DIY Whipped Body Butter and Other Stuff I Make on the Cheap

Just a quick note:

Blogger is being a PITA, every time I try to upload an image it pops up a sign-in request which loops back to the same sign-in request over and over, meaning I can't upload any images into the post. I apologize for that and will edit with images if this glitch ever gets fixed. Thanks for understanding and now, on to the post!

Good morning greenies!

It’s been some time since I’ve posted here, the last post was all about homemade toothpaste. But I promise, I have a good reason for my disappearing act.

For the past 11 months I’ve been a pretty busy gal. Between work (released two books this year which you can see at my Amazon author page) and figuring out ways to homestead(ish) in the city, my time to write about greener experiences has been limited.

                                                                          

Because I’ve been living them!

But today I’m going to give you a post-game wrap up of all things homemade that I’ve been working on for the past year. Hopefully it will inspire you to get out there and give DIY a try in 2016!

Before we go any further I want you to be aware that there are affiliate links in this post, that means if you purchase the products (other than my books above) you’ll pay nothing extra but I’ll make a small commission. It helps fund my green endeavors and I appreciate the support!

Now, with that said…

First up – whipped body butter

I’m a regular reader of (okay, I admit, I’m obsessed with) Katie, AKA: Wellness Mama. She’s been doing this stuff for a long time and has a good mind for creating healthful products from scratch.

So when I wanted to try my hand at a body lotion, her blog was the first place I went for inspiration.

I was excited to see that most of the ingredients she suggested were ones I already had in my closet/cabinets and some of the same ingredients I was considering using in my formula!

For this recipe I used:

• Cocoa butter 
• Coconut oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Shea butter 
• Grapefruit essential oil (EO)

The first thing I did was work out ratios. For this recipe I used: 2oz = 1 part (1 part can be anything you like – a pound, 6oz, ¼oz – whatever works for the needs you have).

Because, while Katie has a family to use up the items she creates, over here in Casa de Shon there’s just Matt and myself (and sometimes, like in this case, I’m the only one using the item in question).

Determining ratios helps with a couple things:

1. I can reduce / increase as necessary so my product fits in the container.

2. I want it to remain shelf-stable until I run out (nothing extra / wasted!).

Of course, #2 isn’t going to be a problem. I live in the desert. I’m using this stuff at least 3 times a day!

But here’s the thing, I’m kind of a lazy homesteader. There, I said it. I just loathe spending tons of time because I have a day job and a life to live on top of doing all this green stuff. I want things as efficient as possible so I can get in, get out and get it done.

That’s why I use a crock pot instead of a double boiler.

It’s one of the small ones but it works great – 1 “pan” = minimal cleanup. Convenient, efficient and simple…what’s not to love!?!

Here’s how I do it:

1 part cocoa butter

1 part shea butter

1-¼ parts coconut oil

¾ part sweet almond oil

Put everything in the crock pot, heat on warm until melted – stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Stir in 20 or so drops EO of choice. Put in fridge** for an hour and a half. Reheat on warm setting and add more cocoa butter (because mine was staying liquid, if yours starts to set don’t add more), stirring until melted. I put the crockpot back in the fridge and left it there overnight. Next morning it was hardened completely. Put on counter and once at room temp (3 or 4 hours), whip with a hand mixer until it resembles meringue. Scoop into container and / or slather all over your lizard-like skin. (Oh, that’s just me?)

In the winter it gets chilly in my house, so everything gets a bit more solid, but this stuff scoops right out of the container no problem and it’s light, fluffy and so chocolatey smelling!

I love using this after I shave my legs, all day as a hand moisturizer, and anytime I need a healthy glow to my skin.

A couple notes:

1. This doesn’t “spread” like a commercial lotion.

2. As you warm it in your hands it will resemble melting butter.

3. The oils can stain clothes, wait about 5 or 10 minutes after applying before dressing.

4. This won’t cure anything but it sure feels wonderful and is chemical free.

5. So far I’m on my second batch and haven’t had any problems with shelf stability (each lasting about 4+ months, I use a gasket air-tight glass jar and don’t let water creep in to harbor bacteria).

What else have I been working on?

This year has been about lots of experimentation with various household and beauty products. Some of which I’ve mastered (hello never having to buy lip balm again!), while others are taking numerous tries to get good enough that I’m comfortable sharing my method (I’m looking at you deodorant!).

