Upcycling...

...is the term used for taking an item that is used or considered ordinary and making something new and useful from it.  The term was coined in 1994 relating to the practice of not wasting potentially usefull materials.  In Haiti, an example of upcycling is steel drum art. It is a unique art form recognized worldwide utilizing 55 gallon metal oil drums which have been cleaned, sometimes flattened, hand tooled and soldered. Thus artisans can create decorative pieces of art of environmental value.
For example, this Rustic Iron Patio Firepit is made from these 55 gallon drums with a hand tooled eternity circle design on the side. A recycled, repurposed, handmade product which also gives back a portion of the proceeds to Sister Clara's Clinic in Haiti.

Live well and get organized!

Step #1 in getting organized for 2014 is to separate the important mail from the junk mail. These handmade wall baskets will help get the job done and look nice too! The baskets are handwoven from the air root vine called lukmoy which is abundant in low altitude locations such as the Philippines. The central cylinder of this root is light and flexible and used for weaving baskets.

Live well and choose your Spring decor!

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Now that the Holiday decorations have been taken down and we are thinking about Valentine's Day, we decided to clean our décor palate and enjoy simplicity for the moment. Natural Seagrass Fruits in a set of Nested Spun Bamboo Bowls takes center stage on our table....(that is until the red hearts arrive!)

Live well and leave a green cycle tread...

Just a few of the many wildlife photos taken by our photographer on his cyclocross ride on Lake Apopka's northeast trail.  There was only one rough spot... when his chain came off only a few yards away from this guy -->

Organic Swaddles: Does Your Baby Sleep Through the Night?

For countless generations, mothers have slept with their infants tucked close to their bodies, allowing them to nurse on and off during the night. More recently the tradition has changed to placing babies alone in their sleep location, on their back on a firm surface (due to SIDS), and attempting to get them to sleep through the night without waking or feeding. Though babies are not designed to sleep through the night, they eventually adapt to our desperate demands -- when they would be much more comfortable in a soft, snug swaddle. The following excerpt from Isis baby guru and RN/BCLD Nancy Holtzman’s series on swaddling shares expert information on the time-honored tradition. She explains why swaddling works and how it can help your baby get a more restful night’s sleep.

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Why does swaddling work?

Babies, like all humans, will take several deep breaths every few minutes to bring more oxygen into their lungs. But with newborns, this deep breath often triggers a small startle reflex, making the arms jerk and flail out. Watch your sleeping baby: you’ll see somewhat irregular breathing, and will notice that sometimes he’ll startle, then return right back to quiet sleep. Other times, perhaps in a lighter sleep stage, he’ll startle, which will cause a second startle, and ultimately will startle himself awake and cry…

When a baby is swaddled snug with the arms down, the startle reflex is muffled and far less disruptive, they are more likely to stay asleep with each startle…Click here to read the entire series

You can continue this tradition with the softest swaddles and fashion-forward prints that say as much about your style as they do about practices that bind mothers together around the world. 47" x 47" pre-washed 100% cotton muslin or 100% organic cotton muslin swaddling wraps from Aden & Anais.

Decorating for Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday has crept up on us again! And everyone is coming to our house for dinner. The menu is actually organized and down on paper. All that remains is the actual cooking and the perfect centerpiece for our bountiful Thanksgiving table. For instant fall flavor, I'll pull out my driftwood candelabra, scour the back yard for any usable foliage, berries, etc. I check the leftover Halloween items for any gourds, pumpkins, etc., that I may be able to spray paint and use in the centerpiece. With those items gathered, I make a run to the local crafts store to grab some candles and interesting filler items I can tuck into the empty spaces. Since pillar candles can be expensive, I decide to go with only 4 candles and put some of the small pumpkins on the pillar holders.

Watch this short video that shows us putting together this easy-to-make "updated cornucopia" centerpiece. It's so easy to turn this 7-candle candelabra made of reclaimed driftwood into an elegant centerpiece using a combination of natural and store-bought elements. It will be the highlight of the holiday table.

And it works for every holiday. Right after Thanksgiving, I'll take this apart and turn it into a centerpiece or mantelpiece for Christmas.

Baskets & Bins are “Naturals” for Organizing & Decluttering

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Baskets and storage bins can help organize every area of your home – so you can store more stuff in less space and do away with clutter, while adding a decorative touch. And the good news is you can do it with basket and bins made from eco-friendly products such as natural sustainable fibers, organic fabrics and recycled or repurposed materials.A large hand woven sisal basket filled with rolled towels in various colors and sizes makes an eye-catching display in the bathroom or a great storage container for magazines in the family room. Wall pocket organizers can add a decorative touch in any room. Try a woven rattan wall basket in the office to hold mail and bills, or in the kitchen to hold recipes and utensils, or by the back door to catch keys and sunglasses.

Handmade organic cotton wall organizers are attractive and safe for use in babies’ and kids’ rooms to hold diapering items and small toys. Large round bins made of organic cotton canvas and recycled water bottles are great for corralling kids’ toys and games.

Natural storage pieces are a great choice for organizing and decluttering. You can also feel good about doing your part to help the environment. If you choose to use plastic storage baskets and bins, check before purchasing to make sure they are: (1) recyclable and/or; (2) made from pre- or post-consumer waste plastic.

Hooded Towel & Washcloth Set by Aden+Anais

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Natural, gentle muslin has been used by mothers to care for their children for countless generations. Natural muslin and extra thick 100% cotton terry are gentle, absorbent and washable as well as extra comfortable to sensitive skin.

Our towel and washcloth set includes a muslin washcloth, styled with Aden&Anais exclusive prints, and a hooded, plush terry towel that keeps little heads warm and dry. 100% natural cotton.

100% Cotton Muslin Swaddles by Aden+Anais

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Aden & Anais has brought the comfort of muslin together with great design to create a line of baby products as stylish as they are soothing, and as affordable as they are beautiful. From Aussie emigrant and anxious mother-to-be to business entrepreneur and now author of the quintessential book on swaddling, Raegan has become a chief advocate for reviving the ancient practice of swaddling babies. With origins stretching back to Biblical times, swaddling mimics the secure feeling of being back in the womb and helps babies calmly settle in for a long, peaceful, healthy sleep.

For countless generations, mothers have swaddled and cared for their children with natural muslin. You can continue this tradition with the softest swaddles and fashion-forward prints that say as much about your style as they do about practices that bind mothers together around the world. Pack of four 47" x 47" pre-washed 100% cotton muslin swaddling wraps in White with pink and green or White with blue print.

Dream Blanket by Aden+Anais

Aden + Anais has brought the comfort of muslin together with great design to create a line of baby products as stylish as they are soothing, and as affordable as they are beautiful. 100% cotton muslin is a natural, lightweight, slightly stretchable fabric that allows babies to move and breathe.

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How do you make sweet dreams? Start with natural, gentle muslin -- the fabric mothers around the world have used to care for their children for generations. Add a colorful, modern print by Aden + Anais and maybe a favorite teddy and that's it. Sweet dreams come easily with this 4-layer soft 100% cotton muslin blanket. 47" x 47". White with Blue trim, spots & stripes, White with Pink trim and cupcake print, or White on White.