Eco Fashion Friday Feature: Windy Hill Fibers Has A New Fan…Me!

Last Friday was my birthday and this year I didn’t want there to be any confusion about what I wanted from Matt so I just sent him the link. I had a feeling I would end up getting this gorgeous dress from Windy Hill Fibers!


Made from 100% organic cotton, this hand made frock (the Lily Sash Dress) is easily going to become the most worn item in my wardrobe this summer. With temperatures soaring into the very muggy 80’s & 90’s almost every day I have been on the hunt for comfortable, easy dresses that fit and look good.

Christine Vivian is the owner and designer behind Windy Hill Fibers, her Etsy shop was opened in September of 2007 and with a 100% positive rating that’s three solid years of good business! It is easy to see why. 

The dress is impeccably created, the stitching is straight and even and there are no gaps when the garment is on. In fact she didn’t just create a small/medium/large dress but took my measurements for the best fit possible.

I know Matt only put in the order a week or so before my birthday and that was likely a mad-dash rush for Christine but she was such a trooper to get it done so quickly without sacrificing on her quality!  (Thank you!!)

With prices that range from $50 - $135, each piece is moderate to high but I can not stress enough how much of a staple this dress is going to be for me. I’ll probably get Matt’s money’s worth by mid July!

Complete with darts at the bust line and a super generous length of sash to wrap around, or tie in front/back, the dress cinches itself to the perfect fit. She even used the cut off fabric as the bow for the gingerly wrapped package.

On top of everything else that makes Windy Hill Fibers so awesome, the shop is also a part of my team -- Eco Etsy!

Because Christine has such a strong eye on the planet through her use of organic materials and support of a fantastic Green team I am granting Windy Hill Fibers a three and a Half Leaf Rating!

Thanks so much for caring Christine, I hope to chat with you at a team EcoEtsy event one of these days! ♥love♥

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♥

Robbie Adrian is Helping to Raise an Eco Conscious Generation

As a gal who loves to curl up on the sofa with a warm cup of tea on a cold day, a soft and warm throw is a must in my house. When I received the sample from northern California based company Robbie Adrian that indicated just how warm and soft their products are, I was intrigued. After reading up on the item and finding out it was created from organic cotton and silk I was suddenly picturing lots of afternoon naps every weekend this winter!

Robbie Adrian sent me a sample size of their product in the form of a baby’s Lovey. Since I do not have children I plan to gift this to a good friend of mine with twin one year olds. Hopefully they do not fight over it too much because this roughly foot square of fabric is soft and plush.

The motto of the company is that they “marry elegance with earth friendly, beauty with sustainability” and it shows. With organic cotton that is not only certified back to the originating bale but further certified by the company to accompany each item that is created they take their business very seriously.

Products are available to purchase direct from the website as well as in retail stores. The blankets are available in twenty seven of the fifty United States in a slew of locations (including five right here in Massachusetts) as well as in Australia, Canada, Indonesia and New Zealand.

There are two concerns I have regarding this line of blankets, first is the price being out of reach for many. All children’s blankets (with and without trim) range from $38 (for the 25” x 19” fleece ‘Lil Robbie) to $270 and adult fleece throws range in price from $132 - $226. A new line of blankets consisting of less trim retail for $26 - $78; the Lovey I received is part of this new line which the company calls “recession friendly” as the customer receives the same luxury for a little less money due to a little less silk.

My second concern is the use of real silk. As silkworms must be killed to create this thread it is a bothersome concern for many environmentalists. The piping style utilizes less silk overall and would be the less impactful choice, but the company does not offer a silk free design as of this time.

Overall the organic cotton is warm and a good alternative to synthetic fibers found in so many youth and adult throws so I am granting the Robbie Adrian collection a Three and a Half Leaf Rating!

With a 100% organic cotton version of this blanket I think it’s safe to say your Leaf Rating could soar to Five pretty rapidly so keep up the innovative work Robbie Adrian! ♥love♥

Ho, Ho, Ho, Oh No!

With just a few short days left until the big holiday it seemed smart to feature a couple places where we can all acquire fantastic little goodies with expedited shipping…just in case!

Tree Greetings - Plant a tree for someone you love (under $10!!!)


Felted Finery - Felted wool (this shrug is only $15!!!)

Way Spa - Can even deliver via email

Reiter 8 - Funky stuff made from old ship sails

Repower America - Any denomination -- give the gift of clean energy

Or consider baking something and bringing it over!

Get creative and you are sure to be a hit this eco-holiday.