Now, it may seem like a lot of money spent and up front, it is. But in the end I’m actually saving. I buy my ingredients in bulk and the good news is I can use many of the same ingredients across multiple items.

For example, in the past 2 years we would have bought a tube of toothpaste roughly every 2 months. That’s 12 tubes, at about $5 per tube we would have spent $60.

As of right now I’m still on the original box of baking soda ($4), vat of coconut oil ($25) and peppermint EO ($14).

Add it up and in 2 years I’ve spent $43 on toothpaste. It may not seem like $17 is much but all those $17 items add up over time and help our one income family live more healthful, planet conscious and frugally. And don’t forget, the coconut oil is also used for more than half my beauty products as well as our cooking oil when needed.

In the last couple years or so I’ve managed to switch over to the following chemical-free products:

• Lip balm
• Shampoo / conditioner (so much fail in this experiment, I use Shea Moisture brand now)
• Wool dryer balls (best investment ever!)
• Cleaning products (lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda – that’s it)
• Laundry detergent (summers bode well for liquid, sadly winters in my garage are cold so I’m testing different powdered formulas now to see what works best with our hard water & will report back eventually)
• Hair color (henna rocks)
• Deodorant (I’ll get this one eventually but for now using Tom’s of Maine)
• Candles (I use a wax burner, beeswax and a couple drops of EO)
• Toothpaste
• Face lotion (straight coconut oil works just perfect for me but some people have issues because it can clog pores so be aware)

Next on the list of items to DIY for health?

• Body wash (exfoliating)
• Dish soap
• Dishwasher packs
• Hairspray
• Makeup (which I’ve started experimenting with and hope to get at least 1 good cover stick, loose powder recipe by next year)
• Air freshener / fabric refresher

And that may not be everything but it sure feels great to be living more healthfully!

How about you? What commercially produced, chemical-laden products are you trying to replace in your house? Share your recipes in the comments!

**if you go right to the fridge it can strain the cold glass shelves, use a hand towel under the ceramic vessel to protect both from breaking.

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A Tuesday Pretty, What A Deal From Almost Precious!

While perusing the virtual aisles over on Etsy yesterday I stopped by the shop of a good friend -- Almost Precious. Um, not only is this gorgeous but at an amazing price!

To go direct to the item listing page, and snatch up this baby immediately, go HERE.

You had better hurry up though, if its still there on payday I’m definitely going to beat you to it! Beautiful work Anna!

For all of you jewelry designers out there, Almost Precious carries a slew of gorgeous beads and jewelry making supplies at really super reasonable prices and currently has all of her handmade pieces on clearance.

Happy shopping!

Blossoming Tree Bodycare Lavender Facial Soap and Lotion

Over the course of the last five or so years, I have seemed to develop sensitive and breakout prone skin. I have tried just about everything imaginable to get my face back to the way it looked when I was a teenager and considering it is the complete opposite of normal, I have been baffled for many years about what to do. Recently I discovered a skin system that has been working fairly well on my breakout areas but was wreaking dry skin havoc on the normal places on my face (cheeks and nose).

When a friend of mine, Lisa Abdul-Quddus, Owner and all around magician of creation over at Blossoming Tree Bodycare, (Etsy shop here) was running a contest to comment and receive a sample of her homemade lavender facial lotion and cleansing bar, I had to give it a shot! I was a lucky recipient of the sample pack and I am fully converted!

The areas of my face that receive the slightly drying cleansing are fully rehydrated with the amazingly rich and creamy lotion. But it is not sticky or greasy, it soaks in but leaves my skin feeling soft and smelling great. With coconut, sunflower and jojoba oils plus shea butter I can definitely understand why. To keep a nice even balance she also includes apple cider vinegar but the recipe starts out with water.

As for the soap, it spawns from organic olive oil, water and other natural ingredients. The ground lavender buds provide just the right level of scrub without being too damaging to my skin and as opposed to those plastic beads in some facial scrubs that will sit on the bottom of the ocean forever, lavender buds will simply go back into the Earth. Since I tend not to use soaps on my face, I keep this baby in the shower as a nice, gentle, underarm exfoliant.

