I just got off the phone with Margaret Smith, owner of Clean Green Studios - a company whose mission it is to provide sustainable dwellings (called the Hope Shelter) for people in developing nations, and who usually live in shacks made out of surrounding debris.

Of course CGS also offers the Hope Studio, (readily available to you and I) and are what Margaret affectionately refers to, “as kind of like your back-yard retreat. It’s a 120-square-foot studio (see above and below) for creativity: art, woodworking, writing, music and entertaining friends. It has French doors, two large windows, a storage loft and built-in bookcase.”

How is it sustainable? The company uses materials with high recycled content and health-conscious finishes:

Galvanized steel siding is a green alternative to all-wood structures.
Insulation and interior siding are made with recycled content.
Clay tiles act as natural floor insulators.
Rain catchment system lets you water your landscape around the studio.

According to Smith, “this year the company has been working with a top advisory board, which includes consultants in sustainable architecture and energy, as well as in issues of social justice.”

2 for 1

For a limited time, when you buy a HOPE STUDIO plan, Clean Green Studios will send a HOPE SHELTER plan to a non-profit house-building organization in developing nations. That means your support will directly contribute to bettering the lives of a family or two in need like this family (shown below) who live on the entrance road to Managua’s (Nicaragua) city dump, and whose community of about 1600 is called La Chureca.

Look at those smiley cute faces, even living under substandard conditions (that neither you nor I can fully comprehend), have something profound to teach us.

Photo taken by Margaret’s son, Eric Smith.

Find this story interesting? You can help by spreading the word. Tell your friends, visit the website: www.cleangreenstudios.com where you can purchase a Hope Shelter for $595. That’s very affordable and would make the perfect holiday gift for more than one.

You can also help by clicking on any of the buttons at the end of this post to share with others on Digg, Facebook, Stumble Upon and other social networks.

In honor of Thanksgiving (it’s one week away!) here are easy Feng Shui tips you can apply to welcome wealth, abundance and happiness into your home this holiday.

Create a sensory experience

You can use Feng Shui to create a complete sensory experience for your Thanksgiving guests even before they walk in the door. Make sure the path to your home and the entrance is well-lighted, open and inviting. This welcomes guests, as well as prosperity and abundance, into your home.

Get visitors excited about Thanksgiving by decorating the entryway, both indoors and out, with live seasonal flowers and other symbols of the holiday. You may hang bells on the door to greet guests with a cheerful chime as they enter. Use other Feng Shui principles throughout the day to appeal to all five senses and inspire a festive mood.

Before dinner

When guests arrive, they will be greeted by the aroma of comfort foods. Offer them a beverage and snacks, such as an arrangement of nuts and other seasonal treats. Create color balance in your display of food to enhance guests’ appetites. For example, serve beige or off-white foods in brightly-colored, festive bowls, and arrange a vegetable tray with an assortment of peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and celery to present a range of colors.

Thanksgiving dinner

Pay careful attention to the seating arrangement. A round table, with no beginning and no end, is best, but don’t worry if your table is rectangular. Position it so everyone has enough space to sit. You don’t want guests pushed into a corner or feeling trapped.

Glance around the room and consider each seat. Is a buffet table or china cabinet with sharp corners pointing directly at a guest? Corners create “poison arrows” known as Sha Chi or “killing energy.” In the short term, these could make the person sitting in their path feel uncomfortable. You can drape live greenery across a sharp corner to lessen the negative energy.

Arrange chairs so that no one has their back to the door. You can move the table out into the center of the room if necessary. It would be best if the host/ess sit in the command position, which is at an angle from the entrance into the room. This position allows the host to see the door but not be directly in line with it.

Positive energy at the table

Unscented votive candles placed around the table create a sense of warmth and joy. A lively centerpiece of fresh flowers, pumpkins, gourds and fruit activates the energy at the table. A creative arrangement will also spark conversation. Make sure centerpieces are low to the table so they don’t block your guests’ view of each other and inhibit conversation.

Hanging a mirror on the wall next to the table “multiplies” your feast, encouraging abundance in the year ahead. Serve a unique dish that has significance within your family. You can also ask your guests to bring one of their own “signature” dishes and share the recipe with everyone.

Enhance the atmosphere with fun holiday music or a play list of your guests’ favorite songs. Keep music low so it doesn’t interfere with conversation.

After-dinner activities

It’s okay if everyone wants to retire to the living room and watch the football game, but consider other social activities you can enjoy while the game plays in the background. Play a board game or put together a puzzle. Remember to snap lots of photos and share them with your guests after the event.

