Satsuma Designs

Bottles to Babies from Green to Grow

2008-05-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post about this great BPA free bottle company called Green to Grow out of California. I met a friend of the owner at the Greenpower Baby Shower the other week and loved both their display and product line.

Specifically related to the plastic issue, according to their product info, Green to Grow uses "PES plastic, which gives them a natural golden color. They are free of phthalates and free of bisphenol A – a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, from which most baby bottles are made."

But what I love even more in today's visit to their site is their Bottles to Babies program where they facilitate the donation of lightly used bottles and nipples to not for profit organizations all over the country that serve women and children in need. Check it out!

Bravo!

People Power means Green Power

2008-04-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Green For Good's founder, David Kaufer today. David one of an incredible team that has organized the Greenpower Baby Shower Expo set for this Saturday at Seattle's downtown Sheraton Hotel. Satsuma will proudly be on hand to sell all natural products for baby and home.

Free to attend, the Expo runs from 10a-4p and will feature over 50 local Green companies who make and sell products for babies and kids. I think it's an incredible initiative that I wish had been around a few years ago as I ticked through my nursery checklist to prepare for parenthood.

While this is the first year, I'm sure it won't be the last.

Bravo Green For Good!

Overdue

2008-04-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

That's how this post feels. Meant to post about Earth Day, of course, but was probably dealing with some blanket production issues!

So, a short post about all the orders we've been filling. So fun and we thank each of our customers, bit and small, for their support and interest in our little venture.

Many thanks!!

HP, more than just a printer store

2008-03-12T09:27:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I picked up a three pack of HP printer cartridges (black number 56) at Costco for around $50 - great deal! Anyway, I just jammed my pair of orange handled scissors into the blister pack and used my super human strength and only a few French words as I pried one of the cartridges out.

And what to my wondering eyes did appear, but a postage paid envelope for me to send my empty ink cartridge back to HP to recycle. I was thrilled! I usually take my old one wrapped in paper towel to Officemax or O-depot and turn it in for my $3 credit. I didn't mind losing the credit for the incredible ease of popping the cute green envelope in the mailbox for Dale to pick up today.

Thanks HP! Enjoy!

I'd live with Ed

2008-03-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

That's Ed Begley Jr., but few could compete with his wife Rachelle who is beautiful and funny and manages to deal with how green Ed really is. I love their show on HGTV - Living with Ed and have now learned about Ed's new book Living Like Ed.

Published by Random House, they write:

A committed environmentalist for more than thirty years, Ed Begley, Jr., has always tried to "live simply so others may simply live." Now, as more and more of us are looking for ways to reduce our impact on the planet and live a better, greener life, Ed shares his experiences on what works, what doesn't - and what will save you money!

From recycling more materials than you ever thought possible to composting without raising a stink to buying an electric car, Living Like Ed is packed with ideas - from obvious to ingenious - that will help you live green, live responsibly, live, well, Like Ed.

Sounds like a great green read. Enjoy!

Recycling's in and up in Seattle

2008-03-06T15:09:00.000-08:00

Not the biggest news, but I was pleased to read in our local paper the other day that Seattle's recycling rate (consumers and businesses) was up to 48% of garbage in 2006. Not sure why we don't have access to 2007 figures, but at least they're counting.

But the figures were confusing, later reporting that businesses recycled 54% of their trash and single family homes 64%. I guess there's some distinction between 'garbage' and 'trash'? Maybe the reporter was just mixing it up, I wonder.

The goal as set by City adminstrators is for all of us to recycle 60% of our waste by 2012. Apparently next year the city will require all single family homes to sign up for (this must mean pay for) table scrap recycling.

Guess my ziplog (now glad) container under the sink for food waste might get an upgrade!

Hair it is - the word on phthalates

2008-03-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

I try to live by the golden rule for awesome hair - only wash every other day, or if you or your family can stand it, every third day.

And when I do scrub away, I go phthalate free. That's the nasty group of chemicals that has been shown to cause problems in animals, ergo people animals. The GreenGuide has a super primer on what products are free of the accused and a great list of brands you can trust. A couple of personal favorites include Aveda and Tom's of Maine. Okay, the aluminum free deodorant tends to leave you smelling like a travel weary tourist in mid-August, but I feel good about the product ingredients and when my husband used it, his armpit rash vanished.