Overall I must say that I am completely blown away by the lavender lotion so I fully intend to get over to her shop (my body lotion is running low!) as I know I can find some yummy goodness to pick up there. Although sparse at the moment Lisa intends to fill up stock soon and in the meantime you can keep your eye on her Blossoming Tree Bodycare Facebook page for information and contests.

The commitment to using organic and natural ingredients wherever possible has earned Blossoming Tree Bodycare a Three and a Half Leaf Rating!

Thanks for keeping your eye on the planet as well as our beautiful skin! ♥love♥

Who Is Recycle Moe?

Thanks to one of our Greenies, Michaela, I was introduced to Recycle Moe, a very funky and fun company that creates unique products from 100% upcycled materials.

The company is run out of Moe O’Hara’s hometown of Burlington, Vermont where she enjoys spending her time creating items such as reusable coffee bean/grounds bags, mini spiral bound books with floppy discs for covers, innovative coffee cup sleeves with an attached clip so it will never be too far from a purse or briefcase and a whole slew of other cool items.

Moe not only showcases her awesome goodies on her website but she has a shop on Etsy where the bulk of her items for sale are baby bibs created from fused plastic shopping bags. And they are really cute. In the Vermont area? Recycle Moe items can also be found in twelve brick and mortar locations (and one in Rhode Island too). Check out the Shop link for a complete list.

Her prices are super reasonable (bibs come in at just $15) and shipping is also pretty low. I definitely suggest checking out Recycle Moe next time you’re looking for a creative, handmade, upcycled and unique gift for the quirky and fun Greenie in your life!

Eco Fashion Friday Halloween Costume Creation

In our continuing theme of creating as eco friendly a Halloween as possible this year, I promised to share some of my own tricks and treats when designing and building my very own costume.

Last week I shared a video for Fashion by David Bowie indicating that the decade it was released was a hint for what I was going to be this year. This week I will be sharing where I picked up the goods for my costume, photos of de and re construction of one of the items and a video of my pictures detailing how I put one of the pieces together in well under twenty minutes!

The photo above shows most of the pieces I will be using to create my costume. From left to right, top to bottom row:

1. Women’s XL sweater -- Salvation Army; will use scrap to make a pillow
2. Lace bottom leggings -- purchased retail, will reuse for workout after Halloween
3. Men’s 2XL neck -- Garment District (second hand shop in Boston); will use neck scrap as winter wind headband
4. Women’s S cotton ribbed tank -- Salvation Army; will use often after Halloween
5. Ruffle Large maternity shirt -- will use as a dress over leggings; Garment District (not to be used in Halloween costume after all, found a skirt that will work better and will also be reused as an everyday item after Halloween)
6. Bangle bracelets -- retail, Garment District, will reuse as fun jewelry
7. Hobo purse -- Garment District; will get a lot of use after Halloween!

First and foremost I must stress that I washed everything before working with any of it. With that said today I am going to share a quick video detailing how I turned #3 into a really cool slouch shirt.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

In the video I suggest using a zig-zag stitch to close up the neck opening if needed. Here is a little explanation -- turn the garment inside out, take the ruler and place one end at the neck center point while the other rests on the shoulder seam. Mark with chalk line and pin together. Zig-zag stitch along this line then cut off the excess fabric above the stitch. This will keep the slouching shape but close the neck opening if it is too wide.

Next week I will share a pictorial on creating costume accessories from #1 as well as the final finished outfit! Have you guessed what my costume is going to be yet?

Eco Fashion Friday Featured Designer Jennifer Locke Designs

Last week when I briefly touched on the children’s tee shirts it occurred to me that we have yet to feature a fashion designer who creates eco fashions for kids. So when I came across Jennifer Locke Designs adorable bloomers for little girls it seemed only right to give her shop some love!


Jenn, as she refers to herself in her shop announcement, uses all vintage fabrics when she is creating these little bloomers. Upcycling at its finest! The photo above is of a pair created from a former sun suit. Her price is right in line with other shops that create this type of clothing but for a handmade children’s item the price is amazing -- most of her pieces are either $15 or $18. She ships internationally as well and the cost is very reasonable.

Most of the bloomers are available in sizes ranging from newborn up to 4T and she will even create custom orders utilizing client selected patterns or embellishments. JLD also will accommodate wholesale orders and her winter stock (recycled sweater mittens) has been featured in galleries. Her feedback is 100% positive after being in business for two years.

