What were my fantastic readers enjoying this past month?

1) A New Take On Cracked Dishes: “You just never know what you will find when browsing the web. Often times, you’ll find the most unique creations that you wouldn’t normally be attracted to …”

2) Punky Piercer Runs A Green Letterpress Biz: “Tattoos, non-toxic inks, and tugboats - a uniquely crafty combination for a successful business. In my search to find San Francisco-based small businesses that use traditional letterpress machines, I stumbled upon …”

3) It’s A Family Affair with the San Francisco Craft Mafia: “Guns, drugs, and sewing machines? While you won’t see the San Francisco Craft Mafia shooting others or shooting up, they do wield some mighty powerful crafting talent …”

4) Recycling Gets Creative, Interactive, and Crafty: “Finding a workshop related to fiber crafts (knitting, sewing, crochet … etc.) is as easy as pie, no matter the area you live in, but what about recycling those computer chips and metal hangers? Spotted recently on …”

5) Stark Style on Etsy: “No one can deny that I have a passion for color, but my latest collection of Etsy favorites have been nothing but monochromatic deliciousness - an unmistakably inspirational mix of black, white, and gray. The dichotomy of …”

What did you enjoy this month?

What would you like to see more of?

Accessories, such as shoes or jewelry, are just as important as the basics of your wardrobe. With all of the reusable bags available on the market (many of which have been covered right here on Green Options), it’s likely that you will be able to find one to your liking. For those of us that prefer a personal, do-it-yourself, advertisement-free touch - this post is for you! In less than an hour, you can whip up a versatile tote made from any fabric you fancy. For pattern ideas, Altered Cloth recently posted a great collection of 7 options from around the web. Even if you are a beginning in the sewing department, these projects are great for first-timers or experienced stitchers.

Out of all 7 projects, my personal favorite it the design from U-handbag, a TypePad-featured blog all about (you guessed it) making handbags. This bag (featured in the accompanying image) has a curved seam and reinforced straps, so no matter how much to put into this sucker, it will still feel comfortable on your shoulders. Don’t let the curved seam scare you off: Lisa does a fantastic job of providing step-by-step instruction and pictures on how to get the job done easily. She also provides directions on how to make a cute little storage pocket, so you can carry your new bag with you all the time (you know, in case that urge to buy some tasty organic peaches comes along). Curious just how much this little bag can carry? A whole heck of a lot: Lisa graciously posted a few images on her blog of the haul she fit into this homemade gem.

READ THE REST OF “Green Style How-To: Make Your Own Stylish and Functional Reusable Bag“

I’ve got quite the backlog of creations that I want to post about, so let’s get started! A week or so ago, I found these adorably unique creations from a great crafter in Georgia. Felicia of Fluffy Flowers makes her one-of-a-kind softies out of recycled materials. “I’ve made them from gloves, mittens, scarves, socks, and even sweaters,” she states on her blog. “Saving the planet one creature at a time.”

With their massive eyes and cute little smirks, it’s hard to resist these creatures … even if you don’t know exactly what they are. Check out more of her nifty cuddleables in the Fluffy Flowers Etsy.com store and read more about her crafty life on the Fluffy Flowers blog.

[All images courtesy of Fluffy Flowers]

Organic Bouquet was formed in January 2001 with the goal to establish the national market for organic flowers. They have accomplished this by encouraging both small and large flower growers to initiate organic production while creating widespread trade and consumer awareness of the need for organic flowers. Their ultimate goal is to protect the environment and improve farm worker safety by eliminating millions of pounds of toxic pesticides from agricultural usage.

Organic Bouquet has quickly become the market leader in organic flowers and is recognized in the trade as having established the natural products industry’s newest category–organic floral. Their flowers are available online and in some of your favorite natural food stores, including Whole Foods Markets nationwide.

Gerald Prolman, CEO of Organic Bouquet, has a long and successful history of developing and introducing innovative organic perishables products on a large scale. His previous company, Made In Nature, was the first to successfully market a line of organic produce under a brand to mass-market retailers in the United States. During the early 1990s, Prolman’s commercialization of organic fruits and vegetables resulted in the conversion of more than 10,000 acres of land to organic production in the U.S. and abroad.

In 1994, Prolman sold Made In Nature to Dole Food Company, an event that was the catalyst for exponential growth of the organic category. Prolman began Organic Bouquet with no supply of product, no apparent demand and very little money. He started the company just as the dot.com boom came crashing down, and investors were extremely reluctant to entertain new business ideas. Undaunted by the challenge, Prolman was convinced that if he could create the supply, he would awaken the inherent demand among consumers concerned about the effects of chemicals on farm workers and the environment.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Gerald recently about his progress and accomplishments with Organic Bouquet, helping to establish a new type of floral certification, living a vegetarian lifestyle, the purchase of Organic Style from Rodale, and even more. Read on to find out more about this revolutionary company and its dynamic founder.

