Posts Tagged ‘Stephen Estelle’

Sexy, Shimmering, (Sustainable!) Silver

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Nothing shows off your summer glow like silver! Luminous and eye-catching, silver is simple and elegant enough to wear every day — from afternoons at the beach to evenings at the symphony. When the silver is recycled or produced in fair-labor/ conflict-free conditions, silver jewelry goes beyond beautiful.

ChardNecklace_A_350x350Here are some gorgeous, thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted silver baubles that we found for him and her: all friendly to the Earth and to its people and animals — and all frankly fabulous.

Smart Glass’ recycled Coke bottle-and-sterling silver jewelry is handcrafted, and no two pieces are exactly alike. Featured in fashion magazines and spotted on celebrities, these recrafted pieces are at once bold and delicate.

0103_1 Circle Pendant 150x150Elegant Roots is proud to be the first to offer C5’s Avenue Green collection of stunning recycled silver pieces. The “Circles” line, shown here, draws its inspiration from the Bronx Botanical Gardens, a haven of nature within a bustling urban environment. The result: sleek, modern lines with unpredictable design, all handcrafted in Bali.

Peace_Wisdom_A_TNSturdy brushed-silver dog tags by Pineapple Seed contain the Thai symbols for “peace” and “wisdom” hand-etched in clean, simple lines. Crafted in fair-labor conditions by artisans in Chiang Mai, this is a beautiful unisex gift with special meaning.

SS_Bracelet_A_TNThis gorgeous “Paia” bracelet by Stephen Estelle resembles luminescent drops of molten silver. Inspired by leaves, this striking design was handcrafted by a family of artisans whose lineage has been making jewelry for the maharajahs of Nepal for more than 400 years.

MensCuff_iFan 500x620RedStart has done it again with these Infinity Loop cuff links, a new take on the mathematical symbol for infinity. A contemporary design inspired by ancient symbolism, these distinctive sterling cuff links are part of RedStart’s “Stream” series, which follows the curves of flowing water.

Perfect to keep you in mind of the beach when you’re in the city on Wednesday.

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 Fabulous Green Gifts For Cancers

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Now that we’ve moved into the sun sign of Cancer the Crab (June 21-July 20), it’s time to celebrate the birthdays of these emotional, perceptive and sensitive Moon Children! Cancers will tell you that “any gift is special, as long as it’s from YOU” … but we all know there are certain items that will put a glint in a Cancer’s eye! So we’ve found some gorgeous green gifts that will delight a wide variety of Moon Children.

Swirl Earrings and pendant 385x280Emotions run deep in those born under the Cancer sun sign. While they often project a confident personality, Cancers are gentle souls whose emotions perhaps affect them more than the average person. This is why the “spiral” shape is most often associated with Cancers. The spiral is a symbol of constant energy, forever turning inward. Because silver is the Cancer element, we think these amazing recycled sterling-silver spiral jewelry pieces by C5 are ideal for the introspective and thoughtful Cancer. Handmade in a fair-labor studio in Bali, no two of these pieces are exactly alike.

StephenEMoonlightA2 385x338Like the Moon Children they are, Cancers are physically and mentally affected by the moon like no other sign in the zodiac. Their moods can directly correspond to the waxing and waning lunar cycles. A beautiful clear moon in the night sky gives Cancer a sense of spiritual peace. Celebrate the Cancer’s intimate relationship to her ruling Moon with acclaimed jewelry artist Stephen Estelle’s “Moonlight” collection. These enchanting fine jewelry pieces are made from sterling silver and smoky quartz, renowned for promoting balance and harmony. Handcrafted by the artisan family that created jewelry for Nepal’s Maharajahs, these stunning pieces are guaranteed for life.

Tuttio_Both_A_385x353While Cancers may travel far and wide, and enjoy success in a variety of pursuits — career, sports, arts, hobbies, or academics — their hearts will always remain at home. The home is the safe “shell” that Crabs need in order to stay centered and on track. Cancers have a deep connection to everyday items that help to nurture and sustain them, and they love practical household items that have a sense of artistry or history. We think Cancers will love these Tutto Mio ceramic noodle bowls, hand-thrown in Italy’s Umbria region by artists practicing ancient and revered Italian ceramic arts. These non-toxic and gorgeous bowls can be brought out for special occasions, showcased as a display bowl for other lovely items, or simply used on the dinner table every single night.

CitrusSet_A_375x311Cancers are known as caretakers who will often put other people’s needs before theirs. It’s a hard habit for them to break, and this is why Cancers truly appreciate gifts that let them indulge and care for themselves for a change! Check out this all-natural botanical Spa Set from Pharmacopia: it contains items that can be used every day (lip balm, shea butter hand cream) or for times when he or she could use some extra relaxation (massage & body oil, bath salts). Choose from intoxicating aromatherapeutic Citrus or Ginger scents that are suitable for both men and women.

YakMtnXFinally, Cancer babies and children are loving little beings who are highly sensitive to their surroundings — so much so that they may need more nurturing and soothing than other kids. Cancer children tend to cling to “security” items like cuddly toys and blankets — anything that comforts them and makes them feel loved wherever they are. These Fair Trade Certified cashmere baby blankets by Yak Mountain are 100 percent natural, non-toxic, downy-soft and, at a generous 36” by 44”, is one of the few items that a Cancer baby can use throughout childhood. It may not be a shiny toy or fast-paced game, but it will be a well-loved possession that will stay with a Cancer for life. Hand-loomed by Tibetan artisans from humanely harvested natural fibers, this gorgeous hand-washable blanket is an heirloom gift that can be passed along to the next generation.

Whatever the gift, you can be sure that if you put some thought and consideration into a Cancer’s birthday present, he or she will cherish and appreciate it for a long, long time! Happy Birthday, Cancer!

Ecological Intelligence

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Something new for something special: a running book review for a book that appears it might be a manifesto for Elegant Roots.

Cynthia and I first heard about Daniel Goleman’s new book before it could be called by name — when he was still writing it. This was well before Elegant Roots was up and functioning. We went to NY to scout for our first products and met jewelry designer Stephen Estelle, a French and Tibetan speaking Montana Buddhist cowboy educated at the Sorbonne. Fascinating person. Striking designs. Great story.

We explained our Elegant Roots concept to Stephen — eco-friendly and socially responsible gifts presented with Story — transparency. By telling the story of the product and designer, we wanted to make personal connections between gift maker, gift giver and gift recipient.

And we wanted to foster nothing less than a commercial revolution where consumers would want to know, would demand to know, the Who, What, Where, and Why of a product — aware that they “vote” with their dollars on issues of environment and worker conditions. And “voting” on a product purchase should be based on enough information that they could have peace of mind in their selections — informed consent.

Stephen asked if we had heard of Daniel Goleman. Cynthia knew right away — he had written the book Emotional Intelligence, a favorite of hers. Well, Stephen said, Daniel is writing one right now about how consumers need to know the back story of what they buy.

Months passed as we worked hard to get ElegantRoots.com up and running. We’re kicking ourselves now, but we never tried to contact Daniel Goleman to see where our ideas might overlap and what synergies might be presented.

Then, this April, we saw Daniel interviewed on TV about his new book: Ecological Intelligence. The subtitle got us excited about the book and its parallels with Elegant Roots: “How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything.” Exactly!

I’m going to start Daniel’s book tonight and I will blog as I go through it — a running book review.

Check it out.