And, why do you think they call it the "Manila envelope?"

I received a shipment from the Philippines last week. Three Stone Steps now has brand new colors and designs of messenger bags and other personal accessories. Very exciting. But what's actually blogworthy is that these bags come in rarely seen in the U.S. fibers. So, in addition to mosquito netting, recycled metal, silk, and cotton, Three Stone Steps now boasts such fibers as recycled tetra pack (think those little juice boxes where you poke a hole with a straw) and used (but clean) junk food wrappers, bamboo (made into hip jewelry), seagrass, and abaca. Of all these wonderful fibers, I must admit to having somewhat of a mini-obsession with abaca. Plus "abaca" is just such a magical sounding word.

I've posted photos of my abaca products before on this blog--in the should Venus, the mannequin, be naked post--but it's time to do it again so you can see just what I'm talking about:


Cute, huh?

Anyway, without getting all Latin plant name on you, abaca is the fiber from a tree that looks exactly like a banana tree, just without the fruit. The fiber is harvested from the outer sheaths of the trunk, a process done by hand that doesn't harm the tree at all. In fact, in a couple of years, the same outer sheath grows back. And, while abaca is grown in various parts of the world, it's said to be indigenous to the Philippines, and the Philippines leads the world in its production. Ok. End of botany lesson.

Abaca is generally considered to be the strongest natural fiber available. In fact, cordage, especially for ships' ropes, is among its most notable use. And, not only is its strength legendary, abaca is incredibly lightweight. Talk about having it all.

But wait, there's more. Abaca, this friendliest of eco-friendly fibers is, at least in the Philippines, grown by small farmers, working maybe five or ten hectares. So, we're not talking some big multinational paying workers peanuts to harvest this fiber on plantations, this fiber comes from real small farmers. And, once it's in fiber form, it's taken to another small producer to dye and weave. All this is done by hand, too. And, then the producer I work with, on the big southern Philippine island of Mindanao, and I figure out how to design this woven fiber into bags you will love.

These bags have other special, eco-friendly features like lining made from recycled flour sacks, but I'll leave the inside of the bag for another post.

Oh, and the Manila envelope trivia question thing? Abaca is sometimes called Manila hemp. And, envelopes used to be made out of it, hence the Manila envelope. And, now you know.

Blue Skies Smiling at Me

For the first time, in what seems like forever, the sun is shining and the sky is blue here in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, home of the worldwide headquarters of Three Stone Steps.

And, with this weather, my thoughts turn to this weekend, specifically for Saturday, when the weather is supposed to be even more glorious, and Three Stone Steps will be in Druid Hill Park to take part in, for the second time, Baltimore's EcoFest.

Last year, EcoFest was terrific fun and incredibly inspiring (almost, but not quite as inspiring as everyone's new favorite singer, Susan Boyle--ha!-trying to figure out a way to get Susan Boyle in this post, and I did!) If you're interested in what I thought about this wonderful event last year, I did blog about it in 2008, and it can be found right here.

And, if you're hoping for a sneak peak on what Three Stone Steps will have on tap, well, our famous repurposed mosquito netting items will have some special (read low) pricing, and, with hope--praise deity of your choice and fingers crossed--some brand spankin' new items from the Philippines. But, don't hold your breath.

If you make it there, please stop by and say hi.

WSVW?

WSVW= What Should Venus Wear?

Venus is the name of my armless mannequin. (Incredibly obvious name, I know.) Anyway, I use Venus to show off Three Stone Steps' bags, so that buyers can get a sense of their size and how to wear them. However, she is naked. This never bothered me before. In fact, I thought that usually a mannequin was much less alienating than using a live model, since, well, since live models can sometimes be intimidating because, well, who looks like that? (Of course, Venus has the same ridiculous dimensions as a Barbie doll, so that theory has more than a few holes.) Anyway, I just shot some more photos, and realized that this nudity is not good. It's time to dress Venus.
But, What should Venus wear?

I'd love your suggestions!

Naked Venus models an abaca shoulder bag, with recycled flour sack lining, with little abaca flower brooch.



Naked Venus is carrying the mint green color of the Luna Shoulder Bag, in repurposed mosquito netting. (It's on sale, by the way.)

