Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Heroines for the Planet: Robin Wilson, Designer of Healthy Homes with Heart

Robin Wilson is a nationally recognized eco-friendly interior designer; her client roster includes the Kennedys and the Clintons , who have both had Robin create gorgeous, green spaces for their families.

Admittedly, I have a personal affinity for Robin: Several years back, when I was first trying to break into the green space, desperately seeking guidance,  she was very kind to me. And she still is.

You always remember people like Robin in your life– the ones who lifted you up in some way when you needed it and helped you out for nothing in return.

Since Robin has been a tireless healthy home advocate, and because she’s an all-around really good person, I couldn’t not interview her for Heroines for the Planet. Here’s our interview.

Pag Island’s All Natural Waste Wool: A Creative Eco Fashion Challenge

Guest Post by Kristin Vukovic

Pag is a northern Croatian island made famous by its intricate handmade lace called Paška čipka, and Paški sir, its unique sheep’s milk cheese. The dry and craggy island of 8,000 inhabitants has a long tradition of cheese making and agriculture—and the island’s sheep play a starring role.

There are 30,000 tagged autochthonous sheep on Pag Island, and a few thousand “untagged” that roam free outside of organized flocks. Come shearing season in June, each sheep gives approximately 1 kilo of wool—that’s 66,000 pounds of wool annually! Presently, shepherds leave the wool lying in their pastures, which is unfortunate in many ways: the wool itself is wasted, and nothing can grow where the wool is left to rot.

Ivo Butković is a Pag Island native and founder of the Suhozid Association, which literally translates as “The Drywall” Association. The organization takes its name from the drystone building technique still used today in Croatia. Suhozid aims to preserve the cultural heritage of Pag Island by creating projects that bring awareness to island’s wealth of history and natural resources.

One of Suhozid’s projects, which has been in the works for the past few years, involves building a real drystone “ethno village” in the town of Kolan that would allow visitors to see how people used to live on Pag Island. Discarded wool will be used to show tourists how the fibers were processed to use as material for clothing, and how crafts were made in old times. Wool clothing, accessories and souvenirs will be available for purchase in the ethno village. Suhozid hopes the project will be live by summer 2012.

Kolan’s ethno village will not be able to use all 66,000 pounds of Pag Island wool produced annually, which is why I’m determined to find an eco-fashion partner that will bring awareness to the issue of discarded wool on Pag Island by helping make use of it.

The wool could be used to make a limited edition or capsule collection, and include a tag that reads:

Wool from Pag Island’s autochthonous sheep was used to make this garment. By purchasing this item, you are helping Croatian shepherds maintain a sustainable lifestyle. A portion of the proceeds benefit the next generation of Pag Island shepherds.

If you would like to become involved in this project, please email Kristin Vuković at psfrompag@gmail.com. Read the latest news at psfrompag.com.

Images by Kristin Vukovic.

Make Your Own Deodorant: A Crafty Eco Chick Reader Shows Us How!

Ashley Goode, an Eco Chick reader, recently entered our People Towels giveaway contest. In her comments, she also left the following info on how to make your own deodorant (which I have done a few times too). I loved her comments so much I wanted to share her information with the rest of you!

Why does she make her own? “Store bought deodorants come in many fun shapes, sizes and scents but are toxic due to the aluminum zirconium (which studies indicate contribute to Alzheimer’s and DNA mutation). When I learned this I decided to make my own safe deodorant, but it HAD to be made from recyclables and 100% biodegradable after the fact,” says Ashley.

DIY Deordorant:

- I use the cardboard from the toilet paper rolls as my ‘stick’

- Heat up 1/4 cup each of coconut oil, baking soda and cornstarch in a pot (coconut oil is a solid at room temperature)

-You may personalize your deodorant by adding a few drops of an essential oil into the mixture. I prefer sandalwood (though rose is nice too).

Once the ingredients are melted together, I place the cardboard roll vertically on a plate, and pour a small part of the mixture in. Allow it to solidify and then add the rest. You may leave it out to solidify, as long as the air temperature does not exceed 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees F).

Once solidified, all you have to do is peel away the cardboard as you use the deodorant, and those cardboard pieces can be put into your compost pile!

You can follow Ashley on Twitter: @OneGreenGoode

Polli’s Peter Pan Collar Necklaces

Polli is an Australian-based ethical jewelry company (run by women!) which uses recycled materials like stainless steel, sustainable plantation pine, and 100% recycled card. Their peter pan collars are, as you can see, beyond gorgeous; I would wear them over a blouse, as an added decorative touch, or with a scoop neck blouse. They have lots of beautiful filigree-type necklaces too, with mini-scenes on them (this one of a boat on high seas). So sweet!

Lindsay’s Going to Costa Rica: Advice and Recommendations Needed!

After a long day last week, and a green event to cap off the night, I checked my mail right before I entered the subway and one particular email caught me off guard. It seemed way too good to be true. So I re-read it, and even walked back up to Columbus Circle to get better reception (to read it again).  Here’s an excerpt:

Lindsay,

Because of the large readership of the Brown Loves Green blog, your influence through 2Booms.com, and your involvement in other eco-friendly blogs across the web, Costa Rica’s Tourism Board would like to give you a free trip to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is sending out a select number of these Gifts of Happiness in the form of customized trips, and because your values align with Costa Rica’s belief in Pura Vida, you’ve been hand-selected to receive a trip for two.

Say what? I had that whole “if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is” internal dialogue going on.

But as it turns out, I was not delirious from exhaustion.  Nor had I sniffed too many naturally scented eco-friendly products at the event that eve. And it wasn’t too good to be true.

Costa Rica’s tourism board really has so graciously given me a gift of complete and utter happiness: an all-expense-paid trip for two for eight days to their beautifully green country! But that’s not all …

Read the rest of this article over at our sister site, Eco Chick Escapes…..