Geez, there are just so many amazing new shops stocking eco-friendly fashions, handmade gifts and fair trade goods that I’m having trouble keeping up with them all!  It is nice though that this is starting to feel a little more like the norm than a passing trend.

Equita is a Pittsburgh based company with both a webshop and a brick & mortar boutique stocking the best in ethical fashion, organic body care and sustainable home decor.  They are one of only a few American companies currently carrying FIN, a Norwegian brand whose Fall/Winter collection features non-violent silk which is grown in the wild, and handpicked and handspun by artisans.  One of their pieces is this gorgeous zippered dress.  Equita also carries other well-known eco-labels such as Edun, Loomstate and Del Forte.

Camilla Boutique is another eco-friendly shop located in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood. Founded by Camilla Ares after she became disillusioned with the unsustainable practices plaguing much of the fashion industry, Camilla Boutique stocks green clothing and accessories, as well as goods for kids and the home. Camilla also offers an online store, so that that individuals who can’t make it to Brooklyn will still have a chance to buy beautiful eco-friendly clothes.

If you’re shopping for eco-conscious and socially responsible Hanukkah gifts this season, check out the Spertus Shop at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.  They’ve got some really great products, like these wooden crocodile-shaped menorahs, which are handmade and finished with non-toxic milk paint by special needs adults in Israel.

And for those of you up north, be sure to try goodEGG industries and their eclectic mix of gift ideas, all handmade by Canadian artists. This shop was founded in May 2008 by two Toronto-based craft bloggers: Laural of Thimble, and Jen of the Toronto Craft Alert, who I had the pleasure of meeting during Craft Congress 2007. Their shop has a curated selection of fabulous products, such as this awesome moose antler ring.

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Speaking of getting out the vote, Laurie of Kiku Handmade is doing her part to encourage others to register. She got in touch to remind me about all of the great information available at Rock the Vote. She’s also running a special on her site to remind others of the importance of voting. Just use the coupon code “vote08″ to get 20% off, through November 4th, on any of her fused glass accessories.

She’s got some amazing new coaster sets, including this awesome mid-century modern chair set. The coasters come in sets of four, with four images to a series, and retail for $65. Right now you can choose from the chair set, vintage bikes, and vintage cameras, or you can work with Laurie to create a custom set. Now is the perfect time to order, since the sale ends on election day!

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Kaleidoscope Style is a collaboration between two sisters who create one-of-a-kind embroidered felt jewelry and accessories that are super duper cute!

These pieces would be perfect for people who have metal allergies or sensitive skin, as they’re made entirely out of felt, yarn and seed beads, so there’s no metal to worry about! Even the clasps are made from felt and a crocheted loop. They’ve got necklaces, bracelets, brooches, hair accessories and even rings…all made from felt! How cool!

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Never Ender is an awesome indie boutique that has been operating out of Reno, Nevada for over three years now. It was founded with the goal of selling art-based clothing and accessories for guys and girls by emerging artists and designers, and it features a gallery of artwork as well.

Never Ender recently made the switch from a brick-and-mortar boutique to an even more diverse online store. In addition to a wide array of handmade items, Never Ender also specializes in selling eco-friendly items and they use recycled packaging and paper as much as possible.

I love these adorable hand printed seahorse patches made from recycled fabric by Hearth and Forge. So cute!

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It’s been a crazy last few weeks for me, which is why I haven’t been posting very regularly. I thought after the holidays were over things would sort of calm down, but that hasn’t been the case. First my mom had a biopsy done a couple of weeks ago and was diagnosed with breast cancer. She just had mastectomy surgery earlier today and is currently in recovery and doing fine. It sounds like they caught it early though, so hopefully we will be able to put this behind us soon. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go home to be with her at the hospital because I’ve been under the weather with a yucky cold for the last few days. The last thing I want right now is to spread this to my mom while her immune system is already dealing with the stress of surgery.

While the rest of the blogging community is gearing up for the Valentine’s Day holiday, down here in New Orleans the only holiday we’re concerned with right now is Mardi Gras, which takes place a week from today.

I’ve been getting my costume together for the big day, and I’m excited because one crucial component is now finished. I’m doing a fancy burlesque inspired version of a cassowary - “the world’s deadliest bird”.

I’ve been working with Belle, the amazing milliner behind BoringSidney. She just completed this gorgeous custom hat for me, which is designed to emulate the casque part of a cassowary’s head. I’ve still got a few costume parts left to make, but I’ll be sure to post some pictures of the entire costume after it’s all done.

