Vintage Indie

Designer Profile - Eco Friendly Fashion by Colorada

I love talking with designers about their creations. It's like getting a sneak peek into their brain, what drives them to create and what they are passionate about. It's not often your clothing designer is someone whom you get to know. Shopping for eco-friendly fashion can be easy if you let it. Look for vintage, handmade with vintage and up-cycled clothing. You'll often find something spectacular that you won't find massed produced and hanging on a rack with all the others like it.

Today I'd like to introduce you to Cynthia Davis the designer behind Colorada.

What does "being green" mean to you?

I think of green as a way to nurture things and people. One of my purposes is to care for and contribute to what I have received. I have been given a beautiful world to enjoy and a wealth of material goods to handle with wisdom and foresight. I want to live gently and love the beauty all around me - in people and the world.

Where I live in the mountains, you can hear the trees whispering
and the winds blowing and everything around me pulses with life. I
want to nurture the life around me and to mirror it's beauty in
what I create. I especially love the trees. The old trees are
irreplaceable. I see deer in my front yard and I have a tiny troupe
of 12 that live on our land that I watch often and worry about
sometimes. I can see the mama racoon taking her babies to the
stream to drink on the way to the grocery store. I deeply love it.


What kind of eco friendly items do you offer?

I make clothes - mostly dresses and skirts out of vintage, re purposedand new fabrics. I am also making a line of young, more simple wedding dresses and 'ballgowns'. My style is a little retro, colorful, casual and fun. I make a few bags, pouches and aprons, too. I love to make things from parts of previous garments that have a unique fabric or print. I especially love recycling vintage bed linens and vintage household fabrics like tablecloths and curtains with openwork lace and handwork such as embroidery and tucks. Many of my vintage fabrics are scouted from a local thrift store that supports an orphanage. I love
feeling like my money is helping the kids and that I am rescuing wonderful fabrics and garments to be used again.

What inspires your up-cycled designs?

Usually a certain style garment or a cool vintage print will inspire me. I love watching old movies for their gorgeous clothing designs. Sometimes a song or a feeling releases an inspiration. I like to listen to music when I design and sew. When I feel empty of ideas, I can take a walk and see the sky and clouds and trees. I will make something in those colors sometime!

What do you like about creating with vintage materials?

I love vintage fashion designs and fabrics. Vintage fabrics and goods have prints that are unique and unlike anything around today. I love their spontaneity and the softness and density of the cottons. My favorite thing is to find a wonderful vintage dress in an amazing print with some spots or tears that make them unusable. I will carefully clean, remove the bad sections and redesign them to give them another chance to go to the ball. I love the innocence and hopefulness of the era around the 40's and 50's. Even an unadorned vintage apron from that era seems to have the air of simplicity and courage. The tablecloths and linens from then are colorful and fresh and are too good to not be seen.

A special thanks to Cynthia Davis for a wonderful interview. You can find more of Cynthia's collection at her shop Colorada. Please visit her soon.

The Daily Swank - Lunch Sacks for Grown-ups - RickRackQueen

With all this talk about back to school and packing lunch we can't forget the parents and adults who pack lunch. Packing a lunch is a healthy alternative to fast food eating and gives you a choice as to what you put into your body. Adults deserve a fun lunch sack just as much as kids do. Today's Daily Swank is one of my favorite finds for adult lunching.

Truly vintage inspired are these Oilcloth Lunch bags from RickRackQueen.

Each bag features a Velcro closure, matching handle and a pocket for your "snack money". Sustainable as this bag washes of easily with a damp cloth or with warm soapy water.

This Oranges Bag has to be my favorite I'm a fan of the turquoise and orange color mix.

 

If you are looking for a more basic lunch bag you can go with the Basic Oilcloth bag from RickRackQueen.

I love this one in Black Polkadot.

I know, I know.. this post is supposed to be just for adults. What can I say, I'm a mom. I just had to show you these Oilcloth Splat Mats from RickRackQueen as well. What a fabulous product for art projects, picnic lunches and a million other ideas.

Reuse over and over with easy clean up.

