Happy Earth Day!!! I hope you’re enjoying Earth Week as much as I am.
On the kick-off post for Earth Week I gave you an idea for a quick and easy furoshiki. As I’ve said before, I love the furoshiki concept. I love the idea of reducing our waste caused by disposable packaging by using a reusable cloth. If you’ve never tried a wrapping cloth, you should! The possibilities and uses are endless.
I recently was introduced to Furochic, a line of reusable fabric gift wrap inspired by furoshiki, designed by Jenn Playford of Jenny Wren Paperie. I fell in love with her designs and ordered an Elephant Parade wrap (LOVE that color combo!) to add to my furoshiki collection.
I got the wrap in the mail a few days ago and it is gorgeous! The best part of this is Jenn has graciously donated FOUR of her beautiful wraps for me to give away to YOU!!!
I asked her to tell me a bit more about her business and how she started designing her wraps. She explained that she had the idea for fabrics wraps, unaware of the Japanese tradition of furoshiki. When she started doing her research on whether any other company was marketing the idea of wrapping gifts with reusable fabric wrap, she discovered the Japanese tradition. She was inspired by furoshiki and decided to make her wraps the standard 27″x27″ size and to call them Furochic. She is very inspired by Japanese art and design, particularly textile design, so it was a natural fit for her. She has been illustrating for over 10 years (you can see her work at www.magnetreps.com) and each wrap design is one of her own illustrated patterns. Some of her motifs are inspired by Japanese design, others by nature and by her extensive travels. She has a new collection coming out in Fall. Here’s a little sneak peak:
Jenn also just had a book come out called Wrapagami.
It will be available in shops starting in August (and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com), but you can order it as of yesterday on her website!
The book features 25 different wrapping techniques, ideas for reusing your wraps, tips for choosing or making a wrap, a history of Furochic and furoshiki, and gift tips to make your gifts special. I can’t wait to get my hands on it–it looks like a beautiful book! All of my furoshiki books are in Japanese, so it will be nice to add one in English to my collection.
Jenn also has a bunch of great video tutorials available for different wrapping methods (click here).
* The giveaway is now closed. Check back tomorrow to see the winners!!!*
To enter the giveaway I want you to leave me a comment telling me what you are going to do to be more Earth friendly during the coming year. For a second entry in the giveaway, just leave a second separate comment letting me know if you are a Follower or a Subscriber. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you! I will keep the comments open until Tuesday, April 28th, 10 pm PST, and announce the winners (using a random number generator) on Wednesday, April 29th.
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I’ve already started buying only what I need and am using it up judiciously.
We take lunch in jute bags instead of polythene bags and we use cloth bags when we go shopping.
We use kitchen towels instead of paper towels and have started a garden in out balcony.
what a nice giveaway! i have been really conscious in turning off lights when not in use. I also have been using re-usable shopping bags, and buying in bulk when possible.
We want to help save some trees by reading electronically as much as possible. Thanks for the great giveaway!
beatspammer at gmail dot com
I plan on walking more, and driving less!
Oh, and I am NOW a subscriber. :D
And I’m a subscriber, too.
Whoa, weird. My original comment didn’t take.
It was about my shiny new earthworms and the water recycling system I am constructing. All so I can grow organic veggies at home.
Wow. The patterns are so pretty. What a cool idea!
I pack three lunches every day in reusable (Lock and Lock) containers and make my own furoshiki for them–it’s a great way to use that irresistable piece of fabric that you can’t bear to cut up!
I just got a bicycle (my first since 7th grade), and I’ll be riding around town on it, saving all kinds of natural resources.
I have been constantly make sure I switched off any electrical appliances once I have finish using them and used reusable shopping bags when I go for shopping. To ensure no wastage of water,I’ll recycle the water I used for washing my vegetables and used those water to water my plants.
