I bought a little forest.

So I do this tree seedling giveaway every April.  I buy 100 baby tree seedlings from the Howard Nursery here in PA and I literally give them away on the third Saturday.  In a sense, it feels like I’m dispatching a little forest.  The forest won’t be planted all together, but 100 trees can make quite an impact.  Anyway, I’ve done it quite a few years now, so the planning is pretty much on autopilot.  I order the trees in January, receive them between late March and mid  April, plant them in pots outside to keep them healthy, wrap each one in a little bag the night before, and carry them into the shop the morning of the event.  There’s obviously a lot  more to it than that, but it’s very systematic at this point.  The tree species change from year to year depending on what’s available, but there’s ALWAYS Flowering Dogwood as one of the options.  People are waiting at my door for the Dogwood, and it’s the first seedling that runs out each year.  Last year, my systematic plan had a monkey wrench thrown in.  There weren’t any Flowering Dogwood seedlings available.  It had been a very bad growing year, and none were big enough to safely transplant.  I was incredibly disappointed and my tree receivers were also very disappointed as well.  This year I knew there would be Dogwood available.  I also knew they would be beautiful since last year’s seedlings had been allowed to grow one more year.  What I never know, though, is how many are available…and how long they’ll last.  It’s kind of like standing in line for concert tickets.  The tickets aren’t available until a certain date, at a certain time.  Even though you know what you want, you still can’t reserve your tickets until the window opens.   If there’s only 2000 tickets, and you are number 2001, you go home without.  That’s kind of how it works with the seedlings.  The order form isn’t available until January 6th.  You  can’t even SEE it until January 6th.  So on January 6th each year, I go out to the website, print the order form, read through the species available, and try to figure everything out.  I knew I wanted Dogwood.  In fact, I knew I wanted two bundles of the Dogwood this year, but what else was I going to choose?  And since everyone else didn’t get their Dogwood last year, was there going to be a mad rush to order the Dogwood?  What if I dawdle too long and miss out?  I just HAVE to get the Dogwood this year for my customers.  I felt this intense sense of urgency.  Silly, quite frankly.  There’s so much going on in the world, and I chose to become entirely stressed out about getting my little trees.  But anyway, there I was, obsessed about getting the Dogwood.  I typically also get Eastern Redbud, so I search down the top of the order form.  Hmmm…no Redbud listed.   Do they not have any Redbud this year?  Wait, no, there it is at the bottom with an asterisk next to it.  Shoot…I know what that means.  The tiny quantity available items have that  asterisk.  So now, not only was I at risk of not getting my Dogwood, but the Redbud was in danger as well.  I could almost hear the clock ticking in my head.  Quick, quick, I need one other species.  Wait, what’s this one?  Winterberry?  I’ve never had that one before.   I wonder what it is?  So I called the Nursery.  These people are wonderful.  They’re friendly, and they’re helpful, and they really know their stuff.  I find out that Winterberry is a deciduous holly.  Seriously?  The beauty of a holly bush without the prickly leaves?  That’s brilliant!  And they still had the Dogwood AND the Redbud.  Score!  I got my trees.  Exactly what I wanted.  I hung up the phone and felt this amazing sense of calm.  There are 100 little tree seedlings growing at the Howard Nursery that are now reserved for me.  Once the ground is thawed for good the end of March / early April, they will be dug up, packed up, and sent to me.  And then I will give them to you.   I can’t wait!