Have a great lunch and if you are looking for something as an alternative to the brown bag, head over to RickRackQueen!

VI Headliner - Recy Vintage Style

Please welcome Recy to Vintage Indie as one of our fabulous sponsors for August!
If you are looking for vintage accessories then you've come to the right place. Recy's shop is full of necklaces, bracelets,earrings, shoes and so much more including lovely vintage clothing!

There are some really great dresses and rompers at Recy as well. Like this 60's Shadowline Goddess Gown. Empire waste and floor length make this truly glamorous.

Also from Recy this 50's Flapper Necklace Double Strand. A fun accessory to dress up or down any outfit. 

This feature couldn't have come at a better time for Vintage Indie readers as Recy is  having a BOGO sale!

Buy one item from the "$3 Vintage Photo" section and get a second $3 vintage photo for free!  As well as Buy one item from the "$6 Vintage Jewelry" section and get a second $6 vintage jewelry item for free!  (Please visit the shop for full details, we are not responsible for sales or sale items posted)

Thanks again for reading and shopping our wonderful sponsors!

Good morning Good morning... it's Monday morning!

Well, the sun is shining but the heat has given us a break. It was so nice to actually turn off the air last night. What about you? Any luck in your area? I'm glad to be feeling better along with my eldest. I'm not sure if we had a case of food poising or a bug. It seems as if there is a stomach bug going around our town. Either way we are both doing much better.

Well, here is the scoop. I haven't heard from any of the winners for the Flip & Tumble giveaway which means I'm moving on to the new two chosen ones. Please check your in-box today as well as your spam folders. I don't want anyone missing out on this great giveaway.

Also, the Kootsac giveaway is over and I'll be emailing that winner today as well.

Stay tuned this week for more eco-friendly ideas for this school year as well as some fabulous eco-friendly fashion!

Have a great week everyone.

PS. If your business in looking to book an ad on Vintage Indie for the Holiday Shopping season those spaces are open, but available as first come first serve. Visit our advertisement page for more details.

Natural & Green Living Week - Eco-Friendly Lunch Ideas

It's almost time for school at least here in our area and lunches have become a priority for our family this year. My goal is to pack healthy and eco-friendly lunches for my picky eater so that he'll enjoy lunch without compromising the fruits and veggies he does like. With the idea of healthy in mind it's also a good idea to think eco friendly. I can't imagine how many plastic bags get used during lunch time, with sandwiches and snacks. So I've sat out to find some helpful eco-friendly lunch ideas.

During my search I came across Laptop Lunches. Laptop Lunches is an inventive way to get your kids to eat healthier as well as creating a waste free lunch. I asked  Amy Hemmert the President and co-founder of Laptop Lunches tell us a little about their product and to help newbie packers get started with this way of lunching.

Can you give us a little background on how Laptop Lunches was started?

When I lived in Japan in the late 80s and early 90s, I packed a Japanese-style bento box for lunch each day. Then when we returned to the States and my kids started preschool, it was natural for me to pack their lunches in the bento boxes I had brought back from Japan. But I noticed that most of the other children’s lunches were made up of processed, prepackaged foods. These containers can’t be resealed, so the children would take a few bites and sips and throw the rest away—packaging, food, and all. Then, at the end of the day, I’d see the teachers hauling out large bags of trash and knew there had to be a better way. My friend and jogging partner, Tammy Pelstring, had witnessed the same phenomenon at her school. On a jog one morning, we came to the conclusion that more parents would pack nutritious, waste-free lunches if they had tools that would make it easy for them to do so.

Do you have any suggestions for new parents who may feel overwhelmed about packing a healthy lunch daily for their child?

Get your kids involved as early as you can. Provide them with nutritious alternatives and encourage them to help pack their lunches. Check out the Laptop Lunch User's Guide for lots of other great tips.

What types of plastics are the Laptop Lunches made out of?

Our Laptop Lunches are made in California from the highest quality polypropylene (#5) available . They are free of phthlates, bisphenol A (BPA) and lead.

