Eco-ornaments

Need some last minute quick gifts? Get some citrus and get cracking. One of the first ever eco-gifts I made was a scented ball for my mom's closet. Grab an orange. Poke it with cloves - free-form or in a pattern of your choosing. Wrap with a ribbon and leave a tail to make a loop. Hang over a hanger and the scent will permeate the clothes in your closet.

Another favorite of mine is to take the skin of citrus fruit and cut it into shapes of stars, suns, moons, whatever you fancy. Let the skin naturally dry. Coat with watered down white glues to keep the stirring critters away. Wrap with jute or raffia and hang on the tree. You could add cranberries and popcorn as well, or even beads.

These make great hostess gifts and stocking stuffers too - so get your vitamin C and your gift giving going. Good for your body and good for the environment.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Forget the closet. Get a Green Home

Who knew? Philadelphia seems to be the East Coast hub for eco-friendly homes. According to an article by Patrick Pullen in the March/April edition of Arrive magazine, Philadelphia's Greenworks program is an ambitious plan to transform the city into the greenest city in the US by 2015. 

Goals of the program include:
- Lowering city government energy consumption by 30%

- Reducing citywide building energy consumption by 10%

- Retrofitting 15% of homes with insulation, air sealing and cool roofs.

- Purchasing and generating 20% of the electricity used in Philadelphia from alternate sources.

Several companies are helping. Postgreen purchases 18' x 60' infill lots in the city and creates the 100K house, a 1000 square foot, 2 story, 2 bed/1 bath home built on a budget under $100,000. Greenable is a purveyor of eco-friendly building materials. With a design studio in Old City since 2006, Greenable recently expanded into a 3,500 square foot space in Northern Liberties stocking eco-firendly cleaning products, composters, worm bins, paints, countertops, backsplashes, flooring, denim insulation, bamboo plywood, windows, lighting and more. BluPath Design is an architectural firm that has been designing green buildings since 2003 and works in partnership with GreenSteps eco-consultancy.

These are just a few of the companies proving going green is good business.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

She's Crafty

Ah November. The season of craft shows is in full swing. It's time for holiday shopping, gift giving and the party extravaganzas. Here's some thoughts about doing it green.

Look to nature for decorations. Fallen branches can be painted with metallics and arranged in a container with some floral foam to create a stunning "tree", "bush" or festive arrangement.

Here's an idea for easy DIY "ornaments". Pull fruit sections out of citrus fruits and then cut the skin into shapes with kitchen shears - stars, half moons, suns, whatever you heart desires. Let them dry naturally and then coat with a thin layer of watered down white glue to seal them. Tie with raffia and voila instant decorations or garland to use or give. These items could also be arranged into a fantastic center piece around a log with a few drilled holes for candles - just make sure to keep the flames away and don't leave the candles unattended! Holiday fires are bad for you and bad for the environment;)
•Best bet for natural items in Philly - Fairmount Park

Holidays parties are the perfect time to go vintage. You can find really unique and show- stopping pieces. With this years trend toward shine, look for items from the 40's and 80's to get you through. Beading, sequins, metallic jacquards and stretch are must haves. Throw in a "real" boyfriend jacket and some shoots (shoe/boots) and you are on your way to being the belle of the ball. There are a variety of vintage and thrift stores in all areas of Philly. Some places to check live - Vintage Connection, Retrospect, Decades Vintage (615 Bainbridge/South Street Area), Sugarcube, Forbidden Planet (10 N. 3rd basement in Olde City), the Second Mile and online Vintage Looks and Etsy.

Gift-giving should be a treat for both giver and receiver. Look for interesting handmade or eco-friendly options to suit the receiver's interests. If you are feeling really ambitious, make things yourself. You will feel immense satisfaction giving something that you have made. It comes from your heart and hands and will be cherished by the recipient. There are so many things to make to meet any skill level.
•Some sites to check for ideas and directions - DIY Network, PioneerThinking and Make-Stuff.

Here's an idea for a quick and easy dessert stand idea I got from the Sunday London Times Magazine last year. Find 2 beautiful plates and a pair of candle sticks (preferably vintage or second hand). Get some epoxy or bonding glue that will work for ceramic and glass. You will need to read the label or go to a local hardware store where the merchant can give you the correct adhesive. I like to use E6000 which is readily available at craft stores. Glue on of the candle sticks to the center of one of the plates. Weight the stick while it drys. Bake or buy some holiday goodies. Put them on the stand with a festive doily or vintage napkin. Wrap with colored cellophane. Include a note with instructions to hand wash the stand and handle with care. This is a great holiday or hostess gift for any occasion. You can alter the includes based on the recipient - make a two tiered stand for a High Tea theme, include napkins and place mats or a runner for those with new homes, etc. Easy, fun and unique.

Now for some shameless self-promotion - check my rocklava shop for some vintage treasures and a variety of handmade items to give.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

Have a Green Halloween

Ghosts and ghouls. Witches and zombies. And don't forget the Vampires! Halloween is my favorite holiday. For one night, each of us can recognize and unleash our dark side and our creativity. We get to publicly celebrate our fantasies and fetishes and alter egos without fear of judgment. Instead of buying that disposable costume made overseas, out of nasty raw materials, why not open up your creativity, your closet and basement? Whatever you want to be, I bet through your old clothes and items that you have tucked away you can make a rocking good outfit. Need to supplement - try the neighbors garage and when all else fails, the thrift store.

Don't forget the decorations! Treat them like your Christmas decorations, cherish and recycle the old and selectively replace or purchase new. Consider natural decorations - pumpkins, gourds, shrunken heads from apples like this one from "theapplecarver"...the list goes on.


Not creative you say? Organize a costume swap. Like a clothing swap, you and your friends or your kids can pile organize a costume trade, or better yet, throw all the costumes and accessories into a big pile and put together new costumes from them. Suddenly you are a zombie pirate or a vampire nurse.

Don't forget the make up. Most women will have a dark eyeliner and mascara in their arsenal. Use foundation or moisturizer as a base for baby powder to whiten your face. Fake blood is a breeze with food coloring and corn syrup.

No need to add to the landfill to get your inner-freak on. You've got it all happening at home;) Have a spooky, safe, fun and GREEN Halloween.

--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew