American Clay LEED Home

After I posted earlier in the week about our booth at IDS11 I thought I would try and dig up an American Clay (AC) project so you can see the possibilities.  This home, by architect Michelle Kolb, is one of the Nantucket's first LEED certified homes, and was the winner of American Clay's recent installation contest.  This home, which is a restoration project of a turn of the century farmhouse, is plastered in AC's Sugar Loaf.   One of my favourite green design materials, it can be textured or smooth, very modern or rustic, colourful or neutral, all depending on installation.  The finish, which is composed of Natural Earth Plaster and mineral pigments, is trowelled on.  But DIY'ers despair not.  With a little practice you can definitely do it yourself.  Not your average wall covering, it has the ability to help control humidity and moisture content in your home, inhibit mold growth and it releases negative ions into the air.  The finished product looks very soft, almost like suede.  Available here.

Enjoy your weekend everyone! 

Bess' Birch Bark DIY

Hello!  Gosh I've really been on my own planet lately... sorry!  However, I LOVE this DIY by my new found friend Bess, illustrator extraordinaire behind English Muffin, and if you've been paying attention you'll know that she is also one of the newest editions to the Pure Green team.  She and hubbie Charlie tackled this beautiful wall hanging constructed of birch bark.  Be sure to pop on over to the English Muffin blog to see the entire DIY.  Thanks Bess!

By the way Bess - this sneak peek of your home looks beautiful!  Can I see more?

IDS 11 Wrap-up

It's my first day back from IDS 11... I think the word count for this weekend is somewhere around a million, there were many cups of coffee consumed, many great new people, and tons of excitement.  It was my first time exhibiting Sustain at the show.  I was plenty nervous but it came off brilliantly.  Among the flash, bright lights and general exhuberance of the show was Sustain - we had a tiny little booth but we were so different than everyone else we were REALLY busy!  Next year I really hope to have a booth for Pure Green... I think everyone would have liked it.  Next year!  Here are a few modest pics I took of our booth and some of the my personal faves from the show.  Phew.  Time to relax... or not.  Too much to do!

Among all the corporate booths here we were, a la DIY!!  Everything is eco, of course, and everything was made by myself and Jonathan.  Mostly Jonathan.  The floor is cork.

And so is the chair!  I really need to show you the before shot... awful.  Anway, these chairs from the fifties were completely sanded down and reupholstered using cork fabric.  Just wait until I finally get around to making handbags out of it!  It's a beautiful, durable alternative to leather.

Here's a closeup.

The back wall was reclaimed lumber.  We had several people ask if they could take our wall home!  Funny!

Icestone... countertop materials made with recycled glass and concrete.

The walls of the booth were covered in American Clay, a natural earth plaster that can be super modern or very rustic.  The walls of the booth were supposed to be white... but they turned out kind of beige.  No matter - I think we'll be doing lots of jobs in this colour because people really liked it.  And there really was lots of white at the show already.

A closeup of the texture... no faux finishes here.

These are a few photos from some of my favourite booths, including my new friend Julie, creator of Manor 12.

I had to include this... at the opening gala my jaw nearly hit the floor when I turned the corner and saw a page from the latest issue of Pure Green Mag on Julie's booth wall!  It was a good weekend for Pure Green.  I met tons of people and had a little boost of sunshine as many people knew of the magazine already!  We're getting out there and it feels SO good!

LOVED Nicole Tarasick's pillows.  Right up my alley.  I begged her for a little organic collection so I could sing her praises in the mag.  She said maybe... stay tuned!

I also love Montauk.  Michelle of Holley & Gill laughed when I told her it was my mission in life to own one of these.  They're carbon neutral and beautiful.

Always a fan of chalkboard, I loved Montauk's chalk installation.  I had been visualizing something like this for a Pure Green booth, but alas it's been done.

It was great to be a part of all the fun.  I didn't have a chance to see Sibling Revelry, but the long line was deterring, not to mention I had five minutes collectively the entire show to peek around!

Like I said... MUCH coffee drinking.

From Gus Modern.  Nice.

That's it!  If you want to see more glitz and glamour from the show, check out Michelle's shots (of Holley & Gill and also style editor for Pure Green) on Poppytalk.  She did a fantastic job!!