Don't forget to suds up with my every other day routine of Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo.

Enjoy!

EcoMoms Unite!

2008-03-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

It started on vacation when I saw the headline in the NY Times: For ‘EcoMoms,’ Saving Earth Begins at Home. I got intrigued, but between catching up on email, real mail, laundry and de-sanding the suitcases, I haven't picked it up again until now. I'm glad I did! I just signed up for the EcoMom Challenge. It's the brainchild of excellent mom, Kimberly Danek Pinkson, who started the EcoMom Alliance to "leverage the power of mothers to help reduce global warming; To inspire and empower mothers to take First Steps For A Sustainable Future by Sustaining their Homes, Sustaining their Planet and Sustaining Themselves."

Here are the first 10 Steps to getting eco, mommy style:

1. Change a light. If every household in America changed out just 5 light bulbs to energy efficient CFL's it would be equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road.
2. Drive More Efficiently: Car pool, don't idle during drop off and pick up, drive a hybrid and drive less.
3. Shop local, fair trade and organic.
4. Use non toxic products for cleaning, bathing, even make-up and you'll protect the environment as well as reduce you and your family's risk of disease.
5. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
6. Turn off and unplug electronic devices and you'll reduce your exposure to electromagnetic radiation, and save on energy and CO2 emissions.
7. Re-think your laundry plan!
8. Plant a Tree.
9. Buy carbon offsets. Click to learn how
10. Play more.

Stay tuned and enjoy!

Soup in a Box

2008-03-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

I found a delicious organic creamy tomato soup this week that came packaged in a box. They're so convenient and I like the idea that my soup doesn't sit on a shelf in an alumnimum can for ages. I'm sure that's much worse than a plasticized box, but oh well.

I figured I could recycle the soup box, but called Imagine's customer service anyway where I was connected with George, a very helpful fellow. George confimed that 'yes, the boxes can be recycled' and gave me the manufacturer Tetra Pak's website. Here's what I found:

"Tetra Pak was founded on a remarkably simple idea: that a package should save more than it costs. This is still valid. We make food available to the world in lightweight packages that are safe, hygienic and made by clean industrial processes. This means we are constantly reducing the environmental impact of our operations, products and packages. For example, our aseptic cartons are 20 per cent lighter today than they were 20 years ago. Our packages meet the requirements of all four waste management options: source reduction, recycling, energy-from-waste-incineration, and landfills."

I now feel great about indulging in more box soup.

Enjoy!

What's your earth conservation plan (ECP)?

2008-02-29T09:17:00.001-08:00

I got intrigued by an ad I saw for esurance while I was watching some HGTV last night. Erin the esurance agent and her sidekick - a laidback fellow - were promoting steps esurance is taking to help the environment. They're a paper free company and all policies are in electronic form, plus through their community outreach they've planted around 20,000 trees. I was impressed! Sounds like I should shop my insurance.

When I went to the site today, I found an even bigger deal and that's their partnership with Earthlab. Check out Earthlab's ECP calculator to get an idea of both your daily habits and carbon footprint that usually only takes into account transportation and energy consumption.

I got a 260 - the range is 150-900. Not bad, but could be better. They have some great tips on lowering that number.

Enjoy!

Spring Flings

2008-02-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

Honestly, sometimes it's hard to live green when there are some many fun things to buy! Reduce, reuse and recycle. If you take it seriously, it usually means you should stave off the strong temptation to buy the latest and greatest at the local boutique or specialty store like Banana, The Gap or my budget friendly crush - Old Navy.

The latest set of new arrivals at Old Navy features super soft jersey dresses and tops to pair with smart shorts and chinos.

Sadly, they haven't embraced the organic movement yet and in talking to a couple of sales associates, they don't offer ANY organic cotton. Sad. I'll be they're working on a 'green' group. This little number at right is $29.50 online.

Happily, the earth and body friendly options are improving, check out this cute 100% organic cotton print dress at Aventura Clothing. $29.99 for the Sheridan Organic Sundress. Tres green!

