Sunday, April 18, 2010

Meet the Exhibitors: Jurnee Products: Green Baby, New Mom & Sibling Gifts



Beyond their beautiful prints and presents for every member of the family, what makes Jurnee Products extra special is their commitment to community businesses. Their journey to source the most fun and eco-friendly products for their gifts sets and apparel takes them home to Seattle every time.

From their popular aromatherapy packs to the bright bags that beckon even the most disciplined window shopper, Jurnee Products partners with local companies. This May Day at the Eco-Chic Expo guests will be delighted by the assortment of products on hand for babies, their siblings and of course, mama.

Find your way to Jurnee Products this May Day!


Meet the Exhibitors: Clear Awakening Massage

The name alone relaxes and inspires us to take a minute to pause, doesn't it? Massage therapist, Carissa Garrard uses all methods of natural and holistic healing at her Queen Anne practice, Clear Awakening Massage.

Eco-Chic Expo is thrilled to welcome Carissa to our event where she'll be sharing her magic with complimentary mini-massage. Guests will also hear from Carissa about a range of massage and Ayurvedic therapies to achieve optimal health and balance. "When we have a clear awakening, we evolve, our lives are enriched and we become enlightened," she shares.
I was inspired by Carissa's whole approach to her practice as I discovered in her blog Awakening in a Modern World where she offers tips, tools and musings on ways we can be more connected to ourselves, our environment and each other, Au natural.

Now that deserves a cleansing deep breath!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Meet the Exhibitors: Jello Mold Farm Makes May Day Bloom

No May Day is complete without a gorgeous hand crafted bouquet of organically grown blossoms! C'est vrai! And this May Day at the Eco-Chic Expo guests will be delighted by the visions and scent of blooms from Jello Mold Farm.

Nestled in the rich farmland of the Skagit River Valley, the gardeners of Jello Mold Farm, Diane and Dennis, lovingly tend over 150 varieties of organically grown flowers. The pair is an inspiration for living the dream (whatever yours is!). As they tell it, their romantic dream has become a happy reality; a life spent sharing the seven acres they call home with swans, bald eagles, voles, beetles and nematodes (I'm not sure either!), but it sounds divine.

We're thrilled to welcome Jello Mold Farm, Diane and Dennis to our celebration that will put a little earth day into our May Day!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Meet the Exhibitors: thinknow design


Simple, Elegant, and Sustainable. These words describe the sustainable and fashion-forward line of jewelry by thinknow design.
We met the designer of this fabulous jewelry line, Becky Ellis, last summer and were blown away by the simplicity and beauty of her creations. When designing the jewelry, Becky sets out to create pieces that fit into four core values:
  • Have we created a simply elegant product that is unique and beautiful?
  • Is this product as green, recycled, rapidly renewable, and harmless to the environment as possible?
  • Is each design special enough, different enough, and unprecedented in a wide world of international fashion?
  • Have we captured the essence of simple materials and cultural patterns in such a way that is attractive, inspiring, and even innovative?

We know from experience that it takes a lot of hard work and creativity to design something sustainable and beautiful. Congrats to Becky on nailing it. Her designs are sure to create a frenzy on runways in 2010.
In addition to creating gorgeous, sustainable jewelry, Becky is also the graphic designer for the Eco-Chic Expo. Thank you for the beautiful artwork!

To preview some of the thinknow pieces that will be available at the Eco-Chic Expo, visit thinknow design .

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Meet the Exhibitors: ReUsies - Re-usable Sandwich and Snack Bags


To hear them tell it the two women behind ReUsies were going through a staggering 10 plastic lunch bags per day per family. Too much plastic, they agreed!

They quickly devised a (business)plan to decrease their support of SC Johnson's Pension Plan (the makers of Ziploc) and create an all natural and reusable snack and sandwich bag that was cute and easy to clean. ReUsies are made of 100% cotton and lined with 100% water resistant nylon that's also BPA, lead and Phthalate free. With a secure piece of Velcro to close, ReUsies don't fall open. The bags are machine-washable, dishwasher safe and easy to clean thoroughly by hand. Choose from over 60 styles in two convenient sizes, we think they've succeeded! And we're not the only ones.

