About a week to go for online shopping

Here we are again. It's time for holiday shopping. Of course, here at Three Stone Steps, we hope you shop online with us, but if you don't, of course we hope you shop locally at places that carry sustainable and fair trade merchandise.

I wrote a little post about where to shop in your pajamas over on another site, where I'm the Baltimore Green Culture "Examiner.

As for Three Stone Steps, you still have about a week to shop and, if you're in the U.S., get your items shipped in from USPS Priority Mail.

Let me know if you want something giftwrapped and what you'd like written on a gift card.

Waiting for Haiti

I wasn't able to get back to Haiti this year. No need to go into it, but it just didn't work out.

But, that doesn't mean that I'm not getting some new Haitian goods. I am! I am very excited to announce that new metal cuffs are on the way, as are very amazing recycled hanging Christmas trees. (You can call them a Hannukah bush if you'd like, and they'd work for Kwanzaa, too.)

Anyway, without further ado, the cuffs. Here's what they're made of:


Here's a photo of the artist working away on them:



And, here's one. (Really, it's wearable sculpture.):




I have a recycled metal Christmas tree for personal use. I'd post a photo of it, but someone stole my bag--with my camera in it--when I was vending at a festival recently. Such is life in the worldwide headquarters of Three Stone Steps, Baltimore, Maryland USA.

But, the decision on the new camera has been made, and it's only a matter of time until you can see it, and decide if you want you own, long lasting, recycled holiday tree. (And, the trees would be great paired with recycled paper Christmas ornaments. Just a suggestion, but, really, it's hard to get much funkier and greener for the holidays....)

Maybe a follow-up to Not Xmas in July, but maybe not

If you're in the Cleveland Park 'hood in DC, you may want to check this out. Save money, help the environment, and wrap really cool packages:

This comes via Reena, the owner of Eco-Artware:

I am offering a free Eco Gift Wrap Workshop, August 22 at the Cleveland Park Library from 2:30-3:30 pm. Class size limited to 10 students (must be over 15 years old).



"If each American household wrapped three gifts in reused materials,
enough paper would be saved to cover 45,000 football fields."
Statistics from the University of Colorado



Learn: Sources for attractive commercial recycled gift paper; how to
wrap with cloth; alternative wrapping materials/techniques, and more.



Call 202-232-9032 to reserve your space.



I am a crafts designer who taught at the Guy Mason Center and received two craft-related grants from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

One of my Favorites from Haiti

I found this fantastically wonderful, amazing beaded bag in Haiti. I have one in red, too, and it's below, but the blue is my favorite.They have great faces, and none of my existing bags have faces. In fact, none of the scarves have faces.

I'm selling these. They aren't on Three Stone Steps, but I'm selling them live, as we speak, in DC, at the Downtown Holiday Marketplace, in front of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art/National Portrait Gallery. I just, quite blissfully, have the day off.

The fashion accessories I sell are there, too. I have those great mosquito netting bags, in the cross body, messenger, and shoulder bag styles. I have those silk scarves that are affordable luxury, but I have noticed how people just look at my buddies, Le Roi.

If you're in the area, I hope you'll come and see the King(s) live!

Time is running out....

Ok. Here at Three Stone Steps we seem to have a knack for stating the obvious. Not only is time for getting your Christmas/Holiday gifts counting down, but Three Stone Steps is starting to run out of some very popular colors.

Well, I certainly don't want to be alarmist (Oh, no, no messenger bags in copper mosquito netting! Whatever am I to do?!?) , I just wanted to alert you that if you have your heart set on a certain color for that perfect gift, please order soon---then relax.

Thanks!

'Tis the Season.....

...but far, far, far too early.

I'm getting ready for my selling season, that is, selling my fine silk scarves, eco-chic bags, silk and cotton bags, and other accessories at home shows and shows at prep schools and even synagogues.

I'm bringing this up far to early, I know.

But, no time like the present to prepare.

I don't want to be part of moving the holiday season earlier and earlier and earlier. But, it's happening all around us. Back in the day, the holiday season kicked off in earnest after Thanksgiving. Quite a bit of time for the shopping and hoopla, to be sure, but really enough time for it. I'm not sure exactly when the holiday season kicked off after Halloween. But, ok, it gives you a three week cushion. But now? This year, Columbus Day is barely done with before seeing the tinsel and balls and big plastic blow up things for lawns up.

What gives?

I once read that since Halloween has become a big (and adult) holiday, major retailers put out their holiday stuff early as a way to remind people that, hey, you'll be spending even bigger money around the corner, so don't go hog wild on the costume, or decorating your house. Save some of that discretionary holiday dosh for the mammoth holiday which'll be here before you know it.

But, can't I just enjoy the fall season without thinking about what is lurking around the calendar corner?

I'll be doing some shows, starting in about a week and a half. Oh, well, I so hope that I am not part of the problem. And, I hope this year, people are more sustainable in their shopping.

Thoughts?