Christmas Gift Ideas: Picture this, Sari Scarves, and Wraps that Rock!

The Gifts:

For friends and family: Framed Photos
For someone with a baby: The Sleepy Wrap

For people like people: Asha imports sari fabric accessories and home fabrics

Zoe, at MomentuM, a fairtrade shop in downtown Boulder CO

The back story: In November I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to Colorado and visit my brother Andrew, sister-in-law, Kelly, and the kids, Zoë, Ashley, and baby Ginger. And, I got to hang out with my old seminary roommate, Robin, and her husband Ben, too! They all live near Boulder, which is a great city for laidback and ethical fashion.



   And this dear friends, brings us to gift idea one, framed photos of family and friends. Before I flew out to visit my family in C.O. my mom asked me to please take a family photo of the Andrew, Kelly, and the girls so she could frame it. Because of the health issues my dad had this summer, my parents haven’t been able to go out to visit the Colorado Brozyna’s and meet the new baby, Ginger. So, we duly obliged, and I’ll be printing this photo for mom and my great aunt, Vivian, for Christmas.

In this age where the vast majority of us are using digital cameras it’s so easy to take a beautiful photo only to have it perpetually remain in the digital world. There are millions of lonely desks, walls, and pianos simply crying out for some updated photos! Why should computers have all the fun? Let’s jazzy up our physical living environments with some printed paper and frames! Bring a smile to those you love and let them remember the good times ;)
 

Another one I need to print!

I’m a last minute Betty, so I have yet to get this photo printed, but I’ll be taking my USB to Ritz Camera. This is a good place to have either film or digit prints made. You can of course also take them to many drugstores for printing, but check online first to see who has them in store. Also, remember many no longer develop film. Additionally, if you haven’t waited to the absolute last minute, as I seem to have, you can digitally send your photos to Kodak online and they will main prints back to you.

Kelly, Ginger, and Ashley looking sassy

My trip to Colorado also inspired my second gift suggestion, the Sleepy Wrap. My sister-in-law, Kelly received one and she says it is simply the best baby wrap/carrier she has ever owned, and she’s on baby number three, so she’s tried quite a few over the years! Kelly was saying it is extremely comfortable and versatile, allowing you to wrap it different ways to safely suite the needs of you and your baby. Additionally, it comes in a myriad of colors, so you won’t get bored looking at it, which is important as parents wear it daily! One of Kelly’s favorite colors is orange, and here you can see her, Ginger, and Ashley looking cool and hanging out in downtown Boulder! 

Cute hats at MomentuM in Boulder

Asha Imports Sari Scarf

We also went to Boulder’s awesome fair-trade home goods and accessories shop, MomentuM. They write, “The products in our store support fair trade, environmentally friendly production, independent artists and organic farming.” If you’re heading to Boulder, be sure to check it out. And for the rest of us, soon we’ll be order from their website. My favorite product from the store is my gift suggestion three, a recycled sari scarf/table runner.I purchased one of these beauties made by Asha Imports {Asha means “hope”}. They are  fairtrade and recycled, so what’s not to love?! You can order them from a couple websites, including the Green Heart Shop. Enjoy! 

                    *Marcie

Ten Thousand Villages!

Center City Philadelphia

      One of the regular categories Kia and I plan for our postings is the “Fashion Fieldtrip.” For our first outing we ran through the rain to Ten Thousand Villages located at 1122 Walnut Street. This charming and colorful store was chosen to be our first review because of the wide range of styles and prices for home goods, coffee, and accessories from artisans and farmers located the world. 

     Additionally, Ten Thousand Villages is an awesome nonprofit organization where absolutely everything for sale within its walls or on its web page is FAIR TRADE. For those of you who are new to this term, this means that instead of being taken advantage of and exploited, as is so often the case in our world, these artisans are paid fair wages for the products they create. This allows them to use their resources and talents to support their families and maintain their cultural and personal dignity. So just remember, FAIR TRADE is flippin’ awesome!

    Ok let’s get down to the nitty gritty; let’s talk handbags, jewelry, and scarves. For those of us on a budget there are funky rings for as little as $3, that’s right gentle readers, three smackers (my favorite rings, the iridescent beaded in various colors and the bronze colored disc, are currently only available in stores and not on the internet). 

SO many ScaRVes!

 

         For the stylish gal with a little more money in her pocket, there is a descent array of more expensive merchandise including this beautiful "Flowering Shadows Scarf" from India.

     As far as bracelets go, there are tons of options, ranging from elastic beaded numbers to decorative silver. Kia was especially interested with the variety of bronze colored options, which as you can see, look especially chic mixed and matched.

BraCeLEts!

 Also, when in the store be sure to take a look at their silver jewelry. You’ll find some funky pieces from cultures around the world. The staff is happy to allow you take a look and try them on.  As their purses and bags are made with everything from palm leaves to leather, the prices range from $3.50 to about $80.00.

What You Need to Know: 

• You can shop at www.tenthousandvillages.com or in Center City at 1120 Walnut Street and in Chestnut Hill at 8331 Germantown Ave.

• All the products are certified fair trade and all artists have been paid in full. 

• For the most part the products are well worth there price, but if quality is an issue with something you have purchased, be sure to take it back and let the staff know. There has been once or twice I’ve had an issue, but I have found the store very willing to help. 

To SaVE MoNeY! 

• Sign up in the store to receive coupons in your email inbox and actual mailbox. Some of the coupons are for 25% off!

•    If you are a Jefferson Hospital employee you can receive 10% off of your purchase if you show your ID at the Center City store on Walnut.