Green with Envy

Monthly Archives: March 2009

Bamboozled? Become Enlightened About Bamboo

Posted on March 24, 2009 | 1 Comment

What do you know about bamboo? I have to admit, I barely knew anything about the plant and its many uses until recently. A panda bear munching on a stalk of bamboo, a 1960s Tiki room bar ala Trader Vic’s style or a pair of chopsticks are some of the images that came to mind when I thought of bamboo. Those images have been replaced with blankets, counter tops, diapers a.k.a. nappies, fabrics, flooring, pajamas, sheets and towels. In today’s world bamboo has many uses. The reason for its popularity is because it grows so quickly and has no negative impact on the environment. The plant is sustainable and biodegradable.

Bamboo stalks are ground up into a pulp and then spun and woven into a soft and silky fiber to make towels, sheets, fabrics and pajamas. The velvety tactile properties of bamboo textiles are amazing. It is also more absorbent than cotton, which makes it an excellent choice for towels. There are also inherent antibacterial properties in bamboo. Bamboo has a very strong tensile strength as a building material for flooring and other construction materials. All of this is good news for the planet and consumers. I hope you enjoy looking at all the products I found using bamboo. Please don’t be bamboozled any longer about bamboo.

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bamboo-cutting-board bamboo-basket bamboo-soap1

bamboo-umbrella bamboo-carving bamboo-hangers bamboo-hangers2 bamboo-hangers3

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By: Charisse Marie Colbert, CMC Design Studio

Here are some links to websites used for this article:

Bamboo Diapers, Bellacor, Umbrella, Totally Bamboo, Wallpaper, Hangers, McGuire Furniture and Mobboa

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Posted in Design, Sustainable Products, Textiles

Tagged bamboo, bamboo flooring, bamboo products, bamboo sheets, bamboo towels, Design, Eco Friendly Materials, Sustainable Products

Green with Envy

Posted on March 15, 2009 | 8 Comments

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The color green has been associated with health, good fortune, luck, jealousy and of course the color of money. Green is known for the calming effect it has on the psyche, which is why it is used in hospitals, surgeon’s attire and in waiting rooms known as green rooms. The color green is linked with nature and all of the many forms we see in landscaping, plants, vegetables, fruits and gems. Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because of its lush green landscaping. The city of Seattle is also known as the Emerald City because of all the evergreen trees in abundance there. Green symbolizes St. Patrick’s Day and the Irish clover known as the shamrock.

Throughout history the color green has many different associations. The Egyptian’s depicted the God Osiris with a green face representative of the color of plants and new life representing their belief in the afterlife. They also used the green stone malachite in their ornamentation. The architect, Robert Adam used a muted shade of green in the walls of his interiors. The Aesthetic Movement of the 1860s and 1870s used paint color schemes of green, gold and gray prominently in their peacock motifs. Similarly, the Arts and Crafts movement of the 1860s, which was a statement against the commercialization and industrialization of industry during the Victorian era, used green in their natural motifs of plants inspired by nature and simple materials.

The heart chakra which is located in the chest is governed by the color green making it an excellent color for improving well being and health. Bathrooms, bedrooms, libraries, and offices are spaces that will be enhanced by using the color green. Some of the names used to describe the color green are apple, avocado, bottle green, boxwood green, celadon, eucalyptus, emerald, fern, forest green, jade, lime, mint, olive, and sea green. The complement or opposite of green is red. Color combinations which are pleasing are green and purple, green and yellow-green, lime green and pink, and green and white and/or cream. Rather than be green with envy, get lucky and add some green to your decor.

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