Hot Tea Apparel

Name: Bree Norlander
Shop Name: Hot Tea Apparel
Shop Link: http://hotteaapparel.etsy.com
Location: Redmond, WA
Ships To: United States and International Locations Upon Request
What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Reclaimed and vintage clothing and textiles, hemp, organic cotton.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? It began with the desire to lessen my personal "chemical" impact on the earth by purchasing fibers that were not grown with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. It has grown into a desire to lessen my impact on the environment by consuming fewer "new" items, re-using the abundance of textiles, and exposing a greater number of people to amazing items that can be made with re-purposed and organic ingredients.


What inspires you? Craft fairs, fellow recyclers on Etsy, crafty blogs and videos, vintage crafting books, my friends, my family.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? Since July 2006.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? It is a little of both. I love it too much to call it just a job.
Besides your business practices, do you do other things to live a green life? Absolutely, everything I can. I use natural, biodegradable products, I shop and eat locally as much as possible, I participate in a discussion group through Northwest Earth Institute, I blog about green issues. Every purchase I make is carefully considered for it's environmental impact.


How did you get into your craft? I started sewing as a child. I was most likely inspired by my father who was an upholsterer, and my grandmother who was very crafty. When my daughter was born I had a strong desire to sew and create for her. It has blossomed from there.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? I would like all Etsy crafters to consider what goes into the making of their products and how it may be affecting their health and the health of the earth. There are many green crafting supplies available and plenty of materials available for re-purposing. Other than that, show us what you've got! I love Etsy.

Anything else you would like to add? Thank you Hyla, you have a fabulous Etsy store!

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Labels: Etsy seller, interview

Hangers Equal Tons of Landfill

The Environmental Hang-ups of the Unrecyclable Hanger
By Gary Barker
2/1/2008

Excerpt

"the ubiquitous, invisible clothing hanger. It's so prevalent, so insignificant that no one sees it, no one thinks about it, no one cares about what happens to it when it gets thrown into the box under the counter after a sale.

Where do all those thousands upon thousands of hangers go at the end of the day? Alarmingly the vast majority end up in landfills via the store's dumpster. How many hangers are we talking about? The landfilled waste they create world-wide would fill 4.6 Empire State Buildings each and every year. The annually trashed 8 billion invisible plastic and metal hangers entering out municipal waste stream are now becoming a very dire issue.

Along with the rising number of clothing that we consume each year, the increasing volume of hanger waste is further fueled by the relatively recent clothing industry trend of "floor ready" garment systems. Clothing made overseas are pre-hung on plastic hangers at the factories. Since each article comes with its own hanger, each hanger's lifespan is as long as it takes to sell the garment. These one-use hangers can have a lifespan of a day, a week, certainly no longer than 3 months before the new season's lineup replaces the old. Hangers are designed weaker and made from cheaper un-recyclable, unidentifiable material to achieve lower upfront costs. In rare cases they go home with the customers, but they eventually meet their destiny in landfills no matter which path it takes.

But why can't they be recycled? The reason is that hangers are Kryptonite to recycling facilities. All-wire hangers and plastic hangers have wire hooks which wrap around and jam expensive recycling equipment, causing entire lines to shut down while the wire is cut out. The typical plastic-and-wire hanger can consist of 7 different types of low-grade plastics, difficult if not impossible to identify on a rapidly moving recycling line. The materials are so low-grade it's often not worth the time and trouble to separate them, so they're universally banned. The only accepted path ends in a landfill."

See the article in it's entirety HERE

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Labels: Did You Know

Giveaway from ZAPOLdesigns!

Another fabulous giveaway from ZAPOLdesigns! Two hemp and wood bracelets! I dub this duo chocolate covered cherries and just in time for Valentines Days! These bracelets are adjustable! ZAPOLdesigns is having a huge half off sale, so make sure and check it out!

And she is having a Giveaway on her blog!!!

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Giveaway Details

So now for the giveaway details! The giveaway will run from today Friday, Feb.6th, until Monday, February 9th at Midnight.
The winner will receive the set of two bracelets pictured above from ZAPOLdesigns! This giveaway is open to the US!

To Enter:

* Official Entry: Tell me what you love from ZAPOLdesigns!

* 2nd Entry: Blog about this giveaway and link to this blog. Leave a comment with your blog address.

* 1 extra entry: Visit my Etsy Shop and tell me what you like best.

*2 extra entries: Email 3 friends about this giveaway and CC me. (greenearthjourney@gmail.com)

*1 extra entry: Follow this blog through blogger or follow using the RSS feed.

*Make a purchase from ZAPOLdesigns or my Etsy Shop and receive 10 extra entries, please post for each entry and let me know what you have purchased.

