by guest contributor Victoria Everman

Thanks to a recent mention in Body+Soul Magazine, Maine-based independent clothing line Brook There is riding a new wave of attention. Having just released the Fall 2008 collection, brand founder Brook DeLorme still creates each piece personally. Clean yet femininely thoughtful design is not the only thing that draws fans to the brand—every piece is made from sustainable fabrics, including: organic wool, soy, bamboo, organic cotton and tencel.

Available at select locations in the US, you can also get a piece of Brook’s line via her online shop or pick up a sample-sized item via her Etsy store. Last but not least—the burning question: why “Brook There?” “Brook is my first name and there reminds me of the idea of ‘someplace else’,” says Brook herself.

About the contributor: Victoria Everman is an eco-writer, model, crafter, yogi and attempting locavore. Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share her unquenchable green knowledge, she writes her own blog at Victoria-E.com and is head writer/editor for CraftingAGreenWorld.com. She will be imparting her fashion wisdom with us every other Friday on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog with her column Fashionably Indie.

by guest contributor Fina Tejada

Picking out a name for your indie business is important decision to make. It takes a lot more time than you’d think, there is so much to consider. I think Snowberry and Lime nails it though. You are not sure if you want to eat it or play in it, until you visit her Etsy shop. Owner, Veronika von Allmen, stocks her store with dreamy hand spun yarns and other craft goodies, and although she is based in Germany she is ready to ship all over the world.

Read more in my interview with her.

Tell us about your business.

Snowberry and Lime started on the idea of creating handbags made from recycled sail, as I grew up on a boat and this was the most readily available material… it soon moved on to being about colourful bags and snugly wrist warmers. Everything I do is marked by a great obsession with detail. My great love for knitting eventually led me to selling my own hand-spun yarns last winter and they quickly became my most popular items. Combining high quality materials with beautiful colors and textures is my main motive in creating yarns. They often feature interesting themes as I specialize not only in luxury Merino and silk yarns but also in quirky art yarns.

What did you do before you started your business?

I started while I was still lounging around at the university and now moved on to a part-time job with an international charity. My spare time is pretty much devoted to my little venture…

Other than Etsy where else can we find Snowberry and Lime?

My yarns are being sold only on Etsy, this allows me to offer prices which are below retail - I am basically sharing the savings from not going retail with my customers.
Some of my bags are being sold through the German based website Dawanda, this gives me the chance to get in touch with German customers who might have never found me on Etsy. Language barriers can be a huge problem for online shoppers and I try my best to at least offer my items in the languages I speak.

What do you consider is the best way you’ve attracted customers?

Complimentary Chippendale postcards.

Where do you see your business in the next few years?

Where it is right now—on your screen! I would like to start my own website pretty soon though, ideally Snowberry and Lime will keep growing and who knows how far it will go!

How do you stay motivated?

Well, my boyfriend always tells me that when I get bored from spinning I can always come to the gym with him—that always keeps me motivated! Motivation really never has been a problem for me, there are so many different parts to having a little business that whenever I don’t particularly feel like doing one thing, I can just do something else. These little task include far more than creating, it is also about taking good pictures, listing items for sale or looking for more great supplies.

About the contributor: Fina Tejada owns Miss Fruitfly, an indie lifestyle company featuring artwork and home accessories. She is also a blogger who loves to cook, is a closeted reality show junkie and supports independent designers. She will be posting on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog featuring international indie crafters & bloggers to find out what motivates them creatively, how they started their businesses and how they approach the U.S. market. Fina will be posting periodically on Thursdays.

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

The idea crossed my mind the other day that I would like to learn how to make stained glass jewelry. Now, being an eco-minded gal like I am, my next thought was, I wonder what kind of glass you can use to make this jewelry?

Which leads me to today’s post: a round-up of reclaimed and salvaged glass jewelry! I’ve chosen some of my favorites, and now I’m even more inspired to learn this more!

Below are the links to each artist. This is gorgeousness you can feel good about!

