Posts Tagged ‘organic’

Five Fabulous Green Gifts for Leos

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

One of the boldest signs of the zodiac, the Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) is a force to be reckoned with! Capable and creative, passionate and energetic, athletic and attention-seeking, and with confidence in spades, it might be easy to write off the Lion as overly vain or self-centered. But Leos are among the most altruistic signs of the Zodiac: they’re romantic, loyal, and often have a soft spot for children, animals, or both. You will often see a Leo on center stage, at the head of the boardroom, or seated in first class — but you’ll also see Leos forcefully leading the charge for causes that are near and dear to their hearts.

Here are some gifts that are sure to appeal to this one-of-a-kind personality.

GGecko_Rose_A_385x253The Leo lady likes to stand out and be noticed, and chic accessories with a “wow factor” always make great gifts for her. She’ll love this Artisan Silk Bopha Handbag from Green Gecko … it’s a simple and elegant handbag with a brash oversized rose that goes seamlessly from clubbing to cocktails to the red carpet. It’s hand-spun and hand-loomed under fair trade conditions, and supports Cambodian artisans.

Estelle_Cuffs_XSimilarly, the Leo gentleman appreciates gifts that convey a powerful, classy image. Stephen Estelle, designer of eco-friendly fine jewelry, comes through beautifully with these simply stunning Labradorite and sterling-silver cufflinks. Hand-forged in a bold, masculine design, these cufflinks draw the eye and make a statement.

TriSET_A-_ZM 350x350Another fabulous gift for a Sun Sign lady … dazzling 18K-gold and sterling jewelry. Again, Stephen Estelle delivers the perfect gift for this confident personality. The sophisticated design of Estelle’s “Montpellier” collection was created by the family that designed jewelry for Nepal’s Maharajas. So, it’s important enough to satisfy a Leo’s sense of royalty, yet playful enough to appeal to Leo’s sense of enjoyment and fun. Estelle’s jewelry is tailor-made for a Leo’s fiery spirit and appreciation for exquisite craftsmanship.

Tuttio_Salad_C_385x321 breadTuttio_Set_A_385x312The proud Leo considers the home a reflection of him- or herself, so gifts for the home should be unique, elegant, and command attention. One perfect example are these artisan hand-thrown ceramic items from Italy: the Dipping Bowl and the Wine Set, both by Tutto Mio. Leos who entertain at home will appreciate their high standards of quality and taste. After all, you can’t expect a Leo host or hostess to serve wine or hors d’oeuvres from anything less than spectacular, can you?

PuppetSet_XAs for the little lion cubs: if there’s one thing Leo children love to do, it’s put on a show. With creativity and enthusiasm to spare, little Leos can always use some direction in harnessing their imagination. They will love to entertain family and friends with these organic, hand-knit “African Critters” puppets from Kenya (now on sale). Yes, the set of four includes a lion, naturally!

Of course the most important thing to remember about Leos is: Never forget their birthdays! Happy Birthday, Leo!

Five Eco-Friendly Gifts for Baby

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

A new baby is one of the most delightful reasons to buy a gift — but it’s not always easy to choose an item that will please a picky parent. Here is a roundup of five thoughtful gifts we’ve found that are all-natural, non-toxic, high-quality and gentle enough to meet the standards of any new mom or dad.

ButtNakedBaby_X-01All-Natural Organic Baby Care Set by Butt Naked Baby — We’d call it a “spa set” for baby, because the ingredients are so luxurious … but some of the items here are really necessary! All the products in this fabulous six-piece gift set are responsibly handcrafted in small batches in the USA, using only the best organic ingredients. There are no skin-irritating fragrances, parabens, mineral oils or dyes; rather, this lush and sustainable gift set looks and smells clean and natural. The set comes with Moisture Milk lotion, Healing Baby Powder, moisturizing Baby Balm Stick, soothing and protecting Diaper Balm and relaxing/hydrating Baby Oil. It’s all wrapped up in an organic-cotton “Butt Rug” that can be used as a diaper, burp cloth or changing pad. These trustworthy products are among the finest we’ve found for baby.