Why not start a tradition of taking a walk outside to appreciate the scenery and the cool autumn air? After all, the practice of Feng Shui teaches us to celebrate our environment, both natural and man made.

What Thanksgiving traditions make guests feel comfortable in your home? Will small changes to your holiday décor improve the atmosphere?

He has graciously agreed to share his extensive knowledge on the subject and will be guest blogging on PPnG, with loads of Feng Shui tips!

Check back frequently for informative and entertaining posts or simplify your life by subscribing to our daily updates via e-mail or RSS.

A onetime stockbroker on Wall Street, Co-Founding Partner of a Retail Brokerage firm, managing owner of a Thoroughbred Race Horse Management Company (bought, sold and raced thoroughbred horses), and marketing specialist, Ken now understands that his purpose in life is to help individuals experience a better quality of life through Feng Shui and energy.

His inspiring and transformational work with well known actors, actresses, TV Hosts, singers, songwriters, CEO’s, businesses, and corporations has made him a sought-after speaker on feng shui and life enhancement.

For more on Ken, visit his websites at: www.kenlauher.com,  www.kenlauher.com/feng-shui-tips/ and www.kenlauher.com/feng-shui-guide.

I’ve known Emie Otis, (shown above) owner of Beauty Mark Designs, for several years now and have been following her work with a watchful eye.

Emie who is a gifted and savvy designer is known for her range of talents including photo-styling, hair, make-up and fashion design.

Her recent creation Madame Bottle Fly (shown below) was modeled by the designer at Portland’s Junk to Funk Show where ‘trash is transformed into wearable works of art.’

Madame Bottle Fly was made with over 600 bottle caps attached to a delicate wire frame (made out of over 30 wire hangers) weighing in at 45 pounds, and demanding over nearly 450 hours of work.

I was curious about Emie’s dream, the obstacles she’s faced, and the evolution of her work. Here’s more from Emie:

CJ: What is your dream?

Emie: I want to be independently and artistically successful. That means continuing to have the freedom to create my art, and in return to receive financial support to pay my bills and live sustainably. I call myself a Beauty Dominator and am currently living my dream of photo-styling, designing clothing and working as a hair stylist. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

CJ: When did you first realize that art was your dream?

Emie: Well, I remember being 8 years old and my sister (who is a bit older) knew she was going to be doctor and I knew (without a doubt) that I was going to be an artist. We were joint-custody kids and I remember one day (in particular) when my dad took me for walk in the neighborhood. He lovingly told me that my sister (as a doctor) might have an easier time being respected by society and that I might find more challenges on my path as an artist, but he respected me for being an artist.

Every time I think about that time, it makes me cry. I remember thinking that someone understood what I felt, and it was very comforting. There were times when I felt second-fiddle but never with my dad. There was this sense (as I grew older) that what I felt on the inside was that I was just barely making it on the outside. My dad’s support was everything. For example, at one of my gallery showings, he bought more than half of my work.

I always knew I wanted to communicate myself artistically. For example, in middle school, I’d cut things up and staple and hot glitter them to shoes. I later took classes. There eventually was a  snowball-effect and all the work started to pay off. I often stayed up working until 3am, creating my own clothing line, entering in competitions and doing photo-styling projects.

CJ: What have been your biggest obstacles and how have you worked through them?

Emie: My biggest fear has been rejection. I’ve overcome it by NOT giving up. For example I’d hear things like, “Your finishing work sucks, you’re not professional enough, etc.” I would beat myself up for a week, let that process, and try again. It’s been a process of many life lessons, and mistakes are important. Perseverance is also important. As an artist without a degree in Art I’ve often considered myself an outsider. Yet the voice inside my head tells me things like, “Keep going Emie and don’t give up.”

I do my part and let the Universe decide. For example, if I don’t get chosen for a competition, I believe that wasn’t supposed to get in, and that’s probably giving me an opportunity for something better.

CJ: What advice would you give to others following the creative path?

Emie: Be as organized as possible. That has been a big challenge for me. Organization really helps because you are the only person taking care of yourself. A lot of being an entrepreneur is not creative, but is also very important. If you want to be financial successful, you have to have a business mind. Do a budget and assess everything.

CJ: What’s been your biggest victory?

Emie: I had a really good 2008. At this time in my life I feel very comfortable in my skin and am proud of my accomplishments. I won 4th place in Junk to Funk, I participated in Explode La Mode where 15 local fashion designer were highlighted. I showed 18 of my garments and The Oregonian featured 6 of my pieces. I also became Trillian Recycled Artisan, I set up an Etsy account, and photo-styling projects which all were very encouraging.

Although is has felt overwhelming at times, being accepted, acknowledged and maintaining that level has been exciting and scary.  I am optimistic.