1. Bottled Up Designs

2. Rebecca Ward Jewelry

3. Bottled Up Designs

4. Rebecca Ward Jewelry

5. Sea Glass Designs

6. Smart Glass Jewelry

7. Amy Pfaffman Jewelry

8. Kathleen Plate at Uncommon Goods

9. Happy Owl Glassworks

10. SeaFindDesigns

GREEN CHALLENGE: make something out of a recycled glass bottle. A candlestick holder? A planter for a teeny plant? A necklace? What else can you think of? Post the fruits of your creative and eco-friendly endeavors in the Indie is the New Green flickr group!

by guest contributor Fina Tejada

Letitia Henville is an English teacher by day and jewelry designer extraordinaire by night. Living in Nice, France (Ooh la la) Letitia is surrounded by beauty and history, a perfect muse for her designs. She is also a member of the Eco Etsy Street Team and maintains her blog, Fabiquer, where you’ll find delightful pictures of her travels, friends, and inspiration. If a French holiday is not in your vacation plans this year, have her jewelry do the traveling for you.

1. Tell us about your business.

I’m a jewelry designer, and I make bright and bold necklaces, earrings and bracelets. I love combining vintage beads with silver, wood and stone. I came up with the idea to start my business largely out of necessity: I found that I owned so many beads I couldn’t justify making jewelry only for myself and for my friends. I’ve been in business since March 2007 and have sold over 500 pieces on jewelry, largely online

2. What did you do before you started your business?

I currently work part-time as an English teacher here in the south of France. Nice is a very expensive city to live in! Jewelry selling makes up about 1/3 of my monthly income, though, so I’m proud of my little business

3. Where do you sell your products

I started selling on Etsy, but have since expanded into dawanda (a fantastic site based out of Germany), Mintd (a smaller Australian upstart) and Modishoppe (a small adorable ‘e-boutique’). Etsy is a great site with lots of talented artists and artisans, but its size can sometimes make it overwhelming, for buyers and sellers alike — which is why shops like Modishoppe are so nice. Dawanda is also great for me, being based in Europe, because within the EU selling is very easy — bank transfers are free, shipping is quick, and customs is a non-issue

4. What can you tell us about your international customers?

I love them! It’s so cool to think that my designs are being worn by people in northern Canada, rural Australia, Brazil, Austria, Germany, Ireland, and, of course, here in France. And the Americans! Love y’all, too! You’re international to me!

I’d encourage US-based buyers not to be shy about buying from abroad! Often, we overseas sellers have access to materials and supplies not available in the states, which makes your handmade purchase all the more unique. I’ve also had buyers write to me telling me about the time they’ve spent in the south of France. I like that my little piece of jewelry will remind them of their Mediterranean holidays. On etsy, you can add the word “europe” to your search times to find EU-based sellers like me. Of course, shipping from overseas is always going to be a bit longer than US domestic shipping, but my average shipping time from Europe to the US is something like 10-14 days. Not a big deal, really.

5. What do you consider is the best way you’ve attracted customers?

It’s really hard to say where customers might come from. I think my friends are some of my best advertisers — I’m really lucky to have a supportive group of buds who are happy to tell other people about my little shop (and sometimes even buy a piece themselves — always a huge compliment.

I also have a blog that I use mostly to share photos and little anecdotes of day-to-day life here in the Cote d’Azur. I don’t know, though, if the blog creates interest in my shop, as I don’t tend to blog about my jewelry; I have attracted a dozen or so regular readers, which makes me happy.

6. How do you stay motivated?

I mentioned above that my friends are some of my best spokespeople, and they also serve as my muses. When I’m seeking inspiration, I sometimes try to imagine what kind of jewelry would suit the characteristics of one friend or another and create pieces based on their personalities. I think about who likes chic and shiny (my friend Jen ), who wants lots of contrast (Delphine), who likes to be subtle & original (Julia ). If I only made pieces for myself, my shops would be filled with chocolate brown wood and champagne-colored pieces. Creating jewelry with my friends in mind keeps my shop diverse, and, hopefully, as fun and beautiful as they are.

About the interviewer: Fina Tejada owns Miss Fruitfly, an indie lifestyle company featuring artwork and home accessories. She is also a blogger who loves to cook, is a closeted reality show junkie and supports independent designers. She will be posting periodically on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog featuring international indie crafters & bloggers to find out what motivates them creatively, how they started their businesses and how they approach the U.S. market. Fina will be posting periodically on Thursdays.

by guest contributor Jessica Gonacha

This week’s interview is a real treat for me—Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary in Boulder, Colorado is one of the things I miss most about my hometown. Rebecca was kind enough to give us a glimpse into her thriving shop in downtown Boulder, a shop that encompasses both the indie and eco-friendly way of life and is brimming with love and goodness!