*Leave a comment for all of your entries.
* You MUST leave me a way to contact you.
* If winner does not respond to the winning email within 72 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

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Labels: Giveaway, Etsy seller

Enuwbe

Name: Jennifer Kilgore
Shop Name: Enuwbe
Shop Link: http://ENUWBE.etsy.com
Location: Washington State
Ships To: Anywhere

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Organic, sustainable, upcycled, made in the USA

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? ECO friendly is a lifestyle in our home. I feel that the same practices should be used in business as well. I love the outdoors, hiking, running, biking ect... I want to make sure that my three young daughters grow up to share the splendors of the wilderness with their children the way that I do with them. I also feel if God created this earth, what gives us the right to destroy it. This earth is a gift to mankind, and its destruction is only going to hurt us.


What inspires you? I am inspired by the things around me, and while I am in the middle of my own activities. My clothes are designed to be very functional, so I often get ideas, while I am on the move. I have a busy life, if I can have clothes that work for many different things, then I have an ECO wardrobe.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? Enuwbe is celebrating its grand opening. We opened up shop in Dec.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? This is my job, however I love it and it feeds my creative soul, so it feels like a hobby.

Besides your business practices, do you do other things to live a green life? My main objective is to teach my 3 kids to be as green as possible. In doing so we are almost vegetarians. (We do eat free range, organic from time to time.) We are avid recyclers, thrift store buyers, and we have an old diesel car that runs on veggie oil. I have a reusable water bottle and coffee cup.


How did you get into your craft? My husband and I were getting tired of going to the store and not being able to find any ECO friendly clothes that were made in the USA. So, we decided to make our own.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Use yourself as a model. I think people that shop ETSY like to see the artist. When they buy from you, it makes it more personal, truly custom. This is very hard for me, because I don't look like the fashion models on the magazines. However, I think that that is one of the things that makes ETSY so great.

Anything else you would like to add? ENUWBE is dedicated to creating a demand for more sustainable clothes and socially responsible practices.


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Labels: Etsy seller, interview

Product Review- Enjoy Life

Note: Pictures belong to Blog Writer aka me!

Recently, I received a box of goodies from Enjoy Life! My first observation was that the box was only large enough for the products inside, great first impression! Above is what I found inside, cookies, snack bars, chocolate bars, trail mix! The first thing the kids spotted...............the cookies!!! Of course!


Naturally we opened those first, right after lunch. My 3 year old picked the Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chewy Chocolate Chip to try over the Snickerdoodle, not much of a surprise there, he is a choco-holic like his daddy!




The first thing I noticed about the Enjoy Life cookies, is that they looked really really moist! Upon grabbing the first two for my 3 year old, they are very moist and stuck together! Next two went to the little 1.5 princess. Faces lite up as they shoved the first cookie into their little mouths!



They are a hit!!! In fact the kids loved them so much they required them as their treats for potty training the rest of the day! Um...........that box didn't last long!

Why I love Enjoy Life Chocolate Chip cookies, I did manage to try one, they are very moist and taste sweet, like brown sugar and chocolate chips. They are also allergy-friendly : NO wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, or shellfish. Nor do they contain casein, potato, sesame, sulfites and are GLUTEN FREE!



NO artificial ingredients, NO trans fat, NO GMOs. Made in a dedicated nut and gluten free bakery and 80 percent of Enjoy Life products are VEGAN and certified kosher!

Im not sure what you are waiting for........head on over to the Enjoy Life website and check out all of their products! I will be doing more reviews as the goodies get gobbled!

What food from their website, makes your mouth water?



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Labels: Product Review, ECO online shopping

Get Involved- Greener Gadget VOTE

Here is your chance to take an in depth look at possible new green technology. Click on each technology to see the details and the proposed objective. If you think it would be valuable to the future than VOTE, it is as simple as that!

Click HERE to see all of the proposed new green gadgets

Some of my favorites from the list are:

Blight

Compost All

Indoor Drying Rack

Smart Switch

Which gadget is your favorite?

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Labels: Did You Know, Get Involved

Fashion Green T Bags

Shop Name: Fashion Green T Bags
Shop Link:http://fashiongreentbags.etsy.com
Location:Kent, Ohio
Ships To: worldwide

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? gently used clothing and vintage accents

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? Because our earth is in peril. There is too much plastic whose manufacture and disposal create volumes of toxic waste.

What inspires you? anything that is Earth friendly

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? Since Nov. 2007


Is this a job for you or a hobby? hobby

Besides your business practices, do you do other things to live a green life? So many. All of our lightbulbs are flourescent, I clean with vinegar and baking soda, I bought a USED HE washer and dryer and we use soapnuts instead of laundry detergent. We recycle and reuse and, whenever we can, we buy used items. We have an electric lawn mower and try to do as much yard work as we can without fossil fuel powered tools. I turn the water on and off when I shower so I'm only running the water when I'm rinsing. After I use the Jacuzzi (which is rarely) I save the water and use it to flush the toilet...list goes on.


