The stars were there but we didn’t get to see or hobnob with any of them, as they were safely ensconced in the VIP Lounge, guarded by diamond-earringed bouncers from the riffraff. Apparently attendees included Penelope Cruz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, James Blunt and Petra Nemcova, Sharon Lawrence, Chevy Chase, Daryl Hannah (no surprise there!), Bai Ling and Kelly Hu. But we did see Maroon 5 play a great set.

The celeb entry area with the green carpet was partitioned off and with the exception of spotting what may have been James Blunt’s shoulder, we have to see the same photos as everyone else.

In the dance floor and bar area a giant screen showed videos of Global Green’s efforts toward sustainable rebuilding in New Orleans. In the lobby a mock kitchen displayed non-toxic and green products like elegant bamboo flooring and recycled glassware, while another exhibit created a mock bedroom where guests lounged on a bed with a natural latex and wool mattress under soft energy-efficient light.

Lightning-quick bartenders dispensed organic and sustainable drinks (for us, a beer and a yummy mojito made with natural ingredients from Brazil.)

Here’s our slideshow of the event!

A special shout-out to our good friend K. from Living Green who invited us, and to her colleagues.

More coverage from:

ABC
Digital50
GristMill

Technorati Tags: global_green, environment, sustainable, organic, pre-oscar_party, Penelope_Cruz, Leonardo_DiCaprio, Orlando_Bloom, James_Blunt, Sharon_Lawrence, Chevy_Chase, Daryl_Hannah, Bai_Ling, Kelly_Hu, Ed_Norton, green_carpet, green-cars

On Wednesday, a glittering group of green greats - headed by Leonardo DiCaprio, Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek and Edward Norton - will roll up to Hollywood hot-spot Avalon Club to kick off the Oscar season at a party hosted by Global Green.

But since this is all about the environment, they will be stepping out of hybrid cars rather than limousines, and sipping “exclusively organic and sustainable wine, beer and cocktails” to the accompaniment of the music of the Los Angeles band Maroon 5.

And we’re going too! thanks to a green friend who got some tickets from another greenie who is connected … well, you know about the Green Mafia, don’t you?

We even designed 2 logos for the occasion, available on shirts.

Global Green, the United States’ branch of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross Intl., strives to foster a global shift toward a sustainable and secure world and raise awareness about smart solutions to climate change, elimination of weapons of mass destruction and access to clean water.

Wednesday’s festivities aim to shed light on the org’s green rebuilding of New Orleans, showcase global warming solutions and complement its Oscar-night valet services, where attendees arrive via Prius or other alternative-fuel vehicles — its “Red Carpet/Green Car” campaign.

So bring on the organic martinis, we say.

Props to Variety and the Independent Online.

Technorati Tags: global green, oscars, pre-oscars, pre-oscar party, maroon 5, sustainable, global warming

Today starts the Year of the Pig (or Boar, or Wild Pig,if you prefer) according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Not only that, it’s the Year of the Fire Pig. Why a fire pig, you ask? (OK,maybe you didn’t ask but we like to pretend you did.) Well, there aren’t just the 12 animals of the Asian zodiac that you see on the placements at your favorite Chinese restaurant, predicting that you will be happiest with a rat or a rooster — there is also a cycle of the five elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal.

Smush them together with the 12 critters, we have a cycle of 60 years. This year turns out to be the Fire Pig year, and if you were born in the Year of the Fire Pig, you must be 60 years old or not yet born.
We have a great new design for the occasion that we’d like to share. You can see it, along with some other wiggy piggy items on AsianBuzz.

Technorati Tags: year of the pig, year of the boar, chinese new year, lunar new year, asian new year

Stuff to win! There is suddenly a rash of give-aways going on by indie designers we know — maybe it’s the smell of roses and chocs in the air but whatever, gifts are all around.
The Happily Handmade Sweepstakes is now on. They will be giving away fifty gift boxes filled with handmade goodness and one Grand Prize gift box. The goodies come from 80 different designers of everything from spa products and paper goods, to bags, jewelry and accessories. (Details and photos to follow but a visit to the participating vendors will give you an idea.)
To enter visit any or all of the sponsoring shops, and submit the entry form. You may enter through all 80 for even more chances to win.

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Also showering swell stuff on ten lucky ducks is J.Lynne, whose natural and mineral make-up has received great reviews, again, from folks we know as well. The J.Lynne Anniversary sweepstakes is giving away $1,000.00 worth of products to celebrate the beginning of their third year in business. WTG!

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Finally, we at Rotem Gear are launching a new seasonal t-shirt give-away. Give-away #1 features an adorable rib knit baby doll shirt with a vintage print for “Luscious Pies” and and a lucky evil eye charm. Just the thing for an upcoming spring country fair, especially when you visit the pie contest booth!

Technorati Tags: sweepstakes, raffle, give-away, giveaway, contest, happily handmade, j.lynne, rotem gear

It’s February and hearts are everywhere. Pierced hearts, broken hearts, candied hearts, chocolate hearts, hearts with flowers, hearts borne on the wings of cupids or nestled in the arms of teddy bears, hearts dripping with the bile of bitter disappointment or saturated with saccharine sentiments.

So it’s not surprising, the considering this ubiquitous and unavoidable heart presence, that the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services), along with other national organizations, have named February Heart Health Awareness Month.

Several colleagues of ours are, as we like to say in rhyme, “doing their part … for the heart.”

Lucky Ducky Designs, who gives 10% of retail sales to a charity every month, will be contributing to the American Heart Association this month.

Those looking for marketing and PR services might check out Lucky Guppy Marketing. The Guppy’s serices and talents come highly recommended and and 10% of proceeds for her services are likewise going to the AHA. Side note: Despite their mutually lucky status, the lucky guppy is no relation of the lucky ducky.
The lovely logo in this post was designed by J Goode, who donates 100% of all proceeds from t-shirts and other gift items with the logo to the AHA.

Those interested in contributing to an organization that bears the humane charity seal of approval, might wish to consider these organizations as well:

• American Pediatric Heart Fund
  115 East 57th Street
  11th floor
  New York, NY 10022
  212-939-7253
  212-531-6165
  www.aphfund.org
  

• Save A Child’s Heart Foundation, U.S.
  11400 Rockville Pike, Ste. 800
  Rockville, MD 20852-3004
  301-618-4593
  301-322-1447
  www.saveachildsheart.org

• Lown Cardiovascular Research Center
  21 Longwood Ave.
  Brookline, MA 02446
  617-732-1318
  www.lowncenter.org

Technorati Tags: heart awareness month, heart health, wear red, go red

Fed up with the same old tired valentines you see in the stores? Then take a gander at these irresistable and downloadable valentines by designer J Goode … cute, clever and 100% original. They feature characters from her wonderful Lil Penguin line. One sheet prints out eight kid-friendly valentines.

Click the sample to go to the Free Valentine Page at MyJGD.com

Technorati Tags: valentines, valentines_day, free_valentines, penguins, lil_penguins, JGoode