IDS 11

It's been a busy few weeks.  No excuse.  I know.  Yesterday we set up our booth for IDS 11 - our first time exhibiting, I'm nervous and excited.  We've been busy little bees working away on our booth, with the challenge to use ONLY recycled, eco items and still be stylish, and let's face it, a little stressed. I think we did it, but I'll let you be the judge once I post photos of the completed project.  I'll be there for the next 4 days, and I will post updates as often as possible.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to snap a few photos and post them - but stay tuned on Twitter (new username @puregreenmag)! 

In the meantime, here are a few of the green exhibitors that I'm excited to meet!

Atelier 688

Brother's Dressler

Loyal Luxe

{eco} design: Vintage and Escapism in Sweden

I've so busy lately... my mind is exploding with 'To Do's' and I've had a little trouble keeping it all straight.  But for a tiny second I got lost in these photos, and I forgot all about my daunting lists.  This home in Arild, Sweden, got a second life - from beat down, forgotten and abadoned 70's villa... to this.  Against the pure, snowy white background this home is exploding with colour.  And it's oh so vintage!  So here's to two minutes of escapism.

I love everything.  Every single room.

Source

New Faces at Pure Green

I hope everyone has had a chance to read the new issue!  I'm overwhelmed with gratitude at the response readers have shown so far.  It makes it so worthwhile!  That said, no sooner did I hit 'publish' on Thursday evening of last week did I jump in the car on Friday morning and take a litle road trip to Montreal.  Why?  Well to meet my new graphic/style team!  You may have noticed last issue that Michelle of Holley & Gill has joined Pure Green, along with some of her friends!  The photos are shots taken from our very exciting and yet intense first editorial meeting at Michelle's home.  We are all so full of excitement and passion... they're certainly are great things to come!  You won't even know what hit you.  Pure Green has only just begun.

Lip balm, cell phones, coffee and clipboards... staples of any good editorial meeting.

A little food for thought/inspiration from some of our favourite mags never hurts.

That's me on the right, and my other half Jonathan in the background.  You know him best as the editor behind the Organic Kitchen.

That's Anile... the dynamic woman behind Girl Friday, a freelance firm that specializes in branding your company.

That's Michelle... of Holley & Gill.

Apparently I agree with what Jonathan is saying!

This is Marie-Eve, the girl behind Lake Jane, a long time popular Montreal blog.

I'm only missing a good photo of Bess... you can catch a glimpse of her in the first photo - who runs the lovely blog/company English Muffin.  She is Pure Green's new illustrator!

As I said before, I am so excited by the possibilities, and cannot wait to share them with you!

Pure Green Issue 4

Phew!  It's finally here!  I'm so sorry for being absent as of late.  A very busy work life, combined with the holidays and finishing up Issue 4 of Pure Green Magazine has kept me away.  But I'm back!  And Issue 4 is here!!!  Whoohoo!!!!  [I'm very excited.]  Truthfully it actually came out Friday, but an allnighter pretty well on Thursday, then jumping in the car at 7am and driving to Montreal for an 'editorial meeting' with my new fantastic dream team kept me from posting.  Where I was staying had no internet... imagine!!  And then my Blackberry died, so I couldn't even use that!!  Anyway, there's great things happening... we've introduced fashion!  Kate Black, founder of Magnifeco, has joined the Pure Green team and is bringing us irresistable, ethically fashionable clothing.  So, grab a cuppa and enjoy!  I really hope you like it.  Oh, and Issue 3 was our most successful issue to date!!!  Thanks for helping make that happen - it's the most rewarding thing ever.

{eco} style: Last Minute Christmas Ideas

I know we're really getting to the wire here for Christmas decor.... but if you're like me, you are constantly tweaking and adding things until the very end when you're opening your stockings or having dinner.  I saw these really simple ideas from this beautiful European home, and I was really struck - sometimes less really is more.  Have a peek and you'll know what I mean.  Natural elements speak for themselves in such a classic and elegant manner.  It's inspring to me.  It also gave me ideas... re-pot some Amarylis for some instant, old-fashioned charm.  Here's another one, inspired by the soft and adorable wreath (pictured in photo #3, draped over the candlestick) - White pine usually has soft, flexible branches.  When I get home tonight I'm going to harvest a few long branches and using twist them into a wreath shape.  You'll probably need to layer a few branches in there so you mask the start and finish, but I'm excited to give it a try.  I've got some magnolia leaves and eucalyptus I can layer in for a little extra.  Secure the ends with floral wire and some pliers.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  I hope you find the time to enjoy peace and relaxation with your loved ones, and have a weekend filled with joy.  Thank you for helping make Pure Green special....

xoxo

Celine