Several weeks ago, I attended a function to benefit the Itafari Foundation, an organization supporting innovative community projects in Rwanda.

An undulating wave of beautifully colored, handmade baskets greeted me as I walked through the door. I’ve never completely understood the essence of basket weaving yet at a fundamental level these objects are a symbol of giving and sustainability within a community.

Looking over the pieces, I felt a sudden loss as I remembered a friend saying, “When you find your basket, you’ll just know it’s the right one.” I chuckled to myself when she said this to me, because I couldn’t conceive of the day when MY basket would appear.

So I took the challenge. I decided to pick up each basket and hold it.  What was I looking for? The right texture, weight, color, or size?

Suddenly it all started making sense. Once I put a basket in my hands, a modern day Goldilocks took shape. “No, this one is to wide. No, this one is the wrong color. No, this one is too light.” Finally I kept coming back to the same basket, and I just knew she was the one for me.

A powerful sensation resides in depths of a handmade object. These baskets were lovely to look at, but when I held one in my hands and connected through touch, I began to understand its story and the passion woven into its structure by a group of resilient people. These baskets are created by women in Rwanda and are part of a sustainable income project partnered through Macy’s. When I lifted the basket to my nose, I could smell the fresh cut grass, and instantly imagined the hands of the woman who brought it to life.

This Rwandan basket now rests on my desk, softening the sharp edges of my computerized space, while holding and transforming bits of my life. I think it’s fitting to have baskets be one symbol of building peace in Rwanda.

During this season of giving and gratitude, I look forward to celebrating and contributing to projects such as the Itafari Foundation, who seek to support the reimagining of a sustainable and creative ecological culture in Rwanda.

An interesting take on re-using newspapers for something cute and functional. These would make fabulous tabletop pieces and good conversational items. From MNLStyle, these vases actually hold water and I love the texture. The red vase (shown at right) was made by a community in the Philippines living near one of Manila’s largest dump sites. This group (according to the website) is trained and employed by the Filipinas Fair Trade Venture Group, an inspirational organization committed to providing sustainable development to disadvantaged people. That’s wonderful.

These sleek beauties are the newest creation of Japanese designer Shin Azumi for British homeware brand Innermost, tenderly named, ‘Ribbon.’ What I’m so impressed with is the zero waste single process under which these modern accessories are manufactured. It’s a throw back to old world techniques Check it out:

“One of the other simple things that came from this project was almost zero wastage; a single material using a single process where if the items don’t form correctly they are returned to the smelter and if they are damaged during polishing they either get polished more or returned to the smelter.” –Source:: Dezeen

This would look gorgeous with orange or rust colored taper candles. Word is they are already in production.

Offered by Branchhome.com these biodegradable plates can be put in the compost bin!

The latest issue of Real Simple magazine arrived in my mailbox the other morning and I opened it up to these eco-fabulous biodegradable plates! They are super cute and totally affordable offered at: $5.50 to $9 for 50. Hello!

The best thing about them is their earth-friendly-eco-chic-ness. These eco-plates are made from a byproduct of the sugarcane refining process, bagasse, which is biodegradable and can be put in the recycling and/or compost bin…Em Hmmm…So next time you are at the grocery store, just say NO to those icky plastic or styrofoam plates that are harmful to the planet. And for your next party, picnic or meal, think about these. It’s the first time I’ve seen anything like it!

Click here for more info on purchasing.

Sevya.com offers this fairly traded, naturally block printed cotton quilt…Isn’t is beautiful? Retail price: $89.

Ok, so I was glancing through Natural Home Magazine and found these gorgeous products that are not only fairly traded and organic but work to support women in India! Yes, my love, there is so much here, let’s get our fingers in it…

This beautiful Indian woman is a member of the Gramshree Trust, a collective of women embroiderers in Gujarat, India, who work from their homes and choose their own hours.

Ok, so the ultimate in being eco-chic is holding the concept of beauty and aesthetics as high as women’s rights and fairly traded products. Not only that, it’s handmade with love…That’s really inspiring and I’m here to support it! How about you?

Handmade Gamthi Bedspread from Sevya.com…Love those colors…Price: $200

Cushion covers from Sevya are handwoven with love and are priced at: $25

Let’s empower our underprivileged sisters, give them a voice and self-reliant skills. The world will be a better place for it…

For more on the Gramshree Trust and how you can support them, click here…