Enjoy!

I'm Not A Plastic Bag

2008-02-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

We know! But if you haven't been guilted into swapping your paper or plastic addiction with a canvas or all natural material tote bag yet, now's the time. Cafe Press has some great designs to add to canvas bags. For around $17 you too can voice your love for all things green as you sail the aisles of Trader Joe's. Don't miss the frozen section and check our their easy recipes!

Or consider a full green assault and choose an organic cotton or recycled cotton tote from reusablebags.com.

Enjoy!

Green Coffee, Eggs and Ham

2007-12-14T15:34:00.000-08:00

You all know about shade grown and free trade coffee, but I discovered another way to keep your daily cuppa easy on the earth.

If you use a standard coffee machine with cone filters, try using the smaller size 2 cones instead of the lager size 4. I know, sounds small, but saves on paper. Also consider using the unbleached versions or check out this great Hemp filter, size 2.

Now the next caffeine hit won't mean a hit to mama earth.

Drink up!

Prizey.com Goes Green

2007-11-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

And we're thrilled! Prizey.com the web's leading directory of online giveaways for the discerning contest entrant (100% spam and linkbait-free enjoyment!) is hosting their Eco Baby Giveaway and has generously included us in the prize pack. Okay, so we give some stuff away, but this is a fun site with rotating 'blockbuster giveaway' programs that feature some wicked merch.

We're in fine company with Green to Grow's BPA-free bottles for babes. HABA's wooden and plush toys for tots and from The Soft Landing: Natursutten natural rubber pacifiers, which apparently should be replaced every 4-5 weeks. I feel like a bad parent with the pacifiers I still have from the hospital. Fortunately, my little binkie boy kicked the habit around 5 months. Win and you'll get a 6 months supply. And last in the line up is Amnesty International's Citizen of the World toddler tee or onesie.

Prizey on!

Feed the world - one grain at a time

2007-11-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

John Breen is at it again and he's a total inspiration. The founder of thehungersite.com, which was purchased by greatergood.com at the height of the late nineties dotcom bubble, just launched FREE RICE dot com. The site's fantastic. Each visit lists a word for which you have to click on the correct definition. Each click generates 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program (they spell it British); the same beneficiary that thehungersite.com launched with a decade ago now. Nice that John kept up relations.

The site takes me back to SAT vocabulary prep tests and while I never felt that smart then, I do now. Maybe the words are easy and I think they're meant to get progressively more difficult as you keep guessing correctly. Either way, you're rocking the rice campaign.

The program is completely legit. Advertisers like Liz Claiborne, Toshiba and RD - Reader's Digest - those I just saw listed at the bottom of the page pay for our eyeballs. Hopefully their ad buy with John will turn us all into electronics-purchasing, alarmist magazine reading, middle aged sartorialists with a heart. I'm game.

Happy defining!

Sustaining the Earth, Sustaining Our Community

2007-11-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Pediatric Interim Care Center’s Newborn Nursery facility in Kent is a nonprofit medical facility for infants suffering from prenatal drug exposure. We at Satsuma thought that there were no babies more deserving of our organic, hypoallergenic, antibacterial blankets than these most vulnerable babies for whom even the softest touch can cause extreme discomfort. We were happy to be able to donate blankets to this wonderful facility and want to give the big kudos to the amazing community of nurses, social workers and doctors that work around the clock with these most needy babies.

Crave a little cozy?

2007-11-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

The first ever CRAVE Show is happening this weekend in Seattle and Satsuma Designs will be on hand to debut our newest collections. I'm excited to be part of what I know will be a great event for women. Two days - Saturday and Sunday - of exploration, indulgence, fashion and more, CRAVE Show is taking the Crave party concept to a whole new level.

Creative genius and founder, Melody Biringer, is offering a great line up of speakers, seminars, spa treatments, fashion shows, shopping opps and great eats to please every craver.

Satsuma's piece of the action involves a booth in the fashion section where we'll be sharing our new cozy holiday collection. Bamboo velour and cashmere throws for babies and big babies will be on hand in fun new colors. Custom color orders are available too in our new cashmere line.

Now that's something you'll CRAVE!