For more info on Emie, visit her website, Beauty Mark Designs, www.beautymarkdesigns.net.

Several weeks ago, I attended a function to benefit the Itafari Foundation, an organization supporting innovative community projects in Rwanda.

An undulating wave of beautifully colored, handmade baskets greeted me as I walked through the door. I’ve never completely understood the essence of basket weaving yet at a fundamental level these objects are a symbol of giving and sustainability within a community.

Looking over the pieces, I felt a sudden loss as I remembered a friend saying, “When you find your basket, you’ll just know it’s the right one.” I chuckled to myself when she said this to me, because I couldn’t conceive of the day when MY basket would appear.

So I took the challenge. I decided to pick up each basket and hold it.  What was I looking for? The right texture, weight, color, or size?

Suddenly it all started making sense. Once I put a basket in my hands, a modern day Goldilocks took shape. “No, this one is to wide. No, this one is the wrong color. No, this one is too light.” Finally I kept coming back to the same basket, and I just knew she was the one for me.

A powerful sensation resides in depths of a handmade object. These baskets were lovely to look at, but when I held one in my hands and connected through touch, I began to understand its story and the passion woven into its structure by a group of resilient people. These baskets are created by women in Rwanda and are part of a sustainable income project partnered through Macy’s. When I lifted the basket to my nose, I could smell the fresh cut grass, and instantly imagined the hands of the woman who brought it to life.

This Rwandan basket now rests on my desk, softening the sharp edges of my computerized space, while holding and transforming bits of my life. I think it’s fitting to have baskets be one symbol of building peace in Rwanda.

During this season of giving and gratitude, I look forward to celebrating and contributing to projects such as the Itafari Foundation, who seek to support the reimagining of a sustainable and creative ecological culture in Rwanda.

Combining a passion for sensual textures with memory and narrative, Beth, owner of HINT, creates jewelry that tells a universal story. Each piece incorporates a hand sculpted silver pendant that reflects a person’s unique spirit.

Beth’s yearning to translate the world into miniature draws on some of her favorite childhood pastimes such as creating sandbox micro-environments.

Her talent for encapsulating the world in three dimensions eventually led to a degree in sculpture and printmaking where she created poetic images characterized by a rugged simplicity.

Her fondness for Japanese aesthetics and rustic American design, has prompted some people to describe her style as the Wild West meets the Far East.

You can see Beth’s work by visiting: www.hint.etsy.com or hintjewelry.blogspot.com.

I had the pleasure of attending the fabulous and stylish ‘rubbish meets couture’ Junk to Funk 2008 last Saturday night. What a night of extravaganza MC’d by Portland’s mayor-elect Sam Adams and Tara from 94.7 fm radio.

Once a year, the Junk to Funk Recycled Fashion Show Contest, produced by Elysium Events is created to showcase wearable art based on the creative use of “trash.” These pieces of wearable art and fashion are based upon found objects, recycled materials, and items that would typically be sent to the landfill.

Dress for the Queen of Clubs, (shown above) and designed by China Hamilton was created with shopping bags, kitchen drawer lining, automotive pin striping, discarded tubing, old packaging foam and stockings made out of shower puffs.

This wonderful gown Zippidy Doo Da, was created and modeled by Ruth Waddy. The dress, made out of zippers, and re-used plastic bubble wrap was awarded third place.

Madame Bottle Fly, designed (and modeled) by Emie Otis of Beauty Mark Designs, was made with over 600 bottle caps attached to a delicate wire frame (made out of over 30 wire hangers) weighing in at 45 pounds, and demanding over nearly 450 hours of work. What a gorgeous work of wearable art.

Couch Couture, designed by “K” is made out of old couches, human hair, recycled hardware and died sheets feathers and sticks. CC won second place at the event. What a marvelous blend of soft and edgy.

Re-Vogue was created by Lia Griffith and worn by Erin Mintun. This gorgeous dress is made out of old vogue magazines.

Your Kitty’s Business Suit, created by Cheryl Lohrmann and worn by Tanya Cheeke-Icoz is made out of cat litter bags.

Queen’s New Gown, (Goddess bless the Queen) created and modeled by Geneva Sutter is made out of newspapers and scrap fabric.

Breadwinner, created by Kristina Stuart and Emalee Wilson, and worn by Kris Rahja is made out of bread bags. Very clever.

Portland Mosaik, created by Emily Lalande and Kylie Johnson, and worn by Sarah Miller. The front part of the dress is made out of Nordstrom bags, seat-belts and soda-pop-cans. The skirt is made out of a re-purposed tent, the back part made out of a dress and zippers around the neck.

Backstage before the show.