With a great eye on protecting the bottoms of little girls everywhere as well as the planet I am granting a Three and a Half Leaf Rating to Jennifer Locke Designs!

Keep up the amazing work, from one Jenn to another!
♥love♥

Eco-Fashion Friday Featured Designer: Off the Hooks

For a couple weeks now I have thought it might be nice to include a hat maker in our Eco-Fashion Friday series so when I came across Off the Hooks I knew they would be a perfect candidate for a review! Off the Hooks is a Canadian based shop who indicates they use “handspun & hand-dyed yarn, and eco-friendly goodies using locally-sourced, vegan, and upcycled materials whenever possible” and they also ship internationally. They carry fingerless gloves, legwarmers, booties, bags, scarves, home accessories, yarn and those funky hats.


With a range of colors and styles many items in the shop are universal to men or women and both can afford to own one of these fabulous hand knit hats with the average price point at roughly $21. Making use of organic fiber, cotton, wool, reclaimed fiber and even some vegan yarn they are certainly Earth minded. Not to mention they give tips for how a cotton hat can even be worn in the summer to keep us cool.

The only drawbacks I could find were a lack of selection in the hat department (only 9 currently available), they only listed measurements in centimeters, and cost to ship is a bit pricey on some items but overall these folks really impressed me as professional and seem very easy to work with so I am granting them a Four Leaf Rating!

Keep up the great work Off the Hooks! ♥love♥

SNAFU Is Not Always a Bad Thing

Many of you have been keeping up on the progress of our entertainment center which began back in November of last year with the idea that we could create just about anything out of free materials, one just had to know how to find them. For anyone who has not been following along I encourage you to check out Matt’s updates: Part I is here, Part II here.

This weekend would mark the installation of the entire unit, now that the paint was fully cured and feet were attached, including Matt attaching the doors with hidden hinges and drilling through the doors to secure the hardware. What ended up happening was installation of the unit itself, a whole bunch of swearing and an entirely new plan for an even better base to the unit. Let me explain.

I finished painting the piece and its associated parts this past week. The deep chocolate brown color we chose is modern yet sleek enough to last even after the trend of this color goes out of fashion and due to the sheer size of the furniture it would make a really bold statement (read: the focal piece in our home). We purchased a drill bit (total cost for the entire piece is at the end of this post) so Matt could attach hardware and he got to work placing the doors at about four yesterday afternoon.

It was too quiet in the office for the couple hours I spent reading my library book so I knew something was dreadfully wrong.

Upon a check in I found Matt on the office floor with a screwdriver in his hand, a scowl on his face and sweat on his brow. Not to mention it was six and only two of the four doors were even attached. Clearly, the doors were not working out. My heart sank as I envisioned us living another week with all this stuff scattered about the house and I wondered what the number was to the local mental hospital.

Matt is one of those people who is so dedicated to complete something correctly he will not allow himself to redirect even after it becomes clear he must. Both a blessing and a curse I assure you. So, since I am a person who likes things to keep moving no matter how many detours I have to take to get there, I suggested we just install it anyway. You know, just to get an idea what it looks like in its home. He begrudgingly obliged and we made the swap from mish-mosh, college style, eclectic hand me downs to the center. The doors were showing all kinds of gapping, did not completely close and also the two bottom center ones kinda, sorta, got in each other’s way when opening. I blame the engineering, not the Engineer, but this would mean our pull out shelves were no longer viable and realistically the entire base unit was just for show.

I must give Matt credit -- no tears were shed or tools thrown although there were many moments of self depreciation which I figuratively smacked him for by reminding him this was built from scrap material and the single largest & most complicated piece of furniture he had ever constructed, there were bound to be a few snags.

We finally agreed to just hook up all the components (another fun challenge as always!) and take the doors off completely for now until we devised a solution that would make them work. Here is Matt during the initial install (he is 5’-9” so it should give a good idea how tall this baby is!)


From this angle the doors look great but in person, well off they came! We began filling it with everything intended for the unit from video tapes to cd’s to dvd’s to components and more and finally crashed at about eleven last night to recuperate from the efforts. As we both sat there looking at our full, streamlined, gorgeous piece of hand crafted furniture I had an epiphany.

Two large doors for the base that open out would alleviate all of the hinge/slide shelf issues. Yes they would be large but they would also give the base a grounding substance.

