parents ;)

Image via House Beautiful

Jonathon Adler Baby Alpaca Throw $295

eBay (a great source for gently used wool/alpaca blankets...the most eco-friendly way to go)

Vintage Fotrama Alpaca Wool Throw (Sold for $80)

Raid your Grandmother's Closet for some great finds...

Image: Apartment Therapy

Stay warm with wool, alpaca and used blankets (you can always clean or shrink and make a lap blanket)!!!

Cheers,

Danielle

Leap into Organics

I was shopping at Whole Foods in Arlington yesterday, doing my usual...sniffing soap (at least it's not something else). And I came upon a new brand of soap...Leap Organics. The soap smelled divine and was packaged in super fun box's (that would be great to reuse for mini-gifts like earrings, small ornaments or gift cards). And I loved their mission statement:

WE BELIEVE in harnessing the purity of the best thing in nature - and then giving something back. That's why we use recycled packaging and renewable energy, pursue ZERO-WASTE, SUSTAINABLE business practices and DONATE 3% OF SALES to non-profits THAT MAKES CLEAN SKIN FOR A CLEAN CONSCIENCE.

This is my favorite and love the fun play on words and octopus image (so does my son)...

This smells so fresh and summery...

And this is a great holiday gift...

Every year I make a bunch of unique (unique b/c they can look a little odd) hand-built pottery pieces and I usually put soap or chocolate in them and wrap in lemon wrappers (you know the yellow or purple net looking stuff) and give them away to family and friends.

If you don't make pottery or have the time, then Etsy is a great place to go.

Here are my 2 favorite stores on Etsy...

ginamstudio

and

oneclaybead

I used the soap last night, after giving it a good sniff, and loved it! Looks like Leap Organics is a fairly new company that will be offering more organic products in the future...can't wait to see the packaging!

Cheers,

Danielle

The Pink Ribbon of Hope

Recently a dear friend of mine asked me to pose in a t-shirt he made for Breast Cancer Awareness (I love that he used organic cotton...more expensive, but worth it). 10% of the proceeds will go to the Young Survival Coalition, YSC, it is an admirable non-profit organization dedicated to young women with breast cancer and it's unique challenges.

My friend owns Kissmycountry.com where he spreads information about the environment, travel, health and also sells super cool 'made in the USA' organic t-shirts like this one..

I have this and I love it!

I was so happy to help support this important cause, as I have three family friends who have recently passed away due to ovarian cancer and another young friend who is a breast cancer survivor...you go girl!

Here is a lovely pink room in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness...shouldn't we all have a little pink in our design :)...

Flickr image

And pink in nature...

A bee getting pollen from a Quince flower - flickr image

Do you think that every designer should include their client's state of health into their design?

Thanks for supporting,

Danielle

The Story of Stuff

Every person on this...

needs to see Annie Leanard's...

The Story of Stuff

It will only take 15/20 min. of your time! It puts into words, charts and cartoons the reality of our overconsumption. Even if we weren't facing global warming, it still is important to recognize how our purchasing power can effect our planet!

From the Eco-chic Pure line by Ami McKay

Design can still be amazing with out weighing heavily on the earth!

Thanks,

Danielle

ps...try not to catch your head on fire at night ;)

Quince Craigslist Room

Image: Domino Magazine

I am using this photo as my inspiration to show that you don't have to buy anything new to have great style. I have found everything that matches this fabulous room on Craigslist (almost everything...pillows from an ab fab pillow company that sells organic cotton pillows).

So here it goes...

Sofa: $400 (not exact, but with CL you can't be too picky...check out the cow photo..love it!)

Crystal Chandelier: $200 (this is a great price for a fabulous piece)

Side Chairs: $700 for both (using a bit of artistic license...felt the sofa was kind of bulky, so opted for simple side chairs with flair)

Lamp: $225 (again not exactly the same, but it's gorgeous and would look great)

Coffee Table: $35 (books and flowers in vase could take care of the pesky stains)

Curtains: $40 50' x 96' (all you would need to do is get a quince colored ribbon and sew it along the vertical edge...cost probably around $10, excluding time/effort)

Pillows: $50 a piece from Fabricadabra

Wall Paint: $70 Natura line from Benjamin Moore

Limelight

An almost complete room for $1560!!!! And the wonderful part is you could possibly get it for even less. There is no harm asking if the seller would be willing to reduce their price. All of these items were scouted on the DC/Northern VA Craigslist.

Good luck with your own inspirational photos...

Cheers,

Danielle

QuEtsy

I am always in awe at the huge amount of talent that is out there, especially on Etsy. If you don't have the time or are not artistically inclined it is a wonderful site to find personalized homemade or vintage presents or just gifts for yourself. And you won't find the golden 'made in china' sticker on it...something that I try to avoid like the plague.

Here are a few lovely 'quince' items on Etsy (quetsy ;)...

Three Golden Quince - photo

Quince on a Rim - photo

Quince 1 - ink and watercolor

Letter Alphabet print - lovely for a little girls room

Quince - Asian style watercolor

Hope you enjoy Etsy...it's fun even if you don't purchase a thing!

Cheers,

Danielle

Aloha!!

I just got back from Hawaii the other day and I am still pretty tired, but I wanted to do a post about souvenir/gift presentation.

I have 4 cats and a dog and need help with them when I am away, so I always like to bring back something special to my generous friends who help me out. But, I have a problem with waste, so I try to buy a local food, usually chocolate...who doesn't like chocolate??? I also don't like to buy wasteful gift wrap or gift bags, so I thought I would show you all what I do to make the presentation sweet, inexpensive and green...

I start out with a paper bag from anywhere and used tissue paper that I always have on hand (I don't throw away anything, much to the dismay of my husband)..

Then I proceed to spruce it up. I save all of the pamphlets, even the ones from the hotel, from my vacation and use them to decorate.

I just had to get a picture of my cat in there (isn't she cute? she's the sweetest cat in the world). The bird of paradise flower image is from the hotel's welcome package. I couldn't throw it away, so I brought it back and found a fun use for it. Here's a close up...

I also like to use maps. Here is what I did for my son's teacher...

It's a map of Oahu, another pamphlet from the hotel welcome package. On top is a seashell necklace we got at a Luau...I thought it made a nice festive bow.

And here was my presentation when everyone came over...

I think it looks pretty sweet and thoughtful. It didn't cost me much and had meaning, so remember to keep all of the silly pamphlets on your trips and RE-USE!!!!

And this is why we went...

Cheers,

Danielle