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For the past week, there has been a running theme in my life... felt fabulous! And it's not just because I had a much needed spring vacation. I've stumbled upon the most fabulously designed products and they've all been made out of felt. That's right - soft, luxurious, natural, wool felt. "Felt is at once ancient and primitive and thoroughly modern... The simplest of fabrics achieves a unique sense of luxury and authenticity, derived from the humblest of raw material, the evidence of hand, and the resonance of its long history." (excerpt from Fashioning Felt).
From shopping at Fred Segal Green in Santa Monica, California to experiencing the "Fashioning Felt" exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City, and also find
ing some gorgeous products online - I quickly learned that felt has come a long way from that arts-and-crafts hot pot holder I made in summer camp.
Here are two of my favorites from the Fashioning Felt exhibit: the Bless You Chair (above) by Studio/Louise Campbell and the Relief Chair (below) by Ben K. Mickus.
I was dying to sit on both of these, but the museum guards were much too alert. But then I discovered you can purchase the Relief Chair at Branch Sustainable Design for Living's online store (US$3,998). Perhaps one day I will sit on that chair.
But if you want something smaller to start your felt fascination... why not pebbles? I was wonderfully intrigued by these piles of felt rocks at the exhibit... and now I start my own collection while supporting a worthy cause. Felt Pebbles also from Branch Sustainable Design for Living online shop (US$14-92 for set of 6) are handmade of
100% felted merino wool in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of a job creation program that offers opportunities to local craftswomen.
So on this Earth Day 2009 I've made a resolution to incorporate more sustainable products into my home... which will undoubtedly continue to make me feel fabulous.
Do you still recall your favorite childhood blankie that you cherished like your best friend? Well my daughter has her "bubba" 
specifically for bedtime snuggling; while my son prefers his smaller "hankie." Regardless of one's preference, any child will fall in love with one of these. Admiral Road creates handmade, personalized fleece blankets for babies (US$59) and donates 2.5% of the proceeds of certain blankets (as shown here) to the African Wildlife Foundation. The blankets are made of single layered polyester fleece (29" x 43") and you can add your child's name for
no extra charge. These blankets are a hit among the Hollywood babes of Julia Roberts and Debra Messing among others, and have been featured in InStyle and People magazines. The simple, modern graphics à la mode are a welcome departure from the ones you used to carry around à la Linus.
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever. Since 1961, AWF is the leading international conservation organization focused on helping newly independent African nations and people conserve their own wildlife. "We believe that protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild landscapes is the key to the future prosperity of Africa and its people... to ensure that Africa’s wild resources endure." AWF has helped ensure the continued existence of many species including the elephant, mountain gorilla, rhinoceros and the lion. In 1998, AWF ushered in a new era in conservation with its African Heartlands Program defining (through research) the most critical landscapes to preserve. "These eight landscapes – or Heartlands (the Congo, Virunga, Samburu, Kilamanjaro, Maasai Steppe, Zambezi, Kazungula, and Limpopo)– are at the heart of everything we do."Do check out AWF's online store where 60-65% of all purchases support AWF's work. 
And while you're at it... adopt an animal! For $25 you can adopt one of many animals through their site, and receive a plush toy representing the animal you adopt, a personalized 
certificate of adoption, a fact sheet featuring your adopted animal and a one-year membership in the AWF. So why not adopt a giraffe or zebra to go with your giraffe or zebra blanket - and start teaching your children about philanthropy and wildlife conservation... now that's a gift you know will endure in your child's life.
For the past week, there has been a running theme in my life... felt fabulous! And it's not just because I had a much needed spring vacation. I've stumbled upon the most fabulously designed products and they've all been made out of felt. That's right - soft, luxurious, natural, wool felt. "Felt is at once ancient and primitive and thoroughly modern... The simplest of fabrics achieves a unique sense of luxury and authenticity, derived from the humblest of raw material, the evidence of hand, and the resonance of its long history." (excerpt from Fashioning Felt).
ing some gorgeous products online - I quickly learned that felt has come a long way from that arts-and-crafts hot pot holder I made in summer camp. 
I was dying to sit on both of these, but the museum guards were much too alert. But then I discovered you can purchase the Relief Chair at Branch Sustainable Design for Living's online store (US$3,998). Perhaps one day I will sit on that chair.
100% felted merino wool in Johannesburg, South Africa as part of a job creation program that offers opportunities to local craftswomen.
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