I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Sandra Steingraber speak last Thursday at The Ecology Center, in San Juan Capistrano.

Dr. Steingraber’s story is one of crisis, survival, realization and action.  A story that revolves around cancer.  Her cancer.  A story that involves her taking her knowledge of science and using it to enlighten us as to why so many – so very many – of us are getting it. Read the rest of this entry »

This last Sunday, my husband and I took our son to the Annual Origami Festival at the CSULB Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.  The normally tranquil space, its large pond filled with jewel colored koi, had been transformed into a bustling garden full of happy, paper folding families.  Origami aficionados and amateurs alike were busily creating flowers, boxes, cranes,… hats, brooches, pterodactyls,… whatever their fingers could fold.

I was killing time, wandering around while my son tried to convince a very overstuffed koi fish to take one more piece of fish chow, when I ran across a lovely sight…

A loom!  Now, I’m not a weaver, but I did once take a class, and I find the whole process fascinating.  As I stood in front of this loom and stared at the work in progress, I wondered what on earth the yarn was made of.  I couldn’t figure it out.  Was it jute?  No, not rough enough.  Was it wool?  No, no fibers sticking out.  Well, what the heck was it?? Read the rest of this entry »

Readers, I need your help!

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I went for a hike the other day, and saw all sorts of beautiful wildflowers…. Read the rest of this entry »

Guest blogger Christina Fluegge, of My Sparrow, is an accomplished interior designer who also has a line of beautiful and sustainable furniture and accessories…

At My Sparrow we believe that design and décor are about the way that you bring items together in a space to make it feel comfortable, functional and enjoyable.   In your home you want to see a reflection of yourself – your hopes, dreams, travels and family. We also believe that buying quality furniture and one of a kind pieces will help you build an amazing collection of your life and its many stages.  It may also provide your family with wonderful things and memories to pass down.  Shopping at Flea Markets near your home and when you travel is a great way to bring unique and interesting objects into your home at great prices while saving them from the landfill.

Read the rest of this entry »

One of my fondest memories from childhood was visiting my Grandmother Jean’s home in Alabama.  A talented architect, she had designed her house with plenty of character, including a living room where a large pine tree grew up from the floor, and right through a hole in the roof.  It was pure magic to a girl of nine.  Every once in a while a squirrel would squeeze through the weatherizing that circled the tree, climbing down for a looksie.  Next to this tree was a window seat, where I would spend hours curled up, reading stories like “A Secret Garden”, imagining how I would one day have my own home where the outside was invited in.

If I ever do build that home of my imagining, I will ask artist Laura Spector to make me a stairway as enchanting as this one she created for the Singer Home in Pound Ridge, New York. Read the rest of this entry »

All images from Fire Farm

When the First Unitarian Society of Madison, WI asked Fire Farm to create light fixtures for the new addition to their historic Frank Lloyd Wright Meeting House, they had an unusual request.  Would the designers at Fire Farm please find a way to recycle the old copper roofing from the original building into the new fixtures?

Over 50 years old, and weathered to a soft green, the original roof tiles had character to spare.  Turn them over though, and the beautiful warmth shown out like a new copper penny. Read the rest of this entry »

Pumpkins and Autumn leaves may signal the changing of the seasons for most people, but for me nothing says Fall like a bowlful of persimmons!  Their beautiful reddish orange glow with contrasting sage green leaves provides such a welcome dash of color when the sky is overcast, as it is so often this time of year.

Inspired by the rich color, I decided to quickly pull some samples from our library and see if I could replicate the feel using sustainable materials.  I thought I would share the results…

Clockwise from the top: Q Collection Satin Wool in Paprika, Tree Frog Veneer in Green Willow Crown, Lulan Sun Series Silk in Sunkissed Orange, Lumicor Celery Taipei, Lumicor Manderin Iridescent, Q Collection Dandy #1005 in Olive, Daltile Wausau Terrazo Tile in Driftwood, Hakatai Ashland-E Series Sterling Blend

So what did I learn from this little exercise?  Well, first off, it was fun and I think I will try to make this a regular series.  Second, there is an amazing array of color to be had in the world of sustainable interiors, if you just know where to look.  Lastly,… I am finally going to have to break down and buy a better close-up camera!  These images really don’t do justice to how lovely the materials are, not to mention those inspiring persimmons.