1. What fueled your decision to create eco-friendly products?

I wanted to bring botanical medicine to the people. Botanical medicine is really the people’s medicine and I want it to be accessible to everyone, so I decided to create a place where you could go to get everything you need in one shop.

2. What does ‘green’ mean to you, and how do you support green business practices in your shop?

We support local providers and farmers as much as possible in order to reduce the cost and environmental impact of shipping far distances. We also make most of our products right here in the shop, which also helps reduce gas consumption. We recycle all of our packing materials and often return things like packing peanuts to UPS for them to reuse.On a more macro level, our goal is to empower people to get connected with botanical medicine, which directly connects people with the earth and fosters eco-friendly attitudes.

We also encourage people to bring in their used bottles for us to refill rather than buying new bottles of our products. It cuts down on packaging, and we are moving more and more in this direction.

3. Do you have a favorite product that you’ve created?

My favorite product line that is unique to our shop is our infused coconut oils. Our best-selling product is definitely our precious face serum (note from Jess: it is truly fantastic stuff!), and the bulk herbs are the heart and soul of the shop.

4. Who or what are your eco heroes/inspirations?

Tammi Hartung, the author of 101 Herbs That Heal, is one of my biggest heroes. She is a plant warrior! She saw issues with plant populations and helps plants that are at risk She has truly touched my life. Another hero is Rosemary Gladstar. I gush every time I meet her! She is part of the founding of United Plant Savers and her texts are very accessible to the community.

5. Do you have a favorite eco tip for your readers?

Yes, to focus on what is ABUNDANT around you. To learn about dandelion is good for everybody— plants that are the most abundant are the ones that are the most likely to be helpful.

GREEN CHALLENGE: It’s the season for spring cleaning, when we declutter our houses and get rid of unwanted books, furniture, clothes and more. Make sure to take all your unwanted stuff to your local thrift shop, freecycle it, have a yard sale, sell it on half.com or whatever way you can creatively recycle it instead of allowing it all to end up in the landfill. Post any of your own used stuff finds on the Indie is the New Green flickr group!

This post started off as innocently as any other Fashionably Indie post – tracking down a feature-worthy small fashion brand and giving you, the readers, the nitty gritty on tis background and how to add their pieces to your wardrobe.

Upon finding Fables by Barrie a few days ago, I was quickly derailed. What was once a simple blog post became an exciting interview that I must share with my fellow Indie Fixx’ers. Drawing inspiration from the “classic” TV show Hee Haw and the sunny shores of San Diego, Fables by Barrie isn’t your everyday clothing line – it is all about being yourself (go figure).

Their Spring 2008 line is drawing many to Etsy, but their past collections are just as drool-worthy, available via their website’s store. Being an indie brand, designer and founder Barrie Kaufman is always open to doing custom pieces, a number of which have made appearances in some chic photo shoots. Keep read to find out more about how this brand came to be, its unique influences and why 1970’s jeans are the best.

When did you first become interested in starting your own fashion brand?

I’ve always been interested in fashion, I spend lots of my free time sewing and transforming vintage pieces into something new and more exciting. I decided to start my own label when things just came out better and better (with PLENTY of practice and mistakes corrected) and when I would wear my creations out and people kept asking where I got my items, it was just perfect timing.

I noticed you are from Iowa - how did you end up in San Diego?

Iowa was a fantastic place to grow up (a super small rural town of 200); the people are nothing but sincere and willing to help out their neighbors. I attended film school at the University of Iowa, hoping to start a career in film as a camera person, and eventually direct documentaries. I made the big trek to Los Angeles upon completing my degree, worked on random productions when I could, and eventually fell into wardrobe. A job opportunity opened up for me in San Diego doing costumes for cheesy telenovelas (Spanish-language TV soap operas), and made me realize that there was so much more in doing my own line, that I dreamed about all day and night, so San Diego became the home of Fables.

Who/what are your design influences? Do you set a theme for each collection? What is the inspiration behind your most recent collection available on Etsy?

