LotusHaus

Shunyata Series by Junko Yamamoto

It's a wonderful miracle when you discover that someone you know has been honing their creative and artistic talent right under your nose! I have known Junko Yamamoto for a few years now in the Seattle event industry, but I had no idea that she was an artist! Junko will be having a solo show featuring the "Shunyata Series" at Gallery IMA during the month of June. Shunyata means "emptiness" in Sanskrit. To learn more about the inspiration for this body of work, make sure to read her artist statement... it's very inspiring! I'm definitely loving the one with the talk bubble as artwork for our nursery... the empty talk bubble is asking me "Will it be a boy or will it be a girl?" hee hee!

Tulip Festival

Finally, this year we were able to catch the Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon, which only happens once a year in April. The drive was about 1.5 hours north of Seattle and the traffic was horrendous, but it was well worth the wait to see so many beautiful fields filled with colorful tulips! I went with my hubby, best friend and godson... Isaiah was more interested in the tractors going by and the airplanes flying over head than the flowers, lol!

Garden and Cosmos } Royal Paintings of Jodphur at the Seattle Asian Art Museum

I will definitely get inspired by Garden and Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur, an upcoming exhibit at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Showing from January 29-April 26, 2009, this exhibit features Indian paintings that flourished in the royal courts of Rajasthan from the 17th to the 19th century. Produced for the Rajasthan nobles, these paintings have never been published; most have been seen by just a few scholars since their creation. This is the first time these paintings will be exhibited in the United States.

Come and check out the exhibit and these related events with me!

Free First Saturday
Cosmic Adventures
February 7, 2009
11am–2pm
Seattle Asian Art Museum
*Make your own garden world, experience traditional Indian dancing, do yoga and get your own henna tattoos.

Indian Music Concert
VadyaVrinda - Indian Instrumental Ensemble" from Seattle (YouTube)
February 7, 2009
2:30-3:30pm
Seattle Asian Art Museum - Fuller Garden Court

Remix with a Twist
Age 21 and Over
March 6, 2009
8pm–midnight
Seattle Asian Art Museum - Fuller Garden Court
*I Heart Shiva spinning popular Indian dance music. Enjoy performances at this special late-night event at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. This event is open to guests age 21 and over only. ID required for entry.

Seattle Wedding Show - part one

The New Year (year of the ox) has started off just right! I've been busy with work and meeting lots of wedding couples for our DJ business. We had a booth at the Seattle Wedding Show last weekend for the first time (we were waitlisted for a year) and it was a huge success! Before I show you my non-pro photos here are some glorious photos from Azzura Photography , Janet Klinger Photo and One Love Photo! Stay tuned for some great event decor ideas...

Bella Signature Design - Event Design, Event Decor, Floral Design, Green Wedding Service
Beautiful hot pink and orange themed environment. I love Daniela! She's so awesome...and she's an expert at designing Indian style weddings! See more photos on her blog. (Photos:Azzura Photography)

Rented Elegance - Event Design, Event Decor Rentals, Floral Decor
Refreshing chartreuse and yellow greens along with taupe and champagne colors. (Photos: Azzura Photography)




Flora Nova Design - Floral and Event Design
Modern tablescapes, bouquets and centerpieces. See more work at the Floral Nova blog. (Photos: Janet Klinger Photo)


One Love Photo - The Ultimate Wedding Artwork!
Heather Gilson is an awesome photographer that also makes breathtaking, sentimental and endearing mixed media artwork starring your favorite photo and vintage fabrics, papers and other artistic elements. I was in love with the dress form and the many pieces she had on display at the show! Wouldn't this be the most amazing wedding gift!!! I Want one!

Red Fish Blue Fish Photography } Green Wedding Services

Last fall, Bamboo Beats, our DJ company had the pleasure of working a wedding with Red Fish Blue Fish Photography, one super talented Seattle-based husband and wife team. I was delighted to find out that they now have green wedding services that include a carbon credit offset from Terra Pass. Awesome! Our DJ business also offers a green dj wedding service along with 1 Ton of Carbon Offsets from Native Energy and a display certificate for each of our weddings.