The buzz about coffee

I’m a coffee addict.  Seriously, I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.  I’m a full blown addict.  Without my morning coffee, a headache hits by lunch time and the shakes start by mid afternoon.  If I start feeling sluggish, or don’t have time for coffee, I toss the beans straight from the jar into my mouth.  A little gritty, but quite yummy nonetheless.  That being said, though, I’m also a coffee snob.  I only drink fair trade coffee.  No exceptions.  I will gladly accept the headaches and shakes for the cause.  Why?  Fair trade coffee works with small family farms and coops…only.  And it’s not just about the wages and working conditions, but developing programs that help the community as well.  Not to mention it’s all slave free.  Those large seasonal plantations are famous for using child slaves.  As far as I’m concerned, there’s no caffeine buzz that’s worth the abuse of a child.  That reason alone is enough for me to refuse any coffee that isn’t fair trade.   Any time I walk into a new little coffee house, the first words I ask are, “Is your coffee fair trade?”  If the answer is yes, I go for the large mocha (sometimes with an extra shot or two of espresso).  If the answer is no, I walk out and go without.  It has always been an easy question.  At least up until now.  As some of you may have heard, Fair Trade USA (formerly called Transfair) is expanding their “fair trade” certification to include seasonal plantations.  While I appreciate their desire to expand the reach of fair trade, working with these plantations goes against everything fair trade has stood for.  It’s always been about the producer.  I can ask the question, “Who made this?” and actually get an answer.  I know I’m helping families and coops to pull out of poverty, not dumping money into large companies.  Without getting on a soapbox, it makes me sad.  And it makes it almost impossible to know which fair trade that coffee house is serving.   There’s still a fair trade certification that means something, and then there’s the watered down Fair Trade USA certification.  In a store, you can look for the logo (a guy holding scales).  In a coffee house, they may not know which fair trade they have.   I’m a bit at a loss on what to do.  I won’t water down my own standards as a result, so I guess I’m now limited to only those coffee houses that I already know support small farmers.  I’m talking about those edgy independent places that answered my question with just those words, “We only serve fair trade coffee that’s grown by small coops.”   I’m comforted to know that my coffee supplier here at the shop, Deans Beans, will also not be dropping their standards.  So, worst case, I’ll be dragging a bag of coffee or a travel mug full everywhere I go.  Looks like I may need to buy some more travel mugs.

And the Lingerers Appear.

The past two weeks have brought shipments that are beyond my wildest dreams.  The products are awesome, of course, but my excitement comes from the fact that for many of them, I had given up all hope that they would ever arrive.  The latest box of fun, came this past Friday.  It is chock full of jewelry from Mexico, most of which are styles that I’ve never seen before.  My order was placed in October.  Six weeks for delivery?  Umm…not great, but not outside the norm either.  My Haiti order appeared a couple of weeks ago, bringing with it the coolest papier mache fish I think I’ve ever seen.  They’re colorful, and fun, and HUGE.  That order?  It was placed the beginning of February.  Nine months is definitely outside the range of normal delivery.  But that’s not the order that takes the prize. The day before Thanksgiving I received my jewelry from Afghanistan.  These ladies are using turquoise, soapstone, and jadeite to make jewelry to support their families and defy the status quo.  They are dreaming for a better day, and doing whatever it takes to get there.  And I have been patiently waiting to see it since August…of 2010.  Worth the wait?  Definitely.  I’m thrilled that I finally have these amazing items to share with everyone. Their arrival at the start of the holiday season is perfect, like I actually meant for it all to show up now.  And a part of me is expecting that one last lingerer to show up any day now…direct from Palestine.