I try to keep each collection themed as much as possible, but my mind frequently runs wild with new ideas all the time, so there are always odd-ball pieces, and when there are runways shows ahead, I always whip up a few costume-y pieces last minute, to get some of the creative build up out to share. My current collection was mostly inspired by old reruns of Hee Haw, totally honest. I love that old country feel of the clothes, with a modern twist, of course!!

Are you currently both the designer and seamstress or do you have others helping you out?

I do most of the seamstress work myself, with the current line in production, I use one seamstress at a time to pick up some of the slack, but I really prefer to have complete control of what we put out for the public. I have a fantastic intern who helps out immensely.

Why the switch from the name “Cornfed” to “Fables”? Despite the name, how long has your line be around?

“Fables” was a new concept. When we were “Cornfed”, we used a lot of vintage pieces, but with the demand for a consistent product, we decided to change the name to give the company a mini facelift. We think the new things are whimsical and give a storybook type of vibe, hence Fables by Barrie. Also, our first photo shoot ever was with fantastic models, but we put animal heads on them all to give it more of an animal kingdom feel, so it worked out lovely.

What fashion trend are you dying to revive? Which one would you love to leave buried forever?

High-waisted everything! We’re so tired of the super lowest of low pants, we know the trend is picking up, but we would love to see it stick around forever, its so flattering on most gals. With the creative designs of our line, we like to add a little sparkle and special vibe to our products. It’s so often that out and about you see so many girls with matching or close to identical outfits. We love individuality and promote standing out in a crowd.

Victoria Everman is an eco-writer, model, crafter, yogi and attempting locavore. Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share her unquenchable green knowledge, she writes her own blog at Victoria-E.com and is head writer/editor for CraftingAGreenWorld.com. She will be imparting her fashion wisdom with us every other Friday on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog with her column Fashionably Indie.

Contest Alert!

In honor of Earth Day on Tuesday and today’s Fashionably Indie column, you could win a copy of the new book, Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style by Christie Matheson. It’s a smart little green guide that helps readers realize that saving the planet and being fabulous do not have to be mutually exclusive. Filled with eco-fashion tips on how to make your wardrobe more eco-conscious, ways you can still pamper yourself without being so wasteful, beauty secrets that are better for the environment and more.

How to win it!

Leave a comment below with the name of the publisher and you will be entered into the random drawing for the book Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style. The contest ends on Monday, April 28th at 11:59 EST and one winner will be chosen to win a copy of the book. Comments will be kept secret until after the contest is over.

Photo by Jessica Gonacha

Since you all seemed to love the cream recipe a few weeks back, I thought it would be fun to do another make-your-own body product this week.

I don’t know about you, but when I read the labels on skin care products, I get a little skeeved out. What is all that junk in there?

This recipe for facial astringent is lovely and will feed your skin pure goodness. Basically, you infuse vinegar with various herbs and flowers to make a good-for-your-skin astringent that balances the natural acid of your skin and gives you a lovely fresh glow!

Directions: Bring 3 cups vinegar to a boil (white or cider), and remove to a bottle. (I like dark bottles, like cobalt or amber, to protect it from sunlight).

Add to vinegar:
1/2 oz. rose petals
1/2 oz. comfrey leaves
1/2 oz. chamomile flowers
(all can be dried or fresh– but make sure they are organic and have not been sprayed with pesticides!)

Let the flowers and herbs sit and infuse in the bottle for 10 days– shake the bottle daily.

After 10 days, strain the vinegar through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer and put back in the bottle. Add an equal quantity of water or rose water to the bottle. Now it’s ready to use!

Spritz on your face after washing for a lovely, softening treat.

You can use pretty much any combination of herbs and flowers in your astringent. Some particularly good herbs to use are: lavender, calendula, rosemary, sage, and licorice. You can read more about the properties of different herbs at naturalherbsguide.com and herbaldiary.org. If your local health food store has a good supply of bulk herbs, you should be able to find everything you need, but you can also find a great selection online at mountainroseherbs.com and herbco.com.

Have fun!

GREEN CHALLENGE: Go on a bike-riding (or walking) flower-smelling mission! It’s the season for blooming flowers, so get out there and sniff ‘em! Share your pictures at the Indie is the New Green flickr group.

