An early Happy New Year

Some updates from Three Stone Steps for the end of the year and the decade:

Starting early next year, the 10th to be exact, I'll be on the road to meet with our existing fair trade producers in Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. I'll also be on the lookout for great new unique, functional, and eco-friendly accessories. Please stay tuned. I think there will be great new items in store.

During that time, we will not be processing orders, so if you have your heart set on something, best to order it as soon as possible. We'll be back to processing orders by the third week in February.

If I'm not updating this blog, please follow me on Twitter, @threestonesteps, or on www.threestonesteps.com's Facebook fan page.

We're thinking of beginning a dedicated travel blog--ok. I realize that I have trouble keeping this one updated, so I can't imagine how I'll deal with two of 'em!-- but will definitely let you know if that happens.

So, in the meantime, Happy New Year! I'll be back here soon.

Let them eat cake (from Safeway)

I'm writing this on a Mac laptop, while sitting in my kitchen at a table I bought several years ago from IKEA. (I actually didn't want an IKEA table, but after six months of looking online, in antique and thrift stores, IKEA actually had one that worked for this space at a price that I could afford.)

In my pantry, I have a few cans of tomatoes, a few Tetra packs of soup, and some dolphin safe tins of tuna. There's ketchup in the fridge, mayo, and yogurt, too. I am almost certain that I've more than a few products in the fridge and the pantry that contain high fructose corn syrup. No. I am not pure.

I try not to be judgmental, but I do shudder a bit when my sister-in-law brings home cases upon cases of bottled water that she's bought at her local Wal-Mart. I cringe when I go to my local Safeway (yes! I sometimes pick up things there, although I try to shop at the farmers' market as much as I can), and I'm the only one I see bringing my own reusable bag.

But, according to Charlotte Allen, in a piece in the Los Angeles Times, titled Keep your self-righteous fingers off my processed food, people like me--in her definition, people like me are "foodie snobs and lefty social critics"--are Marie Antoinette-like delusionals, taking joy in people spending too much for heirloom tomatoes. (I'm honestly actually surprised that she didn't bring up the POTUS ordering--the horror, the horror--Dijon mustard on his burger, or mention the salad green star of the last campaign: arugula.)

For some reason, Allen is a staunch defender of her tastes, especially in ice cream. She adores Haagan-Das, which, last I checked, wasn't exactly on the top of the shopping list of people like my sister-in-law, and all the others living through the (say it with me now) biggest recession since the Great Depression. And, in an insightful piece entitled What is Charlotte Allen arguing, the author makes the point that Allen [is]put-off by the very fact that people out there are interested in good food consumed in an environmentally-friendly manner. (The author makes a lot of good points too about food subsidies, etc., so definitely worth a read.)

Allen defends IKEA, and scoffs at people who scoff at Wal-Mart. When driving around yesterday (burning fossil fuels), I happened to hear her on NPR's "Opinion Page." When the host, Neal Conan, asked her about the environmental, labor rights, and quality problems when buying products from China, I nearly swerved when she said: You know, China does have serious environmental problems, but those are China's problems and they're not our problems.

Huh?

Just who is delusional now?

Not Titled Christmas in July

My apologies. Really. There is nothing I dislike more than big retailers pushing holidays up really early. When I was a kid, Christmas merchandise didn't come out until after Thanksgiving. Then it changed to immediately post-Halloween, and finally, now it seems to come right after Labor Day.

What's to do?

As much as I don't want to add to this insanity, I am just too excited about the new, fair trade, very eco-chic Christmas ornaments I'm getting made of recycled newspapers and magazine by a women's collective in a very depressed neighborhood in Manila, the Philippines.

So, if you'll indulge me, I think you'll love to know that they will be here, and won't be sold until after Labor Day but I just wanted to give you a sneak peek:


Really, what could possibly be much cuter than a large holiday ornament made from recycled magazine twine?


I find this one, made from recycled office paper, and a bit smaller than the one above, elegant. Yes. Recycled and elegant.


Similar to the one above, this ornament is made from recycled newspaper beads. I think most people have this as their favorite.

I look forward to getting some better photos on the Three Stone Steps site, or letting you see them in person. I just know you'll like them. But, first, enjoy the rest of your summer.

Taking the Easy Way Out: Mothers'/Mother's Day Post from 2008

For this Mother's Day, I thought it best to re-post my Mother's Day/Mothers' Day post from last year, since nothing really has changed in the history between 2008 and 2009.