Oh yeah, and in the midst of all of this, I got a full time job offer from one of my current part-time jobs at the Louisiana State Museum! It’s a great offer, and I’ll be taking it and starting after Mardi Gras is over. I’m excited, but sad at the same time because it means I’ll be leaving Trashy Diva, a job a love (and my favorite store since forever).

2008 is off to a crazy start for me. How about you guys?

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I’ve been in love with quirky belt buckles lately. First my indie film director boyfriend picked up an awesome belt buckle when we were in Austin a couple of months ago… it’s shaped like one of those clapper slate boards they use in films.

Yesterday I saw my friend Heather from Unique Products wearing one of her own fused glass belt buckles. I rarely wear belts, but lately I find myself wanting to incorporate them into my wardrobe, just so I can get a snazzy belt buckle.

I really like the fused glass belt buckles by Kiku. For some reason I’m very drawn to this camera belt buckle… I think it’s because it reminds me of MissMischief. I also really love the virus buckle and the tentacles buckle. There are also some cool yarn buckles which would be great for knitters. Plus, if you can’t find anything that’s just right, Laurie (the designer behind Kiku) can craft you a one-of-a-kind custom belt buckle.

Laurie makes more than just cool belt buckles. You can also find unique necklaces, earrings, rings and more at the Kiku shop.

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I love these quirky handbags and accessories created by Julie of 2nd Draft Design.

She weaves together out-dated materials such as library microfilm & old educational filmstrips to create these one of a kind purses and bracelets. Her recycled materials include microfilms of the New York Times and Life Magazine from 1965-1975. You can even check with Julie for specific dates to create a customized piece. (I think this would be a great idea for birthday gifts.)

You can help keep these historic materials out of a landfill and score a truly unique accessory at the same time!

*edited to add: Check the comments section for a special deal from Julie just for MissMalaprop readers! *

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Check out this cool clutch handbag, crafted by Redesigns by Durkin from vintage ties.

Of course I love it because it’s made from recycled materials, but I also really love the way the colors pop on this particular bag. Plus, I love the fact that while all of the materials are recycled, Redesigns by Durkin also purchases 90% of the ties they use from non-profit organizations and donates 10% of their overall profits to charity.

In addition to clutches, a larger style handbag as well as pillows are also available, and they’re all made by hand out of eco-friendly recycled neckties.

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Still on the lookout for a great eco-friendly gift idea? You might want to take a look at FaeriesDance.com, a website that carries a wide variety of clothing and lingerie made from sustainable and organic fabrics as well as recycled, fair trade and environmentally sensitive jewelry.

They’ve put together some pages of gift ideas from their selection, ranging from quick & easy gifts to stuff for those who are into something cute & sassy or elegant & chic. They also offer gift certificates, plus some very cool “tree-free” gift bags for holiday gift wrapping.

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Getting into the holiday spirit? Are you running around doing all sorts of elf-like errands and preparations and decorating and maybe you’ve gotten a little chilly in the process? Have no fear because Sarah is here with The Snart!

What the heck is The Snart, you may ask? It’s the perfect companion for your head, especially during a blustery holiday season! The Snart will have you feeling festive while it keeps you warm.

To keep your noggin properly warmed this holiday season, check out sew-sew.net to order your own handmade Snart.

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Fellow New Orleanian Lillian Lovich wrote to me the other day to let me know about a fabulous new resource she’s created called Go Green NOLA. This site is a green how-to guide full of resources for the New Orleans community. It’s got info on recycling, sustainable building, eating & shopping locally, and much more, all in one place. The website looks really amazing. Great job, Lillian!

Lillian also mentioned that she’s a fellow crafter…I think the stuff she makes is super cute! Just take a peek at Lillie’s 5 & Dime for sweet coin purses (the Howdy Horse pouch at right is adorable!), aprons, paper goods & vintage.

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Who knew circuitry could be so stylish? Apparently Debby Arem knows because she’s the clever designer behind these cool cufflinks, created from recycled circuit boards.

Doing some early holiday shopping for your favorite geek? I think any of her circuit board cufflinks or tie tacks would make great gifts for geeky guys, and if the computer nerd in your life is of the female persuasion, Debby has you covered with her collection of earrings made from old circuit boards.

There are also circuit board bookmarks, clipboards and keychains (perfect if you get stuck with the office IT guy as your Secret Santa), as well as some beautiful beaded jewelry that doesn’t involve recycled computer components.

You can browse all of her amazing work at Arem Designs.

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