How did you get into your craft? Accidentally. I was making these bags for family and friends and my daughter introduced me to Etsy.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Put customers first. Always look for ways to improve.

Anything else you would like to add? Thank you for featuring me! I am honored.


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Labels: Etsy seller, interview

D & Mo Clothing-Eco-conscious Organic Tees

Name: Designer(Adila Cokar) Label Pure Blanks & Dandmo
Shop Name:D & Mo Clothing-Eco-conscious Organic Tees
Shop Link:http://dandmo.etsy.com and http://www.shoppureblanks.com/index.php?controller=shop
Location:Toronto, Ontario
Ships To: Canada & U.S.

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?Low Impact Dyes & Inks, 100% Certified Organic Dyes, Recycled Hang Tag

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?
After working with various apparel companies, I was tired of seeing the waste that would go into producing garments. Every sock or shirt that enters the country comes in a plastic bag. Everything I design and have made comes in 12 pieces per bag. I also just wanted a high quality garment that does not damage or hurt our earth, water, air, animals and people.

What inspires you?Line Art, the 60s, nature.


How long have you had your shop on Etsy? 2 years

Is this a job for you or a hobby? This is my career which I hope to be able to do full time. I work another job on the side to get me by.

Besides your business practices, do you do other things to live a green life? Eat organic, recycle, reuse, wash all my zip lock bags, use organic toothpaste(no fluoride) and deodorant..(its not as bad as one thinks and it doesn't trap in toxins!)


How did you get into your craft? I love design. I use to sew dresses for my dolls, from scraps of my moms fabrics.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners?If you sell a few products, don't re-list all at once, space it out so the show up sporadically on the search engine.

Anything else you would like to add?
I'm a proud member of the Organic Trade Association, Green Enterprise Toronto and 1% for the planet!

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Labels: Etsy seller, interview

Learn to Live on Less

"Learn to Live with Less" This is something my husband would love to do and really really thinks of ways for this to happen. Only problem is, he is ADDICTED to technology and movies, we probably own more than 500 movies, he wont let me get rid of any of them (he does watch them) and most of them are horrible horrible B movies (his favorite!)

I found this site that has some really great information and some things to ponder. Have a look.

Excerpt:

“Don’t get in debt, don’t think in terms of a career (work at a job for one reason only, to get paid so you can buy a place to land and grow some food), live in a small shelter, unload unnecessary stuff, reduce monthly expenses, extract yourself from the enslavement of modern technological materialism, stay healthy by exercising, eat a simple, wholesome diet, develop some practical skills, practice your art or trade and serve your local community. Teach your children to value true pleasures. Real wealth is perishable: food, health, trees, flowers, herbs, healthy soil, clean water, fresh air, friends and art. Learn to value and appreciate these above all else.”

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Labels: Helpful tips

Eye Pop Art

Name: Christine Claringbold
Shop Name: Eye Pop Art
Shop Link: http://eyepopart.etsy.com
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Ships To: worldwide

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Mostly upcycled vinyl records (12" and 7") for my Mandala Clocks, Mandala Bowls, Feng Shui Mirrors, and Roman Record Cuffs, and upcycled clear CD spacers for my Mandala Suncatchers. I also use upcycled magnets and lipbalm containers that to make my Mandala Magnets and Mandala Pillboxes.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? Mostly out of necessity. I wanted to start painting but had no money to buy canvas, so I just started decorating the things that were already around - furniture, walls, and whatever was free (such as vinyl records - people just give them to me all the time, and I now have hundreds of them in my basement waiting to be painted!).


What inspires you? I am inspired by the 1960s, you know, the psychedelic era. I have a huge collection of vintage psychedelic coffee cups and I am just crazy about the stylized flower motifs and groovy designs. I also love children's art, and the magic of music.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? Since August 2006.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? It's a job. I also have a part-time job as the program coordinator for an eco/arts nonprofit, and I have various teaching gigs. I work for Trillium Artisans (check us out on Etsy, http://trilliumartisans.etsy.com) and I currently teach a school newspaper/blogging class for an elementary after-school program. I also teach an "Etsy Basics" class for the DIY Lounge (http://diylounge.com).

Besides your business practices, do you do other things to live a green life? Oh yeah. We recycle everything and subscribe to renewable power at our home/studio. We use cloth napkins, buy organic foods, and shop for clothes and housewares at thrift stores (where I can continue feeding my habit for vintage psychedelic stuff!).