The Seattle-based company has been praised for their ingenuity in the children's market where eco-friendly products make an important impact. Imagine junior growing up reusing his lunch bag instead of tossing a handful of plastic into the landfill. The old adage about telling, showing and teaching a child a lesson comes to life at ReUsies. Find up what they're up to here.

Prices run up to $8.75 and will be discounted to Eco-Chic Expo guests.

Thanks ReUsies!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Meet the Exhibitors: A Greener Kitchen

You recycle, try to use less water, and take the bus whenever possible.  What's the next step in becoming more eco-conscious in your life?  How about greening your kitchen?  A Greener Kitchen, one of our exhibitors at the Eco-Chic Expo, promotes sustainability in the kitchen with a fabulous collection of environmentally friendly kitchen tools, gadgets, and accessories. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Lacey Lybecker, owner of A Greener Kitchen,about the "green" kitchen revolution.  Lacey shared with us some simple ideas to get you on your way to an eco-fabulous kitchen.


How did you get interested in greening up kitchens?

About 6 years ago, I discovered the wonders of cooking. I was fed up with the junk food habits I developed when I was in college,and started exploring whole foods and how to turn them into a creative meal. I quickly learned that you need to have the right tools to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Turning into a kitchen tools and gadgets geek, I started dreaming of owning my own kitchen store. The focus on green came naturally as my husband and I have become more eco-conscious in our own lives.

What are some simple things people can do to make their kitchen greener? 

We believe that being green doesn’t have to be all or nothing; every small step makes a difference. A great place to start is the heart of your home – the place where you cook and eat. A Greener Kitchen shares a few practical tips to you can use to start greening up your kitchen.
  • BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) - Cut down on paper and plastic by toting your goods in an eco-chic reusable bag. Use them at the grocery, farmers market, drug store, and clothing store too!
  • Compost Food Waste -Use a stylish bucket to collect food scraps; when full add to your backyard compost bin or city yard waste container.
  • Eat Sustainably - Visit a farmers market to buy locally grown ingredients or test out that green thumb of yours and plant your own produce.
  • Use Your Dishwasher - No need to feel guilty washing your dishes in the dishwasher. As long as you only wash full loads, you can use up to 37% less water than washing by hand.
  • Pack Your Pantry Wisely - Buy goods in bulk; the less packaging the better! And stock your cabinets with tools, gadgets, and accessories made in an eco-friendly fashion.
If you could make one eco-friendly improvement to your kitchen today, what would it be and why?

I would love to incorporate an e-composter into my kitchen. We compost our food waste through the city's program, but it would be great to use for our soon-to-be-planted garden (another green improvement that I would call part of the kitchen!)

Thanks Lacey for all the great tips! We can't wait to learn more about greening our kitchens at the Eco-Chic Expo. A Greener Kitchen will be demonstrating how to naturally clean your bamboo cutting boards as well as showing us some cool new products for your kitchen.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Eco-Dogs are Eco-Chic: Dine on Delicious Dante's Inferno Dogs

You won't go hungry at the Eco-Chic Expo: an interactive green lifestyle event on May 1st in Seattle! Much acclaimed hot dog purveyor Dante's Inferno Dogs will delight us with his EXCLUSIVE Eco-Chic Expo Eco-Dog. We can't wait to sample these all natural dogs and are awaiting the big Eco-Dog reveal.

We love Dante's Inferno Dogs for lots of reason.
1. Delicious!

2. Cooked and served up by a savvy guy inspired by the book 'A Confederacy of Dunces', a personal favorite

3. A green operation. Dante's Inferno Dogs makes it easy to feed a hungry crowd with a small footprint when he comes to you.

Come join us on May Day in Seattle at the Ravenna Eckstein Community Center, learn from our excellent exhibitors and satisfy your hunger with an Eco-Dog.

You want onions with that?