Happy Mothers' Day & Enjoy!


Ah, the apostrophe! Where would we be without it?

In my never ending quest to blog about holidays, I found Mothers' Day (with the apostrophe after the "s" ) to be much more to my liking. It's a communal thing: you know, collective action versus taking your mother out to brunch with free flowing mimosas and signing your name to a Hallmark card.

As with most things, there's some great background here, background that those marking Mother's Day eating out and shopping tend to forget. This first little bit is minimally edited from a website on West Virginia culture:


It started with Ann Marie Jarvis who organized a series of Mothers' Day Work Clubs in West Virginia to improve health and sanitary conditions. Among other services, the clubs raised money for medicine, hired women to work for families in which the mothers suffered from tuberculosis, and inspected bottled milk and food. In 1860, local doctors supported the formation of clubs in other towns.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad made a county in West Virginia a strategic site during the Civil War. Ann Jarvis urged the Mothers' Day Work Clubs to declare their neutrality and provide relief to both Union and Confederate soldiers. The clubs treated the wounded and regularly fed and clothed soldiers stationed in the area. Jarvis also managed to preserve an element of peace in a community being torn apart by political differences. During the war, she worked tirelessly despite the personal tragedy of losing four of her children to disease. In all, eight of her twelve children died before reaching adulthood.

But, that's not all. Julia Ward Howell, of Battle Hymn of the Republic fame, as well as an advocate for suffrage and a pacifist also envision Mothers' Day as an "s" apostrophe holiday. In fact, she wrote a poetic proclamation:

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

How the holiday morphed from one promoting the great and general interests of peace to one promoting (unfairly traded) floral bouquets and canned sentiment is far beyond the scope of this blog, and perhaps my somewhat rusty research skills. But, with that said, Happy Mothers' Day to all!

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.

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.

Sisters are Doing it for Ourselves

I spent a very inspiring Friday morning in ournationscapital at a roundtable discussion at the National Museum of Women in the Arts as part of their International Women's Artisans Initiative. The group of almost all women --with one man--were all passionate about improving women's lives in the developing world though working with artisans.

And, what an interesting group it was: There were women who worked with artisans in India, Bolivia, South Africa, and Madagascar, to name but a few. There were representatives from big organizations, like the Department of Labor Women's Bureau and departments within the World Bank, the executive director of the Fair Trade Federation, and small importers like me.


I learned a new phrase that I'll now use often, I'm sure: pity purchases or what I call the buy this bag or I'll kill this puppy school of selling. I know that I could sell many more bags if I told you that many are made by polio and landmine victims, and artisans with HIV. But, a bag is about its function and its design. The fact that it helps a worker in a developing part of the world is value added. I've often joked that I would be rich, rich I tell you, if I told some story that buying one of our bags helped a teenage amputee mother with AIDS in a country that recently had a genocide escape from sexual slavery, but that's not what I think it's about. I respect the customer and the producers far too much to engage in selling based on emotional blackmail.

I also learned that 70 percent of workers in the fair trade sector are women. So, the thought that you either think of women's issues or you think of general fair trade issues isn't much of a point, since they are almost one in the same.

As the chief executive of everything here at the worldwide headquarters of Three Stone Steps, I don't get a lot of chances to sit back, and actually assess just where a little fair trade import company like mine fits within the great big world of social justice. Yes, I do get to think about this on those long flights to S.E. Asia---but, in my day to day work, it's actually a wonderfully compelling luxury.

My morning at the National Museum of Women in the Arts presented just this sort of intellectually stimulating mini-holiday, and that alone should keep me inspired for days and weeks to come.

How I Spent My Earth Day

In the grand tradition of the essay, which I don't remember ever having to write, How I Spent My Summer Vacation, I bring to you my Earth Day essay.

First, if you've read my blog. I'm not the hugest fan ever of holidays. But, I did celebrate Earth Day by having a table at an Earth Day Expo, an information only deal, at the Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville campus. It was a lovely day, with dogwoods and red buds in bloom, and azelas starting to bloom. The campus was also lovely and historic. I loved the students, a diverse, happy, curious, and above all, incredible nice group of kids. (I've been away from a campus for so long, that I realize that first and second year college students are now "kids," as if I needed another reminder that I was old.)