Do you have any tips for parents of younger children on helping them to remember to not throw away their boxes at school?

Our Laptop Lunches fit together like a puzzle, so there's no need for kids to remove the containers when they eat. Also, kids take ownership of their Laptop Lunches, so unlike Mom's Tupperware, they value it and hang onto it. Also, each piece has a place for the child's name. Since the containers look like they're part of a set, the clean-up crew is unlikely to throw them in the trash.

Thank you Amy for sharing these helpful ideas with us.

Feeling Blue

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to pop in and say hello. Along with a couple other family members I'm feeling quite blue and nauseous to boot thus the lacking in posts today. If you are wondering about the Flip & Tumble giveaway we have two winners and I'm waiting to hear back from you (check your in boxes).

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to sign up to win a Kootsac (post below)

Have a great weekend everyone!
Gabreial

Sustainable Shopping & a Giveaway! Kootsac Re-usable Food Bags

Please welcome Morgen the designer and creator behind Kootsac. The original re-usable bulk food bags.

Why did you decide to start this business?
I was inspired to start making these bags when I realized one day how many plastic bags are used just for bulk food and produce. I did a lot of research to see if anyone was making re-usable bags and all I found were small cotton ones with a drawstring. I am a textile artist and clothing designer and felt that I could come up with some alternative for this problem.  I designed these bags and have been selling them locally since last spring and online since Valentines Day this year.

What exactly is a Kootsac?
A  Kootsac is a re-usable bulk food bag. The larger ones can be used for produce as well. They are made of rip stop nylon and are available in a variety of bright and fun colors. I also have a biodegradable version made of 100% silk. They are lightweight, washable, re-usable and fasten with a twist tie.

Why is it important for consumers to use re-usable bags?
Every day millions of plastic bags enter our landfill or are left to pollute our   waterways, cities and countryside. These bags eventually break down into tiny toxic pieces, which poison our land and water, and threaten the health of wildlife and ourselves. Personally I use somewhere between 4 and 10 bulk and produce bags a week. This amounts to hundreds of bags a year. Imagine how many plastic bags can be avoided if we all used re-usable bags instead.

      

What do you suggest using a Kootsac for?
I designed these bags specifically for bulk food like flour, nuts, dried fruit, lentils, herbs and spices. The idea is to use these instead of the plastic bags provided at the grocery store. They are designed to be fastened with a twist tie. Many stores require that you write the bin number on the tie. They are also great for carrying snack food and they work well for holding food when on a hike or camping adventure.

You could win your own starter set of 3 Kootsacs.

You have TWO chances to enter:

1st You'll need to tell us what color you'd choose from the Kootsac line by following this link to the choices and then tell us how you'd use your bag! Post your color choice and how you'd use it in the comments section of THIS POST.

2nd time by posting about this fabulous giveaway on your blog by linking to it. (You must only post about the giveaway, no information or copy may be taken from Vintage Indie). Be sure to come back here to let me know you've posted about it or your 2nd entry won't be included. 

The RULES:
You must be 18 or older to enter (void where prohibited) no purchase necessary.

You have until Saturaday (August 9th until 11:59pm EST) to enter.

ONE winner will be randomly chosen and contacted via email, so check those boxes for the winner announcements!

Would you like to sponsor a Swanky Swag giveaway on Vintage Indie? Contact me for details.

Natural & Green Living Week - Sustainable Shopping!

What a better way to live green & natural than shopping for vintage. Now that's sustainable! Of course everyone who visits Vintage Indie knows I love vintage and even better vintage ON SALE!


12 is a good number. Lots of good things come in 12: months, astrological signs, a dozen eggs, 'The 12 Days of Christmas', 'The Dirty Dozen', '12 Angry Men'....and the "$12 and Under Sale" brought to you by the EtsyVintage Street Team!

Beat the heat and grab some extremely cool deals on vintage jewelry, accessories, books, buttons, supplies, china, glass, housewares and much more!

The sale runs from Friday 8/8 through Sunday 8/17, and you can find participating shops by searching 'EVSTsale' under 'all items' in the Etsy search drop-down bar at the top of each page.