Hello, dear readers! Let me introduce you to our latest guest blogger—Fina Tejada. Fina owns Miss Fruitfly, an indie lifestyle company featuring artwork and home accessories. She is also a blogger who loves to cook, is a closeted reality show junkie and supports independent designers. She will be posting periodically on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog featuring international indie crafters & bloggers to find out what motivates them creatively, how they started their businesses and how they approach the U.S. market. Read Fina’s first post below and please join me in welcoming her to Indie Fixx!

I am in complete awe of U.K. crafter, Laura Howard and her top selling Etsy shop called Lupin. Laura creates all kinds of goodies from brooches, pin cushions, wall art, felt disguises, zines and more. When Laura is not working on inventory for her shop, she’s maintaining her blog and a flickr group called Crafting 365 for crafters who make a commitment to create something new everyday. This sounds like something I should try, though the procrastinator in me is giggling. Currently, Laura is obsessed with British wildlife, loves to drink lots of tea and nibble on cake.

1. Tell us about your business.

I sell an assortment of hand-stitched felt “treats” - colourful brooches, mobiles, textile art, and fun things like moustache disguises. I decided to try out selling my work when I discovered Etsy and realized that I could dip a small toe in the pool of Internet commerce without too much effort. I started working on business much more seriously when I realised just how much satisfaction I was getting out of making stuff.

2. What did you do before you started your business?

I was actually unemployed (after graduating with that most practical of degrees, English Literature) when I started my business - my crafting was born out of the boredom of being stuck home all day with nothing to do! Now I work part-time in a local gift shop and the rest of the time work for myself. It’s very interesting experiencing two different sides of retail simultaneously, and the regular wage is nice too!

3. Where do you sell your products?

My business is pretty much 100% Internet based. I started out selling on Etsy - I love the community there (very supportive and a mine of great information), it was so easy to set up shop and I love how it connects buyers with sellers in such a direct and friendly way. This year I’m setting up on Dawanda, Pink Doodle and ICraft, all of which I’ve heard about through the crafty grapevine. The latter two are very new (as are my shops there!) but Dawanda is a little more established and I am absolutely in love with their shop layouts: so crisp and clean. Eventually I’d love to have my own website, but at the moment I’m trying to take baby steps with confidence instead of running before I can walk.

4. What can you tell us about your international customers?

Very roughly, about 60% of my customers are from the US, 30% from the UK (my home market) and the rest are mostly from Canada and Australia. As most of my items are small and light they are very affordable to ship, so it’s quite easy to market my items internationally. I’m hoping to attract more European customers by adding a middle rate of shipping, in-between my domestic and (currently flat-rate) worldwide shipping. Unfortunately, this is quite a complicated thing to do on Etsy as you have to add each country individually, but I think it will be worth it. People who shop on the Internet frequently are pretty savvy about how much shipping should cost.

5. What do you consider is the best way you’ve attracted customers?

Working on my photography has been hugely important - there’s no point working on an awesome design and making it top quality if your photos don’t reflect that. I rely a lot on passing traffic on Etsy, and good photos are vital to standing out amongst all those other items!

6. How do you stay motivated?

I try to keep a balance between the more exciting and creative parts of my business, and the more everyday or repetitive parts. I think it’s really important not to get bored, or to become more like a production line instead of a creative person. I share my work in progress on my blog and my Flickr account, it really helps me think about my working processes and to keep track of what I’m working on. Connecting with the crafty community through blogs and Flickr also helps keep me inspired and itching to try new things.

As I am constantly searching for new ways to reuse and recycle in both my life and my business, I know there are probably many of you in pursuit of the same thing. So, this week I have compiled a list of ideas for how to make your business a little greener through reusing and recycling. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, hopefully it will help spark the creative recycler in you.

1. Cereal boxes are one of my favorite things to reuse in my business. My fiancé, Ryan, is a big cereal eater, so we accumulate a lot of boxes in the recycling bin! I cut them up and use them in packaging Etsy orders. I also use the Silk soymilk 2-packs boxes. What cardboard do you have around your house that could be turned into packaging? You can also visit your local recycling center to search for usable cardboard to turn into packaging. Or, why not start a box in your neighborhood to collect cereal boxes and other stiff cardboard packaging? Ask your neighbors for help!

