Holiday Season

I've already started thinking about the holidays. I know, I'm nuts, right? Well the early bird catches the worm, and I'm hoping to eat lots of worms this winter (don't ask me where I got that from).

Of course handmade cards

Maybe some handmade wallets?

Or some ipod covers?

And I'm sure I can find somebody w/enough style in the kitchen to want a handmade apron

Get set, get ready, craft! Good luck on a crafty holiday season!
~Am~

An Etsy Green Guide

We're feeling a little Etsy crazy around here lately. Therefore, we present to you a green gift guide, courtesy of Etsy:

Olivia Newton John Coasters

Gardening Apron

Envelopes

Coffee Cup Sleeve

~Am~

Roof Gardens = Genius

Some of the perks according to this article (Toiture Truchon):
- Enhances building's appearance
- Adds space for tenant use and recreation
- One answer to the Urban Heat Island problem
- Stormwater management - retain 50%-90% of a typical rain fall on the roof


- Improves building's energy efficiency
- Processes airborne toxins and re-oxygenates the air
- Creates therapeutic and peaceful environments
- Total assembly warranted, from the deck up

I thought this video was interesting, there is tons of information on green roofs out there.





Links and Articles to check out:

-" Green Roofs are All the Rage"
-GreenRoofs.com"
-Chicago Green Roofs

-Lu

DIY creative living.

So I wrote about this in my other blog, but I thought I would share with Lu n' Am readers... because we're all about some creative ideas and projects.

Make your own holiday banners, birthday banners, welcome home, happy _____ day banner....

or even better make a banner for a special someone today and surprise them..just because you love them.

These are very easy to make and take very little time. I made one for my mom for her birthday just this week.

1.Just find the letters that you want...the internet or magazines are a good place to look. I used Google image search and typed: letter H or Letter A, whatever letter or symbol you need...and tons of letter images came up. searching for extra little images or cliparts that have to do with your theme is also a good idea. (for example I printed a picture of a cupcake and balloons)

2.Print them out, cut them out.

3.Glue them on sturdier paper (i used colored note cards)

4.Tape them on a string or ribbon.

and Voila! you have yourself a very cute and personalized banner. and of course don't forget to reuse them for the next occasion. ;)

-Lu

P.S. My herbs are growing! :)

Testing my Green Thumb

I am very excited because I have just planted for the very first time, little lavender seedlings, chives, parsley, and sweet basil. I am new at this, and also super impatient & excited to see the first hints of a live plant growing in my apt. (-I will be devastated if they never grow :(
I will be making cute little labels for each pot, and probably be naming them (I know...strange). Our little money tree is Edward, he is strong and healthy despite his recent battle with plant cancer (rotting trunk)... I think we were overfeeding him.

If this works out, I am hoping to start a mini garden on my very wee patio.

The am also very excited about the cute natural fiber pots I stumbled upon. The brand is called Ecomaxx and these cute and colorful little pots are made from natural plant fiber materials (bamboo fiber, rice straw, wheat straw, and corn stalk) meaning they are 100% biodegradable.
They were also 0.99$...and cheap is always a plus.
Lucie= excited

My little projects

I've had lots of time my hands lately. I've been unemployed for a while now. And while the I've been looking for well over four months now, it's in the last two months that the job hunt has become particularly hard and fatiguing, but that's a whole other post to be written. Since I've had beaucoups of time to play around with (I also usually get up at 6:30 in the morning 5 days of the week - because of my student teacher bf), I've been dabbling in some arts and crafts projects.

(The address book I made.)

Last week, I felt super-house-wifey and repaired a pair of the bf's work pants. In a fury one night, I made a tiny journal for him (wallet-sized) so he could always be able to write down his thoughts and ideas. This little frenzy turned into a full out project the next day. I made an address book!

I plan on making me more. They make me excited about writing stuff down. Of course, I like writing on anything - really.

~Am~

Pangea Organics

Omg. I love this place. Discovered just the other day at Nest Organics (I couldn't help taking some the free samples they had), Pangea Organics carries organic soap and body care products.

Pangea Organics, with the slogan "Ecocentral Bodycare," makes natural herbal-based skin care products. They use only the best and safest products and they make sure you know what they are using by listing all their ingredients on every product.

Another neat, earth-friendly thing they do is have all of their products packaged in boxes that are plantable. The boxes are made of 100% post-consumer paper and organic seeds, such as sweet basil and amaranth. All you have to do is peel off the label, soak the box in water for a minute or so, and then plant it. Next thing you know - you have basil and amaranth sprouting!

