There are some super cute green decor finds out there that allow you to decorate for a green Thanksgiving while one, not spending a ton of cash, and two, not sacrificing your eco-footprint quite so much. Here are some cute ideas…
Hoot worthy bleached eco-friendly coir owl doormat. Printed w/pigment dyes. Coir is woven from coconut husks, and naturally traps dirt, absorbs moisture, and stands up to all kinds of weather extremes. A nice greeting at a doorway this holiday.
Bamboo drink coasters – 100% organically-grown bamboo, non-toxic adhesive, natural food-safe wood oil.
Organic soy candles from Dirt Candles – Dirt makes GMO-free organic …read more

If you are anything like me, you love to have candles all over the house. I don’t always have them lit up; I just like the way they look and the feel that they give to a room. For this project you can use a regular pillar candle, it doesn’t have to be white. It can be any color you choose.
Here is what you will need to get started:

A white pillar candle (again, you can use any color – I used white)
A thanksgiving paper napkin with images
Modge Podge or white glue thinned out with water
Sharp, fine pointed scissors
A paint brush
Rubbing …read more

Thanksgiving isn’t typically a holiday that you think you need to worry about your pets, unlike say, Halloween or the Fourth of July. Though there isn’t much around to scare a pet (unless you have a lot of family ringing the doorbell!), there are hazards readily available that you might not even give a second thought to.

Last year I provided a bunch of tips that included info on feeding dogs bones and table scraps, which many people know about, to lesser known issues like hidden toothpicks and skewers that dogs can easily choke on.
Another thing that occurred to me last …read more

I used to roll my eyes at people who would get depressed during holidays. Seriously, what was there to be depressed about? And then my mother died. It’s not her absence that upsets me the most. It’s been 10 years since she died and I have learned to live with that void. It’s how our family tradition and togetherness died with her.

I don’t blame my father for that. He has a new life now with a wonderful, beautiful wife. And she has her family there. I’m a grownup now. I have husband and a child. And if anything, I should …read more

If you’re setting a fancy table for Thanksgiving, all the better, because you’re likely using real dishes and cloth napkins – both eco-friendly choices. BUT, what about the place cards? Well, you’ve got some options which include making your own or buying some eco-friendly options. Here are some ideas.
Store bought eco-friendly place cards:

If you’re going to purchase route look for non-toxic and recyclable materials and look for products that serve the purpose (or many purposes) for the long haul. I LOVE these Bird Cheese Markers (shown above) from Beehive Kitchenware – yeah they’re cheese holders but if you stick …read more

I know Halloween hasn’t even hit yet, but Thanksgiving is a big event and can take some planning. Luckily, there are some easy ways to green your Thanksgiving.

Look for “USDA organic,” not “Free-range” turkeys. While Free Range may sound good the term means little according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You’ll have much better luck finding a chemical free bird if you go local – i.e. choose a turkey raised at a local farm. To learn more about labeling read, Unscrambling Organic Eggs, which yes, I know is about eggs, but if you replace the word “egg” with “turkey” …read more

Though we’re not the kind of dog owners that treat our dogs as little people (ie dressing them up or taking them places, etc), we do have fun trying to include them in our “in house” activities if we’re able to, like getting them a new chew toy or doll for the holidays, or making them a special treat on our “treat” holidays (Easter, Valentine’s, etc).

This includes a fun treat made from cooked, leftover turkey that’s perfect for the Thanksgiving weekend. Because we don’t have leftover turkey until after the holiday is over (and don’t want to spend anymore time …read more

Even though Thanksgiving is just over a month away for those of us in the U.S., I like to get an early start on what I plan to serve. Though we live far enough away from extended family that getting together for Thanksgiving doesn’t happen very often, we still put on a big feast for our family of five, including turkey, sides and of course, dessert!

This particular recipe, because it includes rum soaked raisins, may be just a late-night, no kids dessert for me and my husband, but that’s ok. After a day of cooking and standing around an oven …read more

I got the November 2009 issue of Food & Wine in the mail yesterday. It boasts “70 Classic and creative Thanksgiving Recipes…” Yep, turkey time is not that far away.
Last year I brined a turkey. I kept hearing about the process on the The Food Network (Yes, I know I always mention The Food Network. Yes, I do watch it that much. It’s like my kids and Spongebob). The brine is supposed to yield a moister bird. It’s a scientific process wherein the salt causes the muscle cells of the turkey to absorb water through osmosis. This hydrates the bird …read more

It’s Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, which has inspired me to think about everything that I’m grateful for.
Of course, fiber is such a big part of my life that I’m thankful for it too.  Which lead me to thinking about all the things I’m thankful for in my studio…

I’m thankful for sharp scissors and reliable sewing machines…
I’m thankful for fabric stores and pattern designers…
For paint, dye and every little embellishment under the sun…
I’m thankful for pattern designers and book publishers…
For bright lights, hot irons and lots of sturdy shelves…
And I’m thankful that I’ve got such lovely readers!
So what are you thankful …read more