What: Mortar + Pestle

Where: Macy’s – $24.99

Why We Love It: In this fast food world we live in, it’s good to take a step back and celebrate the ritual, the flavors, and the health benefits of a home cooked meal. As food critic, Mark Bittman, will attest, it doesn’t necessarily take much longer to prepare a thoughtful meal and you may find the ritual of cooking to be quite satisfying, more so, perhaps, than the meal itself.

Maximize flavor by grinding whole spices, fresh herbs, garlic, and more with this functional, durable, and colorful mortar and pestle. A traditional tool with a modern pop, it’s hand-crafted from 100% organically grown bamboo and comes with all the benefits of this fast-growing plant–it’s naturally antimicrobial and it’s one of the strongest yet lightest materials around. Core Bamboo uses food-safe water based adhesives, natural oils, and lacquers made from natural cashew trees.

What: “Friend” Felt Box with Bamboo Top

Where: Branch.com – $29 & 25% with code DailyCandy25 through March 5, 2011.

Why We Love It: First saw this sweet little box at the ICFF in New York. Loved the mix of materials, the unexpected soft felt box with the rigid bamboo top. The two look great together. It does take some finagling to get the top inserted just right, but worth it. Like the idea of placing precious mementos, keepsakes and jewelry into a well cushioned nest. Lovely stacked or stand alone.

Each box is handmade by handmade locally using renewable materials – 100% wool felt and 100% FSC Certified bamboo free of VOC adhesives. Available in Orange or Charcoal.

What: Air Hazel Setee

Where: Structured Green – $4100 (shipping included)

Why We Love It: Perfect apartment sized setee. Love the slim lines and lack of bulk without sacrificing comfort. Truly lives up to its name, its pure and simple, streamlined and elegant and an unexpected and refreshing shape with the free from arms. Texture comes from the organic embroidery that adorns the back of the setee.

Designer Ami McKay launched her furniture collection to fill the void of stylish, sustainable and healthy furniture for her clients who were seeking chemical-free eco-friendly home environment. To achieve this, her furniture is manufactured locally using biodegradable, natural latex rubber, FSC Certified hardwood frames, organic cotton batting, renewable jute and latex webbing, non-toxic adhesives, OEKO-tex certified wool fabrics that use organic dyes, renewable and sustainable Kirei grass and wheat boards, and fast growing hemp and bamboo. Because of these high eco-standards, PURE furniture also counts towards the collection of LEED points.

Available in 11 colors: Aegean, Waves, Coffee Bean, Sunrise, Charcoal, Sunburst, Inferno, Stone, Vapor, Cloud, and Clay with or without the embroidery detail. See also the coordinating Fire Cyrilla Arm Chair by PURE and the Structured Green Fire Cyrilla Daybed by PURE.

Who:

What: Column Dress

Where: LABEL – $76.20

Why We Love It: Sometimes there is nothing more alluring, or more comfortable, than a black tube dress. This slinky column dress by LABEL is fitted in all the right places and flowy in all the rest making it equally fit for casual spring days and sexy summer nights.

Designers Shawna Robinson and Natalie Sydoruk have a knack for designing clothing that got a funky glamorous vibe that’s comfy and casual. Wherever possible they use organic, renewable or reclaimed fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, lyocell, and in this case a jersey blend of 93% bamboo and 7% spandex.

The scrap fabrics from the sewing room are donated to small local indie company “Denture Thief Productions,” who use the fabric to create the adorable little “stuffed creates” below, that you can be found at markets and indie boutiques in the Toronto area.

The site is pretty fascinating and takes advantage of laser cutters to bring projects to life. Great for artists who don’t have access to an expensive laser cutter. You can upload your own design or choose from a collection of shared designs. The design is then laser cut onto your choice of materials – felt, leather, acrylic, bamboo, cork, wood. You can create puzzles, necklaces, furniture, light fixtures etc. You’ve actually probably seen many of these products selling on etsy and the like.

Would love to hear from anyone who has used this site, either from the DIY side or just having something made.

Get FREE shipping on orders over $65 from CafePress

What: Plywerk – Custom Plywood Photo Mounts

Where: Plywerk – ranges from $6 – $800 based on size & finishes

Why We Love ‘Em: First saw these on a visit out to Portland, Oregon and were instantly impressed by their streamlined and modern look. Such a great alternative to traditional custom frames.

Plywerk’s custom framing is a sleek and eco-friendly way to display your personal photos and artwork. Simply send them your photos and Plywerk will mount them on their plywood panels. Or order blank panels with a pre-applied PH neutral adhesive to mount your own artwork. Great way to showcase your art.

The panels are handmade in Portland using from FSC-certified bamboo and maple plywoods. We even love the edges of the bamboo panel where the end grain is exposed, it’s really beautiful. You can even opt to have your print printed on exhibition quality bamboo paper. They’ve also got a great collection of 5×5 ready-mounted prints that cover the entire color wheel for  fun way to brighten up your walls.

What: Snap Neck Warmer

Where: N:F:P – $55

Why We Love ‘Em: The worst of the winter is behind us (hopefully), and yet we can’t help but pine for this versatile scarf from N:F:P. Love the wear-many-ways approach to the design. This snappy scarf can be worn buttoned up as a turtleneck, draped as a cowl neck, snapped on the sides for a chic scarf or as a neck warmer by pulling the ends through the slit on the side. Each scarf is handknit from your choice of 100% merino wool or bamboo.