C'est super-cool! ;) Check them out!
~Am~

that project from way back when..

Remember a long, long time ago (oh, let's say right around we first started this blog...) when I professed the greatness of DIY and crafty projects & and how they are innately part of living green? And how I'd be working on projects regularly and be sharing them with you?

You remember that? No? Good...because we are now introducing crafty wednesday! (;])

With over 2 years worth of collecting beer bottle caps, I decided with the beau to decorate our wonderfully antique treasure chest (used as a coffee table in our living room) with the collection. Once we finally got started the project flew by. The only thing(s) stopping us from completing it is some more super-glue & a pane of hard, heavy glass.

(Mostly) Beer Cap Table

We all know that there are tons of things you can do with beer caps (or any caps for that matter)...like necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry. But this is what we decided to do...add some color (and flavor?) to an antique piece. What have you done with bottle caps?

More pics to come when we've, finally, finished it.

~Am~

Design Glut

The site of the day, today, is Design Glut. Discovered through one of Etsy's "How-To's," Design Glut is an awesome website that "make[s] culturally relevant products. Products are everything from jewelry to housewares to websites to essays." They also write great articles "about how creative firms get started. We answer questions you've always had about the design world."

I adore their website and products. Some of their products are kinda strange at first glace, but with a closer look, you can find them to be poignant and witty. Check them out to find out more about design and how you can your designs out to more people.You may be asking why this relevant to green living. Simply put, they support crafty living and, to us, crafty living = green living. :)
~Am~

Green Decorating Continued

So last week I wrote a post about the fabric panels I made using two vintage patterned hand towels I found at a thrift store. Turns out I had two of them left and I asked my mom to make me a pillow with them. My mom, as we have mentioned before, is seriously a Martha Stewart.

And so now I have a matching pillow for the price of only 4 dollars (2 hand towels) and the pillow was already owned just not covered by such loveliness.

Merci Maman! :)
( I really need to learn how to sew)

And why is this worthy of sharing on Lu n' Am? because it only cost me four dollars, the help of a talented mother, and it is entirely made of reused materials.

decorating really doesn't have to be expensive or consisting of "new" everything...

and speaking of green decorating...this new blog is very worthy of a visit.
- Pure Green Design
("Pure Green is a blog dedicated to delivering green style to anyone, anywhere...")
do check it out!

-Lu

Be green, be mine

The Aid Agency has got it right. A smart valentine.

Happy Valentines Day!

~Lu~

Green Decorating

I have recently moved into a new apt, and lately I have been on a constant hunt for creative ways to decorate my new home. Mitchell and I have a very wee budget (the poor college student kind), and according to certain Decor magazines, furniture & living stores decorating tastefully is NOT cheap. Thankfully, that is not at all the truth. With all of the resources out there, I am absolutely convinced that one does not need tons of moolah and NEW decor/furniture to make a space fabulous.

This is where fellow bloggers come in. The internet is full of creative people who are willing to share that creativity with us. They practically do all the work, they come up with a project, take pictures, give suggestions, write patterns, give us printable projects or step by step directions for us to DIY.

So here is my latest little project. I have to admit I am quite proud of this one, because when it comes to anything that has to do with fabric...I am absolutely clueless. But once again, someone else pretty much did all the work by giving me step by step directions :)


Fabric Panels/Canvas

This project was so simple to make and not expensive at all. Most of you have probably seen these before.
I had previously bought several 3 dollar canvas frames at Big Lots (woot woot, I love Big Lots), and so I thought they would be the perfect size for this project. I bought the fabric at a vintage/thrift store in Knoxvegas.

Fabric= A set of 4 hand towels for the price of six meager dollars. (My mom is making a pillow cover with the other two towels). and then I looked up how to make fabric panels online...and stumbled upon this source. (<--- so click on that link for better directions than I would probably give you ;) I'm pretty sure we've mentioned How About Orange before :)




When it comes to decorating, I am a strong believer that buying new isn't always the best option. There are already so many used but unique materials that can be salvaged out there. And there are plenty of creative people around us to tell us how to salvage them.

Happy Tuesday!

-Lu

charity:water

Here at Lu-n-Am, we have the wonderful opportunity to discover and support many new causes - whether it's supporting a new up and coming artist or supporting an environmental project. Our latest and greatest new find is charity:water. An international charity and cause, charity:water:

"is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years."

