“When you watch the commercials you can tell they’re made of cheap stuff,” says my astute oldest daughter about the fleece blanket sensation known as the Snuggie™. “The people wearing them are just so cheesy, like the man in the leopard one who says he’s so glad he found a fun designer print that suits his personality.”

Snuggie consumers proudly wear the Made-in-China label on their sleeves, not considering the synthetic polyester fabric they’re breathing in all the while they’re adjusting their thermostats in the thin, robe-like throws. I find they …

Tags: bedding , blankets , breast cancer , cotton , decor , design , fleece , flu , home , organic , polyester , robes , toxins

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The color purple ruled last fall and it’s still raining plums, eggplants and violets in the interior world. From chairs to carpets, pillows and bedding, the deep wine country shade is being harvested in cool pads everywhere.

Here are some ripe picks from the groovy grape file:

Fruitful Folds: Designer Dror Benshetrit should take pride in his Peacock chair exhibited at the recent ICFF 2009 in New York. Designed for Cappellini, no weaving, sewing or upholstery glue was applied to the comfortable lounge seat with a price tag too high …

Tags: bedding , chairs , cotton , decor , duvets , Fall color , felt , furniture , grape , organic , pillows , Purple , rugs , upcycle , wallpaper , wool

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It’s hard to ignore those cautionary labels (even the misspelled ones). Do we dare wash a delicate garment at home and risk ruining the texture or shrinking it beyond recognition?

Warnings are warnings, but there are exceptions to every wash ‘n wear rule.

With the help of our blog readers, writers and the experts, we have put together a list of myths we are happy to debunk to save you some precious bucks.

1. Washing sweaters will ruin the texture!

“Hogwash,” says EcoSalon’s Caitlin Fitzsimmons, whose mama passed on the tried and true method. …

Tags: air dry , conservation , cotton , detergents , DIY cleaning , dry , dry cleaning , energy , fabric , fabrics , fashion , fold , frugal , garments , hang dry , labels , recession , shrinkage , silk , sweaters , textiles , textures , warnings , wash , water , wool

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When I was young, still living at home, I’d leave the house for a run and hide my key under the potted plant near the front door. I’d never try this trick today.

Instead, I might use one of these simple Wrist Cuff Wallets I found on Etsy. They couldn’t be cuter or cheaper ($5) or easier to DIY.

Find any old cotton tee or sweat shirt and a couple of cool stamps like this deco flower and old Woodie truck and your do-it-yourself is …

Tags: cotton , DIY , do-it-yourself crafts , Etsy , fashion , recycled

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It’s all about fun in the sun when dressing little girls in the ultra bright and cheerful colors of the season. Nothing better suits their bubbly personalities than golden sunflowers, blissful seahorses and garden ladybugs. Go wild but don’t forget the sunscreen (summer’s most crucial fashion statement).

EarthGroovz Sunflower Tunic from Etsy, $26, blooms nicely over jeans (above)

Baby Blend Natural Beach Cruiser Tee, $23.50, for catching buttery waves

Faeries Dance Ladybug Oneside, $20, can wing it during her summer daze
…

Tags: cotton , flowers , girls clothing , ladybug designs , organic dresses , organic tees , summer fashion , swimsuits , tunics

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“Can you do a diatribe on dry-clean-only labels?” asked my editor friend, Tam, citing the numerous times she threw caution to the wind and hand washed a garment despite the dry-clean-only instructions.

Yes, Tam, we can do that. We at EcoSalon are here to please the frugal green crowd looking for ways to avoid high cleaning costs, as well as the toxic detergents regularly used by conventional cleaning companies.

For some answers, I turned to Karl Huie of Eco Dry Cleaners in the San Francisco Bay Area which goes by the …

Tags: bamboo , cotton , eco dry cleaners. dry clean only labels , handwashing garments , nylon , polyester , silk , wet cleaners

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The concept of letterpress first surfaced more than a thousand years ago when woodblock printing became a medium for expressing spirituality in Eastern civilizations. After Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, this technique evolved and became the standard method throughout the 19th century. Although less widely used today, letterpress printing has emerged again as an art form. Fortunately, there are green options.

Here’s a list of the five fabulous resources to help spread the word.

With extensive customization options, Bella Figura is a great …

Tags: bamboo , Bella Figura , Bird Dog Press , cotton , eco friendly , EcoEtsy , Julie Holcomb , letterpress , Smock , stationery , Sweet Beets

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Okay, when I threaten to send my daughters to reform school, this is not at all what I’m talking about. This fanciful emporium at 3902 Sunset Blvd. (in the hip L.A. Silverlake neighborhood) is earning major gold stars, not demerits, for its forward thinking and commitment to responsible design.

Most girls would be thrilled to go to this ReForm School, a store and web shop founded by Billie and Tootie (see below) who met in high school and dreamed of opening a retail business focusing on the four R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle …

Tags: bamboo , cotton , green business , Green home decor , hemp , organic , reclaimed wood , recycle , reduce , reuse , Silverlake , vintage pottery

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It sounds so trite, but the more I’ve learned to love myself, the greater my capacity is to open my heart to others. One way I practice strengthening my self-love muscle is through self-care, which includes buying myself lingerie rather than waiting for someone to buy it for me.

There’s something special about treating myself to a sexy, skimpy outfit. It feels good, just because. It’s satisfying in a simple way and doesn’t involve trying to satisfy someone else.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m big on satisfying sex …

Tags: cotton , eco-friendly clothing , fashion , lingerie , love , organic , Valentine's Day

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