It wasn't the answer I had hoped for, in fact it threw me. And when I finally landed it was clear I had my next topic for EcoSalon. Is ceramic an eco-friendly material? Not really. Ceramic is certainly not 100% eco-friendly, although it does boast an honest list of good intentions. But first the aforementioned … Continue reading The Ceramic Industry: Is a Little Green Better Than None at All?
My grandest fantasy as a young girl included leading a life like Chris Evert or Gabriella Sabatini, which for an 8-year-old mostly meant wearing cute tennis skirts and being on TV. Although I have a great tennis game today (if I do say so myself), playing pro quickly lost its allure as my life took … Continue reading A Warm and Welcome Place to Shop
Whether or not you're planning a flight to a faraway land (carbon credited, of course), the Voyager Shawl offers a dose of the exotic. I can't afford to "buy now" over at Travelocity, but I can at least imagine myself zipping along a charming coastal road on my Vespa - Positano, perhaps? - wrapped in … Continue reading Venture Anywhere with the Voyager Shawl
I already know there's a reader out there who will find this post extravagant, excessive and possibly even outrageous. And if that reader is you, rest assured that I can hear you already. You're saying things like "don't waste our time. It's ridiculous to pay that for a dress or a coat, when the sky … Continue reading I Dare You to Read This Post About Alabama Chanin
I've never been good at sending holiday cards to friends and family. I enjoy keeping in touch throughout the year via e-mail and phone calls, but when it comes to spreading holiday cheer I fall tragically short. But this year could be different. I've come across a line of stationary that might just cure my … Continue reading Red (and Green) Aphrodite
The current climate of corporate cutbacks and headcount hacking doesn't exactly send me spending, especially on frivolities like jewelry. But when the jewels are vintage and priced within any penny-pincher's budget, it doesn't hurt to look, does it? I hope not, because I couldn't help myself. The gems and trinkets at Eclectic Eccentricity (say that … Continue reading Handmade One of a Kind Finds for Less Than $25
Fortunately, we've reached the point where it is not only un-cool, but offensive when companies ignore their footprint and don't face eco-reality. Despite the plethora of green-going ventures out there, I'm still impressed when I come across another design studio forging ahead, breaking new green ground without compromising creative philosophy. Gore Design Co. is such … Continue reading Eco-Concrete by Gore Design Co.
There is not a single superstitious bone in my sensitive, spiritual, sometimes cynical body. Magical thinking is not my thing. But I do believe in luck. When good things happen I attribute it to the randomness of life, the luck of the draw. If the bad stuff hits, which it inevitably does, I think to … Continue reading In the Mood for Luck
I never lose my keys, but my best friend does and I think I'm going to get her this. (Another friend of mine uses a yellow rubber ducky - large, yes - but chic? Not so much. I've also seen flashlights, rabbit feet, coin purses and those mini scannable super-saver cards that get you coupons … Continue reading A Rock and Roll Key Keeper
There's a lot of "scrapping" going on these days in the fashion and decor industries, mostly out of earnest consideration for eco-friendly living. I appreciate every kind of re-use, reclaim or re-invent including vintage and antique. Wood scraps are another fave of mine. The possibilities are endless when a creative mind confronts a pile of … Continue reading Leftover Leather Stays Together in Manon Juliette’s Carpet Collection
I'm a big believer in Mies van der Rohe's dictum "less is more". I'd much prefer that you use what already hangs in your closet. And as much as the lesser green in me would love to encourage you to buy a newer, cooler version of this or that, the greenest me would never do … Continue reading Shop Wisely with Rising Tide Fair Trade
I've heard of sewing and embroidery, knitting and crochet - I've even tried my hand at a few of the aforementioned crafts. (Didn't your grandmother enforce the "you should know how to mend, sew a button and knit a scarf" rule, too?) But felting is new to me. I've been delighted by Etsy's Made by … Continue reading Mod by Moxie
No, Zaishu isn't a new gadget or sugary snack. It's a sturdy little table-seat-whatsit that happens to have quite a story behind it (and on it). The story begins in Japan. Zaishu is Japanese for "small seat" - and small it is (approx 16" x 16" x 11"). Its eco-footprint is equally diminutive. Made of … Continue reading Zaishu!
It happens. A seller on Etsy creates a fresh and fun item, but her inventory sells out in just over a week and you're out of luck. What to do? Do it yourself. Even if your thumb is anything but green, this charming planting project is simple and an easy way to welcome spring. Here's … Continue reading DIY: Plant It and Spring Will Come
When all else fails, buy jewelry. A generalization, yes, but I'm confident of its accuracy. We women love jewelry. You can't go wrong showing up at her birthday party with a pretty pair of earrings or a sweet and simple bracelet - or both. I'm not referring here to bling. Magnificent jewelry pieces are both … Continue reading Everyday Eco Jewelry to Cherish
I'm not much of a sentimentalist so things like "karma" or "it was meant to be" don't usually send me leaping to conclusions about my destiny, whether it be whom to date or what to buy. I also have a very discerning eye when it comes to jewelry. That being said, this dainty and sweet … Continue reading Leaving the Nest: Non-Profit Jewelry Takes Flight
Valentine's Day cards and chocolates make me think of one thing, and it isn't love. All the paper and plastic wrap and commercialized waste! I prefer not to participate in it, and now I don't have to. Instead, there's this precious, eco-friendly and handmade gift made of twigs, delicately tied together and shaped into a … Continue reading Waste Me Not
In the last five years or so I've become a firm believer in naps. (A fact that baffles my parents who vividly remember pleading with their 3-year-old daughter to come inside for "quiet time", so-called because the word nap sent me into a fit.) Maybe it's my busy schedule or dare I say my age, … Continue reading Lavender Eye Candy
Kim Derby 
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