My Hubby, My Birthday and My Favorite Songbird!

My hubby loves me very much! For my birthday, which was August 18th, he surprised me with tickets to see Amel Larrieux, my favorite singer, at the Jazz Alley on October 26... We just got back from the show tonight (see left photo) and I will never be able to explain in words or pictures what an incredible experience it was! This bravebird transports you to a universe of inexplicable beauty, truth and soul!  She has a style and a voice all her own...she swoops, scats and takes you on excursions...she has been called a bohemian soul singer, progressive rhythm and blues vocalist, and neo-soul chanteuse...but to me, Amel Larrieux is beyond categorization. You'd have to witness her show live to understand my testimony to this goddess of sound. I lost myself at this show and found even more love and inspiration!

 

Sogetsu Ikebana Seattle Branch } 20th Anniversary "Reverberance" Exhibit

Click below to see more photos of this incredible display of Sogetsu Ikebana!

BoConcept Grand Opening Event! } Thursday, Sept. 25th

Come check out the Official Launch Party for BoConcept in Seattle! There will be a fashion show by the Finerie and plenty to eat and drink! Gift bags for the first 200 folks! More info here. See these photos from my last visit to this wonderful store!

Hotel Murano in Tacoma

Hotel Murano is a chic, modern, art-inspired hotel located just south of Seattle, in the city of Tacoma. A few weekends ago we had the pleasure of DJ-ing a wedding in the ballroom. The minute I walked through the lobby door I was in love! Check out the modern floral stylings and decor below. (real foliage, nothing faux)

I love the freshness of the entry table and floral arrangement below! Steel grass and lime green anthuriums in a glass goblet style vase really make a statement. And look at the colorful seating and back lit front desk!

Here are some photos of the banquet room...a friend of the bride's did the flowers (beautiful!) and I love the glass bubble chandeliers and modern carpet flooring design...
 

BoConcept } From Denmark to Seattle!

I was recently invited to a wonderful launch party by my friend Liana at Modern Seattle Weddings. Her brother has just opened the first BoConcept store in Washington! Located on Western Avenue admist other fine modern furnishing stores like Inform, Ligne Roset and Roche Bobois, BoConcept brings us global modern design from Denmark. The store is amazing and spacious and I love the warm modernism and custom fabric choices. The "Don't Blame Us" marketing is fun and quirky, and reminds us to live a little, and not take life so seriously! But seriously, though, you need to head down to BoConcept and get inspired...but don't blame me if you decide to completely redo your home decor!

Sex and the City } A Stylish Ladies Night in Seattle!

(Photos by Barbie Hull Photography, graphics and styling by LotusHaus Creative Services)

Check out this stylish event for the Ladies that I helped design, inspired by, you guessed it, Sex and the City! Hosted at the beautiful Ibiza Dinner Club, we pulled out all the stops to create a lovely ambiance for the ladies (and gents) to lounge, lavish and dance the night away.

H&M } Blesses Seattle with Affordable and Fashion Forward Style!

H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), the Swedish fashion department store chain is finally coming to Seattle!!!! It's like IKEA for fashion...seriously! I just read that H&M will open three stores this Fall. One in the University Village, one downtown Seattle and one at Southcenter mall, in my own backyard! Oh man, this is big news for Seattle fashion. I have been to the many H&M stores in New York and it's madness. You can expect to wait in line for a dressing room and then again to check out. I always love their textile prints - you can imagine the awesomeness of finding a plethora of summer wrap dresses in prints reminiscent of Marimekko, Orla Kierly or Dianne Von Furstenberg for $24.99! It would make any mild mannered fashionista's heart race and blood pulse. Oh and don't feel too bad. H&M is also working on their corporate responsibility & sustainability initiatives by providing its followers with affordable organic cotton options too.

Clover House } Gifts, Plants, Home

Yesterday, I happened upon Clover House, a wonderful boutique near the Whole Foods in downtown Seattle. They have a really nice selection of plants, gifts and beauty products.