The "Boys"

Mingus is the big one, and Fellini, the small one. They are such silly boys. If you've been on the Three Stone Steps site, looking at the Fellini Pannolini Large Messenger Bag of repurposed materials, or the Mingus Cross Body Bag, in either post-consumer waste recycled black trash bag or repurposed mosquito netting, you now know the origins of the names.

Honestly, I never planned to name bags for the dogs that hang here at Three Stone Steps, but, hey, I was naming something with the Italian word for diaper, "pannolini," and Fellini fit just so well, that I just couldn't resist. And, fair is fair. You can't name one bag after one of the "boys" and have the other one feeling all left out.

Still here with new arrivals

My goodness. I have been far away from this blog for weeks. My sincere apologies. In any event, lots happening in the world of Three Stone Steps these days. The first of which is that new bags have arrived from Cambodia. That's right! They are ready for purchase now. (Well, not quite ready on my site, but if you really want one, I'll get it to you.) To refresh your memory, please check the following blog entry: http://www.threestonesteps.com/blog/2008/03/sneak-peak.html

Once I get a few more things together, they'll actually be great photos on the site and helpful descriptions of the items too. Of course, I'll let you know the minute its up and ready.

I have other things I'd like to share, but will leave it at that for now. Please stay tuned.

I'm still here....

Ah, but dear reader, I have been very busy.

I'm getting ready for my inaugural trade show, for museum store buyers, down in Tampa. I'm super excited to show off Three Stone Steps' new line of bags made of recycled, repurposed mosquito netting, and the new bag made of recycled big plastic garbage bags that are woven around blue yard.

Eco-chic at its greenest best, I tell you!

I'll also be showing off my gorgeous two-toned 100 percent silk scarves, which, by some crazy reserve of will power, I've narrowed down to carrying in only four colors. These are hand made of course, and woven in a traditional way, not often seen in Southeast Asia. I also will have my lovely silk Angkor shoulder bag, in some new colors, as well as new colors of the great little cotton travel bag along with the larger commuter bag, both with the same great traditional, yet non-ethnic hippie Khmer silk-screen pattern. Oh, and silk jewelery rolls, and, if my some magic along with the correct alignment of the planets, maybe, just maybe, I'll even have those brand spanking new striped and beaded cosmetic bags along for the ride. I am waiting, waiting, waiting for the USPS to bring this wonderful package to my little door. Please Mr. Postman, look and see, is there a package, a package for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

While the folks in Tampa will get to see all these goodies in person, never fear, everything will up on the site by later this month.....and, most everything should be available for purchase sometime this summer.

As always, stay tuned....and, updates from the road.

A Sneak Peak

Shhhhhhh. Don't tell., but I'll let you in on a secret. I will put up samples of the new line of recycled mosquito netting bags that I'll be carrying. As stated in a prior posts, these will be available in silver, hunter green, copper, deep blue, and yellow.

So, and away we go:

This is called the Fellini Pannolini and Everything Else Bag for Men and Women. Long name, I know, and perhaps I'll edit. Why "Fellini?" Well, that's my little dog's name, and it rhymes with pannolini. And, what's pannolini? Well, that's Italian for diaper. The Fellini bag make for the perfect diaper bag, the perfect laptop bag, the perfect knitting bag, the perfect overnight bag, the perfect commuter bag. The uses of this great, big, waterproof, and hip bag are (almost) endless.
And, what do we have above, but the Mingus Bag for Men and Women. Ok, Mingus is my other dog and how could I name a bag for one dog over another? They would just know! Anyway, this is a flat, cross-body bag that'll come in the mosquito netting and in the woven recycled plastic bags with blue yard. Very cool. Perfect for a paperback book, you wallet, phone, iPod, and almost anything else you could need for the day. If you're someone who puts absolutely everything in a bag, sort of carrying your closet and dresser around, this bag may be a tad too small for you, but for those who want an unassuming yet very cool bag, this could be for you.
And, here we have a bag just for women: The Luna Bag. Finally, a bag with a name I don't have to explain. This half-moon shape bag is large enough for women who use their bags so not to leave a possible essential behind. Great, two-color fun, swirly stitching adorns this great zipper shoulder bag.