DreamSacks_Blanket_XaDowny-Soft Bamboo Baby Blankets by Dreamsacks — Once you feel these buttery-soft blankets and learn about their fabulous qualities, you won’t want to swaddle baby in anything else. These lovely loom-woven blankets are naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, breathable and moisture-wicking. Luxuriously soft, light, warm and comfortable, Bamboo Baby Blankets are loom-woven from 100 percent pesticide-free bamboo — harvested responsibly from renewable forests and crafted under fair-trade conditions. Choose from several colors.

Dimples_OrganicSet_X-01Organic Cotton Baby Ensemble by Dimples — We just love this gorgeous 3-piece newborn set made from 100 percent organic cotton. And it’s not just us — Babble.com calls it “absolutely beautiful — so soft and snuggly … exactly how I want to bring [new baby] home.” Ecofabulous.com agrees: “Magnificent newborn gift.” The all-natural ensemble has a swaddling blanket, a playsack with drawstring tie, and a cap with flaps for those sweet little ears. The soft cotton contains no pesticides or chemical treatments whatsoever: gentle, handcrafted and using only non-toxic dyes, it’s nothing but softness against baby’s sensitive skin. Choose from the gorgeous hand-embroidered striped “Bee” or “Rose” designs in size 0-3 months.

BabyShokay385x260Fair-Trade Luxury Baby Hoodie/ Booties by Shokay These beautiful, soft-as-cashmere hoodie, booties and rattle set is woven from the sustainable “new luxury fiber” — yak down! Tibetan yak herders have been humanely harvesting the rugged animals’ luxurious, downy undercoat for generations, but only recently has this sumptuous fabric been available in the Western market. This set is gorgeous, handcrafted and will be the softest, warmest items in baby’s layette; they’re hand-washable and feel like cashmere. Treated only with nontoxic, low-impact dyes, this heirloom-quality baby set contains a sweet hoodie with an “eternity knot” clasp, snuggly booties with plush pom-poms, and a soft rattle in “Bee” or “Bug” design. This is not only a gorgeous and memorable gift, but it supports Tibetan herders and weavers in fair-labor conditions.

EnGry_PoliceCars_XEnGry_PrincessHorse_XFair-Trade Wool Car Set or Plush Pony by En Gry and Sif— We just love En Gry and Sif, a business started by two wonderful Danish sisters whose charming baby-and-kid products employ excellent design, strict eco-friendly standards and top-notch craftsmanship by women artisans in Nepal. Non-toxic toys are a wonderful gift, and En Gry and Sif’s fun Wool Car Set and Plush Pony toys are soft, safe, easy to grasp, cute and colorful enough to delight both babies and toddlers. They’re made with 100 percent wool-felt and colored with gentle low-impact dyes. The two-piece car set comes with a Police Car and Ambulance; the Plush Pony is tan with pink spots and a yarn mane.

Five Thoughtful Eco Gifts for Mom

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Finding just the right gift for Mom can be tricky. How can you express “I love you,” “Thank you,” and “Sorry about my high school years” — all in one item she’ll treasure? Here are five gifts made with joy, love and care, and are as gentle to the earth as they are beautiful and unique — all characteristics you associate with your mom. These Mother’s Day selections support women’s collectives, artists, and fair trade, so they’re a gift to Mother Earth too.

All Elegant Roots gifts come beautifully packaged using organic and recycled gift wraps, free of charge, straight from the eco-friendly facilities who partner with us.

GOAT’S BEARD SEED ORBS by Seed Shaman

Elegant Roots-GoatsBeard Seed Orbs

Seed Orbs allow a stunning glimpse into a secret of nature. Artist Richard Solomon, the “Seed Shaman,” hand-harvests seed pods from the “goat’s beard” plant and allows them to bloom in American-made glass globes. All vary in size, color, and number of seeds. Your Seed Orb can be placed atop glasses or grouped in glass bowls. Attach the hanging-cap and create a stunning ornament for the holidays or every day. This will delight all plant or nature lovers, gardeners, or anyone else who appreciates uniquely beautiful home accessories.