How did you get into your craft? I started experimenting with painting on everything I could get my hands on, starting with an old hardshell suitcase, then a guitar, then all the furniture, the interior of a classic car, a pop machine at the local record store...I started painting on records after my husband suggested it and that's when I started designing mandalas.

After we bought our house, I began painting psychedelic mandala murals on walls and ceilings. I just kept painting records until I realized that I could make them into functional products, so I started Eye Pop Art in 2003 in hopes that I could sell some work and make some money!

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? I think it's really important to have original ideas and unique items in order to create a niche market. I also recommend having multiple ways to promote your work outside of Etsy so customers can find you - right now I am using blogger, twitter, facebook, flickr, myspace, my own website, and I'm on several Etsy teams.

I'd also suggest having a wide range of prices to make your work accessible to everyone. Items in my shop range from $2 up to $95, and I have lots of $10 items which seems to be a great price point.

Finally, I'd suggest creating a wholesale catalog. Wholesale orders are awesome, and many of my wholesale customers find me on Etsy, so it's great to be ready with line sheets, pricing, and terms when those inquiries start coming in.

Anything else you would like to add? Please check out my blog at http://eyepopart.blogspot.com to learn more about me, my art, my family, and the rock band I play in.

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Tags: Etsy seller, interview

Giveaway from Kootsac!

You have seen Kootsac here before! And you have a chance to win a fabulous set of Re-usable Food Bags!

This is a set of 3 light blue bulk food bags. You will receive one each of a small, medium and a large bag. The small size is perfect for herbs and spices while the medium and large are suitable for nuts, grains, flours etc. These bags are made from nylon and you will win a set of blue bags such as the bags pictured above!

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Giveaway Details

So now for the giveaway details! The giveaway will run from today Monday, Feb.2nd, until Sunday, February 8th at Midnight.
The winner will receive the beautiful set of blue Re-usable Food Bags pictured above from Kootsac! This giveaway is open to the U, Canada, and International!!

To Enter:

* Official Entry: Tell me what your favorite color is at Kootsac!

* 2nd Entry: Blog about this giveaway and link to this blog. Leave a comment with your blog address.

* 1 extra entry: Visit my Etsy Shop and tell me what you like best.

*2 extra entries: Email 3 friends about this giveaway and CC me. (greenearthjourney@gmail.com)

*1 extra entry: Follow this blog through blogger or follow using the RSS feed.

*Make a purchase from Kootsac or my Etsy Shop and receive 10 extra entries, please post for each entry and let me know what you have purchased.

*Leave a comment for all of your entries.
* You MUST leave me a way to contact you.
* If winner does not respond to the winning email within 72 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

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Labels: Giveaway, Etsy seller

Zosai Organic Clothing

"Love"

Name: Brittany Hinegardner
Shop Name: Zosai Organic Clothing
Shop Link: http://zosai.etsy.com
Location: Lawrence, KS
Ships To: Everywhere

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products?: I use tshirts and totes that are made from 100% organic cotton. I use bamboo fabric for my wall-hangings.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products?: I believe it's important that my products reflect my values, and I value taking care of the earth. So, I looked at my organic options, found some cute and comfy tshirts and some great totes, and decided to make my designs on them.

"Peace"

What inspires you?: My words mostly come from the Bible, and they are words that reflect the joy, peace, and stewardship that is expected of a Christian lifestyle.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy?: I signed up in September of 2008 but started listing items in November of 2008.

Is this a job for you or a hobby?: I would love to design shirts full-time, but I do have another job. I am lucky to be able to work part-time and take care of my adorable daughter part-time, with the tshirts thrown in there too.

"Hope"

Besides your business practices, do you do other things to live a green life?: I think it's important to think of the ramifications of everything we consume and spread, so I use all-natural cleaning products (and love all the recipes on this blog for more ideas!). I also buy as many organic and locally-grown food products as possible. I have always been concerned about my role in the environment, but having a child just makes that more of an issue to focus on. I want her to grow up understanding the importance of caring for the earth, and I want to provide her with as clean and healthy of a life as possible in the meantime.

How did you get into your craft?: I studied Greek, Latin, and Hebrew in college, and I love the beauty of these languages, so I wanted to find a way to share that beauty with positive messages. Tshirts and totes seemed like a perfect fit!

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? Have fun, make sure you're comfortable with all of your choices as a seller and designer, take good pictures, and enjoy this opportunity to share what you do with others and find great products that others have made!

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Labels: Etsy seller, interview

Grease It Out

Don't smother kitchen grease in increasingly powerful detergents,which are toxic to the environment. First, try a simple mixture of salt and baking soda. When mixed together, these two have powerful degreasing properties, without causing any harm to the environment.

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Labels: Make your own, helpful tips