Out of Africa
Traditional Textiles from Tanzania
Friday, March 30, 2007
Put a little of the savannah on your sofa with pillows from Tanzanian charity Haba Na Haba. The textiles are hand-crafted treasures, made from sustainable resources native to Tanzania.
Products are primarily manufactured by small, women-owned businesses that provide on-the-job training to at-risk young adults. The organization donates 10% of profits to Tanzanian non-profit agencies that provide educational opportunities to young Tanzanian women and youth, many orphaned by AIDS.
Haba Na Haba’s current featured artist, Flotea Massawe started her business literally from scratch—begging merchants for scraps of fabric so that she could sew. She hired homeless orphaned teens and trained them in manufacturing skills. Now, Flotea’s textile workshop, based in Dar es Salaam, produces high quality home furnishings and clothing sold internationally. Her pillow designs draw on patterns found in nature throughout Tanzania. Another of Haba Na Haba’s offerings is a line of cushion covers made from handwoven Kuba ceremonial cloth. Tablecloths and runners round out the selection.
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Squared Away
Tile Breaks Out of the Box
Monday, March 26, 2007
Surving Studios‘ porcelain relief tiles are real standouts. Literally. Surving’s range of “cutouts,” or appliqués, are made by cutting away the background around the relief when the clay is wet to leave a free-standing leaf or animal.
Their nature-themed collections include the Rainforest, like its namesake rich in variety and detail. It includes full trees with branches, leaves, and animals, bark tiles, even a tree frog peeking out of a knothole. A blue butterfly, a large beetle, and a tiger moth are each sculpted perched on a leaf. The Waterworld collection includes diving frogs, seahorses, fish, turtles and lilypads.
Most of their 2”, 4”, and 6” decorative tile can be turned into an appliqué, which can be applied to wood, painted walls, plastic or almost any smooth surface. Cutting them into stone, tile, or even wood creates another handsome effect. The appliqué tiles can be used indoors, outdoors, and in wet environments.
Consult a dealer for help with creating designs, picking the right tiles and expert advice on the proper grouts and colors of grout. Locally, you can find Surving applique tiles, as well as their other lines, at Matt Clark Tile in San Luis Obispo.
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The Final Throws
Enjoy End-of-Winter Reductions on Cashmere Blankets
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Today is the first official day of spring. So it’s exactly the time to be thinking ahead to winter! Yes, there are good deals to be had on woolies and upscale Italian linen house Frette is no exception. Their finely woven cashmere and silk throws are 20% off until March 31. The fringed blankets are available in wonderfully subtle colors like ivory, light blue and tea rose. Cuddling up with your blankie has never been quite so luxurious!
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Take It to The Bank
BofA Gets Behind Green Homes
Friday, March 16, 2007
It just got easier to buy a green house. Bank of America, the nation’s largest retail bank, has announced a $20 billion, yes, billion, initiative to help combat global warming through reduced energy use and sustainable construction.
The big news for homeowners is that the bank will offer reduced mortgage rates or $1,000 back on energy-efficient homes.
Other consumer and residential initiatives include donating $50 million from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to develop green affordable housing, and an Environmental Home Equity Program under which the bank will make an annual donation to a non-profit organization that focuses on environmental conservation.
Overall, the 10-year initiative encourages development of environmentally sustainable business practices through lending, investing, philanthropy and the creation of new products and services.
More Green for “Green?”
Home Buyers Willing to Pay for Green
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
U.S. homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for more environmentally friendly homes, says a recent survey released by Green Builder Media and Imre Communications.
The study surveyed more than 250 residential builders across the United States. A wide range of builders was included from the affordable, market rate, luxury/semi-custom, custom, multi-family and developer categories.
Interestingly, 51 percent of homebuilders surveyed report that buyers are willing to pay a premium of between 11-25 percent for green built homes. The same builders report that the average green homebuyer is between the ages of 35-50 with a college degree and fair understanding of green products.
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