We were set up in a great old barn. There was a smallish selection of area green businesses, but what struck me was that there were far, far too many old fashioned type of green businesses: pyramid selling products (I don't want to name them, but you probably know), vegetarian and vegan resources, a person hawking a special juice from a special berry (also pyramid selling, as far as I could tell), and some green glue. Ok. There were some other great products, most notably a cosmetic company that had great products and fantastic packaging, and an organic bakery that shared a table with someone who farms and sells at farmers markets (although not the one I go to, since I was told that mine beloved market, under an expressway in downtown Baltimore City was "too dangerous), but, all in all, I feel as though the "green movement" has moved beyond this.

In fact, Three Stone Steps tries hard to push the boundaries. We try to show that you can be green and care about fair trade and NOT be in some green/fair trade ghetto. I want people to love Three Stone Steps messenger bags, scarves, jewelry rolls, and other eco-chic and fair trade fashion accessories, not because they are green and fair trade, but because they like them. Once people like them, well, then, all the better that they are good for the planet and for the workers.

Actually, I have a few more thoughts about all this, given the marketing for Earth Day from everywhere from the New York Times to The Baltimore Sun, including the Parade Magazine enclose, to the Fox Network to Wal-Mart. But, I'll save this for another post, as well as some photos of my lovely little table in the barn.

As always, stay tuned.

Are you going to Global Fayre? (parsley, sage, rosemary, & thyme.....)

First up in this this occasional series of taking a closer look at Three Stone Steps' retail customers is Global Fayre, located in Springfield, Missouri. You can also find Global Fayre, and befriend them even, on their myspace page.

What follows is my email interview with one of the owners, David. Should you find yourself in Springfield, please stop by!


How did you come up with the name Global Fayre?

We wanted something that would convey a number of principles/values/messages.

Fayre obviously sounds like Fair, but being English, for me it also means spread, or festival, or display.

So, we wanted to convey that our store has a feast of work from around the world.....more than shopping with a conscience (though our customers are doing that too).

How long have you been involved in fair trade? What sort of background do you have, or what event made you realize that fair trade was as important issue?

Cheri and I have been supporters of Fair Trade for a long time, in the sense of buying it when it was on offer. When our youngest baby was born (we have two girls, age 2 and 13) it opened our eyes to just how little was on offer in Springfield for people that wanted fair trade/alternative/green products. Then when Cheri was thinking about stepping back in to work, we decided that it would be great to do something together, plus we believed that there was the potential to champion Fair Trade in what is a pretty barren area (the MidWest).

My background is nearly 20 years of corporate work in Europe, mostly in strategic planning, but also in brand management, sales and marketing plus some time in finance. I've been in the US for nearly 6 years, and during that time have been a strategic consultant offering 'therapy' to small/medium sized business. I still offer that work, though Global Fayre is taking up most of my time at the moment.

Cheri moved to Springfield just after me, and has a background in wellness/corporate health, and is very much the 'green leader' of the two of us - I'm learning a lot from her.

How long has your store been open? Please tell me how you sold fair trade items before opening your store.

The store opened at the beginning of December 2007. Our route there was via a Farmers Market for the 2007 season, which gave us time to research the products, and the people, and to find out how we felt about working on this project together. Unlike most of the people I come across through CABN and Fair Trade, we did not explore online sales first. The plan is to venture in to that in the next month or so.

I used to live in KCMO. Springfield is generally thought of as a pretty conservative part of the country, how is your shop important to the part of the community that cares about fair trade and related issues?

Conservative is an understatement!

But, the sense of community responsibility is strong, principally driven from a faith perspective.

So, we have a number of clear target markets:

• Faith - (probably the most exposed to Fair Trade via Ten Thousand Villages, Greater Gift and Equal Exchange);
• Education - Springfield has 3 universities, with around 30,000 students and faculty;
  
• Geographical - we are based in the downtown area of Springfield, and are part of a steadily reviving scene there, including things like a First Friday Art Walk and other downtown cultural events. The downtown revitalisation also means an increasing number of downtown residents (mostly lofts), bringing 'locals' to the store.

A key part of our mission is to reach out to the community to educate about Fair Trade and environmental issues too. We're just started to get school parties bringing kids in to the store to learn about Fair Trade.

We also offer the store for fundraising events - such as one we are hosting next week for a volunteer who offers counselling to genocide victims in Rwanda.