So, here we are. Let me know what you think, and check back in about eight weeks, when these items will be available online at Three Stone Steps.

New samples have arrived

Due to the magic of high speed travel, I have some new samples, or prototypes, if you like.

Here's a sneak peak of what's in store:

A new material. Three Stone Steps will now be carrying three items made in woven, used plastic bags. People in Phnom Penh collect these overly ubiquitous bags, and they are then provided with soap to wash them, and dry them in the sun. They are then paid for their work, and then recycled into great bags. Here's a detail that I hope just doesn't look like a great black blob:


(Ok. I'll admit it, IT does sort of look like a great black rectangle. But, please look closely! )

Other than that, these mosquito net products will be offered in colors that Three Stone Steps has previously carried:

• silver;

• copper;

• green;

• blue, and;

• yellow.

The new products have been made by Three Stone Steps in partnership with the producer in Phnom Penh, and will include:

• a women's bag, probably called The Lovely Luna Bag;

• the Fellini Pannolini & Messenger bag (and, you'll just have to wait for details on that one!)

• a man's billfold/wallet, and;

• a fantastic flat cross-body bag for men and women.

Of course, there will be more details and photos and prices, but, just wanted to give you a bit of a sneak peek preview. Please check back!

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!

And now I'm back, from outspace....

...ok. I've been back for a few hours under a week now. And, so much I missed here on this Three Stone Steps blog: I missed Chinese New Years and Vietnamese New Years, or Tet. In honor of the holidays, I present this photo from Singapore's Chinatown. What this has to do with the new year of the Rat, I'm not certain, but it's a fun and festive and a little scary reminder of a huge holiday elsewhere in the U.S.

I'm home long enough that I'm back to work, and getting low on inventory and waiting to replenish it. In case you're wondering, I'm very low on the mosquito netting messenger bags. Very few of these are available, and in very select colors. I'm also currently low on the cotton messenger bags with the lovely Khmer pattern. More are coming soon, in some very great colors. Although I hoped, as mentioned below, to find more great handbags, messenger bags, wallets, and scarves from all over the region, all my ordering has come, so far, from Phnom Penh. If you've not been, here's a picture of the Independence Monument there. A really fantastic landmark, although mild confusion at times about exactly which turn off it is for my guesthouse!

As usual, being in S.E. Asia gave me loads to think about with regards to fashion accessories, and products, and designs and colors. Next to my hotel in Singapore, there was a great, historic Buddhist temple. The street was full of flower sellers, and most of them were selling lotus flowers in various stages of bloom. Of course, my little cosmetic bag (currently on sale!) and my business card holders (also on sale) and the lovely Angkor Bag are all based on the lotus pattern, which are the lovely flowers shown on the left.

Finally, I'm back from outerspace in time to vote in the Potomac or Chesapeake or Crabcake Primary. Very exciting election and very exciting time.

I'll provide more updates on my new products and new colors as I receive them. And, back to work for the rest of the day, until I can stick around and be my nerdy self and keep tabs on the election results as they come in.

Adieu, Asia

This is my last night in Asia. It's been a relatively quick and relatively eventful trip. I'm excited to get back to Baltimore (well, as excited as one can be when confronted with close to 20 hours of flying....and, in coach!).

Here as some of the new offerings on tap: new bags made from mosquito netting, and made especially for Three Stone Steps. One is specifically a women's bag, and two others are unisex. There will be a man's wallet, too. In addition to mosquito netting, some of these items will be offered in a woven black plastic bag material. Just wait until you see them!

I'll be some of the same great cotton and silk bags, but with some tweaking, and in some fantastic new colors. And, new, fantastic cosmetic bags are coming soon.

Anyway, there's more of course. But, I have a very early morning flight, and must try to get some sleep.

I promise some photos and more tales of travel soon.

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!

More bags and wallets, and in record time

I'm happy to report that I received a new shipment of the great mosquito net messenger, laptop, and travelers bags and wallets from Cambodia. And, it arrived in record time.

There are great colors for fall and winter, including O's orange traveler's bags, just a perfect accessory as you go trick or treating. Also, laptop bags in green, iridescent, copper, and silver.

It's always so exciting when the boxes arrive. Please take a look!