Backstage (that’s me on the right) interviewing designer Emie Otis. I’m wearing her “Pretty in Peacockery’ dress, last year’s 4th place winner, (see above and below) made out of grocery bags, broken cds glued onto the dress for glitter, a bike tire for the strap and recycled VCR tape for the train. The hat is made out of blue paint tape. Thank-you Emie for loaning me the dress. Perhaps next year I’ll be on the runway, too.

Meeting Portland’s Mayor-Elect Sam Adams backstage.

Sam is wearing a recycled couture plastic tuxedo jacket and bow tie. For more on Portland’s progressive Mayor-Elect, visit the website: www.commissionersam.com. For more on Junk to Funk visit: www.junktofunk.org.

Photographs by PPnG contributing photographer Philip Morgan: www.philipmorgan.net.

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Although on the outside this public art piece, designed by Arne Quinze, (and installed in the city of Brussels, Belgium,) may look like simple wood sticks joined together, there is much more depth, I assure you.

This new public art installation, The Sequence, made out of wood and concrete was “created to promote urban interaction by connecting the Flemish Parliament with the House of Flemish Representatives in Brussels.” Literally, it connects the two buildings.

It opened yesterday, November 16 and is projected to remain for at least five years. It’s definitely an interesting conversation piece and a point of reference on a map.

The physical connection between the government and the community is also a symbolic one that is meant to reflect Quinze’s philosophy. As he says, “The Sequence bridges the communication gap between people, and generates movement in the city. I want to reconnect people and let them interact with each other like they did in the past on squares. At least people talked to each other back then.” Source:: MocoLoco

I am inspired by the idea of artists pushing the envelop and arousing interest.

A collaborative effort in the making. Quite impressive indeed.

(I am re-posting a story that’s been warming the hearts of many humans around the globe.) I hope it moves you as much as it did me. –Cheryl

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn’t open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She’s my baby. When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vets office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn’t stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn’t stand in a week. You know you don’t want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon I didn’t want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn’t bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to Jesse’s, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington . We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV . Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough,  I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again. Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn’t said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don’t know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom’s.

You can choose from any style of setting, and varying degrees of brilliance in yellow and white gold. Just seeing these shiny baubles beautifully displayed in jewelry stores and retail shops can be enough to brighten your day.

An important issue to consider is the impact of jewelry on the environment.

For example, the production of one gold ring generates approximately 20 tons of mining waste and some gold mines use several tons of cyanide a day in order to leach raw gold out of ore. These chemicals can leak into the water supply in nearby communities or ruin the once pristine environments where the mines are often located.

Because most gold is purchased in retail stores and factory outlets, most consumers are not aware of the origins of the gold . In addition, most couples and jewelry consumers are not aware that there is enough gold above ground (already mined) to satisfy all demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years!!!

The majority of this gold sits in bank vaults and in the form of old and unused jewelry. Meanwhile, mining continues at a pace of 2500 tons a year.

For the individual or couple that is looking for a sentimental and socially responsible alternative to traditionally purchased and sold jewelry, there are several options available for you to recycle, reuse or donate gold jewelry.

Here are some of the most common ways to recycle and reuse gold jewelry as well as some links to websites that can offer more information about gold mining practices and alternatives to gold and store bought jewelry. Enjoy!

Recycle

Ask family and friends to donate old gold. Have the gold melted down and made into a new style or setting. The benefits are many; You now own a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, with sentimental value. You’re also contributing to solutions on reducing waste.  If you are looking to sell unused jewelry you can ensure that your precious metals will not go to waste, and can generally make a nice profit from the sale of these items. If you choose to recycle your own gold jewelry (and not reuse it to make new jewelry) you will want to shop around to make sure that you will be compensated for what the ring is actually worth before selling it.

Reuse

Owning jewelry that has been passed down from a family member or friend is a beautiful gift, often more valuable than any amount paid for store-bought jewelry. Purchasing antique rings also ensures that already mined gold and gemstones will not go to waste and often times results in owning a unique cut and style of jewelry that is sure to appreciate in value.

For information on how to recycle, reuse or donate your unused or old gold jewelry, visit greenCarat at www.greenkarat.com. To purchase recycled, fair trade gold and platinum and/or conflict-free diamonds visit Sumiche Jewelry/located in Walterville, Oregon: www.sumiche.com, Brilliant Earth: www.brilliantearth.com or Leber Jewelry, Inc: www.leberjeweler.com.

If you would like to learn more about the effects of gold mining, or would like more information on how you can support the efforts of those working to end dirty gold mining practices please visit No Dirty Gold at www.nodirtygold.org.

Yours, The Green Bride