READ THE REST OF “The Green Options Interview: Gerald Prolman, CEO of Organic Bouquet“

Exploring the most popular online crafty blogs will quickly bring you to the work of Kirin & Co., run by Australia’s one and only Lara Cameron. Kirin & Co.’s fabrics, featuring beautifully simple nature-inspired prints in an array of colors, easily remind me of more detailed version of Lotta Jansdotter’s work.

A new batch of hand-printed textiles will be soon be available in Lara’s Etsy.com shop, which currently offers an attractive collection of her hand-draw and computer-created art prints. Last but not least, Lara also enjoys dabbling in the world of jewelry making, selling her creations in her Etsy shop, as well as on ModaMuse.

All of Kirin & Co.’s creations are actually just a side endeavor for Lara, who has been running her own graphic design business out of her home office for nearly four years. Though her visual design talents have been embraced mostly by smaller businesses, larger corporations, such as Lonely Planet Publications and Toyota Australia, have hired Lara for her relaxed and open creative process.

Having just returned from a “crazy, diverse and exhausting” two-week vacation in Japan, I had the pleasure of speaking with one of my favorite crafty visual artists taking over the online design world. Read on for the exclusive interview with Lara Cameron, including details about her eco-aspirations, love for the Gocco printing machine, and a soon-to-be-released limited edition collaboration.

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So, you enjoy sewing/knitting/making jewelry, and your friends are happy to wear your work. What do you do next? Start selling to strangers, of course! Small businesses are the norm in America and Europe, but who do you turn to when you have questions? Author Meg Mateo Ilasco has solved that problem for you with her new book, Craft Inc., from San Francisco’s Chronicle Books.

With a back cover like this, it’s clear this new book is for everyone from those contemplating their own crafty endeavors to others that have been shamelessly promoting their work for years: The hipster business primer for entrepreneurial crafters to turn what they do for fun into what they do for money, Craft Inc. offers a step-by-step guide to everything from developing products and naming the company to writing a business plan, applying for licenses, and paying taxes. Chapters on sales, marketing, trade shows, and publicity round out the mix. Plus, in-depth interviews with such craft luminaries as Jonathan Adler, Lotta Jansdotter, Denyse Schmidt, and Jill Bliss provide inspiration and practical advice. Accessible, informative, and more than a little spunky, Craft, Inc. paves the way for today’s creative minds to become tomorrow’s trend setters.

A little internet searching, and I found that the book’s author, Meg, has two other fantastic tomes from Chronicle Books, as well as a successful design and illustration business. Catching up with her recently, Meg told me about mixing her numerous endeavors; the Modern Economy sample sales that she puts together in SF and LA; and the concept for her fourth book. Read on for a great interview and a few beautiful images of Ilasco’s limited edition stationary items.

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With summer soon coming to a close, the busiest wedding season of the year will be ending as well. Great food, funny dancing, beautiful decorations … and some questionable fashion choices are standard for most these events. Once the DJ goes home, the cake is eaten, and the happily wedded couple are off on their honeymoon, what do you do with that bridesmaid dress that you don’t ever see needing (or wanting) to wear again? As expected, the folks working at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s Blueprint Magazine have assembled a nice collection of ideas on how to revise those silk taffeta nightmares into something you would actually be excited to wear on a nice night out or casual weekend.

READ THE REST OF “Green Style How-To: Bridesmaid Dresses Can Be Worn Again“

No one can deny that I have a passion for color, but my latest collection of Etsy favorites have been nothing but monochromatic deliciousness - an unmistakably inspirational mix of black, white, and gray. The dichotomy of the yin-yang symbol, which also stands for the intertwined relationship between heaven and earth, stands as a beautiful visual and psychological example of the continued effort to combine technology and nature into one pleasant lifestyle. While your favorite shade of green, blue, or purple can change your mood entirely, the stark contrast of black and white allows your mind to wander and the artist’s creative integrity to shine even brighter.