My Vintage Pad - Home Tour Japan - Wan of Cotton Blue

Tell us a little about your home.

    I have a typical Japanese apartment, small (about 70 square meters), not enough sunlight, the builders try to use every little space efficiently with lots of build-in-wardrobes, tiny kitchen and bathroom, Ready-to-move-in therefore not too much creations you could make. 

   My living room is facing west, most people would say facing south is the best, but I prefer west, because of the beautiful sunset, the room fulfilled with warmth in afternoon.

     Living room is the place my family spends the most time, eating, working, entertaining, I divided it into two parts, the left side is for eating and relaxing, the right part is for working and entertaining.

     For the left side, I use simple antique white as the main theme, and a little bit blue for the highlights. I could not choose which part is my favorite, I love them all, the cupboard, the couch, and the little shelf above it.

 

I collect beautiful fine china dinner wares, especially those blue with rose patterns. Everything in my cupboard came from thrift stores, flea markets. most of the prices not even as expensive as an apple in Japan, but they are my treasures.

 

I made the slipcover of the couch with simple soft blue stripes and checks fabric, it is my first sewing project. My two westie babies also love it, they take naps everyday on the couch.

  And the shelf above, it is totally what I need, perfect for displaying my thrift finds, enamel wares, blue china, and antique tins. It is the place for showing my handmade totes as well.

I want more colors for the right part because it is the place for fun.

 

My favorite part of the right is the colorful shabby old oak shelves for my books, thrift trinkets and fabric. I did not planed to line those 3 big shelves together like this when I bought them, however, that wall is the only place big enough to place them, this is might not the best way to present their individual beauty but very interesting I think.

Also I like the little show place for my vintage finds, this is a build-in-wardrobe before, I hated it so much. Why hiding things? I need to show off!!!! Therefore I remove the doors, decorate with a shelf border, filled with my little goodness.

My bedroom is facing east, and has very little lights, because Japanese apartments share same elevator for one floor, the outside of bedroom window is the public corridor.

When I first saw my bedroom I almost cried, it is so small, about 6 square meters, also very dark. Therefore, for the decoration I choose antique white furniture, soft color beddings and soft color decorating items. I believe that simple monochromatic color theme makes the small spaces feels bigger.

  For the summer time, I prefer to use light blue, like my favorite patchwork bed cover, seashells give a cool feeling. My favorite part of my bedroom is the small shelf for display my collected sleeping wares.

Where do you find inspiration for decorating your home?

I got decoration ideas from Magazines and of course the Flickr, there are some of great Japanese decoration magazines such as Sutekina country , zakka. Etc. and I could sit in front of my notebook and searching for pictures of decoration on Flickr for whole night. 

How do vintage things play a role in your room/home?

In my home, you could find vintage things everywhere, vintage furniture, kitchenware, displays, clothes….

Flea markets in Japan is not very popular, but thrift stores everywhere, there are two near my home and I almost go there everyday, and always got surprises.

I love to go to flea markets when I travel to other counties, the first thing I went to a new place is go to the tourist information, asking if there is any flea market held in town. I do not buy a lot souvenirs but take back the whole luggage of vintage finds.

Any advice on creating your look?

I have to be honest, I have totally no knowledge of decoration, I could even not say the right word for the colors. I believe in my heart, when you see something at the first sight you just know it, you need it!

I love shabby chic style, but not too chic, I love colors but not too colorful. I love the word COZY, and I try to make my home comfortable, not only for me and my hubby, also comfy for my dogs, I hate to making rules to them, they could jump to anywhere they like, therefore everything in my home should be easy for cleaning, that is why I love soft furnishing so much. They exercise their teeth on my furniture as their chew-toys, no problem, every time I saw those marks, I smile and remembering our old happy days. That is why I love shabby chic vintage furniture so much. J

Also the budget issues, we have a lot of other things to worry about in real life. It does not have to be an art by famous artist, I use vintage frames with fabrics, cheap print to decorating the walls. Famous brand beddings are way too high, I just simply make my own. Matching is important but not the restrict rule, mix match is also great. Everything could be used or remade to be used for decorating purpose. Just need a little bit imagination I think.