The more we both looked at it the more we actually liked the top without doors because just by residing in one piece everything instantly looked less cluttered. So it was settled that we would be returning the hardware we had purchased (pulls and hinges for six doors now only needs to be for two) and using that money to acquire the lumber required to create the two new doors that will finally and functionally complete this piece.

Neither of us are unhappy with the development because sometimes you just never know until you try and there are a lot of lessons we both learned this time around that will stick with us for future projects.

So far total dollars spent is about $75 because we made use of so much scrap material, gift certificates, store credits and exchanges that we have managed to pay only for the hinges (approximately $58), the paint (approximately $15) and the drill bit (the final $3). We hope that the exchange for lumber is a wash and I have plenty of paint left over to complete the doors, no problem. In the meantime, it might still have a slightly cluttery look but neither of us are complaining about the total transformation of our space.

Before:

After:

That's what I'm talking about!

Artist Spotlight on Ingrid McEntire of the Eco-friendly Shop Creations By Ingrid

As a bag designer on the side, I marvel at the creativity and innovation other artists display with their bag designs so when I came across Ingrid McEntire’s shop, Creations by Ingrid based out of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, my jaw about hit the desk. Her items are so funky and functional and completely make use of almost every bit of an old item giving it a new, fresh persona. In addition to reuse and upcycling of fabric she has displayed a penchant for turning even the most unlikely items into some amazing bags -- magazine pages, books, even former cat food bags! Her story is really cool so read on to learn about her and please visit her shop to see if there is a one of a kind, upcycled bag that suits you this season...it might even be made from a suit!


Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?

I was born and raised in Germany. After World War II we did not have much money to buy clothes. Women all ages sewed clothes, especially for the children. In School we had a subject, it was called handarbeiten (handiwork). From early childhood on we learned how to sew, knit and crochet. Especially, I always remember the time on Christmas. Every year we made Christmas Decorations from Apples, Paper, Nuts, Pine Cones. Also we made Leaf prints in school, Doll Paper outfits, Halloween Witch Mask etc. There was no such thing as a ready made kit for craft items.

When I had my own children I have knitted them many winter sweaters rather than buy them. As long as I can remember I have been crafting and it is a kind a therapy for me to be creative and work with my hands.

I also have a BS in Special Education, Minor Art. While in College I took several classes in painting, pottery and design.

In 2005 I decided to launch my business CreationsbyIngrid with the emphasis using recycled materials.

What inspires you as an artist?

I am inspired mostly from my available resources, such as trash, discarded fabric samples, vintage ties, recycled aluminum and the many awesome people out there, especially etsy.com.

When did you first discover your ability to upcycle such interesting materials into functional pieces?

Three years ago I started to make my denim booty bags. The little ones for girls are very popular, and then it progressed into other areas. My brain never stops to come up with something new.

Where do you acquire the materials used in your designs?

Most of my material I find from discarded material around the house, friends give me their discarded material, businesses, such as furniture stores let me have their discarded fabric samples for free.

Do you carry one of your own designs, for example a men's suit coat purse?

Yes, I have made a few from suit coats and they are my design. The collar is sewn in the front diagonally and made pockets out from it. For the back I use suit coat pocket. I also made a few bags from suit coat sleeves.

If so what type of responses do you receive when out in public?

The reactions I get from the people (all ages) are great and supportive. Sometimes they can hardly believe what I have created. One of my reasons I am using recycled material is to show the younger generation that you can make some very unique and interesting items for functional use, especially from trash.

Do you feel that you could make a purse or wallet out of just about anything?

Yes, I think I could. Sometimes it will take a while to figure out how to execute different materials but then suddenly it will hit you and you have the idea to put it together into a functional piece.

Why are you committed to a green lifestyle?

It is important for me to keep as much trash out of the landfills as possible, even if it is just a small piece of trash that day. Also we must leave the place where we live in much better shape than it is now for the next generation. We owe it to them.

Is there any one green practice you do daily that has become second nature?

I recycle as much as I can. Always carry a shopping bag with me in case I need it to eliminate those nasty plastic bags and paper.

What is an easy way readers could become more green?

Buy several recycle bins, then recycle, cut down on napkins, use towels instead paper etc.

Do you have a favorite green expression?