I scored the mini Hide Box that I wrote about in a previous post! I love it for jewelry and little trinkets and it comes with a small lavender sachet to keep things smelling as sweet as ever. There is also a larger size that is perfect for storing things like remote controls, bedside books, etc.

I also liked the selection of ceramics, lamps and floral related decor - like these gold plated "Tilla Flowers" shown above, farthest right.

I also got hip to Herve Gambs, an amazing French perfumery and high end decor company. The collection is  soooo amazing! Lastly, I was happy to see the full line of Dani, an all-natural, Oregon based beauty line. I really liked this shop and will definitely frequent Clover House more often!

A Zen Christmas

Each year I release myself from the holiday madness by watching others go crazy. While shopping at Ikea recently, I was relieved to see this lovely Zen inspired display in the framing section. I love the fresh green and black scheme of this vignette and how easily you could DIY. Sticks and stones...shadow boxes and hot glue!  I'm such a merchandising and display stalker! Window shopping is the best shopping ever - because it's free!!!

Wouldn't this be an interesting Christmas theme? The smaller presence of red (just the red hangtags poking out) makes this so refreshing and modern! Hmmm, maybe I will try this next year (got no energy this year - I'm just adding gold and silver to my chocolate and persimmon Thanksgiving decor to make it work - saw this at Ikea too!). And to make the Zen Christmas theme uber modern and globally inspired, I would love to try a large scale ikebana sculpture in lieu of a Christmas tree, using green bamboo poles. Below are some inspirations.

Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibit (Sorry, don't remember the source. Look how huge it is! Amazing!)

Free form Ikebana style wedding ceremony sculpture by the amazing Waterlily Pond Floral Design studio.

Texuba } Vintage Kimono Finds

Check out my sweet textile finds from the Texuba sale in Seattle! These are hand embroidered pieces of vintage kimonos! I just love the feeling of history, the detailed motifs and the beautiful brilliant colors!

Origami Graphics to Fold For!

This hand screened origami swan pillow by Galactic Boutique in Seattle is too cool! It makes me want to learn the art of silk screening! The graphics below were some concepts I worked on a few years ago.

Scratch Patch } Organic and Natural Healing through Gem Stones

I opened up the latest Seattle Conscious Choice magazine and was magically inspired. Amanda Lamprecht is an amazing woman that helps others heal through many mediums. As the founder of the Joyful Healing Arts Center in West Seattle which offers wellness through yoga, music and sound therapy, Amanda has added another dimension of healing inspired by her South African roots.

Scratch Patch is a sensory experience in the Roosevelt district where you can immerse yourself in a sea of smooth, colorful gemstones and enjoy a sense of beauty and connection with nature. The experience is simple but oh so serene. Grab a plush flower basket, plop down and "scratch" around the thousands of beautiful gemstones that cover the floor, all the while listening to the sounds of birds chirping.

I surprised my hubby with a little trip to Scratch Patch yesterday (camera phone photos suck! oh well). As a DJ, I thought it would be fun for him because he "scratches" on the turntables. For me, it was the ultimate creative experience in color therapy. I'm the type of gal that likes going to the bead and jewelry shows for the sheer pleasure of handling the smooth surfaces and taking in all of the natural sparkling colors. Anyone who has seen Amelie's guilty pleasure of sliding her hand into a barrel of smooth beans, knows what I'm talking about. I had a lot of fun creating different color combinations and learning about the properties of the different stones. Amanda was such a wonderful soul and had such a positive and comforting vibe. Definitely an organic and natural experience! Take a friend and get to scratching! Oh and don't forget to check out Amanda's gem stone jewelry and her new children's jewelry collection!

Remedy Teas } Organic and Modern Tea Cafe in Seattle

I'm loving the modern and organic Remedy Teas cafe tucked away on Capitol Hill off of 15th. We popped in one day and enjoyed some nice organic green tea and cucumber sandwiches. The look is fresh and modern with white tiles, a shot of chartreuse, walnut veneer and chrome finishes...I'm also in love with the oh so cool use of the classic Helvetica typeface. Remedy's numbered tea storage jars are also cool and seem to just float on adjustable dowels. Check out the website to see their full menu of organic tasty treats, teas and "spiked" tea cocktails. While we were in there, Seattle native Ishmael Butler from the Grammy winning Digable Planets strolled in for a shot of hot tea...cuz he's cool like that! (Sorry, I couldn't resist, Ish!)

