Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cool New Store in LA - H.D. Buttercup






Found this beautiful new store in Los Angeles, in a Interior Design html newsletter. The fabulous room colors caught my eye. Awhile back I blogged these cool filigree light fixtures. A local company in North San Diego County called Hi Octane Design can create large wall graphics like those flower graphics shown in photo two. The store is H.D. Buttercup. They are located 3225 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034. Well I am ready for an LA trip to go explore some new places. Anyone want to make a day trip?

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The proper way to coax ketchup out of a bottle and why Plastic Planet the movie needs to go viral



I remember years ago when I was in High School and my parents came back from a trip to Sweden and Denmark. They said to me "Make a conscious effort to stop buying plastic. We watched a documentary while we were in Sweden about how bad plastic is and that it is thought to effect hormones in people and all sorts of things." Being in high school my reaction to this was ok and I made sure to buy soda in a can, we could even still get it in a bottle in Nevada then. And when presented the choice I always choose glass.

As I grew older and noticed that everything went from glass packaging to plastic. Remember glass bottles of Heinz ketchup? Syrup used to come in a glass bottle, so did vinegar, milk and juice. And now while our grocery bags maybe lighter, we can't get away from plastic. We are no longer given the choice. Lately I have been really trying to rid myself of it.


A year of two ago, I went through my kitchen and threw away all my tupperware and plastic bowls. I kept a few things mostly disposable packaging like a Coolwhip dish. But I bought glass plates that can go in the microwave. I bought old vintage pyrex refrigeratorware so that I can store food in glass. We still have plastic plates that are used on occasion. but all my kids including the 5year old know that we never put plastic dishes in the microwave.

I fell into the ease of life and I buy kids snacks that come in portion size servings. Things like yogurt, gogurt and peaches etc. I do try to get a second use out of these plastic packages by cleaning them and saving them for a craft project I might need them for.
But I really want to encourage food companies to give us back the choice of packaging. I want ketchup in a glass jar, who cares if you can't squeeze it. Do you know how many stories my kids and I can come up with of the proper way to coax ketchup out of a bottle. Many many, like tilt the bottle and tap the label (where it reads Heinz) with your butter knife. Or tilt the bottle down and hit the bottom of the bottle with the palm of your hand. I am sure you have a method of your own even too.

Bring back the bulk food aisles. Give me choices to buy yogurt in bulk. Give me my cheese not in plastic. Let me have cartons.

Which brings me to this movie. Plastic Planet. I really want to see it. My husband Brad came across a trailer for it online and knew I would love it. I wrote an email to the movie director Werner Boote and he actually responded. So let's watch this movie and let's figure out to rid our selves and choosing plastic constantly.


Opens at Cinema Village in New York on January 14, 2011

Director Werner Boote is Available for Interviews

NYC PRESS SCREENING

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 11 a.m.
Cinema Village
22 East 12th Street, NYC

RSVP by January 7th to kelly.hargraves@firstrunfeatures.com



PRESS RELEASE INFO:

We live in the age of plastic. It’s cheap and practical, and it’s everywhere – even in our blood. But is it a danger to us?

The plastic industry annually generates hundreds of billions of dollars. Every industrial sector in the world today is dependent on plastic. The amount of plastic we have produced since it was invented would be enough to cover the entire globe six times over. But this inexpensive and convenient substance comes with a hefty price. Plastic stays in the ground and water system for up to 500 years. It is found on every beach in the world. Numerous studies have proven that the chemicals it releases (such as Bisphenol A) migrate into the human body and may contribute to or cause grave health problems, from allergies to obesity to infertility, cancer and heart disease.

For Austrian German director Werner Boote, plastic is personal. His grandfather was one of the early manufacturers of plastic and he introduced Boote at a young age to the magic substance that would change the world. Many years later, after reading about the global threat posed by plastic, he decides to embark on a quest to discover the truth about this pervasive substance. Traveling to fourteen countries, he boldly and humorously confronts manufacturers, scientists, government officials and consumers to ask questions that concern all of us: Why don’t we change our consumption behavior? Why is the industry not reacting to apparent dangers? Who is held accountable for hills of garbage mounting in deserts and seas? Who wins in this game? And who loses?

This feisty, informative documentary takes us on a journey around the globe - from the Moroccan Sahara to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, from a factory in China to the highest peaks of the Alps - to reveal the far-flung reaches of our plastic problem. Interviews with the world’s foremost experts in biology, pharmacology, and genetics shed light on the perils of plastic to our environment and expose the truth of how plastic affects our bodies and the health of future generations. Interspersing animated sequences and old commercials, this eye-opening film reveals how the world has wholeheartedly embraced the convenience of a substance it knows nothing about.