So, all in all, I'm hopeful that Global Fayre can fairly quickly become a key part of the local community, at the same time introducing people here to Fair Trade on a level not seen in this part of the country before.

New Three Stone Steps Blog Feature!

Here at Three Stone Steps we had such a delightful time talking about Hoopla Traders, that we decided to focus on other retailers of Three Stone Steps' line of fashion accessories made from silk, cotton, and recycled materials.

Three Stone Steps will be working with fascinating and fun and funky boutique owners with a variety of strong commitments, including to fair trade, eco-friendly products, buying locally, or just making sure they have a welcoming shop with a strong aesthetic sense, into this blog.

I hope you enjoy this occasional feature As always, I welcome your feedback!

The Day After (and it's not what you think!)

A fantastic group of people braved the rain and getting early election results to make it to Hoopla Traders for their first ever Living Green Salon. (Really, I love that word, salon. It so conjures up images of writers, artist, intellectuals and others who make a difference.)

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I was there to talk about fair trade and women in celebration of International Women's Day. And, I was nervous. I'm not a public speaker, and I thought I'd be stumbling my way though facts and figures, and get grilled on which fair trade certification I have. Well, it didn't happen. Laurie Morin, Hoopla's owner, did a fantastic job of creating a warm, welcoming, and open space for people to share their views, ask questions, talk with one another, make connections, ask about advice for starting a fair trade business, discuss vegan views on silk and wool, and drink lovely organic red wine.

It was much more like a small cocktail party, filled with interesting and interested smart people with great values and politics. And, these Living Green Salons are monthly, so if you're in the DC area and not hitting Hoopla and the Salon you're missing something special.

It's my hope that the Hoopla "model" could make it to cities around the country. As it stands now, the Adams Morgan 'hood of DC is indeed lucky to have such a lovely boutique that holds such great programs.

I'm sure to make the trek down from the Three Stone Steps Worldwide Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland USA to continue to be inspired and amazed by the people and topics found at Hoopla's Living Green Salons.

Election Eve and Early International Women's Day

Ahhh, exciting times we live in, especially this first week of March.

Tomorrow, in early celebration of International Women's Day, I will be leading a chat that most fabulous, wonderful, stupendous boutique, Hoopla Traders, in the Adams Morgan section of DC, at 2314 18th Street NW, as part of the neighborhood's First Tuesday celebration, and Hoopla's Living Green Salon. Not only do I run out of great adjectives when describing this place, but I also am tickled by the fact that the boutique is a fellow member of Co-op America.

In keeping with the international nature of the day, I will be having a discussion regarding how fair trade has helped women in Cambodia. If I can figure out my new laptop, I will also have photos of some of the women workers.

(Just a note: although the photo above is not of women making fair trade products for Three Stone Steps' customers, or even in Cambodia, it is my absolute favorite photo of women and one of my favorites from my many travels to Vietnam. Hope you enjoy it as I do.)

Please join me if you can. If you can't and find yourself in ournationscapital, and want to shop, you honestly can't do much better than stopping at Hoopla. It really is a warm, wonderful, and special boutique, and I'm not just saying that because they carry much of Three Stone Steps' product line!

While my little chat at Hoopla will pale in comparison to the excitement of refreshing the computer over and over and over again as the election results come in from the Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island primaries and primacaucus on Tuesday night, the effect that this race has on women and the discussion its garnered in the feminist community cannot go without mention, especially in the context of International Women's Day. Who really dreamed of a primary contest that didn't include two middle-aged white men?

Honestly, I really never thought of the Democratic contest in terms of a white woman versus a black man thing, but many do, and I know that this has garnered much debate in the feminist community. I know that my late mother, who held consciousness raising and assertiveness training sessions in our paneled suburban club basement in the 70s, would be beside herself just knowing that a woman was running and actually did/does have a shot at becoming president. I know that I, too, would like to see a female president in my lifetime, although I'm unsure if it should be this female. But, I so don't want to go there now.

Anyway, if the feminist aspects of this amazing primary contest interests you, I would strongly suggest reading a blog post by the Zaftig Redhead (really, how can anyone think a blog by that name could be anything other than interesting?) called Divisive Primary Hold Potential Fallout for Women's Rights Community. And, despite my comment about just knowing that my mother would be out in force for Hillary, Zaftig Redhead's analysis doesn't just talk about the split in terms of generational differences, or first versus fifteenth wave feminism.