Modern Condo Remodel } Finally Complete!

Well, we finally finished our year long DIY remodel of our old condo!!! Amidst all the frustration and angst, we are very happy with the results. Now if someone would just buy it we'd be really happy! We wanted give the new owners the most style and eco-conscious updates for their money (and ours). We were going for a downtown loft look and I think we got pretty close, thanks to Ikea! Check out these awesome before and after photos of the major renovation done to the kitchen and bathroom. The old kitchen had 70's faux wood grain and split pea soup laminate countertops, dated appliances and inefficient storage space. The new kitchen has sleek Eucalyptus veneer cabinets, steel look appliances, a double sink and a cool ceiling fan (can't see it in the picture, sorry).

Same thing with the bathroom...the old one had 70's faux wood grain and split pea soup laminate countertops. The new bathroom has a brand new all in one shower/tub (which was really challenging getting it in there), tile floors, energy efficient toilet, a stylish sink/vanity and chrome fixtures. Check out our cool Craigslist posting to see all of the features of this entry level condo.

Zen Tea House In Your Own Backyard

Zentabulous! This modern teahouse designed by installation artists, Sutton Beres Culler, is so beautiful and interesting with it's varying wood stripes and butterfly roof design. If you want this teahouse you can buy it here along with the mid-century modern home that is for sale with it for $895K.

Kate Quinn Organics } Organic Kidswear from Seattle

I have always loved the Kate Quinn Organics line of organic cotton baby clothes, baby bedding, & childrenswear, but I never knew the company was based in my home town! Today I discovered that there is a showroom and store just a short drive from my home in south Seattle. You've got to check out the very adorable organic baby gift sets available online or at the store.

Kate & Brian } Wedding Style with an Organic Touch

Last Saturday, on August 18th (my 32nd birthday!), a lovely couple named Kate & Brian were married and we, Bamboo Beats, the DJ company I have with my husband, had the honor of providing the music and lights for their reception at the Tyee Yacht Club. Here are some tantalizing images and details from their wedding.

The Tyee Yacht Club has a wonderful mid century modern feeling with a patio that overlooks Lake Washington. The couple's friend designed the decor which included hanging various orange and white paper lanterns from a hula hoop that was painted white. It was very organic feeling and graphic looking at the same time. What a great idea!

The wedding colors were orange and sage green and the table decor was simple and charming. There were alternating arrangements of dahlias and a two tiered gardenesque centerpiece. The floral design was by Garden Party Flowers.

The overall theme was very modern and garden chic...and the food by Ravishing Radish was oh so fabulous!!! We were lucky to have been given plates and let me tell you, it was the tastiest, most organic, wedding food I have ever had!

What was on the menu? Summer organic greens salad, grilled local organic vegetables, spring pea risotto, pan-roasted wild salmon (with organic heirloom tomato & basil vinaigrette), grilled rosemary lemon chicken, vegan eggplant napoleons and organic bread selections. The wedding cake was yummy too! There were layers of chocolate cake with raspberry granache & white cake with lemon curd. Is your mouth watering yet? Ravishing Radish focuses on local and organic catering options with lots of art and style!

Here's the scoop on this organic style wedding:

Reception Location: Tyee Yacht Club on Lake Washington

Organic Catering: Ravishing Radish

Floral Design: Garden Party Flowers

DJ: Bamboo Beats Entertainment

Atsui Tokyo } Tokyo Fashion Boutique in Seattle

Via Seattle Picks I found out about Atsui Tokyo, a brand new store in downtown Seattle that features cutting edge fashion from Tokyo-based designers like Hysteric Glamour and Citrus Notes. Can't wait to check it out!

Miro Tea } Organic Tea & Crepes in Ballard!

