Shopping for a good cause: Invisible Children

Invisible Children and its campaign against Joseph Kony attracted a huge amount of media attention earlier in the year, not all of it positive.  In my mind, it was a powerful and effective use of social and traditional media to not only bring specific African atrocities to light, but also to successfully engage and mobilize people in a 'new school' grassroots effort to make change happen.

The organization continues to work hard towards its goals, and this holiday season it has launched an online store selling artisanal African goods, including beautiful jewellery, bags, scarves, and shoes, with 100% of the profits going towards supporting Invisible Children's mission.  100% - astounding!  Now, having worked in many a non-profit organization, I know that there are many ways to explain the distribution and allocation of funds, and it is easy to nit-pick a claim such as this.  However, it beats the pants off buying pink nail polish and having 2% (or sometimes 0% - see "pink-washing") go towards fighting breast cancer.  And the products are both gorgeous and affordable!  I call that a win-win-win.  Now let's look at the pretty:

So many beautiful things - I don't think there is one thing on there I wouldn't love to have (with special love for bracelets).  The scarves, bags and shoes are equally awesome (and the shoes are produced in collaboration with Canadian-based Oliberté Shoes).  So if you have anyone left on your holiday list...start shopping!

Wicked Jewellery: Laurel Hill on Etsy

I haven't done an Etsy jewellery post in a while and when I saw the amazing cuffs made by Laurel Hill, I knew it was time!  These geometric cuffs have such a great patina, they look like they were picked up at an antique market in Turkey or a pueblo in New Mexico (not sure how those are related, but they both came to mind).  Plus, with gold and brass being the colour of the moment, they would add some big impact to any outfit.  The best part?  The one above is only $40!

The rest of her stuff is equally amazing and covetable.

What do you think Jess, have I tempted you yet? :)

Meshu Map Jewellery is SO COOL

OK, this concept and the resulting jewellery are SO FREAKIN' COOL.  Meshu will create a graphic based on geographical points, and then make it in to earrings, necklaces, cufflinks, and more.  It could be all the places you lived as a kid, the stops on your honeymoon, the cities you visited on your first trip to Europe, or all the places you want to visit before you die.  Meaningful without being in-your-face kitchy, the designs are modern and stylish - not words you would normally associate with such a keepsake.  I love the personal subtlety. You can read more about the interface here or plot your own design here. The mind boggles.  What an amazing gift - and would it not be an awesome tattoo?

Found on a Fast Co. Design article by Mark Wilson.

Hand in Hand

I love this bracelet from Kate Spade - all the more knowing that 25% of sales will be donated to Women For Women International, which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives.

If you visit the Women for Women site now, you can send a very meaningful Mother's Day Card to your mom, or any mother you admire, for a small donation.  Brilliant.

Emedemarta Love on Etsy

Photography and Jewellery collide at Emedemarta.  I love her simple geometric pieces - I love her soft blossom-coloured photos.  I love brass, wood, and triangles.  Like her profile says, it's all about love.

PS. Don't forget to enter the Intertwyned Giveaway!

Kjoo jewellery

I love the crocheted, ethnic art look of Portuguese artist Maria João Ribeiro's jewellery.  This simple one above would be perfect to add a punch of colour to any outfit, and some of her more elaborate pieces are one-of-a-kind show-stoppers - definitely wicked and weird. :)

One of a Kind Spring 2012

I was lucky enough to be invited to the One of a Kind Spring show on this weekend at the Direct Energy Centre.  It was a media breakfast and we were treated to a one-of-a-kind breakfast from raw food restaurant Cruda Cafe.  From juices to muffins, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and scrambled-tofu enchiladas, it was all raw (nothing heated or cooked in any way) and very fresh.  The lemon-poppy seed muffins pictured above were divine.

After breakfast I roamed the aisles with my blogger buddies.  Of course, we all have similar taste and ended up stopping for photos at the same booths.  The images below were the sorely tested my mission to "admire not acquire" - especially the handwoven blanket from New Brunswick (1).

1. Megely Weaving (J-21) from Drummond NB - Those two blanket hanging had me hovering...

2. heyday design (E-29) from Vancouver - I have loved these since I saw them at Granville Island a few years ago

3. MoonRox (Q-32) from Toronto - they had the best brass-and-bright-colours jewellery.

4. Mara Minuzzo (I-36) from Caledon - I loved these paintings of Lego figures for the boys' rooms

5. Atelier b (K-36) from Montreal - I admire them every time I see them at OOAK, this skirt looks so perfect for spring.

A few other pieces caught my eye, including:

1. & 2. Good Wishes Quilts (H-34) from Kelowna - I have a weakness for hedgehogs and love that pillow for a kid's bed.

3. & 4. eikcam ceramics from Vancouver (N-08) - such pretty, simple things and I love the porcelain keys.

Hamilton's Jenna Rose (I-16) is always a favourite, especially those cloud and bird pillows above and that sea-faring bag...hoo boy I love that one!

This photo isn't great, but I did love the photos and the booth of Images of This and That (F-39), especially that YYZ one and the Boys are Awesome print.

In terms of booths, Sharalee and I were discussing how important the merchandizing is - it can make the difference between stopping to look and drifting on.  There were a few booths that stood out with their merchandizing, including the ones below:

Avril's booth (L-05) is like a burst of sunshine in the un-naturally lit cave that is a convention centre.

Patouche's booth was beautifully decorated with adorable fabric trees and cute little manequins. 

I think my favourite booth was this spare, beautifully-lit, and exquisitely-merchandized booth by Renaud from Ateliers Des Cent-Ans (H-06).  Sharalee and I stopped to admire this oasis of a space, and when Renaud handed us his card we became drooling paper geeks (or at least I did - Sharalee is much more sophisticated. :) )  His cards are about 1/16'' thick (I measured) and are beautifully letter-pressed.  They are heaven in a business card, and show the exacting and careful thought that goes into his art.

The show is lovely and exhausting as always, and is on until April 1 at the Direct Energy Centre.  I would love to hear your favourite booths!  Here are some round-ups from Lindsay and Vanessa - I did warn you we have similar taste! :)

Drooooozy on etsy

Oh Pinterest, you evil, horrible, terrible, amazing, fantastic site!  You make entire hours disappear with a single image, lost forever into the black vortex of the internet.  The other night it was a ring.  One simple, pretty sparkly ring.  And the next thing I knew, it was midnight and my leg was asleep and my husband was saying "aren't you EVER going to turn that off?"  The good news is that I discovered the etsy shop Brooklyn Thread, and druzy: a coating of fine crystals on a rock fragment.  I want them all, but mostly those studs.  And this ring below.  And the necklace...

Brooklyn Thread has lots of other awesome jewellery in their shop, but at the moment I have eyes only for druzy.   Drooooooooozy.