Build a Beard; Help Kiva

This is great fun and free and helps a good cause.

Check this out!

Don't like this beard, well, there's more to choose from.

We Are the World

Being a global type myself, it's always interesting what the world thinks of the U.S., especially during this election season. The Economist made an electoral college map of the world, and the results are here.

Very cool application. Have fun playing.

Endangered Elephants, or not a post about the G.O.P.

Here at Three Stone Steps, we make sure we run our business in such a way that, at the very least, we do no harm to people or the planet, and, at best, we actually help people and the world at large.

Of course, not every business owner, small or large, thinks like this.

I came across this article on Reuters about how E-bay is going to ban the selling of ivory products on its site. I was shocked that ivory, from endangered elephants, is even being sold, let alone sold on E-bay, but it's not the first time that I've been shocked at people's tastes and their cruelty toward animals. (cf: A certain AK governor who paid money for the front paws of wolves shot from airplanes.)

Anyway, should you wish to buy non-harmful products, for gifts or for yourself, well, I've got 'em here!

These are (not at all) the Good Times

By the time you read this, who knows what the economy will be like: Will the public radio show about finances be playing We're in the Money or Stormy Weather when talking about how the market closed?

I know we've all head enough about Wall Street and Main Street, and Three Stone Steps is firmly and virtually in the latter. But, then again, so are most of us.

Of course, given the stories one hears daily about people losing jobs, facing foreclosures, having difficulty feeding their families, people don't immediately think of buying a new messenger bag of recycled or repurposed materials, or a silk scarf.

Three Stone Steps knows that no one really and truly needs these things. Your old bag can probably be used for another season or year, and a new business card case is nice, but the rubber band works well, too. Reduce is the first "R" of the reduce, reuse, recycle mantra.

But, we do hope that if you decide to spend some discretionary funds on fashion accessories, you'll spend it with a company that shares your values of being fair trade, and sustainable in all meanings of that word, and buy products from a company like Three Stone Steps that is highly sensitive to working towards a fair and just world.

Three Stone Steps new tag line is sustainable. fair made. style. And, I'll always adhere to those three words. Promise.

Three Stone Steps in Bolton Hill tomorrow

Three Stone Steps will be on the 1400 block of Bolton Street, in the lovely Bolton Hill section of Baltimore tomorrow to sell great eco-chic messenger bags, silk scarves, and many more of our great fashion accessories. The festival runs from 10am to 5pm.

Now, I know that given all that's happening with the election and the economy, not everyone's mind is exactly on buying a cross body bag made from post-consumer waste black plastic trash bags, but, really, it's as good a time as any.

Speaking of the economy, Bolton Hill is in Rep. Elijah Cumming's district. I'm not in his district, but Three Stone Steps is actually on his district's border. (His district begins across the street from Three Stone Steps' worldwide headquarters.)

While this is not new news, I did think that the Bolton Hill Representative did a knock out job when questioning our our taxpayer bailout money was spent by AIG:



If you have trouble hearing this, part of the text follows:

CUMMINGS: Let me describe for some of you the charges that the shareholders, taxpayers, had to pay. AIG spent $200,000 dollars for hotel rooms. Almost $150,000 for catered banquets. AIG spent $23,000 at the hotel spa and another $1,400 at the salon. They were getting manicures, facials, pedicures and massages while American people were footing the bill. And they spent another $10,000 dollars for I don’t know what this is, leisure dining. Bars?

Well, yet another one of those, it makes you think, huh?

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Working

Like most of us, I've been thinking a lot about the current economic crisis, the upcoming elections, and, in work in general.

On my way almost anywhere from my home/Three Stone Steps worldwide headquarters here in Southeast Baltimore, Maryland, USA, I see men--almost always men--and almost always Latino--waiting around near the 7-11 and a few other corners hoping, just hoping, that someone will pick them up for a day's work, mostly on a construction site.

But, given the economic crisis, many more people are thrown out of work. This brilliant video imagines what happens when Wall Street types get really desperate:




Now, that was imagined, but here, White House spokesperson Dana Perino takes it a step further. It seems that the way to solve the unemployment crisis in this country is for people to get jobs.



Maybe there's something I'm missing here, but isn't the reason people are unemployed is because they don't have jobs. It's times like this, that I'm so delighted to be out and about meeting people and selling ethical accessories.

How about you?

Fells Point Festival this Weekend!

One of the biggest festivals in the Baltimore area, the Fells Point Fun Festival, is happening this weekend. And, Three Stone Steps will be there, too! (Look for Three Stone Steps on Thames, between B'dwy and Bond--and not too far from the beer garden!)

There will be festival specials, so if you're in the area, and have had your eye on some eco-chic, repurposed bags, it'll be a great time to buy! Also, don't forget about great messenger bags in cotton, and shoulder bags in silk, as well as wallets, business card cases, and beautiful hand loomed silk scarves. And, since everything is fairly made, you can feel good about your purchase.

The weather looks to be most perfect this weekend, too. Please come by and say 'hi!'

Happy Fair Trade Month

I'm one of those who think fair trade month should be every month, but today is the second day of the official Fair Trade Month.

Three Stone Steps is proud to be a part of the fair trade movement, and can't imagine bring bags, scarves, wallets, and other fashion accessories to you any other way.

In honor of this month, I focus on the workers who make the items that Three Stone Steps has on offer:

This is Mr. Cheak who is working on sewing a beautiful red jewelry roll. The next step on the jewelry roll production is here:



Sophart is working on hand beading the jewelry rolls.

Three Stone Steps will bring you more of these workers throughout the month. And, will continue to support the cause of economic justice for workers always.