In supporting and fund raising efforts, the twitter community is holding an international festival - termed a twestival. In cities all over the world twestivals are coming together to raise money for safe drinking water. Like the cities Paris, Tel Aviv and San Fransisco (and many others!), Asheville is holding a twestival.

The twestival in Asheville will be held at the Windows on the Park on Feburary 12 from 6-11pm. And all it takes is a $10 donation to get in. There will also be yummy food and beer from local businesses to dig into while there.

Two video shoots are also being held today at Pritchard Park with people pledging money to charity:water. All you have to do is show up with a little moolah ($5) & pledge to donate the money! The shoots will be held at 11:30am and 3pm today and will be broadcasted on youtube to spread the word.

The closest twestival in the area is being held in Charlotte, so if you're dying to attend and you're in the area or if your city isn't holding a twestival of their own, come check out the twestival in Asheville! Also check out the ipledge that's happening today and make your donation to charity: water!
~Am~

the little things

As our Christmas festivities come to a close, I would like to muse over the little green things that were implemented into my holiday celebration this year. All of these I am very happy about and am so thrilled to have been able to implement them so easily.

Wrapping paper/products-I used some old paper my mother gave me last year to wrap my presents. I then took construction paper and decorated the packages. I also printed super cute tags and stuck those on.

Decorations-I actually created some decorations this year and with a little help from some tuturials I flew right along making cute snow-like flakes, which I hung from my ceiling. These decorations we so simple, even my boyfriend made some with ease and enthusiasm. And of course, when I visited Lu and her lovely mom (La Martha Stewart of France) I saw how the love of handmade decorations had filled their home. There were snowflakes hanging from ceilings, little handmade trees with our names on them and candy cane stands.

(Bag by Lucienne.)

(Tea box by Lucienne, aussi.)

Gifts-Oh man, how I love handmade/homemade gifts, and did I ever hit the handmade jackpot this year! Our very own Martha Stewart of France made me and the beau a beaucoup of gifts! I received a friggin gorgeous bag (one of the many Madame Stewart has been making this season), a jewelry box, and a tea box. All handmade! And from the Lu I got, of course, my favorite thing to get from an artist, a painting! I had raved about this Nancy Drew idea for a painting that she had mentioned and, well, lucky me, I got me a Nancy Drew collaged painting! Score one for the home team.

Next year, or rather this year, I hope to make even more green and sustainable additions to my holiday celebrations.

~Am~

tis the holiday season!

(Martha Wreath Ideas)

It's the holiday and there is no better way of getting in the spirit then by making your own Christmas decorations. Martha Stewart of France and I have been making 3d paper snowflakes like mad crazy! They make a lovely edition to our Christmas decorations (especially since there hasn't been any real snowflakes thus far) and we will be using them next year and the year after that...
( How About Orange... = A wonderful blog full of tutorials and useful resources)

Making your own holiday decorations equals...

1. Quality bonding time with a loved one
2. A unique and personal touch to your home
3. Many Bragging moments when guest come in and say "oh my...these are lovely decorations!"... "oh why thank you...i made them" (shrugs)
4. Saves you from throwing your money towards excess Christmas consumerism
5. An Way of recycling materials, and reusing them next year.
6. Fun!

those are plenty of reasons to get crafty.

if you don't have the time this busy holiday. here is a wonderful secret to getting cheap, environmentally friendly (reused) decorations.....(drum roll)

Thrift stores!!!!!!!! At good thrift stores, and there are plenty out there, they have tons of decorations, some of them are really retro and "different". those are my favorites.

The interweb is full of creative people. Check out these links if you're in the mood for making some decorations.

-How About Orange (New fan of this blog...seriously it's worth the click)
-Martha Stewart (oh Martha, how we love thee, these holiday crafts are oh so nice)
-Craftzine (Instructions on projects are well explained,original ideas)
-Inside A Black Apple
(I definitely wont be buying those little to/from tags anymore, I will make my own, or just print some out on scrapped paper/reusable paper, some of these blogs are giving them to us as gifts! Inside A Black Apple has some really unique printable gift tags, just click on that link, you won't regret this click either)
-Craft Gossip (You'll find everything you hoped and wanted to find here)

Again, I am constantly amazed at all of the talented and creative people that are out there, and I am very thankful that these people are willing to share their creations with us and some of them even willing to share the secret to making these creations. If you have any Holiday decoration ideas or links you are willing to share with Lu-n-Am readers. comment away. It is possible to stay away from all of that excess Christmas commercialism and consumerism and still have a very wonderful Christmas.

-Lu-