The best way to help out would be to switch off the computers when not in use. I also will take care to switch off my office computer when I leave to save electricity. This would be the best possible way for me I guess cos electricity generation is a real problem in INDIA. I hope more people would be scant with switching on appliances that are not needed.
I am a follower of your wonderful blog. Unfortunately, I am married and working and taking care of my in-laws also, so do not get much time to browse through….but kudos to your efforts. Keep it up.
I will unplug unused appliances,grow my own garden again this year, and recycle more.
hardyR_01@msn.com
I am a subscriber.
hardyR_01@msn.com
Fuji Mama, I am a new subscriber within the last few weeks. My cooking style is very similar and I also have kids to consider in my cooking. Love some of the cute little twists you put on snacks and such to draw the kids in to eating healthy snacks…. moowhahahahaha
My husband and I are remodeling our kitchen this Spring and found cabinets that by a local green cabinet maker who uses bamboo and water based stains/finishes. We also went with a quartz countertop manufactured here in the United States, by a company that uses a very green production process. High Energy Star rated appliances round out the picture. Can’t wait until it’s finished so I can try some of your recipes!!
Awesome giveaway! I am going to try to grow some veggies on my lanai this summer :)
I’m a follower :)
I am going to reuse fabric from dresses that my daughter has outgrown. I already did about three, I made a dolly quilt for her dolls with some nice dresses, that were too small.
I see folks carrying their own grocery bags into the store… so I think RonChops and I are going to start buying those to give that a go.
I am in love with the teal one. I am just sayin.
I am a stalker AND a follower AND I am subscribed to your RSS feeds. Does that earn me extra points too?
Crazy HUGS.
To be more earth friendly this year and in the future… I have recycled more and used less water when taking a shower/brushing teeth/washing dishes, etc. I am also volunteering for the Surfrider Foundation, picking up waste at local beaches!
Hi, I love these furoshiki, I’d never seen them before :s
After years of jungledom, we’re clearing the garden, to grow fruit bushes and reinstate the vegetable patch – next step will be some worms for the food waste!
This is a really neat giveaway! I’m going to try and use my reusable shopping bags more often, and remind Alex to turn off the lights. I always try to buy local and organic when I can, and I want to be more diligent about using the green bin for compost-able waste.
I absolutely adore the brown and green wrap, it’s so cute!
What a fun giveaway! I will continue to streamline my life this year, continue attempting to get my boys to stop wasting – paper, bottles, everything. They are SOOO wasteful! Continue to use canvas bags and minimize plastic ones. Hide the paper towels so the boys have to use rags instead. Try to buy local produce as much as possible. And hopefully use some gorgeous reusable wrappers!
Love the idea of fabric gift wrap-I’ve never thought of that!!
We use cloth diapers and wipes on our baby and this year I’m going to concentrate more on composting (traditional as well as a bokashi bin and/or vermicomposting). In addition, we will be using public transit and walking/biking more in the attempt to reduce our automobile use.
rmaclary(at)gmail.com
I’m a subscriber!
rmaclary(at)gmail.com
I love this!
My kids and I have committed ourselves to turning off lights and appliances (and unplugging them), and I’ve started reclaiming yarn from old sweaters to support my knitting habit as a recycling effort. I also knit with plastic bags (and curse the whole time).
I’m using eco-friendly light bulbs. I also registered for a low-flow showerhead on my wedding registry.
I’m going to start composting my kitchen scraps, and use it in the garden.
I compost and recycle as much as possible. Thanks for the chance.
These are also great to use as 'gift wrapping' including reusable containers (I prefer Lock & Lock myself) filled with goodies.
This giveaway is a great way to promote eco-friendly awareness.
I am going to make a sincere effort to never leave home for the grocery store without my reuseable grocery bags. I always feel like crap when I leave them at home.