Meet the Attitude Angels

Meet the Attitude Angels

Meet the Attitude Angels.  They’re tree ornaments made out of recycled soda cans.  I take these things everywhere I go come fall because the story is so touching to me, and the angels are incredibly fun.  You see, these angels are made by children of the Zulu tribe in South Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS.  It’s an extra-mural activity that helps them feed, clothe, and educate themselves.  This program is simply amazing with the impact these kids feel and the chance at a normal life they now have.  A few weeks ago, though, the response I received to the story of the Attitude Angels threw me.  I had an audience in front of a large group of people who take care of children as their vocation.  I expected them to embrace the angels as my customers have.  The first woman picked up the angel, I shared the story behind them, she got a funny look on her face and set it down.  Then it happened again, with that same funny look.  Then the third woman who picked up the angel actually said, “Oh my, I hope the child who touched this didn’t have AIDS.”  She then released it like it was dirty.  I was shocked.  My time with these people had been amazing.  The stories of what they were doing to help children blew my mind.  So imagine my surprise that they would be afraid to touch something made by a child orphaned by AIDS.  So I quit telling the story.  The story is written on the attached card, so they have it if they want to read it, but I quit telling the actual story myself.  I told an abridged version, leaving out the AIDS part.  Shameful, yes, but I was so thrown by the reaction I didn’t know what else to do.  And here’s where things got interesting.  One of the ladies on the hotel staff stopped by.  She had stopped by earlier that morning, and was looking at two of the pendants made by the Karen Hills Tribe in Thailand.  She was inked up with tattoos, had numerous piercings, and a bubbly warm personality that made her a treat to talk to.  As she walked away with her pendant, she picked up one of the angels.  It was made from a Tab can.  She shrieked out, “Oh my goodness, it’s a Tab can!  I haven’t seen one of those in years!”  It was done, we had formed a bond of understanding.  How can I not treasure anyone who recognizes and remembers Tab?  I mean seriously, this soda was all OVER the place when I was growing up.  It was the diet drink that the pretty girls chose…or at least that’s how the commercials spun it.  So she asks the question, “Can you tell me the story of who makes it?”  Without even realizing what was coming out of my mouth, I told her the story.  The real story, not the glossed over orphans for some undisclosed reason story.  The story of the children who were left destitute because their parents had died from AIDS.  She teared up.  Instantly.  No slight eye water, she was actually ready to cry.  She looked me in the eye and said, “My Mom died from AIDS when I was a teenager.  These kids are just like me.”  I couldn’t help myself, as she started telling her story, I started to tear up with her.  It was one of those moments and she is one of those people that you remember for a lifetime.  You just never know who you might run across in life.  You never know how you might effect them.  And you simply can’t imagine how they might effect you.  It started with a simple little story.  That very special young woman has her Tab Attitude Angel to remember the other children just like her.  I have a different perspective on life.  I’m not sure who was touched more.  So…everyone…meet the Attitude Angels…they were made by children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

A touch of old Egypt

Every so often, I find myself humbled by the power of the little things.  This week I had one of those moments.   In preparation for an upcoming conference, I wanted to find items that specifically helped disadvantaged youth.  I started searching high and low for possibilities, when a papyrus card came up.  Really?  I already have that card here in the shop.  And to be frank, it’s just a card.  How much impact could one little card possibly make?  So I started digging, and found myself struck by the power of that little card.  The card is made out of papyrus paper.  You know, the paper made in Egypt some 5000 years ago?    I’ve always loved things made out of papyrus.  I think because it’s one of “those” artforms that defies logic to me.  This paper is made from reeds that are crushed, pressed, and dried (to simplify things).  When I look at the thickness and durability of reeds, I cannot imagine making them into paper.  So anyway, the card is made out of papyrus, which makes it cool.  But what’s super cool, is that the artwork is hand painted  by unemployed youth in Mallawi, Egypt.  Young adults earn income, while advancing their artistic skills.   I never dreamed these cards were so incredibly special.  And now that I know…there are several more designs on the way.

A Christmas eruption

I’m in the holiday home stretch now!  Nativities go out for November 1, so most of them are in the shop at this point, tucked away until the 30th.  Last head count, there were roughly 52 different nativities…with multiples of several of them…and 6 more scheduled to arrive in the next week or so.  In a nutshell, my back storage room is erupting nativities.  They are tucked in every nook and cranny to be found (hopefully) and unpacked when the time arrives.  I am super excited about my selection this year.  I’ve found some new cooperatives, took a chance on some of the more unique sets from my existing cooperatives, and the result is going to be an awesome variety.  Some are breathtakingly gorgeous and others, well, they certainly have their own character.  There are several this year that I have my eye on, one is absolutely stunning and the others are definitely in the  ”character” category.  And I’m also excited about the ornaments.  I went a little Christmas crazy this year and there are literally hundreds of ornaments to be hung.   The plan on exactly where I’m going to hang them all is still forming, because there are way more ornaments than tree space.  Maybe I can put them out in waves…a few of each to begin with and then more as room opens up on the trees.  The little felted people from Kyrgyzstan are already two light…my Christmas gift to my mom…because they are seriously the cutest things I’ve ever seen.  I’m counting down the days…10  to be precise…until I can share my wonderful finds with everyone.   