Why Go Green Redux

2007-10-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

Seattle's fashion community is a little greener thanks to the great insights from our illustrious panel of design professionals at last Thursday's seminar. The event welcomed a great mix of fashion, beauty, interiors, education and sustainable living professionals from around the city.

Our gracious hostess, Sandy Campbell, swung wide the doors of One Earth One Design, her home interiors and consulting business on the edge of Shoreline. Among the panelists was Rebecca Luke, owner of Les Egoistes and co-founder of the Sustainable Style Foundation (SSF).

Rebecca shared a fabulous new program sponsored by SSF called SSFtags. Read below to learn more about this sustainability seal of approval that's great for both businesses and consumers.

Rebecca made a great point last Thursday too when she encouraged trade members in the audience not to get too hung up on being 100% sustainable or green in your business, but rather take smart steps to do the best you can. The truth is that many industries including fashion and beauty aren't tooled up to support all the 'green' decisions we'd like to make, but if over time we all ask for it, so it will be.

SSFtags
The mission of SSF is to educate, support and inspire people from all walks of life to make more sustainable personal lifestyle choices at home, at work and at play. SSFtags is a consumer- and producer-friendly awareness program with an internationally recognized logo that indicates that a product, service, event, project, company or organization, etc. has incorporated sustainability into their efforts in some way.

Nice work SSF!

Green Houses Make Great Homes

2007-10-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

My friend Sloan Ritchie has just listed his new townhome development by Cascade Built. Sloan's tag line is good living tm and it is. He has used LEED prescribed green building guidelines to create incredibly well designed and stylish living.

LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The organization is made up of building industry leaders who believe that green design and manufacturing is critical to happy and healthy living. Their members and supporters also realize that it can be good for the bottom line as green building resources begin to drop in price and are competitive to the big box retailers' pricing and selection.

Here's a great article on the real versus perceived costs of going green in construction projects from industry resource Building.com.

Kudos to Sloan, Cascade Built and all those LEEDers out there!

Seattle Retail Rules!

2007-09-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

We're at retail! I think of it as form of VERY positive validation for our company concept and product line. Satsuma can now be found in stores around the Northwest, Alaska too! In Seattle, we're very proud to be featured at Village Maternity and Birth & Beyond that cater to the with or soon to be with child set. We're also carried at Fresh, A New Lifestyle Boutique Located in the Heart of Seattle’s Wedgwood Business District. Wendy and Julia there are great and are ready to help you find the best in gift, home and of course babies. Stop by and ask for Satsuma.

Happy Shopping!

WHY GO GREEN? MAKING THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION, BEAUTY AND LIFESTYLE BRANDS

2007-09-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Fashion Group of Seattle and Sustainable Style Foundation Present:

WHY GO GREEN? MAKING THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION, BEAUTY AND LIFESTYLE BRANDS

Enjoy an evening with some of the region's leading design professionals who have made the case for green fashion, beauty and lifestyle products. Discover business reasons to incorporate green design, sourcing and sales techniques in any successful 21st century business. Proceeds benefit the Sustainable Style Foundation and Fashion Group of Seattle.

Feast on organic bites from Seattle’s Herban Feast and wash it down with organic wine.

Panelists include:
□ Rebecca Luke, Co-Founder, Sustainable Style Foundation and CEO, Les Egoistes
□ Sandy Campbell (our fabulous hostess!), Founder and Owner, One Earth, One Design
□ Scott Branscum, President and CEO of SB Premier Brands, LLC and Born Clothing
□ Lisa Françoise, CEO, Sweet Beauty
□ Leigh Anne Van Dusen, CEO, Oeco Textiles
□ Tarah Prater, Designer and founder, Urban Fashion Network
□ Moderated by Jennifer Porter, Co-Founder, Satsuma Designs
More to be confirmed.

Date: Thursday, October 25, 2007
Time: 6:30p-8:30p
Location: One Earth, One Design (www.oneearthonedesign.com)
14300 Greenwood Ave. N, Suite A, Seattle, WA 98133 - (206) 418-8120 - Street and neighborhood parking available.