Because I do use a lot of recycled material my functional items are usually ONE OF A KIND.

Do you have an online presence where readers can view your work?

I do sell my functional items on etsy.com and artfire.com both under username creationsbyingrid

Is your work featured in a brick and mortar location/boutique?

I do sell my wallets, jewelry and bags at a Nonprofit Organization Store which is called Endless Possibilities in Manteo, NC and in a Gallery called Indigo Moon, Manteo, NC and several Community based Galleries in my area.

Pimpin It For The Planet

Solve this equation:
Upcycled fabric + style - shipping cost + holiday gift ideas - parking lot drama = ????

Stumped for the answer? OK I will tell everyone that the answer is…

Chucka Stone Designs handmade, one of a kind fabric fashions and accessories of course!

I never do this kind of thing, I generally prefer to promote others over myself but for one day I guess it won’t kill me to give my own little corner of the eco-friendly cyber world some lovin right? This is mostly because there are some amazing events coming up over the next couple weeks that I am taking part in to help others so I wanted to share a few of them with everyone!

I am adding tons of items to the shop through Cyber Monday but here is a little mini preview of some of the goodies available right now that can take advantage of my FREE SHIPPING sale through the end of 2008.




My Mom and I will be sharing a table at the CUREFest Craft Fair in Tilton Hall at Clark University in Worcester, MA on Saturday December 6 from 12:00 - 5:00. This event is rad because the proceeds from table fees go to Worcester AIDS research and over 90% of sellers are independent artists so come on out, say hi and shop for some truly unique gifts!



Team Eco Etsy is promoting a phenomenal event as well and I was eager to be a part of it! From December 7 - 14 10% of all sales in my Etsy shop will be donated to Heifer International, an organization dedicated to eradicating hunger world wide. If it does not sell at CUREFest I hope to see it go during this week to help another truly worthy cause!

Finally, as I was spending some time in the Etsy forums last night promoting my shop and some of its new items, I came across a message from kaleidoscopestudio about feeling invisible. As I tend to be a rather frequent thread killer (read: I show up to chat and everyone already in the thread goes screaming in the other direction, leaving me all alone), I was drawn to her title immediately. Turns out, her message was a bit more serious. Her mom passed away recently after a long battle with ovarian cancer and left behind a loving family but a stack of medical bills. She is holding a silent auction in New Hampshire in February and was asking for donations to help raise money for paying off those bills. Since Matt and I are in an odd situation financially right now I do not have a lot of cash to donate to the charities I usually support every year but I can certainly send Erica a kickin’ tote bag instead! I have a few options for the ones I am thinking of sending up to her but welcome suggestions so feel free to swing by my shop and check out the selection. The link to the thread will allow you to contact Erica through her shop if you would also like to get involved.

So in the end I guess I am still promoting for others in addition to myself but ‘tis the season to do so after all! For all of us independent artists I wish many, many, many sales to boost our economies this festive holiday season.

Buy handmade and go green!

No Special Uniform Is Required To Play On This Team

But if there was it would be handmade from upcycled organic cotton and shipped out to me in an ecovelope made out of recycled magazine pages that are sealed with petroleum free tape.

What team would promote such an environmentally responsible agenda?

I am talking about Eco Etsy of course!

Lately it has been a goal of mine to join up with a few different groups or teams that very closely represent how I see myself as a contributing member of environmental protections including Bennetts Brook Green Group and Sustainable Arlington. As an artist who creates handmade bags from upcycled material, and an Etsy shop owner, I began searching for a team that comprised the values my company holds to promote an eco lifestyle. When I read about the policies and practices that Eco Etsy stood for I knew it was the right team for me!

Members of this team are amazingly talented, knowledgeable and creative. They reuse, upcycle, recycle and reduce consumption of new materials to fashion some really beautiful items such as clothing, jewelry, handbags, journals and many more. Here is just a small sampling of these artists, click the picture to be taken directly to Etsy and in the search box enter the word ecoetsy to see all items available from these and other talented artists.

The Eco Etsy Street Team is comprised of over 200 members who actively promote environmental lifestyles and working habits. As the holidays approach and gift giving ensues, I strongly recommend checking out some of the shops these members run as a fantastic alternative to big box store or mall shopping. Handmade and eco-friendly is a fantastic way to show someone, and the planet, how much we all care!