By Lucille Chi •
March 3, 2009
Spring is tiptoeing in and I am inspired by garlands, floral crowns, and pins, charms and amulets. Shown here are a few darling creations that caught my eye. For starters, this Bliss Spring flower necklace (shown below) makes a darling gift, and what a charming idea:
Shown above in a rainbow of blossoms is an amazing Nepali artisan crafted paper garland. Each flower is constructed of two layers of lokta paper:
“The paper is handmade from the bark of a tree found at 6,000 to 9,000 feet altitude in Nepal’s mountains. The bark is removed only every two years, in order to maintain the health of the tree.” For six dollars these darling garlands are perfect for a birthday party.
By Vanessa Brown •
March 2, 2009
Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade retailer that carries handmade jewelry, home decor, gifts and much more. They work with over 130 artisan groups in more than 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life. The girls and I recently took to their local location and had a fantastic time. They have locations all over the country, in Canada and they have a wonderful selection online.
Everything is made with high quality and is unbelievably beautiful. We stayed in the shoppe for hours in awe, you could tell everything was made with such talent and love.
By Derek Markham •
November 28, 2008
When giving gifts for the holidays, we try to follow a couple of guidelines.
Homemade or hand-made items always outrank mass-produced. If we have to buy something that is mass-produced, we go to an independent business, not a chain, because spending our cash locally makes a difference in our communities. We try to think of others who aren’t as fortunate as us, so organizations that teach and help people to sustain themselves get our vote.
I’d like to share my list of 6 gifts that make a difference. Maybe you’ll see something that calls to you as a gift for that someone that has everything.
Heifer International
Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. For more than 60 years, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. And since 1944, we have helped 48 million people through training in livestock development and livestock gifts that multiply.
You can give the gift of honeybees, a goat, a llama, or a flock of ducks to a family or community in need. These gifts aren’t charity, they’re an investment in people and villages all over the world.