Photo from Bitter Mittens at flickr

2. There is a great idea (and tutorial) for recycling boxes and packaging on Lizette Greco’s flickr site.

3. When I lived in Boulder, CO there was an incredible place called Resource 2000 where you could get used building materials and other useful things. These types of places exist all over the country, and with a little Internet searching you can find one in your area. If you are lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay area, there is a place called Scrap, which stands for Scroungers’ Center for Reused Art Parts, and I have heard amazing things about it.

Photo from Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts

A similar place exists in Eugene, OR called Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts, as well as one in Durham, NC called The Scrap Exchange, as well as many others across the country. Scrap has a good list on their website, so find out what’s in your area.

4. Frame shops usually have an excess of mat board that they will likely to let you have for free if you go pick it up.

Photo from The Scrap Exchange at flickr

5. Many big-box home stores and other stores that sell paint often sell mis-tinted paint at very low prices, which means you are saving it from being thrown out. Some cities also have paint exchange programs where people can take leftover cans of paint for others to use. Chicago has one such program and so does Ashland, WI.

Hopefully these ideas will help get you in the mood to search out other ways for reusing and recycling in your business and personal life!

GREEN CHALLENGE: Gather up cereal boxes and use them to start packaging your orders! Post photos to the Indie is the New Green flickr group and share your creative reuse of materials.

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

Established just three years ago, New York’s Snoozer Loser has become an unmistakable indie designer and a favorite among many. Founded and designed by Parsons School of Design graduate Sonia Tay, Snoozer Loser has been featured on both Daily Candy and GenArtPulse, helping only to add to their stylish fan base.

The line features clean but curve conscious lines, made from a mix of plain and sweetly patterned fabrics. Sonia mentions music, nature, vintage handmade clothing and wallpapers has inspiration for her designs, via her Gen Art Pulse interview. When you order her designs though Snoozer Loser’s Etsy shop, you can request a custom fit from Sonia. Snoozer Loser also has a limited-edition collection of 6 pieces on The Shiny Squirrel online store – a must see!

Victoria Everman is an eco-writer, model, crafter, yogi and attempting locavore. Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share her unquenchable green knowledge, she writes her own blog at Victoria-E.com and is head writer/editor for CraftingAGreenWorld.com. She will be imparting her fashion wisdom with us every other Friday on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog with her column Fashionably Indie.

This week we are going to take a peek into the practices behind Letcetera, a company which creates cards printed with soy inks on paper made of mineral powder that is 100% degradable in nature and needs absolutely no trees or water for its production. The envelopes they use are also made from 30% post-consumer waste recycled paper. I am totally inspired! Treeless paper? Incredible.

Here’s what Nerissa from Letcetera had to say:

1. What fueled your decision to create eco-friendly products?

As a graphic designer, I feel obligated to be more conscious and aware of my carbon footprint. Our industry has a direct effect on the environment with our use of paper and the energy needed to produce it, as well as the waste it creates when disposed of.

2. What does ‘green’ mean to you?

It means being more conscious of how my everyday actions affect the environment I live in and the earth as a whole.

3. How did you get started creating your product/line?

About four years ago, I was looking for cool, bold, graphic wrapping paper for my holiday gifts, I didn’t find anything I liked, so I decided to make my own. Designing my own paper allowed me to customize each design for the recipient and that’s when I thought of making graphic patterns out of the first letter of their names. I then made note cards with the patterns and had them printed on tree-free paper with soy inks.

4. How do you reuse materials in your business?

In our studio we try to conserve paper usage and keep printing to a minimum. We reuse scrap print-outs to print and sketch on. Also we are interested in developing our own products that address ‘green’ issues, like Letcetera and another product idea called Recast, which reuses materials from old technology (computers/wires, etc) to create new usable products in a different form.

5. How is your studio eco-conscious?

Whenever possible, for our print jobs, we try to spec papers that are 100% post consumer waste and/or are produced with renewable energy.

6. Who or what are your eco heroes/inspirations?

I’m inspired by the work of Samuel Mockbee, an architect who co-founded Rural Studio that teaches and builds sustainable housing from cast-off materials.

7. Do you have a favorite eco tip for your readers?

Try to conserve as much as you can, whether it’s keeping printing to a minimum or shutting down your computer at the end of day.

8. Where would you like to be with your business this time next year?

We would like to extend the line into more eco-friendly products, and explore other new production methods and technologies.