(1) maryink’s Folkloric Deer Tunic with Pockets

(2) elsita’s Dress Miniature Paper Sculpture

(3) makeshiftmodern’s Modern Hourglass 5×5 Digital Illustration

(4) bluebellbazaar’s Black Bulls Salt and Paper Shakers

(5) tarahogan’s Thanks For Being So Dear Postcards

(6) AuntCookie’s Special Commissioned Portraits

(7) bonnieheartclyde’s Bull Fight Men’s Thermal Lined Hoody

(8) oneblackbird’s Two Swallows on Ivory Ceramic Oval Bowl

(9) happyowl’s Fused Glass Beetle Cufflinks

(10) myfolklover’s Ice Cream Moments (Licorice) Original Art

(11) Enderby’s Berry White Creamer

(12) ellynelly’s Lace Wall Graphic

(13) ashleyg’s Floating Head 3

(14) indiecraftmovie’s Limited Edition Framed Wall Art Screen Print - Whale

(15) Rosewebs’ Silver Stripe Web Pouch

(16) mylittlestore’s Seedling Ring

(17) CircaCeramics’ 12oz Cups - Pair - Filigree Prototype

(18) peskimo’s Get Off My Cloud - Black - Gocco Print

There is no doubt that the creative community has begun playing a pivotal roll in expressing the concerns of our changing environment, as well as inspiring change. Jennifer Marsh, a visual artist studying at Syracuse University, took her concern for the world’s dependence on foreign oil to the next level by starting the International Fiber Collaborative in May of 2007.

The goal of the International Fiber Collaborative is to provide an opportunity for people who enjoy working with crafts, whether professional artists, hobbyists, or students, to come together from all over the world to express their concerns about their countries’ extreme dependency on oil for energy. Those who participate will crochet, knit, stitch, patch, or collage 3-foot square fiber panels that will express each participants concern about this topic. By designing and creating a panel and participating in this project you are, in the larger picture, expressing your concern about this important subject to the rest of the world. Once all 800 panels are received, they will be sewn together to completely cover an abandoned gas station in central New York State. I recently spoke with Jennifer Marsh about the history behind this project, how to participate (even if you aren’t particularly craft-tastic), the reaction from the creative community, and much more.

READ THE REST OF “The Green Options Interview: Jennifer Marsh of the International Fiber Collaborative“

Finding a workshop related to fiber crafts (knitting, sewing, crochet … etc.) is as easy as pie, no matter the area you live in, but what about recycling those computer chips and metal hangers? Spotted recently on the ReadyMade blog, the groovy green handiworkers of the Bay Area have started the Made From Scrap company, a workshop warehouse “designed and built by artists, instructors, and students, those who want to learn, investigate, tinker, recycle, teach, meet, and have fun.”

Made From Scrap’s first set of workshops have been announced, which start in mid-September. Their offerings include: from plastic bags to kites, from bottle caps to coffee table, from pallets to birdhouses, and many more. You’re asked to bring your own materials (a specific list is included on each workshop’s registration page), and the instruction itself is affordable, ranging from $25-30 each.

Being a new establishment, they are currently looking for a variety of workshop ideas and local teachers - no matter your skills or ideas, they can be integrated into a fun, useful, and eco-based project for others to learn from. According to the organization’s website, “because the only criteria we have for our workshops is that they focus on re-using objects, imagination is the only limit!” If you want people to reduce how much they purchase and reuse what they already have (or can find in second-hand stores and yard sales), you have to give them the hands-on knowledge and resources they need to learn how to do so.

Not only is this establishment a great chance for your average consumer (crafty or otherwise) to learn about the breadth of recycling options, it initiates the possibility for workshops like these to be organized and promoted all across the US, as well as the world - I could easily see these types of classes booming in Europe. With the crafty, Do It Yourself movement becoming a true staple in our society, I’m quite sure that this is a key market to be embraced if we want to have any hope of surviving on this planet for the next few centuries. Very few will doubt that our lives are far too complex and busy to be truly enjoyed, so taking the time out to nurture and preserve our resources, as well as our creative inclinations, will not only help our ecosystem, but our spirit as well.

You just never know what you will find when browsing the web. Often times, you’ll find the most unique creations that you wouldn’t normally be attracted to. Rarely will you find me wearing jewelry, but after coming across the Broken Plate Pendant Co today (thanks to Tricia’s favorites on flickr), that is likely to change.

On the verge of having her first baby, Juliet finds the dishes for her collection at thrift and antique shops. Using a hammer and tile clips, she breaks apart the ceramics selectively to create not only necklaces, but also brooches, earrings, cuff links, and rings. Available at a select number of locations on the East Coast, its easiest to buy Juliet’s creations from her Etsy store (already added to my favorite sellers list, of course).

According to her latest upload on flickr, a new collection rings should be posted in the Broken Plate store soon (yay). Until then, check out The Broken Plate blog, which has some great online shopping finds. I’ve also posted a few of my favorite current Etsy offerings from BPPC; which ones do you adore?

Even after the flood of publications covering green issues and eco-living around April, recycling is still newsworthy. Adorn, the “crafty girl’s guide to embellishing life,” is the newest title from NYC’s Soho Publishing, which also publishes the ever-popular Vogue Knitting Magazine.