CIRCLES FROM AVENUE GREEN COLLECTION by C5
Elegant Roots - CIRCLES pendant & braceletIf your mom is classic, elegant, smart and one-of-a-kind, she’ll love Avenue Green’s “Circles” collection. Each piece is handmade in Bali from 100 percent reclaimed sterling silver, weaving design surprises into sleek and simple modern lines. These pieces are inspired by NYC’s South Bronx neighborhood, where multicultural urban living meets the natural beauty of the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

HANDMADE ETHIOPIAN TOTE BAGS by Creative Women

ElegantRoots - Handmade Totes by Creative Women

These totes may look beautiful (and they are). but don’t be fooled — they’re durable and functional, as they’re crafted with green materials including an Egyptian cotton/rayon textile woven for strength and luster. Mom can use it a purse, exercise tote, knitting/ crafts bag, reuseable shopping bag, or in any other way that suits her lifestyle. These chic bags are crafted with care by Creative Women, a fair-trade women’s artisan collective in Ethiopia that gives its members rare opportunities for economic independence. Your mom’s gift will support other mothers and grandmothers in places of the world where good jobs are scarce.

KAKADOO JEWELRY by Dori Csengeri

ElegantRoots- Kakadoo Jewelry Collection

Dori Csengeri’s vibrant jewelry is as bold and beautiful as the women who wear it, and has been showcased in Vogue, Glamour, Marie Claire and In Style. A gift from the Kakadoo Collection is equally appropriate for lively moms who command attention, or understated moms who want to add a pop of color to basic black. Designer Dori Csengeri produces this stunning line in Israel with other talented artists, using eco- conscious materials — gifts created for amazing women by amazing women.

NATURAL TRANQUILITY SPA SET by Sonoma Lavender
ElegantRoots- Sonoma Lavender Spa Set

What better gift for Mom than refreshment and relaxation for a sore back, knotted neck or tired feet? Organic cotton booties and a body heatwrap come with organic lavender-and-flaxseed inserts, and are microwaveable for instant warmth. Mom will feel the tension drain away when she applies scented, aromatherapeutic heat at the end of a tiring day. Lavender is a universally appealing fragrance, and this Natural Lavender Footbalm is made with organic lavender from a Sonoma County, California family farm.

An item made with joy, by talented artisans, infuses love into your Mother’s Day gift. We can’t think of anything more appropriate for Mom.

Sonoma Lavender, the American Dream, Organically

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Lavender has been used for centuries in medicine and perfume, and early civilizations believed the fragrant purple flowers restored vitality. For Gary and Rebecca Rosenberg of Sonoma Lavender, the ancient plant is a means for reinvigoration and reinvention—one plant at a time.

SonomaLavenderFamily2007

Many urbanites dream of leaving the hustle and bustle behind for a quieter life in the country, but few actually fulfill the dream. Gary and Rebecca Rosenberg are two of the lucky ones. In 1998, they sold their San Francisco advertising agency and catalog company and moved to their property in Northern California’s Sonoma County, long known for great wine, tart apples, and other fine agricultural delicacies.

With a goal to be home with their two kids as much as possible, the Rosenbergs focused on what they could do with the land to provide a livelihood. Tucked between the Pacific Ocean and the Mayacamas Mountain range, the Sonoma Valley mimics the elevation, climate and soil of the Mediterranean and provides ideal growing conditions. Many options were tossed around, including growing grapes and making wine, but they eventually settled on planting lavender.

More than 10 years later, Sonoma Lavender grows and manufactures hundreds of lavender products and is the single largest provider of lavender products in the US. Even still, the company remains family-owned and operated in the true sense, working together to plant, tend, harvest and dry the crop each season on their five-acre farm.
SonomaLavender_drying barn

We commend the Rosenberg Family for their natural, eco-friendly and “go local” approach. Local artisans handcraft all of Sonoma Lavender’s products, which benefits the local economy and the environment by avoiding transport and outsourcing to keep the company’s environmental footprint small. The Rosenbergs also practice environmentally friendly growing and manufacturing techniques, and every product is grown, designed and made in Santa Rosa, California.
SlavenderCotton_A_TN

In keeping with their eco-friendly philosophy, Sonoma Lavender uses recycled cotton and organic ingredients whenever possible. We particularly love the booties and wrap in the Natural Tranquility Spa Set, which are handcrafted from a remarkably breathable fabric woven from recycled yarns.

What a terrific way to keep an estimated 5 billion pounds of waste out of landfills! The naturally healthful lotions, gels and soy candleshttp://www.elegantroots.com/Organic-Lavender-Spa-Set-by-Sonoma-Lavender-p-67.html feature organic herbal blends and therapeutic-grade essential oils. Soothing and spicy.
SonomaL_SpaSet_A_385x262

Used throughout history for its therapeutic balancing properties, lavender has shown to be energizing, calming and revitalizing. To celebrate the fragrant, magical plant, each June Rebecca and Gary open their farm, which is otherwise closed to the public, for the Sonoma Lavender Festival. The festival features lavender cooking demonstrations, farm tours, a barn store and a lavender day spa.

I salute Gary and Rebecca for the vision to have conceived a robust business based on natural products and the commitment to operate it in ways that give back to the community and respect the earth. Sonoma Lavender is truly an inspiring American Dream.

Can’t Eco and Socially Just Gifts Cost Less?

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

On September 27, Sami Grover wrote about Elegant Roots on Treehugger.com. Sami’s headline is “Elegant Roots: Green Doesn’t (Always) Come Cheap”.

Apparently, having been burned repeatedly by criticism of the “pricey-ness” of some green products, Sami felt compelled to an anticipatory rant in response using, as her subject, our $69 handmade, organic stuffed Penguin. Penguin by Dwelling.penguin_a_72-4x5

Sami concludes: “It seems to me that if someone is going to spend $60 on toys, then buying one or two well-made, safe and sustainable items beats filling up the toy chest with lead paint and plastic crap. (Not to mention there are plenty of ‘luxury’ toys out there that don’t carry such green credentials…)”

We, at ElegantRoots.com, agree wholeheartedly and appreciate greatly Sami’s endorsement. And we agree emphatically that people should Buy Less But Buy Better. As she suggests, there may be some “green” alternatives in a lower price range. But there are other issues at play here.

Social Justice and soulfulness. We offer things that are handmade — touched by the hand and spirit of the artisan. No machine-turned-out toy can match the feel. And, unlike the Wal-Mart ilk, ElegantRoots.com does not squeeze price concessions from the artisans. A fair price for a handmade item is what we’re all about. If a handmade, organic stuffed animal were to sell for half the price, who would bite it on that transaction? The artisan.

I guarantee a “similar” toy can be made in a sweatshop factory in China for a lower price. And who bites it on that transaction. The sweatshop indentured servant.

ElegantRoots.com exists to help create and sustain a market for artisan products that use traditional skills to create marketable designs (Penguins are not a traditional subject in Kenya). If there is no market for these products, traditional skills become economically nonviable. Traditional lifestyles are lost as people are forced to overcrowded cities to join the ranks of the displaced, dependent on sweatshops.

So, when people complain about the prices, what do they really want? Do they want social enterprises like ElegantRoots.com not to exist? Do they want the artisans in developing economies to get squeezed to the bone on prices in order to try to compete with sweatshops? Do they want only “cheap” plastic stuff that winds up in the dump?

kk-knitters-045-72-5x5 Bottom line, you get what you pay for. If you want a product created by hand by some one person with pride and care, working in a joyful community of women receiving fair trade prices, a Penguin from the Critter Knitters of rural Kenya is the perfect choice. Penguin from Critter Knitters

kimochidoll_a_72-4x5 The same applies within the borders of the US. If you want a limited edition Kimochi “emotions” doll made by hand in the US by a noted doll artist, Cody Thompson, shop at ElegantRoots.com.

You’ll be glad you did. So will the artisan somewhere (and we tell you where) who, because a market exists, can pursue his/her art and be independent.

And it all comes wrapped in our nonpareil, signature, and COMPLIMENTARY, eco-conscious gift wrap.

Later.