You can buy Letcetera’s gorgeous cards in their etsy shop. They are available in every letter and seven milestone birthday numbers.

Thank you Nerissa, for sharing with us!

GREEN CHALLENGE: This week, use a coffee canister as a pot for spring planting! (Hint: cans can be painted in countless ways to make them unique and pleasant to the eye! Ever thought of using chalkboard spray paint…?)

Here some great resources for organic seeds:

You Grow Girl
Seeds of Change
Your Local Farmers’ Market

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

I always get really excited when I’m about to run out of hand cream. I know that sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but it really truly is something I look forward to, because it means I get to make MORE. That’s right folks, I make my own eco-friendly hand-cream (more like body cream– I use it for everything!) and my skin will accept no other. It has become spoiled and snooty about what it likes to have soaking into it, and I love dreaming up new concoctions when the time comes.

Here is a very versatile recipe for a rich, emollient, decadent cream that will last you a good long while. And I promise you’ll be excited when yours runs out, too!

Ingredients:

6 oz. raw shea butter
1/2 oz. jojoba oil
1/2 oz. sweet almond oil
1/2 oz. grapeseed oil
1/2 oz. apricot kernel oil
1/2 oz. lanolin (melted)
1/2 oz. aloe vera gel
1/2 oz. glycerin
1/4 oz. Vitamin E oil
5-10 drops favorite essential oil (some of my favorites are geranium, rose, clove, clary sage, cinnamon, and lemongrass.)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl (I like glass or stainless steel). Mush together with your hands to get the lumps out of the shea butter. (Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer, but doing it by hand is the eco-friendlier way, because it saves energy!) Adjust accordingly– if you like a thicker cream, more lanolin and less oil will do the trick; a thinner cream can be made by adding more oil or aloe vera juice)

P.S. This recipe is very fudgeable—what I usually do (since I’m the type that doesn’t really measure things and just eyeball it!) is just toss everything in a big glass bowl and mush it up with my hands and if it needs adjusting I’ll add a little oil here, a little lanolin there…!

Have fun!

WHERE TO BUY:

*My personal favorite: Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary in Boulder, CO
*Goldthread Apothecary in Florence, MA
*Botanica Medica in the UK
*Florapathics
*Mountain Rose Herbs
*The Essential Oil Company

If you want more information about essential oils, herbs, oils, aromatherapy, etc, here are a couple of great resources:
*Herbaldiary.org
*Aroma Web
*The Herbal Body Book by Jeanne Rose

GREEN CHALLENGE: change 1 (or more!) light bulb in your house or studio to a compact fluorescent bulb!

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

French instinct and New York lines come together seamlessly (no pun intended) in the widely-blogged clothing line titled Kcoline. From design and sketches to construction, modeling and marketing, 29-year-old founder Caroline does it all. Kcoline has already garnered a large following of style hunters but her following nearly doubled when the line was featured in Glamour and Allure last year.

Dedicated to using natural fabrics and long-lasting preparation, the Kcoline line is a blessing for crafty buyers that drool over runway shows. Never one to copy trends Stephanie is now the one who is making them, inspired by streetwear and a variety of mainstream magazines. “My stuff is mostly one of a kind, like people,” she says. Exactly what independent fashion should be.

Victoria Everman is an eco-writer, model, crafter, yogi and attempting locavore. Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share her unquenchable green knowledge, she writes her own blog at Victoria-E.com and is head writer/editor for CraftingAGreenWorld.com. She will be imparting her fashion wisdom with us every other Friday on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog with her column Fashionably Indie.

Oh, how I love that the two parts of my life I’m most passionate about (living a creative, hand-made life and supporting others who do the same, and taking care of our earth) are married more and more every day, and that living an eco-friendly life has stylish and unique options. The range of products that are both good for the earth and good for small, independent businesses seem to increase by the minute and I say, Hurray!

I often bookmark sites and products that I would like to have in my life or as part of my home, and today I thought it would be fun to fantasize about ‘A DAY IN MY ECO-INDIE DREAM LIFE’ by pulling them all together to create a list of products for each part of my day. From waking up, showering and getting dressed to jotting down inspirations and going out at night, there’s something on my list for all of it!

I hope it inspires you to think about what your own eco-indie dream life looks like!