Miro Tea just opened in Ballard on Friday and I can't wait to check it out! Looking sleek & eco-savvy with sorghum walls and a reclaimed wood bar, I hear the iced tea and crepes are to live for! You can select from many organic options before enjoying your tea and crepes outside in the outdoor patio area. The founder Jennie Liu has a history of hip tea spots, as she was the co-founder of Oasis Tea Zone, the urban boba tea (bubble) hangout across from Uwajimaya in the International District. Check out a few sweet reviews for Miro Tea here.

Theo & The Chocolate Factory } Organic Chocolate from Seattle

The Theo Chocolate Factory in Seattle makes delectable organic, fair trade & designer chocolates & treats. The fun part is that you can actually tour their factory in Fremont! The beautiful packaging was illustrated by the talented Seattle artist, Zaara of Kitten Chops.

Recycle It!

I love this Recycle logo that I found on the Resource Venture website. If you're summer cleaning and about to throw something out...STOP! Look online to see if there are recyclers in your town that will take it. If you are in Seattle, check out the Recycler Database for some great resources.

Seattle Weekly } Get Your Green Card

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Seattle Weekly has a great new feature called the Green Card. Sign up online and you will receive a card in the mail which entitles you to green discounts and specials at participating businesses. Small businesses and entrepreneurs, I encourage you to learn more about greening your business and participating in awareness programs like this. You will not only do good for the green earth & your green pockets but you will also open your doors to a new market of friendly, happy NEW customers.

Speaking of friendly new markets, I picked up this little card at the Greenfresh Market, the newest green grocery store in Renton (south of Seattle), just minutes from my house!!!! The store is daybright (they have clerestory windows), the goods are green, organic and local, and the people are so friendly and happy to be working there! It's so easy being green! (The owner was a former PCC partner)

Greening the Flower Industry

Organic Floral Design
Today I saw this ad for Phinney Ridge Florist in this month's Conscious Choice magazine and was quite pleased. Phinney Ridge Florist is a traditional florist that is now offering organic floral arrangements as part of their service. The website is your standard FTD florist site, but hopefully they will update it to let us know more about their new organic offerings. As an aspiring floral artist, my goal is to use local, organic and sustainably grown flowers, as well as sustainable business practices from the ground up (no floral foam, the use of biodegradeable materials, composting, recycling, etc). The flower industry is just starting to go green (you'd think they would be the first, but not so), so I am tremendously excited that this age old industry is finally waking up.

Pesticides & The Flower Industry
The issues with pesticide use in the flower industry are really the same and maybe even worse than those of the cotton industry. The exposure to pesticides is alarming but has not received much attention because most flower farms and distributors are based in countries outside of the US, mostly in Central America. These countries don't have the same regulations as the US. For example, Colombia has the world's second-largest cut-flower industry after the Netherlands, producing 62 percent of all flowers sold in the United States. Many flower workers are single women and due to their exposure to pesticides they experience higher rates of cancer, abortion, premature babies, and silent, chronic illnesses.

The roses you get on Valentine's day or on any occasion for that matter, have been sprayed, rinsed and dipped in a battery of potentially lethal chemicals. Flower distribution is also environmentally taxing as it is exported and shipped all across the world, day in and day out. Top that with the use of floral foam, that green spongey stuff which is made with toxic, non-biodegradable formaldehyde, and your flower arrangement starts to loose it's green appeal.

Greening the Flower Industry
Luckily, some countries are taking measures on their own in terms of regulation. In the U.S, we now have VeriFlora™, a sustainability certification program for fresh cut flowers and potted plants.  In Colombia, the flower exporters association launched Florverde™, which certifies its 200 members for taking steps to improve worker safety and welfare. *Update 7/21/07 - In Canada, Sierra Eco is a resource for sustainable flowers, wholesalers and florists. This information is from Scott Graham, the founder of EcoFlora, a sustainable floral studio in Toronto, Ontario. Thanks Scott!

But the Flower industry has a long way to go. Being such a disposable industry, the amount of plastic packaging, floral foam and organic waste is overwhelming. There is a lack of recycling, composting and sustainable practices by many florists. I've personally seen huge dumpsters filled with floral foam, plastic wrap, tissue, ribbons, plastic plant pots and tons of used flowers.