"'Plastic Planet' is that rare call-to-action documentary that might rouse viewers to do something more than nod their heads in agreement. A methodically researched yet engaging examination of the environmental and health problems associated with plastic, this wide-ranging warning cry uses an intelligent investigative style along with animation and vintage footage to drive home its message."
– Jay Weissberg, Variety


PLASTIC PLANET
95 min, Color, English narration and subtitles, Dolby Digital
Written and directed by Werner Boote
Original Music by the Orb
Animation by Peter Hoehsl
Produced by Thomas Bogner, Daniel Zuta
Executive producers, Tom Glaeser, Ilann Girard

With: John Taylor, Peter Lieberzeit, Marques Brown, Othman Ilyassa, Klaus Rhomberg, Beatrice Bortolozzo, Felice Casson, Juergen Artner, Frederic Corbin, Robin Tharaldson, Hermann Bicherl, Vicky Zhang, Theo Colborn, Kurt Scheidl, Rupsha Raghuram, Charles Moore, Susan Jobling, Scott Belcher, Patricia Hunt, Gunther von Hagens, Badru Okidi, Hiroshi Sagae, Jeff Harris, Fred vom Saal, Craig Halgreen, Guido Brosius, Stefano Facco, Catia Bastioli, Ray Hammond, Margot Wallstrom, Elfriede Boote. Narrator: Mark Jefferis

Press materials are available at: firstrunfeatures.com/plasticplanet_press.html

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

My top 3 business book reading choices for 2011

So this year I started off my month of January with a few new reads that I feel will be inspirational and motivating.

The book that arrived first is Tribes by Seth Godin. I have a read a few a Seth's books. I also subscribe to his blog, and read his posts daily in my email inbox. I really enjoy Seth's writing. Simple stories that convey his ideas and his ability to think alternatively. So far I am about half way through this read and enjoying it.

Tribes by Seth Godin | 2011 Business reading list item #1

Second on my list is The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs, insanely different principles for breakthrough success by Carmine Gallo. I love Apple innovation so this book should be great. I am think I am going to read this second.

The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs

Lastly another Seth Godin book titled Linchpin.
Linchpin by Seth Godin | 2011 Business reading list item #2

Monday, January 10, 2011

Top 13 Jewelry Making & Design Books from the Library of Alicia Hanson

My Favorite Jewelry Books

Here are my top 13 books about jewelry making and fabrication methods.

Practical Casting by Tim McCreight
The Naughty Secretary Club by Jennifer Perkins
The Jeweler's Directory of Decorative Finishes by McGrath
Resin Jewelry by Katherine Murphy
French Inspired Jewelry by Kaari Meng
The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques by Anastasia Young
The Art of Resin Jewelry by Haab
The Art of Metal Clay by Haab
Findings The Jewelry of Ramona Solberg by Halper
Jewelry Fundamentals of Metalsmithing by Tim McCreight
The Jeweler's Studio Handbook by Holchuh
The Metalsmith's Book of Boxes & Lockets by Tim McCreight
Plastic Jewelry of the Twentieth Century by Baker


Saturday, January 8, 2011

Felted Jewelry by Filzlaus

I found these super fun felted creations on Flickr today by Filzlaus She sells some of felt creations in her Etsy shop, Filzlauz.

I love the whimsy and colors.

Rose

♥♥ Meeresrauschen im Juli ♥♥

Blumenkette

Blumenkette

Friday, January 7, 2011

New smells I can't get enough of


While perusing my local Henry's market I came across, Pacifica Perfume Roll-ons. I tried a few and couldn't resist Tuscan Blood Orange. I don't know what it is about rollerball perfume, but I love the packaging and I am a sucker for Citrus scents.
The Pacifica Perfumes, contain their best-selling fragrances in natural grain alcohol. And, they are free of phthalates, nitro-musks, benzene, and other things you don't want.

Size: .33 oz.
Price: $12.00
Item #: 63027

You can get them online at Pacifica Perfume or at your local Natural Food's Market like Henry's.

Monday, January 3, 2011

2011 Creative Reading List - The fun half

Happy New Year. I am so excited about 2011. I am really looking forward to all sorts of wonderful new things. Including trying new things. Here is the fun half of my 2011 reading list.

I want to do more homesteading around our place. We have the room and I would love to be off the grid and self sufficient and some point in my life. This will be a good start.

photo
Homesteading by Abigail Gehring

I just love my Scandinavian roots and I love the patterns and imagery. I want to try a little felting this year too.


photo
Scandinavian Needlecraft by Clare Youngs

I just can't get enough of cool architecture. This book has a lot of new wonderful homes in it and some of them are prefab. Inspiration for our new small shed.

photo
Green Homes New Ideas for Sustainable Living by Sergi Costa Duran

I also ordered 3 more books that will be my business reading list. I will post those when they arrive.