We’ve talked about VivaTerra’s Root of the Earth Bowls. They are beautiful and make a great gift idea, but it’s time to feature some larger items that can really help surround you with nature in the comfort of your own home.

Set the stage for your magical getaways (a.k.a. books) with this whimsical book shelf that utilizes dense elm wood as well as Indian root and trunk materials for outer decoration. Finally something to hold all your Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and other nerdy fantastical escapes!
There is also a matching Root Wine Rack for those who like to live dangerously and drink while reading.

Now where will you set your book down while you get up to get your wine from the favorite reading spot? On this
Branch & Glass Side Table of course! Yep, with branches working together to support the snazzy glass top it looks like nature is here to serve you. A matching Branch & Glass “Console” Table (whatever that means) is also available.

Last but not least on today’s list is … say it with me kids … a STOOL! Yay for stools! (pun intended).
OK now that’s out of the way what else can be said about these reclaimed wood stools? Well they are made of wood, beautiful Japanese teak in this case, and they are great for an impromptu sit down, or end table, or they can even be magical chairs out in your secret garden.

It’s pretty much perpetually sunny here in San Diego, CA, but if I was living in an area that had winter to make me stay indoors, I’d be sure I had some eco-friendly nature inspired furniture to help keep me company.

Organic is one of our passions at Mable’s, and we’re always on the lookout on how we can help spread the word. I don’t want to play the fear card, but just stating the statistics is a scary thought. We’ve brought these up before, but it’s worth mentioning again. Did you know that about 1/3 pound of chemicals are used to grow and manufacture just 1 pound of cotton? And did you know that conventionally grown cotton is the most chemically treated crop in the world, using 1/4 of all toxic chemical pesticides produced each year?

We lay our bodies on our sheets about a third of our lives, which, from my point of view, is too much time spent with the most chemical-laden crop in the world. Thanks to the many online retailers soft organic sheets are an affordable nightly luxury that we should all enjoy.

Right now Gaiam is having an Organic Sheet Sale with prices as low as $40 per sheet. They also carry attractive printed organic sheets vs the standard solid white most retailers carry.

Viva Terra carries organic Pima cotton sheet sets in queen and king, as well as organic Duvet Covers. If you are in need of other sizes I’d head over to Design Public for their organic full fitted and flat sheets.

For the little ones, who probably benefit most from chemical-free sheets, Kee-Ka carries organic cotton baby bedding in solid colors and delicious cupcake patterns. Pair the sheets together with an organic blanket and your baby should be all set.

Are there any fellow foodies out there? As a lover of baking, I’ve done some experimenting with and researching of the available cookware materials: aluminum, glass, silicone, stone, steel, cast iron, and clay. Each has it’s own specialties and downsides, including possible health risks. Non-stick Teflon coatings, silicone, and lead containing glazes are a few of the materials that raise the biggest concerns about bakeware safety. So what options does that leave us with? So glad you asked!

I was recently introduced to La Chamba Ware, which seems to be ideal in just about every way. The pottery is handmade under Fair Trade standards in Columbia. Created from only mica clay, it is not glazed and contains no toxins. Instead, the clay is polished with river rocks; how cool is that? The pieces are then finished in wood kilns that turn them a lustrous and striking black. These stylish dishes are also very versatile and can be used on a gas stove (and electric stovetop using a heat diffuser) cleaned in the dishwasher, and even used in a microwave if that’s your thing. The only downside is that they don’t tolerate drastic changes in temperature, and thus need to pre-heat along with the oven. No biggie. Along with Viva Terra, you can often find discount La Chamba cookware on eBay. Happy (and safe) cooking!

$48-69

Found via Road Less Traveled
Also: Creative Clay Cooking Blog

Is it organic cotton sale month? First we found great deals on organic underwear, and now Viva Terra is offering organic cotton towels at a whopping 50% off.

Did you know that about 1/3 pounds of chemicals are used to grow and manufacture just 1 pound of cotton? Towels are a daily necessity, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to dry off with chemical-laden materials everyday. Another neat thing about organic cotton is its super absorbent capability. Organic cotton towels are more absorbent than conventional ones, which means you’ll dry off faster and your towels will sustain less wear and tear.

You won’t have to sacrifice elegance for buying green either. Each towel boasts a Dobby hem, the trademark of fine linens. These would make a great bridal shower or housewarming gift, but would be perfect gift for yourself, too.

$6.00-$29.00

Imagine going back to your childhood. How vividly do you remember your bedroom? Was it unimaginative or boring, or did you have the perfect room? Would you have been the happiest kid alive if you had your own fantasy bed? I’m not sure if this type of custom dream furniture was even available when I was a kid, but nowadays some very lucky kids can have their own dream beds.

