Peace Treaty

I found this company Peace Treaty from another blog,

and am kind of obsessed with their styling.

Dreamy fall outfits!

(When I'm not in 78 degree Georgia anymore...)

And a great mission statement:

Born in 2008, as a personal pact between Farah Malik, a Pakistani Muslim, and Dana Arbib, a Libyan Jew, A PEACE TREATY creates employment for skilled artisans working in places of socio-political strife, effectively supporting their technique and craft while elevating their products to the level of high design for an exclusive and international fashion audience.

 

Sustainabilty/ Small Homes

Check these photos out.

Who said small and sustainable living can't be luxurious?

 

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I am convinced that there can be luxury in simplicity.

-Jil Sander

Design & Sustainability / Chikumbuso

I think you all know that one of my sisters lives in Zambia.

And she brought us all one of these bags for Christmas.

They are made by women in Zambia out of old plastic bags.

A portion of the profits goes back to the woman and a portion supports Chikumbuso's community projects.

And I use mine.

ALL the time.

And I get asked about it in airports.

And my best friend just asked for one.

So I thought I should share them!

My sister brought a bunch back to the States to sell to support Chikumbuso.

If you're interested in one,

let me know!

Sustainability & Design/Osborn Shoes

"Our mission here at Osborn is to do good with good design."

Swoon.

 

Yes, yes, and yes.

 I found these shoes through some blog stalking a little while ago,

and just started day dreaming about them again,

so thought I would share.

I have many more things to share.

Of Costa Rica and revelations and astrology,

but Osborn is having a sale right now,

so go shop since I can't right now.

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A person should design the way he makes a living around how he wishes to make a life.
Charlie Byrd

SUSTAINABILITY/ Small Houses #2

 Here's another small home inspiration.

 This was created by Julie Martin, who lost her home in Hurricane Katrina.

I'm so impressed by people who can pick it up after a tragedy and make something amazing happen.

She called it "Fresh Start".

It's amazingly light and airy for a small space,

and that loft looks ridiculously inviting.

Small homes: Part 1

I've loved Airstream trailers for a while and
always thought it would be amazing to travel cross-country.
But the idea of living in a trailer
was really sparked by this beauty.

I saw this "Writer's Retreat" as it's called
on a run around

Shelburne Farms last fall.

I swooned.

I daydreamed about living in it for days.

I called Shelburne Farms and asked them where they found such a dreamy trailer.

They told me Yestermorrow, a design/build school, had made it for a class project.

I called Yestermorrow and asked them if they could pretty please make me one too.
They said I would have to design it.
And they couldn't guarantee the class would finish it.
So I started looking into lots of different mobile, sustainable small housing options.
And, hey, it turns out there are a LOT of small housing options.
So I want to share them all with you guys,
but that will take more than one post.

Oh, and this was the view on the other side of those trees.
Not your average trailer park.

Plans...

So, I've been plotting some of my favorite things...

futures!

I've been making plans for the next year, and I'm dreaming big these days.
I thought I would go ahead and scatter these confetti dreams to the 4 internetchi winds,
because once they're out there in the ethers,
they're hard to take back.

So what am I planning?

Well, I've been toying with the idea of taking a year off of medical school for a while,
but now I'm starting to set the wheels in motion.

I want to live in this:



Learn how to do this:


And practice some of this abroad:


I want to decipher what I need to learn in my last year of medical school by practicing medicine in its bare bones form, free from grades and malpractice fears and healthcare reform debates.

I want to learn the practical skills I'll need to create the sustainable life I want to live. Growing food, natural building, community planning.

And I want to live a beautiful and free nomadic life.

In order to shimmy my life down its little path,
I've been brainstorming some changes and schemes to support this year 'off'.
Methods that fit with both my schedule (haha, oh man) and values.

So, things to look for:

1. Blog Update
This blog has mainly been an outlet for me and a way to keep in touch with my family (Hi Mom! I'll teach you how to comment soon!) and friends (Hi Kathleen! Thanks for commenting!),
but I think I want to focus it a wee bit more on three of my passions:

Design Sustainability MEDICINE

And all the places where they intersect.
If those places exist...


2. An Etsy Store
Since I'll be downsizing into a trailer for the foreseeable future,
I'll have to part with many of my flea market treasures
and vintage store steals.
Lucky you guys!

3. Art
I have thousands upon thousands of photos
(just ask my hard drive that is about to run out of room),
so within those thousands,
there are bound to be a few winners.
I just need to figure out a way to sell them?
Also, little know fact:
I've been keeping a list of ideas for artwork for quite sometime.
I just haven't attempted to make or sell any of said ideas, because,
well,
the thought of putting myself out there with art
makes me
a bajillion times more uncomfortable
than performing a rectal exam.
Weird? Probably.
True? Definitely.

So, now that that's all out there...
I guess I have to make some of it happen!

I took the first step today and opened a savings account.
All before the age of 30.
Look who's got her big girl pants on now!

If you have any suggestions to help me get there,
there will always be a spot for you in an airstream trailer.

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"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it."
-Goethe