Like most people, I’ve been knocked out by the winter blahs, eagerly anticipating summer. Tomorrow I’m planning to start some seedlings indoors in hopes of having homegrown peppers and squash to toss on my grill this summer. I’ve been making many efforts to clean house by bringing all sorts of things to my local consignment store and by actually using what I already have in lieu of buying more (fabric and food). Right now I:
Am putting a dent in my fabric collection by making aprons and market bags.
Love trawling for vintage state souvenir tablecloths on ebay.
Am finally bringing out and using my beloved Fiesta ware.
Am in love with a set of Pyrex mixing bowls that belonged to my grandmother.
Needless to say, I’m being content with and gladly using what I have and preferring old over new. It makes my life green and that makes me happy.
**Update 10/10/08. Got them today, and almost cried when I saw how HUGE they were. These definitely don’t run small, so my normal 39 should do. But they actually sent me a 41. My toes didn’t even make it to the cutout detail. 39 was not available in brown, so I’m hoping they’ll exchange them for the green. I have to say Planet shoes has been good otherwise–they processed my return the day the received it, so a refund should be coming soon…followed by this one, then hopefully I will receive a pair that works. Very frustrated with EN’s sizing right now–I’m hoping the Iggdrasil wasn’t their one crowning achievement.**
in a size 40–hope that when I get them they don’t look fit for Sasquatch. I almost got the Prado olive/green combo, but I realized that I really don’t have brown shoes. At least these should have more support than the Organicos.
This is my new purchase. Last pair available in 39, and hoping it doesn’t run small. The ones I bought are black and (if they fit) will look fab with my sushi socks!. Purchased them from Planet Shoes–an online vendor that has an awesome array of eco-friendly and otherwise unusual shoes. Their online reviews were a little sketchy, but it seems they’ve since changed some of their policies and now offer free shipping both ways. So, we’ll see. They’re located one state north of me, so if it takes 2 weeks for them to get here, I’m going to be steamed.
When my El Naturalista Iggdrasil mary janes arrived, I took a moment to look at the frog insignia printed on top of the box and thought, “This might be my one and only time looking down at this little fella after tearing open a little box of gold delivered by UPS (i.e. a shoe box).”
Who the heck am I kidding?
My review of the Iggdrasils gave Chez Shoes the final push she needed to buy a pair for herself (although I feel certain that by now, she also has a red pair on their way to her door), and in return she convinced me (unintentionally, of course) that I needs me some EN mary janes in black. So I’m pondering my next purchase, but in the meantime, here’s what I’m drooling over. This is where you should stop and get a napkin before scrolling down. Really. Go now.
The Camper-esque Dryland mary jane
Ginkgo boots. The multi-colored ones are gorgeous
Nasca mary jane in purple (!)
Mary Jane with Nasca sole
Organico mary janes in Tibet. The sole that currently fascinates me--looks like little coffee beans
They arrived yesterday, and to my disappointment (cause I didn’t need to spend $70 right now) they are fabulous, and you can bet your sweet aspercreme I’m wearing them today. Photos and an in-depth review to follow. Fans of red shoes are in deep doo doo.
I’ve loved everything in the Sahalie catalog since I first stumbled upon them a few months ago–that’s where I got my Keen Carmels. So I’m making another small purchase–an organic cotton top that has been clay-dyed which, according to the website, is “derived from ancient Native American methods.” $49.95, plus I have a 20% off code, so I think I’ll try it–I love the slightly cinched neckline.
I rarely update my doll blog (www.pattersoncrow.blogspot.com), so why did I create this one? For now, I’ve convinced myself that this blog can satisfy all my interests since they all share common goals–a lean towards self-sufficiency and a genuine desire to preserve the environment.
I intend to sing the praises of timber frame homes–regardless of whether or not my husband and I are actually able to build one on our property (the builder wants waaaaaayy more than we expected). They are absolutely stunning in person, with such a warm, old-world feeling about them. And the fact that they are crafted by hand (yes, the framer cuts, shapes and fits each beam by hand) makes them so much more personalized than a modular home. There are no nails involved, yet a timber frame can last centuries beyond a conventional stick frame house. When paired with SIPS (foam-cored panels made of purely recycled material) a house’s efficiency dramatically increases and can save you up to 70% off your energy bills. Check out my links and suggested reading–seriously, if you’re thinking of building, give timber frame construction a thought.
Anyone who has visited my Flickr album knows I’m a shoe whore…a big one. Whenever I go into work, my coworkers say hi and instantly look down at my feet. My husband says I’m sick; my mom (a former shoe whore) drops comments (“another pair of shoes??”). Buy I am not a payless girl. My high arches and narrow heels call for support, and if possible, eco-friendly support. I like giving my business to companies who use recycled materials in both their products and packaging, and if they support environmental charities, all the better. You will often hear me rave about:
Keen
Dansko
Chaco
and my new obsession, El Naturalista
I’ll be happy to waste precious time reviewing shoes from these companies in an attempt to share the love with others who care about their feet!
