Eco-friendly stuff from top designer Amy Butler is fabulous but all too often just isn’t available in Canada.

That’s why we were so excited to see these lush, colourful 100% organic cotton blend towels at Bed, Bath and Beyond! They’re supersumptuous, with a lovely velour band to up the richness factor and come in Orange, Turquoise, Lime, Plum (from top).

The bath towel measures 30″ X 54″, the hand towel 16″ x 28″ and the washcloth 13″ x 13″. Machine washable.

Available at: www.bedbathandbeyond.ca

Prices: $18 (bath towel), $13 (hand towel), $8 (washcloth)

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Five fabulous green gift ideas for kids.

Mobiles by Petit Collage
Both peaceful and playful, these mobiles make an artistic, organic addition to a kid’s room. Made with sustainably harvested bamboo plywood, the retro animal motifs are super ‘70s and super cute!

Price: $75
Available at: www.saplings.ca 

 

 

Stylish Organic Cotton Bedding
I wish I could find these eco-chic sheets in grown-up sizes. They’re made in B.C. with sustainable, fair trade cotton harvested in the USA and India. The bright colours and funky patterns are created with low-impact dyes and inks, so little sleepers are not only snug and stylish, but safe from harmful chemicals, too. Wahoo!

Price: Blanket, $49-$175
Duvet Cover,  $114-$225
Available at: www.snugasabug-organic.com

 

 

 

Building Blocks
Aspiring architects and budding builders will delight in this 50-piece set of blocks, while parents will appreciate that they’re educational and eco-friendly. The blocks are made from 100% recycled and locally sourced maple that’s free of dangerous materials, so you won’t mind if some blocks end up in the young ones’ mouths… and, well, don’t they always?

Price: $55
Available at: www.grassrootsstore.com

I got my new Essentia latex mattress on Tuesday, and I’m simply loving it so far! It’s natural memory foam and compared to my old spring mattress, it feels like sleeping on thick gel, if you can imagine that. It basically moulds to your shape, in the most comfortable way imaginable. I’d heard that it takes some time to get used to memory foam, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. It’s like a cosy cocoon, in a non-cloying, non-warm way (it is summer after all!).

The mattress is great because:
• it’s made of natural latex, which doesn’t off gas
• it’s glue- and adhesive-free
• it’s entirely biodegradable
• dust mites can’t live in it, so it’s great for anyone with allergies or who suffers from asthma
• if you’re allergic to latex, the processing of the latex destroys the proteins you’re allergic to, so no worries!
• the unbleached organic cotton cover is made with organic dyes and is removable for cleaning
• it’s green – and how happy that makes me!!

How much greener could this all-Canadian company be?
• each mattress is hand made, with the liquid latex poured into a mould and cured, so minimal waste is produced
• Essentia’s website is stored on a windpowered server
• Essentia is a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization that funds green initiatives worldwide
• until Mar. 5, 2010, owners of hybrid and electric vehicles get a 20% discount on all Essentia sleep products. Woohoo!

The mattresses are available online, but if you live near the factory/showroom, which is just outside Montreal, you can try them out in person there, and now there’s also a brand-new store in Toronto, so if you live there, check it out!

Available at: www.myessentia.com; West Laval, Que,
888-764-4116; Toronto, 647-348-0321; Costco (Pure and Classic 8 models)

Price: from $1,299

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As I was eating my brekkie this morning, it occurred to me that a lot of my posts have focused on bedding. Why? I wondered, and realized it’s because I’m obsessed with naps! So once again, here’s a sleep-inspired post!

This country-look quilt from Pottery Barn is perfect for summer-time easy living. Just toss it over the bed in the morning when you wake, and the bed is made and you’re on your way!

It’s hand-made of organic cotton with Porcelain-blue piping and reverses to solid blue, if you want a quick change in looks, and has 100% cotton batting. The shams have a different print on each side, and everything is machine washable.

Available at: Pottery Barn stores, www.potterybarn.com

Prices: $72 (standard sham),$88 (Euro sham), $429 (Queen quilt)

SUPER CHIC IDEA If you have an old quilt and the edges are fraying too much for you to use it on a bed or even hang it on a wall, try this idea:
1 Centre the least worn portion over a twin-size wood headboard
2 Wrap the edge around the back of the headboard
3 Staple it in place (pad with cotton batting underneath, if you like).
Makes a very cute headboard for a kid’s room!

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So pretty! These 20″-square cushion covers are a lovely way to change up your decor for the summer.

They come in four simple but stunning colours (from top) – Natural, Sea Spray, White and Clay – are knit from undyed organic cotton, and are machine washable, so no worries when it comes to care.

Perfect!

Available at: www.westelm.com

Price: $29 US each

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What better way to welcome – and encourage! – the warmer weather than with a change of bedding. West Elm’s pintuck duvet cover is the perfect choice: pure white, great design detail and certified organic and undyed.

Available at: www.westelm.com

Price: $99 US for full/queen

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I find some baby stuff just too cutesy and pallid for words but love the more grownup tones and patterns of the organic cottons quilts from Sewn Natural. Based in Ottawa, Sewn Natural was started when the founder became a grandma. She makes all kinds of baby things – from clothes to toys to bedding – out of cotton, wool, silks, bamboo and organic and upcycled* fabrics wherever possible. You can buy her beautiful crafts on the Etsy website, home to a treasure trove of wonderful handcrafted items from all over Canada and the U.S.

This beautiful Sienna Simmer baby quilt (top) is reversible and made from 100% organic cotton, with organic cotton batting. It’s washable in warm or cool water on the gentle cycle, and measures 31″ x 42″.

Available at: www.sewnnatural.etsy.com

Price: $35

*Upcycling: the practice of taking something disposable and turning it into something of greater value

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With Valentine’s Day coming up, here are some things that will add up to a very romantic – but still natural and green – evening! This sassy O Girl Babydoll from Eberjey is made from organic cotton and comes in spearmint (shown) or pink. Buy it from one of the Canadian retailers that sells Eberjey lingerie (see the site for details) or if you can’t find it at the shops, order it or another O Girl item online.
Available at: www.eberjey.com
Price: $57 (US)

Then light up the night with the sweet scent of Archipelago’s Jasmine scented candle. Made of cleaning-burning soy wax, it lasts an incredible 90 hours.
Available at: www.archipelago-usa.com
Price: $29.50 (US)

And savour some delicious Green & Black’s organic chocolate. My favourite is the Ginger bar, with real bits of ginger, but you can get all kinds of other yummy flavours, including Cherry, Espresso and Caramel. You won’t be able to resist them. I know I can’t!
Available at: Sobey’s, Metro, Loblaws, Shopper’s Drug Mart
Price: approx. $3.89

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!