Posh Tots has an awe inspiring collection of fantasy furniture available in many different themes: each one a unique work of art. One of the grandest beds they offer is the Fantasy Coach bed. Themed like Cinderella’s pumpkin coach, this bed is as magic as the real thing. This princess carriage bed is handcrafted in England, and is sure to make all your little girl’s dreams come true. For those of you with little pirates in training, you’ll love the ornately decorated Shiver Me Timbers bed and bedding. If your little swashbuckler dreams of sailing the deep blue sea, and wants to be the captain of his own pirate ship, then this is the bed for him! Another amazing bed is the Gingerbread Cottage. A Posh Tots exclusive, this charming cottage is sure to make your little girl feel just like Goldilocks. It’s a 2 story cottage with room for a twin size mattress, and an entire upper floor for imaginative play.

These beds are exquisite, but being a splurge item, they are not for everyone. If you have the budget for a fantasy bed, Posh Tots is the place to order from, otherwise you can try your hand at making your own!

$1,000-$49,000

COUPONS: Save 10% on orders $200-$999 with code LOVE10
Save 15% on orders over $1000 with code LOVE15
Coupons good until 2/28/07

Hand made from fresh Mexican papaya, beets, or zucchini, these parchment bowls make an excellent earth friendly gift any time of year. Each veggie parchment bowl is hand shaped by sculptor Margaret Dorfman to resemble large, bright undulating flowers with vivid repeating patterns. With their vibrant translucent colors these bowls can brighten up any room when set near an open window or other bright light source.

$42

For more eco-friendly gift ideas with style check out Viva Terra’s gift ideas. They also offer gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

These Root of the Earth bowls are reclaimed by artisans who hand carve them into magnificent eco-friendly gifts. Hand made from discarded root balls of Chinese fir trees these bowls are as close to zero impact as possible. Available from stylish and earth conscious VivaTerra these bowls can be used as centerpieces, fruit bowls, or just natural sculptures to help bring a rustic earthy feel indoors. They come in 3 separate sizes and each one is as unique as it’s hand crafted origin. I recently saw bowls like these at my local farmers market and the pictures here just don’t do them justice. You really have to see and touch their smooth and earthy feel to appreciate them 100%.

Small, Medium, Large; $35, $49, $95

For more eco-friendly gift ideas with style check out Viva Terra’s gift ideas. They also offer gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

What’s more comforting then snuggling up in your favorite spot with the most soft and warm blanket in the house? Knowing that you’re cuddling with a throw blanket made from 100% environmentally-friendly Italian maize (corn), that’s what! This imported blanket promises to “coddle your skin like the softest cashmere” all season long.

$89.99

For more eco-friendly gift ideas with style check out Viva Terra’s gift ideas. They also offer gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

Have you ever wanted your own lemon tree, but were bummed because you didn’t have a yard, or afraid you’d be moving soon? Yeah, me too. That’s why I was excited to see an organic dwarf lemon tree that produces fruit all year-round. This dwarf tree produces full size lemons with a taste that is sweeter and less acidic than Eureka lemons and can grow healthy indoors or outside.

Available from Viva Terra, there’s also an option to get a more earthy styled pot for this dwarf lemon tree called the Root of the Earth Bowl. This bowl is hand-carved from discarded root balls of Chinese fir trees and comes is many sizes with each bowl unique in its carvings and shape. The dwarf lemon tree in the Root of the Earth Bowl would look great in a room with nature inspired home decor or nature inspired runners.

This would be a great gift for those garden dreamers who live in small apartments when combined with the Miniature Edible Garden we blogged about a while back.

We got wind of a coupon that could save you some money from an eco-friendly online store and we want to share it with you. VivaTerra is their name and we’ve mentioned them once before in our Nature Inspired Home Decor post. Their products fuse eco-friendly materials with exceptional quality and design while using organic and sustainable sources for their creation.

I was particularly impressed with their Bamboo Bath Towel Sets because of the ingredients used and where they are made. They use organic cotton and bamboo-extract which improves in silkiness with each wash. Awesome! Then mention that these are made by a windmill-powered factory on an island off the coast of Japan. Sweet! And to top it all off these bamboo towels are extremely lightweight, highly absorbent and quick-drying. What else do you want in a towel?

VivaTerra is also making donations to worthy causes with very purchase over $75. You get to choose whether you want to plant a tree for environmental restoration or to offset 100 lbs. of CO2 (the cause of global warming) by contributing to building new wind turbines on Native American Reservations in South Dakota. They will ask you to choose one during the checkout process.

COUPON: Free shipping on orders over $75 Use Coupon Code CJ0806 during checkout. Expires Oct. 8th 2006.