I have lot of works to do with my apartment in future, get rid of wall paper and paint the wall, some works on kitchen, floors..…. Changes make me happy.

A special thank you to Wan Wang of cottonblue. Please visit cottonblue via Etsy for a wonderful line of Japanese fabrics and supplies.

Reader Discussion Part II - Back to School Blues

Did you participate in the Reader Discussion Part I ?
If not, head there now and leave comments. I'd really like to know, What does it mean to you to "live green" ?
Please feel free to join in discussion all this week in the comments portion of this post.

Today I'd like to discuss going green & eco-friendly back to school.

I just looked at the calendar and realized school starts NEXT WEEK!?! (Yes I meant to scream) Where did the summer go? Seriously, I thought school wasn't supposed to start until after Labor Day. What about you, how much time do you have before school starts.

I'd like to know how you handle back to school blues. Finding an eco-friendly backpack isn't easy or cheap. Any good sources? I came across this fabulous blog post over at Nature Mom's Blog. Back to school Green Style. I've been to every site there and have throughly researched backpacks and lunch boxes.

My questions to you, and Nature Mom please feel free to let us know what you think.

I have my son's school list of what's required. Many products listed aren't so eco-friendly or maybe I need some direction (where to find the alternatives). What do you do when the school requires your child to have products like Red/Blue Folders, Zip Bags (even naming the brand of what to buy) as well as paper towels, plastic pencil box and more.  Do you just give in? How do you stand true to natural and green living for your family all of the time?

VI Headliner Glitter and Grunge

Vintage Indie would like to welcome the wonderful artist co-op site Glitter and Grunge as one of our Featured Sponsors for August! If you haven't read our interview with them from head over to this link to catch up!

Glitter and Grunge is full of fabulous artists and exclusive items that you won't find in artist's stores. Updated the first of each month with new artists and goodies.

Click on Images to enlarge

Perfect for our Green and Natural week is today's artist Gretchen Fabre. I just love sun kissed clothing, don't you? Hanging your clothes to dry with natural flowing air on a clothesline is rather soothing, just like this artwork.

This painting is an original acrylic gallery wrapped canvas.This Laundry Day painting takes me off into bliss on a lazy summer day.

Gretchen doesn't stop with acrylics you can find digital collages of water color images fabric patters, invitations and more. Be sure to check out her Glitter and Grunge exclusive piece Les Parapluies.

While browsing the new artists for this month at Glitter and Grunge I came across Vintage Sister Studios. Vintage Sister Studios specializes in original artwork and dolls.

This Cake and Cats is an original painting by Tracy Nuskey-Dodson. This artwork was painted in acrylics with colored pencil detail on a canvas panel. It also includes layers of torn paper to give it an unusual texture.

Be sure to visit the Vintage Sister Studio artist page at Glitter and Grunge and follow the links to their amazing line of charming dolls.

(Copyright Gretchen Fabre & Tracy Nuskey-Dodson)    

"Vintage Indie" Hot Spot - Poppy & Ivy Portland, OR

Welcome to another Vintage Hot Spot feature. Today I'm excited to bring you a Vintage Hot Spot interview and tour of Poppy & Ivy in Portland, OR.

Shopping for vintage and living off what's already been created is another wonderful way to "live green". At Poppy & Ivy you are sure to find something adored and waiting to be loved once again in your home.

Please welcome owner Amy Hollands

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)





When did you open? I opened in December 2006. It was an old building that was practically falling down around my ears…but it was mine and the rent was AMAZING. Now….Mama works hard for the money. Rent is more than double in the new place…but it just makes the adventure even more exciting!

What kind of store is Poppy & Ivy? About 50% vintage finds, 25% local artist with vintage flair and newer items (candy cigarettes, ribbons, paper & crafting goods) that are just old school. This store is a little mix of this and that. Ephemera, juice glasses, candles, art made from vintage materials, collage work, reproduction children’s books, dresses and clip-on earrings that just may have been in YOUR auntie’s dressing table drawer.

