Written by Lucille Chi
Published on February 13th, 2010
Dance is a good antidepressant! Studies show dance boosts happiness and benefits overall health by:
- stimulating the hippocampus, the brain area that regulates moods.
- sparking new nerve growth in the brain with body coordination.
- building repeated mental patterns and creating new pathways with each new move learned.
- relieving and preventing depression with endorphins and releasing several other happy hormones.
- increasing neural transmission especially when combined with singing and music, in fact, new scientific studies show that any live drumming builds neuroreceptors for folks with ADHD. Wow.
- doubling the brain’s blood and oxygen levels when done aerobically, circulating neurotransmitters.
- building muscles and helping to prevent heart disease.
- offering hope in the battle of Alzheimer’s since dance helps increase the temporal and prefrontal activity to improve communication skills, memory, and attention.
- helping kids of all ages work and think faster, and form new interconnections in their minds.
The intangible aspects of dance, the magic we feel inside when dancing, help us realize the non-physical benefits of this ancient healing art. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Delia Montgomery
Published on December 8th, 2009
Within the Yurt Living series I’ve dabbled a bit on interiors. Rebecca MacKay’s book, Round Design: Modern Yurt Interiors was acknowledged as the closest thing to hiring a professional. Another book, Add Wheels To Your Furniture For Faster Cleaning by Lifehacker author Angus Kidman, was noted as a good idea. But that was it! I’ve been amazed at the lack of yurt interior designers.
So with determination, my search continues. But hey, ― maybe it’s not necessary? Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Delia Montgomery
Published on September 21st, 2009
I love yurt living. It’s like camping out, — but in a modern, convenient structure. The dome has so much to do with that feeling.
As we face the Autumnal Equinox, I watch the interior dome light shift as it does with my landscaping. The daily light beam changes with seasons. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Delia Montgomery
Published on September 16th, 2009
Hani Hong is an established graphic designer. With business partner Tina Fusari, she owns and operates Fierce Hugs, Inc. In Virginia. She also happens to own an independent graphic design business. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Lucille Chi
Published on September 15th, 2009
Founded by Donna Karan and Sonja Nuttall, the Urban Zen Foundation has the mission to create, connect, collaborate, and “to raise awareness and inspire change in the areas of well-being, preserving cultures and empowering children.” Being both well-known fashion designers in the US and UK respectively, they bring both credibility and immense skill and creativity to their efforts to “design forums, partner with exisinting organizations and bring together experts to define solutions and implement action.”
UZF has a retail/giving center. Here you can browse fashion and fine art, such as these famous photographs on auction, that have been donated by world renowned photographers to help the Urban Zen Foundation causes.
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Written by Emily Konkler
Published on September 7th, 2009
For Labor Day I thought I would share a little something my mind has been laboring over. It’s called a kilt. I like to call it, a glimpse of heaven. If heaven consists of recycled leather, fabric and hardware combined to make delicious ‘kilts’ in varying colors and patterns, I beg you, transport me there immediately.
Pure Bohemian, congratulations. You’ve constructed the most incredible skirt I have ever seen. Period. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Lucille Chi
Published on August 23rd, 2009
“Spend a year tickled pink with flowers and leaves native to northern california and oregon, and sometimes found in other parts of the western u.s.“ with the the floral leaves datebook or “spend a year in the forest and the coral…lush green interior pages with 8 repeating original illustrations of all the little details found in the forest and in the tidepools.“ with the forest coral datebook!
They’re 100% recycled paper and have beautiful front and back covers in full-color printed with vegetable-based inks on reincarnation paper. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Gina Munsey
Published on July 30th, 2009
When Eric Wilson launched Artevist last autumn, he knew the t-shirt market was saturated. “But on closer inspection”, he explains, “you soon realize that the vast majority are in the business of churning out the cheapest, often sweatshop, products possible.”
But Artevist is a community of artists, not just another graphic tee company. There are no mass-produced designs, sweatshop garments, pesticide-laden cottons, or plastic inks here. Artevist shirts are made in America from sustainably grown organic bamboo and cotton fabrics, and are printed without using pthalates or PVCs. Each unique limited-edition design is created by an eco-conscious artist, not a corporation.
How does the Artevist model work?
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags:
Activism,
artevist,
bamboo,
cotton,
eco-fashion,
garments,
graphic design,
graphic tee,
organic,
sustainable,
tshirts
Written by Wenona Napolitano
Published on July 28th, 2009
I always thought the name Portovert was a little off. Sure it means gateway to green or door to green but how many people are going to understand that.
I think it was smart to change the name of the magazine to WedVert which pretty much means green wedding, which is what Portovert is all about. Now it just makes more sense for the common folk that couldn’t pronounce Portovert.
Another change is that WedVert has now partnered with WedShare and eco-designer Yoko Chapman to provide personal wedding website designs matched with the very first 100% carbon neutral wedding stationery line, VERT. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Emily Konkler
Published on July 27th, 2009
Necklush is quite possibly a gift from God made by the hands of two men, Stephano Diaz and Troy Mattison Hicks. The Necklush (patent pending) was created in Brooklyn, NY and was first sold on the streets of NYC. Now available on Etsy, Supermarket, online retailers, and the duo’s very own site it’s sure to win over any accessory addict, like myself.
Necklush can be worn by males or females all year round making it an essential eco-friendly accessory. Each scarf (print included) is handmade to order, use only non-toxic inks and many colors are available in organic cotton!
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