Toasted tootsies

I have this recurring problem.  I get cold feet.  I’m not talking about the fear of jumping into something, I have NO qualms about that.  I literally get cold feet.  You will frequently find me in 75 or even 80 degree weather wearing socks, because my toes are cold.  And I’m here to tell you, when my toes get cold, they are little tiny icicles that in turn make my whole body uncomfortable.  My frosty little toes can actually keep me from falling asleep at night it’s so bad.  So considering it’s such a huge problem in the Summer months, I’m beside myself in the winter months…or more accurately, curley-qued up tight into a little ball under a quilt trying desperately to defrost them.  Socks just aren’t warm enough, and most slippers aren’t much better.  So last winter, when I saw the wool slippers made by my ladies in Kyrgyzstan, I couldn’t help myself.  I bought a pair.  Well, I’m hear to tell you I am IN LOVE with my wool slippers.  As soon as I got home, the shoes came off, the slippers went on, and my toes were nice and toasty for the evening.  So when I placed my order in July, I decided to share the joy of the felted wool slipper.  Sure, I ordered the wool nativity sets, ornaments, and camel trains, but most importantly, I ordered wool slippers.   All summer, the ladies have been felting, sewing, and embroidering  to keep everyone’s feet warm.  And this week, to my surprise, the shipment has arrived!  They are beautiful, very well made, and really really warm.  So warm, in fact, I might need to buy myself  a second pair…just in case.

felted wool slippers from Kyrgyzstan

Deflecting the pickle.

I have a very poor sense of time and space.  I’m fully aware of it and my friends are aware of it.  So, aside from being the butt of numerous jokes as a result, I’ve grown to accept it.  It actually makes me laugh at myself, but every so often I end up in a bit of a pickle for that very reason.  What do I mean by a poor sense of time / space?  For one, I am always late when I drive somewhere I’ve been before because I think it takes less time to get there than it actually does.  I’m not talking about a minute or two.  I’m a solid 15 minutes behind schedule every time I drive to Zelienople, for example.  I feel good about myself when I leave the house because I’m “right on schedule”, only to realize half way down that I’m going to be really late because it’s longer than a 30 minute drive.  Dinner in New Castle?  A solid 5 minutes late…it’s only a 10 minute drive.    And as for the date, I’m always at least a week behind.  I’m not talking about behind in the work I have to do.  I’m talking about behind on what day it is.  I think it’s the first week of September when it’s the second or the third.   You get the idea.  So last week, true to form, I looked at a calendar and realized that I only had 10 days until the Celebrate Life Party at the shop.  I hadn’t ordered the silver charms from Thailand OR the boxes from the West Coast.  Um….UH OH!  I scrambled onto the internet, made some very quick decisions, and hit the send button.  The charms had a guaranteed 2 weeks time frame and the boxes 10 days.   And then the panic struck.  10 days until the party, 14 days to get the charms…it wasn’t looking good.  What was I going to do if the charms didn’t arrive?  I mean, all my ads promote the silver charms.  And I do this every year.  I can’t just say…sorry, I lost track of time and have nothing to give you.  And who needs the boxes if the charms don’t arrive on time?  After three days of severe anxiety, not to mention sleepless nights, I checked my shipment from Thailand and found a splinter of hope.  The charms had shipped!  Now if only they got here quickly…holy smoke!  It’s only Tuesday and they just arrived!  My order from Thailand was placed, shipped, and received in only 6 days.    Now I only have to wait for the shipment of boxes from the United States and I’m good to go.  That pickle I was in has been deflected!  So now I can look forward to having a great time on Saturday, with mini cupcakes, and balloon animals, and…yes, 42 little silver charms to give out.  And, in case you were wondering, I also bought the charms for next year.  Lesson learned.