What is your shop address? 1315 NE Fremont Street, Portland, OR 97212
(Photos - Kitchen: LOVE my vintage kitchen stuff! If it’s red, blue AND old….I am sold.)

What are your hours? Wed-Sat 11:00-6:00, Sun 12-4

(Photo - Beach vignette: a mix of old bottles, a cake plate, new candles and reproduction cast iron pieces)

Do you hold any special events at your store? We offer monthly classes on embroidery, beading & card making. The 2^nd Friday of every month our block holds an art walk and our store does a sidewalk sale event and a featured local artist.

Is shopping indie and small businesses important to you? If so, why? It is so important. I worked at a local craft store for 8 years and watched big box stores take over. Our sales definitely dropped. I fear that we soon be living in a world of WalMarts if we don’t start thinking locally and supporting small businesses. I KNOW that sometimes I could get a better price at a box store, but I enjoy talking to the small business owner, getting assistance and having products explained to me. I choose to save money in other ways to allow myself  to continue buying local. (Photo - Modern Vintage”: this is a local crafter who uses 90% vintage beads. She lived in Boston and would travel to the vintage bead show in NYC with a couple hundred bucks and an empty backseat. She has an incredible eye).

 

A special thanks to Amy Hollands for sharing her delightful store with us. Please visit the Poppy & Ivy blog to keep track of what's going on in the store!

You're going to FLIP! A Giveaway sponsored by Flip & Tumble

Please welcome designers Hetal Jariwala and Eva Bauer to Vintage Indie. After graduating from Standford University's Product Design graduate program this dynamic duo set out to do something different for the environment. They created Flip & Tumble, a reusable bags company. With their patent pending design they've created a product that will encourage you to actually use it. Did you know that a reusable bag can easily save over 1,000 plastic bags in its lifetime?


The possibility of saving 1,000 bags is something I'd like to be apart of. How about you? Well, you can! Flip & Tumble is graciously sponsoring our Green & Natural living week. They are giving away 4 of their fabulous bags! Two lucky winners will receive 2 bags! Oh, did I mention Flip & Tumble bags really are the 24-7 bag. They are designed to  Scrunch, Flip, Flip & Tumble to the small 3" inch ball (they say a size of a peach) so that they are versatile for anywhere you need a bag.

You have TWO chances to enter:

1st You'll need to tell us what color you'd choose from the Flip & Tumble line by following this link to the choices and then tell us how you'd use your bag! Post your color choice and how you'd use it in the comments section of THIS POST.

2nd time by posting about this fabulous giveaway on your blog by linking to it. (You must only post about the giveaway, no information or copy may be taken from Vintage Indie). Be sure to come back here to let me know you've posted about it or your 2nd entry won't be included. 

The RULES:
You must be 18 or older to enter (void where prohibited) no purchase necessary.

You have until Wednesday (August 6th until 9amEST) to enter.

Two winners will be randomly chosen and contacted via email, so check those boxes for the winner announcements!

Would you like to sponsor a Swanky Swag giveaway on Vintage Indie? Contact me for details.

Natural & Green Living - Reader Discussion August 4th - 8th

I know the words natural, green and organic seem to be flying out of the mouths of everyone these days. Not only is it important to find the true meaning of each of these words but to incorporate them into our lives. I hope with this weeks series on Green & Natural living you will learn something new about these topics.

First of all, let's talk about living "green" It's a hot buzz word in the marketing world, but without all the cliché what does it mean to you to live green? To me, living green means living off the land. Not necissarily running out to purchase every product labeled green and eco-friendly but living sustainable with what has already been provided to us. Sustainability defined by the US EPA is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

What does it mean to you to "live green" ?
Please feel free to join in discussion all this week in the comments portion of this post.

Thanks Shabby Miss Jenn for all of the beautiful things you offer that are now being used to beautify Vintage Indie.