6:30 am: Wake up in an organic bed, under a Cove cream & cocoa organic duvet cover from Amenity. #1 & 2

6:45 am: Brush teeth with Recycline Toothbrush, made from Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups. #3

7 am: Eat breakfast and drink coffee—Gimme! Coffee Las Mingas Relationship Coffee, sustainable, fair-trade and delicious. Fiona’s Granola, made in my hometown of Boulder. Catch up on blog reading. #4 & 5

7:30 am: Shower using shampoo by Luscious Naturals. #6

7:45 am: Put on makeup by Mixology. #7

8:00 am: Get dressed. Top from Urban Renewal, undergarments from Louella Bloom, skirt by orangyporangy, cute sandals from Mohop. Now for the accessories—a cork ring by ottoman and a necklace from Atlanta-based Smart Glass Jewelry. #8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13

9:00 am: Time for errands! Grab the purse—it’s a hand bag from escama, a company that combines fair-trade practices with sustainable design, by working directly with two Brazilian crafting cooperatives, to create gorgeous pieces using recycled aluminum pulltabs. Can’t forget my wallet! It’s from bird vs. bird. #14 & 15

11 am: Work, work, work & create, create, create! Make sure my eco-friendly notebook from ecojot out of Ontario. #16

5 pm: Get some groceries for din-din with a tote bag from greenward, no paper or plastic for me! #17

8 pm: Going out! Change up the accessories a bit: a ring from julep115 and a necklace from 2ReVert. #18 & 19

11 pm: Back into my Amenity bed to dream, dream, dream!

GREEN CHALLENGE: find an old t-shirt that you don’t wear anymore and turn it into a grocery shopping bag. And use it this week!

Share your project on the Indie is the New Green Flickr Group. Since there was no winner for last week’s challenge, one person will be chosen this week to win a reusable coffee cup sleeve made by Textile Fetish and available for sale in the Indie Fixx Shop!

About Jessica:
Jessica is an artist from Atlanta, Georgia who is endlessly creating. Her work includes paintings, drawings, illustrations, and paper goods and is vibrant, colorful, and charming. Her work can be found on her site, in her Etsy shop and in the Indie Fixx Shop. You can also read more about Jessica and her work on her blog.

Dear Indie Fixx readers, let me introduce you to our latest contributor to the Guest Blog—Victoria Everman. Victoria is an eco-writer, model, crafter, yogi and attempting locavore. Perpetually looking for fresh ways to share her unquenchable green knowledge, she writes her own blog at Victoria-E.com and is head writer/editor for CraftingAGreenWorld.com. She has also written for many major magazines and websites, including Yoga Journal, CRAFT, Venus, ReadyMade and now Indie Fixx! As an experienced model, Victoria is uniquely positioned to offer insight and share the inside scoop on the world of fashion. She will be imparting her fashion wisdom with us every other Friday on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog. Enjoy and welcome, Victoria!

Looking for indie fashion? I’ve got it right here! My name is Victoria Everman - I’m a freelance writer and model with a passion for independent brands and I’m going to be writing the new Fashionably Indie column on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog. Having modeled professional since I was 6, finding clothing and accessories that are stylish and flattering has become second-nature. Now, I’m here as Indie Fixx’s resident fashion expert to introduce you to the plethora of chic handmade brands available.

Chicago illustrator and designer Angel D’Amico’s clothing line Ad Love is the epitome of unique. Hand screen printed, stenciled, and hand painted, Ad Love is a crafty clash featuring the beauty of nature and the complexity of urban environments. Along with shirts and hoodies, Angel also sells totes, buttons and art prints with her gritty yet soft designs. Some of her creations vividly remind me of the early 90s and the colorful Trapper Keepers we all carried to school … ahh, memories.

I have a couple of surprises in store for you today on Indie Fixx.

1. We are going green all day long! That’s right, all day-all green! Every post today will be completely green in honor of St.Patrick’s Day, so you don’t have to worry about pinching me.

2. This next surprise is a big one…I’m debuting my Guest Blog today! Yay! The Guest Blog will feature special guest writers and will include totally fabu topics like indie fashion, eco-conscious indie shopping, indie city guides and more. I’m super excited about all of the writers I have lined up for you and I just know you are going to love the addition of the Guest Blog.