It wouldn’t be Christmas without bright colored decorations, carols, tantalizing smells and wonderful surprises under the tree.
Here are some suggestions for holiday gifts and decoration to create a special holiday.
Fiber Active Organics
Julie Mullin and Fiber Active Organics create table linens, quilts and corded bowls and containers from leftover and/or recycled organic scrap materials.
Mullin uses post-consumer and postindustrial scrap material. This can come from people who’ve stored fabric for years — like the donated material brought back from Japan after World War II that had never been touched — or companies that would otherwise have to pay to have their scrap material hauled to landfills. This fusion of history and sentiment creates simple, elegant products.
Mullin’s team includes refugees from Vietnam known as the Montagnard, indigenous people of Vietnam who aided Americans in the war and who’ve been persecuted ever since.
Fiber Active Organics is more than just a company that produces hand-dyed organic cotton table linens and colorful corded bowls and containers. “When someone buys something from me,” said Mullin, “they’ve empowered somebody. It’s very meaningful.”
These attractive products are available at fiberactiveorganics.com.
Origami Bonsai Instant Flowers
Looking for a unique way to add elegance to your holiday gift wrap? Origami Bonsai Instant Flowers are a perfect fit.
These are the first mass-produced origami flowers ever produced. If you’re not familiar with origami, it’s an ancient Japanese art form involving folding paper to create a variety of shapes.
The same shape can be opened into 12 varieties of flower, says Benjamin Coleman, inventor of Origami Bonsai Instant Flowers. Create such items as flowers and greeting cards, even bright bows for your Christmas gifts. Coleman’s just introduced the 13th variety.
The website has lots of “how to” videos. Each origami paper is clearly marked, so even those who think they’re creatively challenged can be a pro at this.
But Coleman’s website holds other interesting possibilities.
To apply for a patent for this product, Coleman had to figure out the math of origami. The folding pattern is basic geometry, he said. Coleman’s website has two lesson plans for teachers based on the geometry.
“It’s a powerful educational tool,” Coleman said. “It takes geometry into three dimensions.”
Available in a 12-pack, Origami Bonsai Instant Flowers are available at www.Origamibonsai.org.
Take a dash of charming, wrap it in green plush, throw in a heartwarming children’s story about the environment, and you have Greenzys.
These cuddly green toys are a fun way to introduce young children to conservation.
Introduced in April at New York City’s FAO Schwarz, there are four Greenzys: Yew Yew, a panda bear; Peat, a penguin; Willow, an elephant; and Violet, a giraffe.
Greenzys also is the name of the book that reads like a green Wizard of Oz. Written by award-winning children’s author Danielle Mentzer and illustrated by Cris De Lara, “Greenzys The Book” uses green-certified paper and board, soy-based inks and is printed in the United States.
Greenzys are also about giving back, says co-founder Mark Leider. For every toy purchased, a tree is planted by the Arbor Day Foundation. The child can then go to the website, click on “Plant a Tree” and enter the secret code that came with the toy. When they enter their name, a certificate pops up showing they planted a tree.
“It’s totally green,” Leider said.
For every book sold, a portion of the proceeds goes to the Environmental Media Association, whose celebrity environmental supporters including Daryl Hannah, Ed Begley Jr., Nicole Richie and Cameron Diaz.
You’ll find Greenzys online at Greenzys.com.
Don’t forget your four-legged friend this Christmas.
Barkwheats are organic, grain-free, gluten-free dog biscuits. These treats were created to help alleviate common pet ailments like pet allergies. Barkwheats uses healthy ingredients sourced from small-scale farmers to ensure quality and freshness.
These dog biscuits are made with buckwheat, which many people believe to be a grain but is actually a berry related to rhubarb. It’s a safe alternative for those with wheat allergies and it’s a low glycemic food, so it won’t spike blood sugar or be a trigger for canine diabetes.
Barkwheats come in four flavors: ginger and parsley, blueberry and lavender, pumpkin and sage, sea vegetable and camomile.
Barkwheats are available online at AbesMarket.com.