yule log: in the fireplace

Expelling the bad parts of the past year and revealing gifts and wishes for the new year to come. Read about the long historical customs of the Yule Log here. This one was a gift from Janneli.

happy holidays!

Here are a few of my Flicker faves with a wintry theme, I am just beginning to use this option on Flickr so I thought I would share. Enjoy your time off everyone. Do some serious relaxing!

antique & vintage holiday ornaments

I LOVE thrifting, you never know what little gems you'll find-it's like an open ended treasure hunt. Found these yesterday and plan to go back once the antique store has a sale to snap up some truly amazing pieces. I love the vintage ornaments in pinks and blues!

green guru: giveaway winner!

Congrats to Engel for winning the Green Guru HAIKU giveaway. Happy Holidays all!

kaiku design: little modern movement

Kaiku {ky-koo} = Japanese / meaning “to grow”
Scot and Amy Herbst, are the designing family of KAIKU, modern design movement for kids. Scot, a graduate of the Art Center College of Design, focused on design simplicity for their new collection for children and families.

With two children as inspiration and product testers, the Herbsts aim to apply good design to beautiful heirloom products for children. They sourced the safest, greenest components and use non-toxic finishes, formaldehyde-free woods and cotton rope.

Kaiku Design's first products are for on the go tykes and parents: the Zen wagon ($319), PushPull ($165) and Strollkart ($149). They also sell two accessories: a rattan Lightship Basket ($40) and Cup Holder ($15).

architecten 2012: material reuse

2012 Atchitecten is a design firm from the Netherlands working to reduce the waste stream by incorporating reclaimed and waste materials into their construction projects and forms.
Watch this episode about the Architcture Firm's reuse projects, like their washing machine space station coffee house.
More on their website.

midwinter solstice

The Winter Solstice happens at exactly 5:47pm UTC time today. The earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. The seasonal significance of the Winter Solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days.

The solstice itself may have been a special moment of the annual cycle of the year even during neolithic times. Astronomical events, which during ancient times controlled the mating of animals, sowing of crops and metering of winter reserves between harvests, show how various cultural mythologies and traditions have arisen. The primary axes of both of the monuments at Stonehenge in Britain and New Grange in Ireland seem to have been carefully aligned on a sight-line pointing to the winter solstice sunrise (New Grange) and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge). The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not certain of living through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months.
For more about how cultures around the world celebrate this event click here.
Photo donnotalos

timbur: eco wooden baby rattle

The Timbur rattle is an gorgeous eco gift for a little tyke. Made from maple walnut and finished with a non-toxic blend oils and wax, this sculptural piece is available from etsy seller, Timbur.

flotsum & jetsam table: marcus o'reilly architects

I love to beachcomb, picking up driftwood or shells meandering in the sand. That is why this driftwood table designed by Melbourne-based architecture firm, Marcus O’Reilly Architects, appeals so much to my inner beach bum. Each piece of driftwood collected from beaches in St. Kilda, was trimmed to size, wire brushed, colored, waxed, and placed on a simple black steel frame. Strikingly unique, it is no surprise that this design won the Craft Victoria Design and Innovation Award for 2009.
Photography by Dianna Snape.
Marcus O'Reilly
via Design Milk

yule log: buche de noel

For a few years I have been dying to make a Yule Log cake for the holidays, but this year I think I am gonna jump and just do it! I think I may go for the birch bark version.....More recipes for Buche de Noel here.
Images at GFC, BS & AT.

alternative christmas: raow & buro north

So exciting to see Buro Tree from Buro North Australia, offers two new tree types in addition to their original. I am loving the geometric looking one!




If you want one a little bit different, Raow from New Zealand (below) makes some fantastic flat pack alternative xmas trees! Their plywood trees come in two sizes: (600mm) is NZ$60 and the medium (1200mm) is $160.

lovi finland: anna paso: postcard ornaments

Gotta love function in design with minimal waste, like these ornament postcards designed by Anna Paso of Lovi. Available at Merchant4.

clementine art: giveaway winner!

Congratulations to Sharon for her winning HAIKU entry for this eco childrens art set. Enjoy!

rishi tea: giveaway winner!

Congratulations to Alyssa, for her winning HAIKU entry for this tea set.

pablo lehmann: cut out sculpture art

Pablo Lehman has mastered cutout works in both paper and plastic, check out his website for more inspiration.

electric mg conversion

All it took was 10K to turn this MG to an eco, electric mode of transportation.

who does your chair?

This chair is so wild, I had to post it. Its not eco, but this chair's coiffeur is brilliant. from Venimos en son de paz.

green guru: messenger bag haiku giveaway

Lucky you guys!! Green Guru Gear is hosting this giveaway for the fabulous Cycler messenger bag. Haul everything in this sharp repurposed bag made from sewn bike inner tubes. The Cycler has a wide, padded shoulder strap with a quick release adjustment, interior laptop organizer, PETE Aerospace mesh back panel with high performance padding & many organizer pockets. HAIKU theme for the win: biking. Please leave email in: poet(at)yahoo(dot)com format to be reached. Happy holidays!! oh yeah, to make things sweeter you will also win one of their shopper billboard tote bags!

haute nature local favorite maps: denver boulder

View Haute Nature's Favorite Places in Denver. in a larger map


View Haute Nature's Favorite Places in Boulder. in a larger map

steampunk birdhouses: fowl dwellings

Fowl Dwellings

steampunk menorah: klockwerks

This menorah by Klockwerks is the best ever!

grass mirror: h20 architects

MMmmm the Grass Mirror by H2O Architects is serious wish list material!!
viaDesign Boom

ora bags: recycled leather backpacks

Ora Bags from Vancouver Island Canada

juvet norway hotel

I'd love a peaceful stay at the Juvet Landscape Hotel by Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor, Gudbrandsjuvet, Norway
. Pure serenity
ad

soji led solar lantern

Great green gift: modern solar light from Earth Tech Products.

open studios: holiday market 2009

This year marks the first annual Open Studios Holiday Market, located at Nau in the 29th Street Mall, Boulder. The show was organized by the amazing creative talent Kristin Fitzgerrell of Studio 22. This juried collection of amazing Boulder creatives includes: artists, seamsters, photographers, jewelers, printers and crafts people.

Some of my personal highlights for the show were: Denise Love of Dandy Social Club, True June jewelry, The Bozeman's from Bird Dog Press papers, Milner CarolAnn Wachter & Childrens clothing from Feral Apparel by Stacey Moore, who does not have a website yet, but her collection can been viewed at her husbands Architectural Design company: Tres Birds Studio.

Check it out! Today is the last day.

If you are aware of talented crafters in the Front Range area that were not represented in this show, leave a comment about how they can be found, and I will pass the information along for the next show! It would be great to create an Indy Crafters coalition for Boulder and the Front Range area--help make that happen by making yourself or your crafter/art friends visible!!!

denver botanical garden: blossoms of light show

The Denver Botanical Gardens is showing Blossoms of Light, a holiday light and ice sculpture show through January 3, 2010
5:30 – 10 p.m. (last ticket sold at 9:30 p.m.) Hot cider and drinks are available at the cafe & on weekends, high school choir groups are caroling. Enjoy the sneak peek!

eco books: giveaway winner!

Congratulations Jesse, you have won Eco Books from Lark Publishing for writing you fabulous HAIKU poem!