So, there you have it. Loads going on these days, and a few long nights waiting for results and next steps lie ahead.

Coffee is Steamy

People who know me, or have bought Three Stone Steps' products, read this blog, or just browsed the about us section of the website know of my deep commitment to fair trade. It's not just trade I care about, but like many of us, I have this thing about fairness and justice. This extends to women's or feminist issues as well, obviously.

So, I was reading Bitch Magazine's blog, and came across an entry, Um, May I Have that Without Cleavage Please? In the entry they describe a mobile coffee house that features female workers in lingerie, with coffee cup sizes in A, B, C and Double D. Get it? That's bra sizes. Funny! I mean, selling coffee in cup sizes that are in alphabetical order is much clearer than that lingo of tall, grande, and vente. But, the letters are meant to be cute. They are adolescent: Women wear bras! Hee-hee!

But, back to the coffee shop in question. I follow the link to their site. (I don't feel the need to link to it here since I'm not trying to give them a bump in the google ranking.) Anyway, the very first thing I see on the site is a fair trade certified logo. Immediately, it made me feel as though I had found a kindred spirit. But, had I?

After that recognizable logo, I looked further and noticed that the coffee shop's logo was a drawing of a sexy woman, a la a beer commercial, coming out of the steamy coffee. How cute! So, they support their local, fair trade roaster. And, they marginalize women. Mmmmm.....and, like those who read Playboy for the "articles" or go to Hooter's for their "chicken wings," I'm not really sure that their clientele is their for feeling good about drinking a responsibly produced and roasted cup o' joe. I mean, it's fair trade on one hand, and objectifying women's bodies on the other. To me, it's sort of a wash. One cancels out the other. In fact, it's really not that much better than that chain coffee shop that that offers tall and vente sizes. At least at the coffee chain we love to hate, the workers can wear day time clothing and aprons.

As for me, I'm still dreaming of my coffee on the beach.

Fat Bags and Skinny Models

Being in the quality fashion accessory biz, Three Stone Steps tries keeps up with the latest trends. It's sort of kind of required to have a general sense of what's going on out there in the non-fair trade, non-eco-chic, more mainstream world of style and color. You know, the world where no one bothers their pretty little heads worrying about how workers are treated or the impact on the environment. I guess, unfortunately, it means the fashion world to many, many people out there.

This was a good weekend for following fashion, of the mainstream sort. The big even last night, of course, were the Academy Awards. I didn't watch them, not even the stars trotting down the red carpet. I didn't really read anything about them either, but did see a photo on the front page (below the fold) of pretty starlets dressed in red. To match the carpet, perhaps?

The same paper, the New York Times, actually, also had its large Spring 2008 fashion supplement in the big Sunday paper. I couldn't wait to learn what the paper of record thought would be the must-haves for the next few months.

Big, actually mammoth handbag and shoulder bags are in. Still. And, they are being carried by by women who must end up weighing even less than the bags do when they are full. Still. While stick figure models are the norm, they still shocked me a bit in a I-thought-we-were-
moving-beyond-this kind of way.

And, as if to rub it all in, this fashion supplement had an article called Weight Watchers. As you may have guessed, this doesn't have a whole lot to do with having skinny models lose even more weight, but rather the cost of a designer dress by the pound. So, that little evening dress that weighs a mere 4.15 ounces costs $3,150. If you don't want to do the math, that comes to $10,610 per pound. Another example is an even smaller dress at 3.24 ounces for $4.175. Get our your calculator and it comes to $20,554 per pound.

Sort of makes you wonder about the phrase: worth one's weight in gold. In which case, it would help to wear wool and other heavy clothes, load up that huge handbag, and not worry about those extra pounds.

I like that.

Your own holiday: a post President's Day post

Ahhh, another holiday as come and gone: President's Day. I'm not so sure that I understand it, and I'm not sure if that misunderstanding comes from the fact that it's not a particularly consumerist holiday except, it seems, for cars. Not that I like it, but I'm used to most big holidays in the US as being an excuse to shop, or, at the very least, go out for a good meal. The fact that none of this seems to happen on President's Day confuses me a wee little bit. But, for vehicles, I just need to say enough with the car commercials that play Hail to the Chief in the background already.