Green & Natural Living Kickoff! Off the Shelf Book Review - A Guide to Green Housekeeping by Christina Strutt

This weeks Off the Shelf Book Review is what has inspired this weeks topic of green and natural living. A Guide to Green Housekeeping by Christina Strutt (CICO Books March 2008, ISBN9781906094485 192pp,$19.95)

As I sat and read this book in its entirety from cover to cover I felt an overwhelming weight lifted off my shoulders. I think I realized I was trapped in a germ-aphobic what you read is what you get society. With everyday tasks like shopping, we are faced with product labels that are deceiving, packaging created to lure you in, but not environmentally friendly. Also, realizing that visual stimulation is a huge aspect of the marketing world, but not something so important that we loose sight on the simpler things in life. Most of these feelings came from the introduction and the first few chapters alone.

One of my favorite statements in the whole book came from the introduction as well " The most important and potentially life saving gift we can give our children is to teach them to have respect for, and to be aware of, the life-giving properties and life-enhancing nature of ... nature." Within the last year or so I've really become aware of my surroundings. What's going into my children's body, what's being placed on their skin and most importantly the effects of it. A Guide to Green Housekeeping is a valuable tool to help you make yourself and your family aware of their surroundings. It really helps you to understand the harsh changes taking place in our environment, and what you can do to protect it.

Living a Calmer, Healthier Life, Recycle and Reuse, Clean Naturally, and Garden Organically are the main topics in this book. As a work at home mom, Keeping House was my favorite chapter. In her series Cleaning without chemicals, I was amazed at the tips and tricks that have probably been used for ages, but have since turned into a chemical laden process. There is hope for those of us who hate tackling things like oven cleaning and window washing without heavy duty chemicals. Christina shares with us her personal tips and tricks for getting the job done. Am I crazy for saying I couldn't wait to get home from vacation to try them out? Well, hopefully not too much as I'm happy to report cleaning this way for me has been not only healthier for my family but therapeutic as well. Other topics such as Kitchen Hygiene, Laundering Clothes and more are also included to complete the Keeping House chapter so you can make full use of nature in your home.

The second chapter, Energy For Life, is another great tool for reducing energy in the home. From a slew of Lifestyle Changes to Kitchen Practices, you'll be proud of what you and your family can do together to reduce the amount of energy used in your home and the reward that comes with lowered bills.

I've been on another mission of sorts this year with my family. I was happy to have The Kitchen Garden chapter make this a much larger reality to me. Living off the the fruits of our labor came into play with my families first garden this year. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time. With no direction accept for a few searches via the internet, we planted our little patch of veggies and have been slowly nurturing them into their full potential. If you've had hesitations in growing your own little garden this chapter will prepare you for growing your own fruits and vegetables and give you the benefits of doing it as well. With topics like Compost and Green Gardening you'll be enjoying fresh produce before you know it.

This book will remain a staple in my home and I'll also be passing it on to family and friends. A Guide to Green Housekeeping is a practical guide with a bounty of resources you will feel confident about using in your home. (available for purchase at our Amazon Store)

Can you believe it?

Can you believe that this post marks number 601 here at Vintage Indie? Can you believe that it's also August 1st. Back to school is right around the corner. In about 13 days my little guy will be in second grade. Seriously folks, time is flying by us. Today is one of those days, actually this week has been one of those weeks. I'm feeling a little distorted in between back to school, fall nesting already and we're getting ready to do some remodeling around here. I'll be taking some time to get things in order around here this weekend and we'll be back to normal on Vintage Indie next week.

If you'd like to prepare for next week on Vintage Indie I'll be covering Natural Home Keeping with this book A Guide to Green Housekeeping. We'll also be going on another fabulous shop tour and viewing another home as well as other fun features.

Until next week here are some events you may want to check out in your area this weekend.

Sowa Open Market  - August 2nd 10-4 Art, Indie Design, Antiques & Farmers Market Boston, MA

Artists and Fleas August 2nd & 3rd 12-8 Brooklyn, NY

Crested Butte Arts Festival Crested Butte, CO

What's going on in your hometown this weekend?
Please feel free to leave the event information here in the comments section.

Have a great weekend!