So the next time you go to your florist or grocery story floral department, ask for organically grown flowers and start raising the demand for beautiful and healthier arrangements. At home you can learn more about organic gardening, use your own garden flowers or visit any of the many farmer's markets for more sustainably grown flowers. Or if you want to send someone flowers, I would suggest ordering from Organic Bouquet. And if you are getting married, check out the online magazine PortoVert for more ways to green the decor part of your celebration.

Raw Threads } My Fashionista Sista

Hooray, Raw Threads my girlfriend's new boutique in Ballard just got a write up in the NW Source! My fashionista sista, Audrise (pictured in the white peasant blouse), opened her boutique in May and it's been a dream come true for her! Raw Threads focuses on few-of-a kind fashion, jewelry & accessories from local designers like Suzabelle, Mac Fashion House and Audrise Paper Kutouts (her signature line). I am honored to have designed her logo, flyer and some floral arrangements for her grand opening.

Pictured above are dresses from her shop. The purple dress on the left was purchased at the grand opening by Jenny from the Trendi blog. The teal dress in the middle is my favorite! It's a reversible dress! The top layer is an elegant sheer fabric and the other layer is a beautiful patterned fabric that peaks out when you shimmy. Reverse the dress for a bolder look. Sorry, this dress has already sold! But there will be more like this available soon! Email Audrise to find out more!

Tacoma Urban Art Festival

On Sunday we went south to the (1) Tacoma Urban Art Festival. Me and my hubby are members of the community based hip hop organization, 206 Zulu Nation, and went to the festival to support fellow Zulu members & Seattle hip hop groups that were performing on stage. My husband, DJ Tecumseh was holding down the turntables. We had fun amidst the intermittent rain storms and sunny skies. (2) Me (on the left) and Kitty Wu of the Coolout Network (3) My wonderful man, Isaac aka DJ Tecumseh of Bamboo Beats Entertainment. (4) Seattle hip hop performers (5) Zulu members group photo (6) Seattle graf artist Angel 179 and her cute orange hippo artwork that I bought for myself!

Chaco Canyon Cafe } Organic in the U District

Yesterday I had lunch with Amy (pictured above), a lovely & sustainable graphic designer and interior decorator, whom I met through BizNik. We both wanted to try out the newly re-opened organic & raw Chaco Canyon Cafe in the University District. Chaco Canyon Cafe is a vibrant organic cafe with a tasty menu and soothing southwestern decor. I enjoy eating Raw food dishes and they have a wonderful and healthy selection. It was fabulous! I had a freshly made Green Goddess drink (cucumber, celery, kale, fennel & ginger) and their version of raw Lasagna. It was pure gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free heaven! The presentation was fantastic too! Look at the pink ribbon made out of red onion! Genius :) Oh, and the owner was really nice too! Here's a little video for you folks that are not in Seattle.

If you are ever in New York, you must also check out the raw foods restaurant Pure Food & Wine. I have the recipe book and have personally eaten in their NY restaurant too. It was also organic heaven! Enjoy!

Ikebana at Kobo Seattle

Sogetsu School teaches that Ikebana can be done

Anywhere,
at Anytime,
by Anyone,
Using any kind of material...

"Ikebana is an expression of hospitality"...

Here's your chance! Next Saturday you can experience Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging with Megumi Schacher. The two hour workshop will be held at one of my favorite stores, Kobo Seattle, in the International District. You will learn to create plant sculptures and modern ikebana arrangements for your home using flowers from your garden or flowers you love. This class is open to the beginner or for those with more experience. Megumi Schacher is a member of the Seattle branch of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana and a certified instructor.

When:  Saturday, June 23, 2007, 10 am - 12 pm
Where: KOBO at Higo in the International District

$25 per person. Reservations are required.  Please reserve your spot by 6/20/07. (206) 381-3000

Photo of a peony and branch arrangement by the incredible master Kawana Tetsunori whose amazing demonstration I was able to witness at the Sogetsu 80th Anniversary celebration at Mercer View Community Center.