But, it's occurred to me, in this holiday rich month of February, that one's own personal holidays mean so much more. I've received some orders lately for silk screen on silk jewelry rolls for bridesmaid gifts. They are really lovely, and not something that I think someone often buys for herself. While I'm running low on my existing colors, I will soon be getting more, great new colors that you're sure to love.

I imagine that for a bride, finding a perfect, affordable, unique, and fairly traded gift is not the easiest thing that one can do. I'm very pleased that Three Stone Steps can help fill that niche for some people embarking on a great personal adventure, who will then create their own personal holidays: their anniversaries, for year and years to come.

Yes We Can....or a happy Friday post

I've realized here at the superduper worldwide word headquarters at Three Stone Steps that my blog postings have been a little bit depressing. Well, I don't know about you, but they are depressing me: all this talk of blood diamonds and un-fair trade roses, and unabashed consumerism for Valentine'$ Day. This is not to mention my preoccupation with how the superdelegates work for the Democratic Party, what the polls have been saying with regard to the upcoming election, and the super huge pile of trash on the bottom of the ocean.

Well, it was not that long ago that I was at the ocean, ok, the sea, ok, a gulf, specifically, The Gulf of Thailand, where I had some r&r after working so hard to find the perfect eco-chic fashion accessories, including some new bags and wallets made from repurposed and recycled mosquito netting, and new cosmetic bags in silk, and cotton traveler and messenger bags in great new colors.

I chilled, a bit, in Phu Quoc. Now, Three Stone Steps is of the belief that photos of sunsets are part of the unholy trinity of trite subjects for travel photos, along with fireworks, and waterfalls. (Actually, rainbows falls into that category as well, but four just doesn't fit.) But, I can't resist, on the winter Friday, posting a photo of a lovely sunset from the beach.

There. Don't you feel just a bit better and a bit relaxed?
I knew you would.

For my non-beach time of this trip, I did get to spend some quality time with the artisans who produce the silk and cotton products I sell. I met with these workers in their house--a very modest house, where each family had their own room, own area for cooking, and a shared bathroom. On the Three Stone Steps website I will talk further about the workers who make Three Stone Steps' great fashion accessories, and will go into detail at another time on this blog. But, for this happy Friday, Yes We Can thread, I'd prefer to show you all a photo of a lunch outing a had with the workers.

We shared food, and drink, and smiles. I shared postcards that I brought with me of Beautiful Baltimore, Maryland, USA, home of Three Stone Steps' global hq. We talked, as best we could, about Chinese horoscopes--for some reason, someone thought that I had to be a dragon.....and hair. A fun outing. I would do this weekly if I were only a bit closer.

I'll be back soon with more tales from Asia and the workers who produce Three Stone Steps' great items, and whatever thoughts (and, I promise to rein in all the doom and gloom ones) I have on the general state of everything.

Happy Valentine'$ Day, or a little lament

Here at Three Stone Steps, we take a pretty dim view of negative posts. But, today is Valentine's Day and I must admit that it's just not my kind of holiday. I sort of bristle at the thought of flowers and chocolates (more about how they are produced later), and canned & sometimes clever sentiments supplied by the large greeting card companies. Of course, if Valentine's Day is your thing, well, good for you. It's just that I would prefer to share my feelings about a person in a less mainstream and consumerist kind of way.

And, sorry, now having a flashback to Bedford Elementary School, where we decorated paper lunch bags and gave Valentines cards, bought in boxes of what, two dozen, to our classmates. Thinking about this now, it just seems very, very odd.....

This morning I read some staggering figures about the money spent on this holiday of love. (I've had some trouble with linking this morning, but this is all from http://www.businessshrink.biz. I will try my best to get a direct link for this.)

You can expect the typical things that are always traded on Valentine’s Day to be given as tokens of affection. Flowers, chocolate, greeting cards and jewelry always keeps the typical lover in check with the Joneses. When you combine all these items in addition to the offbeat tokens of affection you get a figure of about $17.02 billion dollars. The National Retail Federation did their yearly survey of consumers about their planned spending habits for Valentines Day and arrived at these numbers. Every year the numbers end up well on par and show American’s are good at predicting honestly what they will spend on Valentines day.
With survey results tabulated and the final numbers in from National Retail Federation, American’s are predicted to spend $122.98 on average per person. In 2006 predicted spending amounts rang in at $100.89 per person on the average. This is nearly a 21.9% increase in spending in only 2 years. If the potential recession is getting consumers down, Valentine’s Day seems to be getting them back in love with opening their pocketbooks. There is one hint of a predicted spending hit due to the recession and it lies with women and their spending. Women’s predicted spending declined in every category except jewelry this year according to some numbers produced over at Marketing Daily.