Designer Gail Travis escaped the confines of the mainstream fashion world to create a line that was her uniquely her own and that transcends trends. She is inspired by the concepts of “transition, transformation and evolution” as is evident by her designs. Her “modular designs” can be linked layered, shifted, scrunched and snapped together in multiple ways and with uniform snaps throughout the collection, each piece can be linked together to other pieces in the collection.  Fun way to create your own personal look.

So for us, this is what really makes her garments sustainable – staying power. They can be worn in many different ways and it can be reinvented to stay current, so they won’t be discarded after a single season. Available in Deep Red, Olive, Charcoal Mleange and Black.

You can check out the fall collection at the Roger Smith Hotel Pop Up Shop at 501 Lexington Avenue (B/W 47th & 48th Streets). Open 2/26-3/10 from 10AM to 8PM.

What: Azuri Bamboo Pashmina Scarf

Where: NIMLI – $200 regular price, now on sale for $19. Bonus! Get 30% off all purchases at Nimli with promo code HOLIDAY09!

Why We Love It: Dress up any outfit with this thin, finely woven Pashmina Bamboo Scarf from Azuri. Made of a fine pashmina and an ultra soft bamboo blend, this warm and light weight accessory makes a great accent piece either draped around your soldiers or wrapped around your neck (measures 60″x12″). And, since they are available in over 100 different colors, you are sure to find one to match any occasion.  At a sale price of just $19 (only $13.30 with the 20% off!) who couldn’t use an extra scarf or two or three?

This is just one of the many eco-conscious products available from one of our favorite online eco-retailers, Nimli. They’ve got an amazing collection of natural, sustainable, recycled, sweatshop-free, cruelty-free, organic, eco-conscious and ethical products in the latest styles. You’ll find a great selection of shoes, accessories, apparel and items for the home that you can feel good about purchasing. All of their items ship direct from the manufacture to eliminate one leg of shipping and, to further offset their carbon footprint, Nimli purchases Green Tags.

Related Articles: Stewart+Brown Scarf | Leigh & Luca’s Recycle Scarf | Azuri Bamboo Scarf

	One lucky Urban Sherp reader will win the Azuri Scarf in Periwinkle, courtesy of Nimli. To enter, visit Nimli & then leave a comment here telling US which item from their collection you would like to receive as a gift this holiday.Hurry! This giveaway ends December 21, 2009 at 11:59PM EST. One entry per person. Open to US & Canadian Residents. Official Rules.

Who:

What: ECO Felt Monster Onesie Set

Where: Natural Luxe – $38 (sign-up to The Find for 15% off through 12/31)

Why We Love It: There is just something so endearing about the crooked smile and  googly eyes of this super cute matching set that the little ones are sure to love. Almost as much as having a tee to match their new friend.

These eco and ‘friendly’ monsters are made from recycled felt and filled with 100% natural bamboo stuffing. The onesie is made of 100% organic cotton with a felt monster to match. Even the packaging is eco-friendly, made of recycled content.

The sets are available in six different colors all of which you can find at one of our favorite online stores, Natural Luxe.

They have a great collection of natural, organic, hand made, recycled and sustainable products. A great site to visit for any last minute gifts on your list!

	One lucky Urban Sherp reader will win an ECO monster set in  the color of their choice courtesy of Natural Luxe. To enter, visit Natural Luxe & then leave a comment here telling US which item from Natural Luxe you would give as a gift this holiday. Hurry! This giveaway ends December 11, 2009 at 11:59PM EST. One entry per person. Open to US & Canadian Residents. Official Rules.

Who:

What: Organic Series Reusable Bags

Where: EcoTobi – $28

Why: We have long been fans of Envirosax, trading in a sea of paper and plastic for a chic 5-pack of reusable bags that goes everywhere with us (yes, even on vacation…..). And now Envirosax collection of reusable bags has gotten even ‘greener’ with the launch of their new Organic Series. The collection features bags made from 100% organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and linen all printed with vegetable based dyes.

The generously sized bags roll up neatly into a tidy little pouch that can be conveniently tucked into bags, purses, glove compartments and even jacket pockets for any unexpected shopping trips. But don’t be fooled by the tiny package, they can hold a ton – easily fits 2 supermarket bags worth of groceries or 2 pairs of jeans and 2 sweaters during the holiday sales (we tested it just in case……). Also makes for great, eco-friendly and reusable wrapping paper!

Envirosax founders Belinda and Mark David-Tooze live a sustainable lifestyle totally off the grid in South East Queensland, Australia. They are committed to operating on ecologically sustainable principles while spreading their environmental message to help educate the global community in environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability.  To find out more about Envirosax join them on Twitter or Facebook.

See also: Envirosax Monochromatic Bag – $10 | Envirosax Amazonia Bag – $10 | Envirosax Flora Bag

	One lucky Urban Sherp reader will win one of these lovely bags from the Envirosax Organic Series. To enter, take a look at Envirosax’s Organic Series & then leave a comment below telling US which one is your favorite (ps – that’s the one you’ll win!) Hurry! This giveaway ends December 9, 2009 at 11:59PM EST. One entry per person. Open to US & Canadian Residents. Official Rules.