Julep } fab organic nail parlor and entrepreness!

Ok, where do I start? First, I love Daily Candy Seattle for keeping me in the know. Second, I love the divapreneurial vibe we got going on here in Seattle...Crave, StartUpJunkie, Mac Fashion House, Raw Threads, (my fashion friends) etc. And lastly...Think Green It's Friday!

From Daily Candy I found out about Julep Nail Parlor in the University Village. I love everything that the founder, Jane Park, is about and has built for her salon. She thought of EVERYTHING! And did so in modern, green style. I am so inspired by her business model! This former corporate Starbucky has created the coolest, hippest & most organic nail experience that I have ever come across so far. As a modern gathering place, the Julep concept focuses on sharing your pampering experience. The beautifully designed furniture and lighting are designed to be mobile so your party can gather around and enjoy each other's presence. Don't forget about the fellas. Julep has a special "man"-icure for them too, so they can also join in the party.

Julep makes my stylish green heart sing! Here's why:

• Lotions are paraben free, and use natural and organic ingredients (and they're still trying to do more!).
• Nail vernis colors are gently formulated to be free of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalates.
• Nail vernisseurs have access to health care benefits.
• All employees provide excellent customer service thanks to Jane's "Julep Immersion Program"
• Paper shopping bags are made with 10-30% recycled paper content.
  
• Purchase 100% energy from windpower.
• Installed LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) approved flooring in the parlor.
• Installed a dual flush commode in the restroom (to learn more, visit the Environmental Home Center).
• Used environmentally preferable paint.
• Support the local community through our Corporate Giving Program.
  
• Donate $1 to The Nature Conservancy  on behalf of each guest who brings back her "little orange bag" of disposable implements.
• Gives an inside look into this startup venture with the Julep blog (love it! so inspiring!)

Ok, so I'm booking an appointment right now! Who wants to join me?!

Style Counts } Graffiti showcase

For your visual pleasure, don't miss the exhibit, Style Counts, presenting new graf works and installations by my homies, Hews and Sneke. Saturday, June 16th at The Gilt Edge Society, 2312 4th Ave, Seattle. Opening reception is from 6-11pm, with music by DJ Soul One.

Greener Lifestyles } in Sustainable Ballard

Greener Lifestyles is a modern sustainable furnishings store in Ballard. For those who don't know, Ballard is a hip and sustainable neighborhood just northwest of downtown Seattle. In this modern and delightful store, you will find refreshingly hip furniture, flooring, linens, bamboo tableware, gifts and more. They carry samples of Flor tiles, EcoTimber and Yolo paint for your green decor pleasure. Most of their furniture is custom designed inhouse. I love the sofa collections and the meditation chair you see below (in chocolate colored upholstery.) Unfortunately, there is no info about this piece on their website, so just give them a call and ask for Ben.

 

Herman Yu } paperworks in perfect balance

Herman Yu is one of my favorite Seattle based designers! Her cards and calendars are naturally modern and have such an enlightened quality about them. I also love her design philosophy: "In her work she tries to achieve that perfect balance of form, function, color, and pattern to create modern, simple, refined and useful products...Herman finds inspiration in the surprising details of the everyday - the abundance of color at the farmer's market, a particular bare branch, a shadow pattern, a beautiful rock, and always the effects of light on everything."  You can find her cards at two of my favorite Seattle boutiques Kobo and Bitters Co. And for more enlightening floral inspiration watch this video.

Seattle Urban Farm } Organic produce from your backyard to your table

This is just the thing! If you have an overgrown backyard that you've been wanting to turn into your own lil' locally grown Whole Foods produce section, then give Seattle Urban Farm Co. a call! I know I will! They will create an organic vegetable garden right in your own backyard. After an intial consultation, the trio of urban farm boys will hook you up by planting the veggies, herbs and flowers of your choice. They will even return regularly to maintain them, and even harvest your crop for you every week. Mmmmm, I can just taste the juicy organic tomatoes and fresh cilantro, and witness the glory of the colorful blooming dahlias!