We're certainly talking about of chunk of change here. And, I don't even think this includes going out for a decent meal in an overcrowded for Valentine's Day restaurant. I am also wondering about who gives Valentines to the workers who pick the flowers (which are, I'd hazard to guess, not exactly grown in pristine organic conditions, exposing workers--and the environment--to all sorts of toxic chemicals), and unless you get fair trade chocolate, who knows under what conditions its grown and made. Jewelry, like diamonds and gold, have their own labor problems.....

But, Three Stone Steps is into solving problems, and not creating them! So, if you're looking for a great gift, how about a nice silk scarf, or a messenger bag made from repurposed mosquito netting, or a wallet from that same mosquito netting material? A nice silk handbag or business card holder also makes for a great, and guilt free, and affordable gift for your Valentine's sweetheart.

But, just to show that I like flowers, and I like love, I present to you a lovely photo taken from just outside of my little hotel in Singapore.

This woman was just outside of my hotel everyday, and was selling flowers (and incense) for those entering the neighboring Goddess of Mercy Temple. I still thought the flowers were special, and I really do like the idea of Mercy, just as I'm pretty fond of fairness and justice. I don't know if there are goddesses and temples for these ideals, but Three Stone Steps would surely buy flowers when entering those temples.

Of course, I wish everyone who celebrates this holiday the happiest of Valentine's Days ever. And, honestly, who couldn't use a little more love in the world!

Happy 2008

Welcome to Three Stone Steps' first blog entry of this brand spanking new year. Everyone I know is looking forward to 2008, mainly since it's the year of a not insignificant election here in the U.S. While I don't want to turn this blog into a little political rant, I must say that I'm also looking forward (well, waaaaaaay forward) to January 20, 2009.

Anyway, what's in store?

Well, for me, I'm hoping and planning to have some great new items soon to offer. I'm back to Cambodia next week to meet with my fair trade producers to make some changes to my current offerings, and to find interesting new accessories for women (and men, too!). I'll also be scouring accessories on offer in Vietnam to try to include some great fair trade and eco-chic items from there, too. Is there something you really want to see? Well, drop me a note, and I'll see what I can do. I'd love to hear what you'd love to find.

Later this year, I'll be off to Burkina Faso for a continent-wide artisans fair. This'll be my first time to West Africa (or African in general) and I'm looking forward to the trip, and looking forward to some interesting new finds.

Also, this year will begin (or 2007 will end) with a sale of select items. You can find Three Stone Steps' first ever online sale here.

Three Stone Steps had a very great first full year in operations. The learning curve has been steep, but along the way I've met great people who have become retail and wholesale customers. I've seen people care deeply about the environment and ethical production of materials. It's all been very wonderful.

So, my wishes for you dear reader are health, happiness, great adventures, and great hearty belly laughter!

Please stay tuned, and I'll check in again....maybe from Phnom Penh and maybe before.

And, thanks to everyone for making 2007 such a great year. I'm exited to see what's in store for 2008!

Fair Trade, what is Fair Trade?

I realized that I've written a good deal about 'fair trade' here, and haven't provided any sort of definition. I guess I just assumed that most people already knew, but you know what they say about people who assume....(wait, is that an assumption....?)

Instead of recreating the fair trade wheel, this is the wonderfully complete set of principles outline by the International Fair Trade Association.

• Equal partnership and respect between producers and consumers

• A fair price for socially just and environmentally sound work

• Healthy working conditions

• Fair market access for poverty alleviation and sustainable development

• Stable, transparent and long-term partnership

• Guaranteed minimum wages and prompt payment

• Premiums on Fair Trade products used to develop community projects

• Encouraging better environmental practices

Green this?

I went to my first ever Greenfest, the one in ournationscaptial, on Saturday. I was impressed, and also disappointed. (I must admit, though, that I was not feeling the least bit well, I was coming off of migraine, so that may have colored my views, so please take all this with a grain of sea salt.)

First, to the disappointments I sort of expected more. I don't know what, but it seemed to be lacking a certain essential buzz, or products that make you go, 'wow, that is so clever!' or 'how could one live without that?' Instead I found rather typical products, the organic makeup, the organic juices, the organic chocolates, the green and lefty media.