I feel like I’m in the front row!

This past Monday I experienced a rare treat.  Let me start by giving you some back story.  One of my fair trade contacts, who works primarily with artisans in Nicaragua, happened to be at the same event in late March.  Needless to say, I’m a talker, and, well, she’s a talker, so at some point we started talking about a new artisan she discovered that worked with recycled metal.  She didn’t have samples of his work, just the overview of what he did.  And the overview alone had me all a twitter with excitement because it was super SUPER cool.  She was throwing some ideas out there of things he could do, and came to crosses and angels.  Uh?  Crosses and angels?  My customers LOVE crosses and angels.  I didn’t know what they looked like, but I was on board immediately.  Well, she went down to visit her artisans in July, met again with this super cool recycled metal guy, and left Nicaragua having placed an initial order for bracelets, crosses, and angels to be delivered the end of August.  I met with her on Monday, in the parking lot of a strip mall halfway between us, and brought them back to my little shop.  At the risk of repeating myself, they are SUPER COOL.  And the rare treat?  I am one of the first people to see them.  These small wall sculptures have been in the country for less than a week.  And my customers, well, they will be one of the first to have the opportunity to support this project.  And the artisan?  He now has some much needed income, as well as guidance on how to be safer making his art.  And all that makes me smile.  There are so many projects out there that have been around for decades, that it’s really amazing to be included in a project that has just begun.  Want to see a picture of these fun new items?  You’ll find them in the September newsletter, along with a little more of the story.  Want to see them up close?  They’ll be out in the shop tomorrow to pick up, feel, and look at in awe, knowing they are nothing more than recycled metal.

Packing up and hitting the road

My fall is starting to fill up with events.  Not events at the shop, but pack up my stuff and hit the road kind of events.  And I’m here to tell you, getting ready for these shindigs is not an easy task.  I have six rooms, and literally thousands of items here at my brick and mortar store, and, in most cases, I only have one 8′ table of space at an event.   So what do I pick?  My favorite items aren’t necessarily other people’s favorites.  In fact, they rarely are.  What sells well at one event, bombs at the next depending on who’s there.  And to make it even more fun, what sells one year, doesn’t sell the next.  It’s like playing darts with a blindfold.  Sometimes you hit the bullseye, sometimes your dart doesn’t even hit the board…or quite possibly the wall.  Generalities don’t always work so well either.  Purses always sell well, but you have to have the right purse for the right person, which would require ALL my purses, which in turn would fill the ENTIRE table.  And everyone loves the elephant grass baskets, but again, 6 fill the table, which is not a great use of space.  So what makes the cut?  I wish I had a special formula, something that told me what to take.  But I don’t.  I try to make a list, but it’s usually not readable by the time I have to pack since I’ve scratched and scribbled so much.  So the packing typically turns into an after the shop is closed, I’m tired, I’m hungry, let’s just collect some stuff in a bin kind of thing.  But I’m REALLY looking forward to my first big event this fall…the Grey to Green Festival at Wick Park in Youngstown.  First of all, I’ve never been and it looks like an amazing festival.  Second, it’s a full day outside with a great friend by my side to help, which rocks.  Third, I have pretty tight guidelines.  Everything needs to be environmentally friendly or sustainable, which makes the selection process super simple.  There aren’t 50 purses to select from, but 15, which means I can take them all.  The foldable totes are a must, as is the recycled tin can jewelry.  I can literally walk through the shop saying…take it, take it, take it.  No indecision, no trauma, no drama, the list is crystal clear.  So, needless to say, my excitement level is through the roof right now.  It’s just over 2 weeks away at this point.  I’ll have someone with me to pass the time, and cover the booth while I go look at the exhibits (shop at the farmers market).   AND, packing will be a breeze.  Now if only that nice September weather holds true, I’ll be set.  Hmmm…I wonder what food they’ll have.  Do I dare hope for a baked goods table with a fresh baked pie?  Oh my, that would be AMAZING.  Maybe I should take a fork with me…just in case.