Here is a Great Idea for doing good.

Friday, October 27, 2006

I found this post the other night and thought it was such a great idea, I am going to take part myself. This relates to the "RED" campain that I believe was begun by Bono (U2) and some other celebs to raise funds for the African nations so ravaged by the effects of AIDS. Money goes to the Global Fund for helping women and children with the disease. The Pin It Forward blog is about the red pins available at the GAP for purchase, under the RED product program.
The idea is to buy 5 of the pins and give them out, pinning people that are then inspiRED (hopefully) to go purchase a pin (or 5) and go out and do the same thing. The idea has such far reaching implications. Everyone can do it, it's easy and an attainable goal to help the plight of others by making one small step.
What I love most about it is that it is attainable for me. I had heard about the (Product) RED program and it sounds great, but for someone with my current financial situation and somewhat of a general aversion to buying new stuff just for the sake of having more stuff, well, I just don't buy it. I am just not one of the people that is going to participate by making one of those big purchases. But the PIN? I can buy that. I can buy 5 even. Add the "Pin it Forward" spin and I am doing lots more good than I would have just buying something frivolous for myself to enjoy, but with the same "feel good" vibes to it. Times 5 and the effects are exponential.
Sooo, g'head everyone, Pin It Forward!

Another Weekend, Another Market

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

I need a miracle. Something like this maybe.

This weekend is another Portobello West market. I hope to check it out if everyone is over their illnesses. Coughs and earaches have been keeping us all up at night and there have been a few missed days of school. Right before Hallowe'en. I can't even get out for groceries so not much is happening in the way of marketing, though I have had a few quiet moments to sew whie everyone mopes around.
Tomorrow evening is the book launch for Waking Up the West coast and I really don't want to miss it. Hope they get mended miraculously overnight!

A new Lunch Bag

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

This is a new lunch bag that I made for my daughter. The inside is hemp and the outside is a recycled sheet with it's lovely floral pattern but the design is basically reversible. Sorry about the bad lighting.

She had a great lunch bag that I paid good money for and it was really cool, but not big enough. That one of course is out of commission as the zipper broke already, not 6 weeks into the school year. It's true, they just don't make things like they use to!

Fab Stuff at the Home & Interior Design Show

Thursday, October 19, 2006

The design show the other day was great. There were lots of things that I would have loved to look at more had I had time.
These two booths were very inspiring and fit in with sustainable design. Check it out.
These bags and accessories were great and funky and recycled!
These decor items are also and can be reused, moved to another wall if necessary.

Craft Event in Vancouver!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006


This is an event I have run across a few times and I am just now geeting around to posting some info on. So if you are in the area, check it out. Should be some great stuff there. Gee this month is going by so quickly....

Sex and name-dropping experiment

Apparently I will be getting more hits by just mentioning a few names on my blog.
So here goes, sex and Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie. Heck, how about some Vince Vaughn and Brad Pitt to boot?

I could also add in some hemp and 420 for good measure, even though my blog is about none of the above except hemp of course. Hmm. I will be watching the counter, to be sure.

The Thing...

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Here is a photo of what has been clearly keeping me so busy; (one of the tings at least!)

What is it you ask? Why, a coffee cozy, of course!!! Yes, this baby is made from hemp/cotton fabric and is natural with red contrast on the inside. My labels are on the outside, so I have given some to Fashion High to sell at the Vancouver Home & Interior Design Show this weekend. The goal is to get more interest in hemp and it's benefits so I made these to get people thinking while they're drinking their java.. As hemp is a tubular fibre it offers great insulatory properties, making it perfect for an application like this. If everyone had one in their purse/pocket, imagine how much paper we would save on those throw away ones.


These would make a great gift item for those who are on the go coffee consumers. I plan on giving some out to friends and clients and such with a gift card for their fave java joint.

If you or someone you know would like to order one, please feel free to email me via my website, Tum Tum Tree Designs. They are going for $6 plus shipping (add $1-ish).

More Things are Happening...

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

So the book that I am going to be in is nearing it's completion date. Waking Up the Wes Coast, Healers and Visionaries is the brainchild of Jaime Kowal, local photographer here in Vancouver. With her fab photography and her new company, Catalyst Publications is getting ready for launch. And GUESS WHAT! My company is being profiled in it! Can you dig? You can check us out here in action at the photoshoot.

Also through this venture I have been contacted by Shared Vision Magazine and I will be profiled in their November issue as part of a visionaries series they have been doing for quite some time now. I was interviewed last week by writer Vanessa Richmond and I am very excited about the whole thing. Hmmm, a "local visionary"......who knew?...

I am still working on the facelift for the website as well as a few different promo items that I have in the works. These will all be revealed very soon....