Of course, I went specifically looking for the 'fair trade' vendors of fashion accessories. I didn't see everything, but, again, I had hoped for more than flax pants, and hemp wallets. (There was more, of course. This is a bit of an exaggeration.) In short, I wonder when 'fair trade,' and 'green,' will grab the public beyond thinking that it's just 'ethnic' 'hippie' stuff; i.e. wallets made by a collective in Honduras, earrings made with coconut shells from some amazing island in the Pacific. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that, but isn't it time to broaden this out a bit?

Plus, I didn't find the food (always of utmost importance to moi) terribly inspiring, but was somewhat impressed with the idea of organic soul food, specifically bbq tofu, served with collards (without pork, of course), some non-gooey and I guess healthy mac & cheese, and yummy yams.

Now, to what I liked: While there wasn't the sort of buzz I had hoped for, people were really great; both the vendors. People seemed genuinely happy to be there. And, while there wasn't 'buzz,' there was good attendance, beyond the white kids with dreadlocks kind. Just people who, if you saw them on the street, you'd never peg them as a 'greenie.' The fact that this 'movement' is moving mainstream can only be a good thing.

I liked some of the samples. I was there for a wee bit of Amy Goodman's speech, and was happy to have the chance to hear her. I will definitely come back next year (sans, headache, hopefully.)

And, speaking of retuning for next year, I also attended Greenfest to try to figure out if it was a good venue for me to sell my recycled mosquito netting messenger bags, and wallets, and some of my silk and cotton accessories. I'm really not sure that's it's the place for my wares, which makes me very disappointed.

But, of course, we'll have to see.

Trade this?

I heard on NPR this morning that the public has lost its enchantment with 'free trade.' They seem to think that it SHOULD be good, but it's not really working for them. Well, I could have told them that. Plus, the news is all abuzz today with Costa Rica joining CAFTA.

Anyway, the way we 'trade' isn't some natural state. People obviously have been trading since countries took their fleets to foreign lands. Whatever.

As an importer who adheres to fair trade standards, there's absolutely no reason at all why this standards were not codified in trade agreements.

If you want to learn more, just google 'fair trade.' (Ok, I know that's a bit lazy.)

Friends and Labors

I hosted two very good friends of mine over the weekend that I know from grad school in Labor Studies at UMASS.

It was great to see them, but it made realize how far away I've been from the 'official' labor movement, which, when I left my last union job two years ago consisted of pushing paper in a cubicle, a beige, windowless one at that, on the sixth floor of an ugly building, about three blocks from the White House.

Now, I don't want to complain about my previous job/s. And, I don't want to diminish any work of the 'official' (read: having an office in DC) parts of the U.S. labor movement. It's just that seeing my friends, who both in different researching capacities in different places for the same very large union, made me realize how far away I am from that world, and how far away much of 'official' labor is from the workers of the world. (Ok, I realized this in the past, too, but there's nothing like seeing it again, from a distance.)

I certainly don't want to bash anything the labor movement does. I may disagree with some macro-strategies, and the entire realpolitik mode that many unions and federations engage in, but there are real problems for workers now. And, I firmly believe in it in theory. I just have had some issues, of late, with some practice.

In any event, I'm too far away from all this to make a cogent argument. Plus, that's too tangential.

However, seeing my union 'brothers,' and explaining to them how Three Stone Steps, selling scarves, handbags, jewelry rolls, and cosmetic bags, etc. etc. etc. has the same ultimate mission as what they do at their union, was really enlightening. I mean, it's the same mission, isn't it? It's about helping workers gain power, because, like the hokey pokey, that's what it's all about.

It's not about charity.
It's not about social work.
It's about power.

In any event, I know that no one really needs another scarf, as gorgeous as they are, and as much as they help the people who made them. And, I know that no one will buy anything that they don't like just because it may be made by landmine or polio victims. I want people to love what they buy, and feel good about it. Ultimately, I'd like to help people think about all their purchasing decisions and the workers who made their handbags.

At this point, I'm not so sure about the 'official' reaction of 'official' labor to 'fair trade.' I know that if I'm buying stuff from Cambodia, I'm not really adding any much needed union members in the U.S., but that's no reason it should be ignored. I know, I know, it's not getting people elected, or servicing or organizing new members, but it's being on the same side in the global economy.