I am looking for reusable water bottles to fit in my kids’ lunch boxes and I am going to quit buying those juice boxes!
ajcmeyer At GO dot com
Hi! Here’s what I’m doing to be earth friendly in the coming year:
1. We just hooked up a water filter on our faucet, so I have stopped drinking out of plastic water bottles every day.
2. I’m learning about composting!
3. I use Sigg bottles when we go places, instead of plastic water bottles.
4. I am supporting a local CSA program.
5. I’m figuring out how I can match up people with extra, unused produce to the people who are unemployed, low income, and need produce.
6. I’m boycotting foods that aren’t organic, even if the strawberries that aren’t organic look prettier and are on sale. :)
I will be driving less, biking more, walking more….and turning those lights off more often. :)
Thanks!
I LOVE the wrapagamie idea! You can do so many amazing things – so fun!
To be more Earth Friendly, I am ditching all plastic bags (as in Ziplocs and such) and using reusable containers. I am also unplugging all unnecessary appliances in the kitchen and just being more aware of wasting less.
You can reach me as a friend of foodbuzz :), on my blog at http://www.danicasdaily.blogspot.com or by email at danicasdaily@gmail.com.
Good luck everyone!
I am a follower of your fabulous blog too! You honestly do have such amazing ideas. :)
http://www.danicasdaily.blogspot.com
danicasdaily@gmail.com
oh cool! I love it. The way I’m being more green is by not throwing food away. Only buy what we can eat, save vegetable peelings to make stock, and buying local.
What great wraps! They have been learning about Earth Day all week in preschool and yesterday, I made a big deal about it at home with my son. We are now using only reusable lunch materials (just had to get those snack bags knocked out of there!). This has been a goal of mine for some time and I have slowly migrated in that direction and finished yesterday. We also have committed to totally using the reusable shopping bags…trying to remember to take them instead of leaving them at home!
jennifer_vinson@hotmail.com
Really great idea. I’m already doing little things like using public transport, unplugging unused appliances, using cloth shopping bags, drinking tap water, etc. but I will concentrate on educating others like family (stubborn brothers, impressionable nieces and nephews) and friends. This is my first year planting a garden and I’ve have timed it so that I will have seasonal vegetables up until late fall.
huyener At yahoo dot com
I’m a follower! Thanks for the wonderful ideas. It’s inspiring.
huyener at yahoo.com
What adorable prints! I’m a follower. I have already started growing my own vegetables and herbs. I am also starting to save any wasted water when I turn the faucet on to warm up and water my plants with it.
I am working on recycling more and using less. I’m also trying to buy smaller amounts of produce more often to reduce spoilage and waste. I work in a green office, so I’m getting plenty of practice and motivation to carry it on in my personal life as well!
Where we live there is a severe water shortage, so we need to find ways to use less water. Love those wrapping cloths.
I became a follower (and I added you to my Google Reader.)
We recycle our trash, we recycle plastic, we recycle glass and recently joined Aveda in recycling plastic bottle caps. We are growing a potato garden using the old sand box under our swing set, I just won some all natural cleaner, my best friend is a hazmat specialist and makes a trip to our home twice a year to cart off things I am NOT allowed to toss in the trash. We have a special box for batteries, we recycle ink cartridges and I am a quilter so all old clothes are fabric to me. This coming year? Our 1926 old house is getting all natural recycled denim insulation and my grandchildren? They hug all trees they walk past!
I am finishing my transition to green cleaning products this year. I am also working on remembering my reusable bags when I head to the grocery store!
sinwagon@myfairpoint.net
We have always lived pretty green. This year we doubled the size of our vegetable garden and I started my tomato, pepper, and eggplant myself. No plastic plant containers to throw away. I will continue to can peaches, tomatoes, jam, and salsa. I have been working from my fabric stash for gifts this year. We have a wood stove and will be using it more next winter. I don’t know how green that is, but it is certainly more frugal!
Thank you so much for your generosity! I love your recipes!
I don’t know if I am a follower or a subscriber, but you are on my google reader.
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