Released quarterly, Adorn’s Fall 2007 issue proudly exclaims “We Love Recycling! Thrift Your Way to New Fashion.” With second-hand shops by the dozens here in San Francisco, it’s easy to see why buying and customizing vintage finds is much more affordable and stylish than ever. Already pleased with fellow Soho Publishing title Knit.1’s green issue (which is still available on newsstands), I was eager to see Adorn’s take on how us crafty crusaders can help save our planet.

Published as the first editorial feature in the Fall issue, “Renew, Repurpose, Reuse, Redo, Refashion” features a smattering of stats related to crafting garments from second-hand finds, starting on page 48. Four projects set the stage, but only three of them are wardrobe-related. Also included is a pattern for an ottoman covered with thrifted sweaters, great for amping up a footstool you already have or a somewhat-sustainable but bland new piece from IKEA.

My first look at the fashion projects made me a bit hesitant, thinking “would I ever really wear that?” Quickly, I reminded myself that I could use any color or texture of second-hand garments, making the projects all the more exciting to undertake.

READ THE REST OF “Green Style How-To: Adorn Magazine’s Fall 2007 Issue“

I’m happy to announce a new feature here on Victoria-E.com! From now on, I’ll be cross-posting part of my weekly fashion entries from the one of my favorite eco-blogs, Green Options. Of course, I’ll be posting a link to the rest of the entry so you can get all the delicious details. In the past, I featured affordable, eco fashion brands, but from now on, I’ll be doing how-to pieces. Have an idea for a stylish, crafty project or a helpful link? Drop me a line and I’ll credit you in the post! Read on for this week’s “Green Style How-To.”

A mainstay in wardrobes all over the world, denim has been around since the late eighteenth century. Strong and versatile, you can find all kinds of clothing and accessories made from this basic material, including tops, dresses, shoes, and jewelry. Home accents, such as sofas and pillows, are being covered in denim, helping to extend this fabric’s reach. Sustainable denim, made from organic cotton and using vegetable dyes, have gained an immense following in just a short time on the market. Of course, if you take the other eco-shopping route and visit vintage and second-hand stores, you will find rows and rows of jeans that have been tossed aside (most likely because they don’t fit anymore).

Even after a stint in the pen, Martha Stewart is still as popular as ever. Thankfully, she has been promoting reduce, reuse, and recycle to millions of Americans. For the crafty and DIY among us, Martha’s website features a nice offering of denim transformation ideas, all of which are affordable and easy to complete. In the current issue of Blueprint magazine, a spread on denim fashion is featured, along with a couple of fantastic fashion options.

READ THE REST OF “Green Style How-To: Martha’s Denim Makeovers“

Having just established a zPro outlet for my readers on Zaadz.com, I can’t help but contemplate where I hope to take my online presence. One of the main benefits of the new zPro feature is that I can conduct open conversations with my readers in the “discussions” forum. Being a proudly open blogger, I’m sticking my neck out and coming to you - my readers - for your feedback.

First and foremost, my website is the go-to location for information about my professional writing and modeling careers, and I don’t want that to change. All the same, I enjoy a wide variety of interest and enjoying sharing them via the main page/blog. Some of the possible personal interests I could include on my site are: reading, sewing, knitting, yoga, photography (nature and still life), tattoos, art, textiles, and interior design.

I’ve been trying to designate a particular label for my site; such as a blog about my writing, or green crafts, or sustainable issues; but I continue to come up blank. Far too many topics and tales draw my interest to narrow it down to one category, including those that aren’t particularly “eco” (at least not yet).

So, this is where you come in. What do YOU want to see here? Bigger images? Shorter posts? More frequent posts? Less/more interviews? More personal/hobby posts? Do you find the layout/color scheme unappealing? Comment subscribe function? Exclusive discounts? Contests? Something else not mentioned? Open your mind and share your thoughts on just what you’d like to read about. Already have a favorite site on the web? Please let me know what makes it stand out for you as a reader and consumer.

I eagerly await all of your opinions, replies, and suggestions - it’s time to grow!

Image/Art by the insanely talented Yellena

Tattoos, non-toxic inks, and tugboats - a uniquely crafty combination for a successful business. In my search to find San Francisco-based small businesses that use traditional letterpress machines, I stumbled upon the Tug Boat Press website. Originally, I was simply seeking out more information about the letterpress process since I wanted to give it a try myself.

With any new hobby that I hope to dive into, I ponder if there is a sustainable, eco-friendly option to embrace. To my surprise, Tug Boat Press has embraced the green aspects of printmaking by using soy inks and handmade, tree-free, and recycled papers. Started in the mid-90s, TBP has been printing custom nature- and alternative-inspired wedding invitations, business cards, and fine artistic prints in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco.

Not one to shy away from a chance to learn more about this unique business and creative art, I talked with Tug Boat Press’ founder Jonathan Palmer recently about green business, the lost art of letters, zombie greeting cards, and more - keep reading for all the juicy details!

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