Cost: FGI Members $20/Non-members $30/Students $10 – includes light refreshments – proceeds go to Sustainable Style Foundation and Fashion Group of Seattle.

RSVP: To reserve your spot – space is limited – email FGI Membership Chair, Theresa Olson at theresa.olson@brooksrunning.com or dial (425) 489-2461.

Mining Sickens (and kills) - Let's lobby for another way

2007-09-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

As if it weren't apparent that we need to rely less on fossil fuels (coal et al) to run our homes, cities, and country, Bill Moyers Journal ran a very informative and important piece on Mountaintop Mining also called surface mining in the hills of the Appalachia.

The method features blowing the tops off the hills to 'clearcut' and mine coal. Families down river from the mining sites are being poisoned by sludge/slurry, byproducts of the process. It was sickening to see the black water that filled one family's washing machine as they tried to do a load of laundry; not to mention the fact that every person interview suffered from kidney stones and some level of mineral poisoning. These people couldn't drink their own tap water.

Ridiculous! And the BAdministration (with a capital B) just made it easier for mining companies to conitue these practices for the foreseeable future.

Here's background on the Journal investigation and here's the show. And here's how you can contact your member of the House and Senate.

Thanks for taking action.

How to go green: when you're lazy like me

2007-09-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

I feel the pressure. Not only to be responsible to our environment, but with the business, I really should walk the talk. That means composting. Yes. I can't tell you all the food scraps I shove down the insinkerator (which I love!) that could be going to nourish the soil where I grow my half-live hostas and hydraengas (sic).

So I've made a change and am using a large Ziploc brand (FIL works for the makers of these WONDERFUL products that are 100% recyclable) tub with top to contain the remnants of meal prep and mealtime. I decided I'm going to try to empty it a couple/few times a week. More if opening it becomes a biohazard experience.

I keep it under the sink and it's been pretty easy to manage the routine. I've been doing it for 4 days without complaint. I'll try to take it out to the yard waste bucket today when I bring in the recycling and garbage cans that my husband hauled out at the crack this morning. Good egg.

When I get really ambitious, I'll start a compost pile and feed the worms, but for now, I rest.

Good luck going green!

Satsuma launches!

2007-08-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

We did it! We're officially up and running and have been really excited about the response to our first product - 100% bamboo jersey swaddling blanket for bouncing babies.

We hosted a party for our incredibly supportive friends who snapped up the blankets and gave invaluable feedback on our next product - bamboo velour blankie and we had enough interest in an adult size that we plan to produce a throw. Doesn't hurt that Pottery Barn is featuring a bamboo rayon throw. We figure the market's there.

Next phase involves activating our three tiered approach to marketing - wholesale (through our incredible friend Melissa Dodge), online sales, and media outreach to local media and a concerted effort to connect product-focused gift, parenting and mommy blogs.

Thanks for stopping!

Confessions of a bamboo blanket

2007-06-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

I didn't start out like this. I've changed, I know. Who can blame me, though? I've been caught up in an exhilirating ride. I've come far - from the Eastern world and now find I have a small part to play in illuminating the Western world.

I grew quickly as a little bamboo stalk - grass really. In a couple of short years, I'd reach maturity and was invited to join fellow stalks in a journey that brought me here - my first photo shoot.

I admit I was nervous, but photographer and now friend, Jeff Beck was incredibly patient as I grew to love the camera. Wrapping my warmth around the lens, I became part of a world I only dreamed of. Jeff said a shoot wasn't complete without some celebrity gossip and while I couldn't add much, I learned to appreciate the nuances of the Paris/Nicole relationship and their collective and individual yearning for acceptance that their parents have withheld all these years.

I have a new friend in Jeff, of course, but was surprised at the immediate raport I had with bunny. I couldn't figure out the peter pan complex and an actual peter pan collar, but judge not, I try to tell myself. Once work got off the ground and we found ourselves facing the camera together, our mutual insecurities and strengths surfaced. Who would have known that bunny and I share the fear of having our right side photographed. Well, we made it through together.

I'm thrilled to say that we've contracted to work on another coming shoot and I look forward with anticipation to our next meeting. Hopefully, bunny will have some new gossip to share.

bam