It wasn’t the answer I had hoped for, in fact it threw me. And when I finally landed it was clear I had my next topic for EcoSalon. Is ceramic an eco-friendly material?

Not really.

Ceramic is certainly not 100% eco-friendly, although it does boast an honest list of good intentions.

But first the aforementioned answer, which comes from Whitney Smith, a ceramic artist on Etsy. I asked her about the eco-friendliness of her work. Here’s what she said:
Hi Kim, I wouldn’t consider my process eco-friendly. Pottery production …

Tags: artisan , ceramics , Etsy , green , greenwashing , Heath Ceramics , non-toxic , sustainable

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Slow down and take time to smell the rosés.

That’s our highly recommended approach to the eco-sensual pairing of artisanal food and terroir-expressive wines at this Sunday’s Golden Glass Wine Event at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Pavilion.

It’s also the prevailing philosophy of sponsor Slow Food USA, an organization dedicated to advocating the importance of sustainable farming practices that respect traditional knowledge and taste.

Complementing more than 100 no-pesticide wines from around the globe …

Tags: artisan , event , Father's Day , Golden Glass , San Francisco , slow food , wine

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A unique alternative to a duvet cover, the Kalamkari bedding accents will add a trendy touch without making your sleep spot too busy.

Created by skilled craftsmen employing a centuries-old Indian tradition comprised of 15 painstaking steps, this chic set takes 40 days in the making. Talented artisans use specially carved teak tools to hand-press a myriad of elaborate designs onto sun-bleached organic cotton with all-natural dyes. So, not only will your bed be modish and green, it will be infused with culture as well. (On sale at …

Tags: artisan , bedding , Ikat , Kalamkari , organic , VivaTerra

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Robert Frost once wrote, “So was I once myself a swinger of birches. And so I dream of going back to be.” These words strike a pang in all our hearts because comprehending the meaning behind this beautiful poem signifies that you have forever left your childhood behind.

But, that doesn’t mean you can’t capture the same wistful essence in your adult abode. Adorned with skillfully hand-carved silhouettes of this simply spectacular tree, the sustainable Birch Forest panels will take you back to that youthful winter afternoon when you first …

Tags: art , artisan , birch panels , decor , eco , VivaTerra , wall

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It’s great to hear women’s entrepreneurial success stories.

Katherine Sturgis fits into one of her own.

After working for several years in corporate fashion, buying and merchandising mass-market items, Sturgis came to a conclusion: big business simply wasn’t for her. Instead, she opted to follow her passion and be more creative in the confines of her own home.

Utilizing “Disparate elements and materials to create pieces that are playful, elegant and above all, wearable,” Sturgis says, she creates chunky sterling silver chains entwined with silk thread, strands of vintage rhinestones, and strings …

Tags: artisan , designer , found object , jewelry , Katherine Sturgis , reclaimed , vintage

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Known and adored for his kinetic modern sculptures, paintings and avant-garde mobiles, Alexander Calder was also an eco jewelry maker long before anyone knew what that meant.

During his lifetime, the American artist produced some 1,800 pieces of brass, silver, and gold body ornaments, using wire he twisted into wearable art. Like the stunning flower necklace below, these were often embellished with found objects such as beach glass, wood cuttings, ceramic shards and pieces of mirror.

About 90 of his inventive designs are on exhibit at the “Metropolitan Musuem …

Tags: art , artisan , artist , Calder , craft , designer , jewelry , reclaimed

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The UK is in the grip of the coldest winter in years and in recent weeks heavy snowfalls have blanketed much of the country. Even London had about a foot of the white stuff last week – the heaviest snowfall in two decades – and there’s no sign of it warming up any time soon. Meanwhile, in North America, you’re set for another six weeks of winter – at least according to Punxsutawney Phil.

Why not rug up with one of these beautiful artisanal …

Tags: artisan , Blacker Designs , designer , fashion , scarf , tussah silk , UK , wool

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My grandest fantasy as a young girl included leading a life like Chris Evert or Gabriella Sabatini, which for an 8-year-old mostly meant wearing cute tennis skirts and being on TV. Although I have a great tennis game today (if I do say so myself), playing pro quickly lost its allure as my life took its creative twists and turns.

One of those turns found me thinking about opening a small store in my hometown, filled with luxurious handmade, artsy and hard to find stuff. Then the online shopping trend …

Tags: artisan , design , eco decor , gifts , home decor , Radici , shopping , UK

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Whether or not you’re planning a flight to a faraway land (carbon credited, of course), the Voyager Shawl offers a dose of the exotic. I can’t afford to “buy now” over at Travelocity, but I can at least imagine myself zipping along a charming coastal road on my Vespa – Positano, perhaps? – wrapped in the Voyager Shawl.

Useful as a wrap, shawl or coverup, you get even more in the case of this crafty and colorful version. The two pockets make it handy for the farmers’ …

Tags: artisan , fashion , organic , scarf , VivaTerra , Voyager Shawl , wool

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