Give a Gorgeous Gift of Empowerment

We've just received our first shipment of gorgeous eco necklaces and bracelets from socially minded company 31 Bits - and we're thrilled! We love this jewellery for three reasons. First, it looks phenomenal. If it didn't look good it wouldn't be worn. Personal faves include the Tally Berry Blue bracelet and the extra long Bella necklace -- the compliments are endless. Second, it's made from recycled bits of posters, fliers and textbooks and sealed with a non-toxic, water-based varnish so it's eco-friendly. Third, it helps empower individual women in Uganda to rise above poverty. The concept behind 31 Bits is to help individual women with a holistic approach to development, meaning not only do the creators of this jewellery receive a sustainable monthly income, but they also receive finance training, English lessons, health education, business training and spiritual support. It's just as much about the consumer as it is about the creator. To be frank, we love this concept. Give a lovely bracelet or necklace this Christmas -- or treat yourself! -- and you'll be giving the gift of empowerment to woman who needs it. For more, click here.

WIN a Funky Recycled Sterling Silver Necklace!

If you're looking for a unique gift for a favourite gal on your list, or perhaps something special to dress up your own Christmas outfit, you may just be in luck.

We're giving away one of our gorgeous, sterling silver asymmetrical necklaces to one lucky Facebook fan! This necklace is made by hand in Canada from recycled, re-melted and recombined sterling silver components.
To enter, simply become a fan on our Facebook page and leave a comment telling us about your best ever Christmas present. Increase your chances of winning: encourage your friends to enter too and if in their comment, they mention your name - that's another entry for you!

The winner will be chosen on December 19th so we can get the necklace out in time for Christmas.

Hope to hear all about your best Christmas present soon - good luck!

A Mother's Day to Remember

It was one of those days that you know will stay with you forever. Or at least you hope it will.

We spent Mother's Day on the Sunshine Coast, just north of Vancouver, and on this day the idyllic spot truly lived up to its name. The sun was bright, the tide was low and the socks and shoes quickly came off for a barefoot run around on the wet sand with our two little ones. It was a taste of the highly anticipated summer we're looking forward to after such an unusually snowy winter.

Then there was the garden tidy up. Little Lucy was determined to help Mum trim the grass with her kiddie scissors and followed me along until a caterpillar appeared, naturally. So we put the caterpillar in a bucket with grass and leaves - at this point older sister joined in - and we all watched it explore the bucket's interior until it decided to move on.

Now don't get me wrong. I love presents - always have, always will and I adore the recycled wood necklace I received yesterday. It's just that these two moments in time were amazing. Why? I can only think it's either because I'm getting older and appreciate them more, or now that we're moving through the sleepless nights and dirty diapers, I actually have a moment to take a step back and appreciate what being a Mom really means.

Hope you enjoyed a special moment in your day too.

WIN! $50 in our Photo Contest

Say cheeese! Introducing... our first ever photo contest!

Send us a photo of someone with a product from Lavish & Lime and you could win a $50 shopping spree on our site.

Now before you start thinking this sounds like hard work, think again. You probably already have a snap from Christmas morning and if not, let's be honest. How hard is it really to take a shot and email it?

Just think, for $50 you could get the kids a couple of reusable water bottles, yourself that pair of earrings you spotted a while back or anything else you've had your eye on!

We'll be accepting photo entries until the end of the month, then we'll publish them here at The Lime Post. Now here's the fun part - the winner will be chosen by Lime Post visitors! Visitors will be able to vote for their favourite photos as often as they like, so encourage friends, loved ones and anyone else you know on-line to vote for yours!

Deadline for entries is noon, PST, Sunday, February 1st. Entries will be published on Monday, February 2nd. Visitors will have about 2 weeks to vote for their favourite photo. The photo with the most votes wins. Contest closes Sunday, February 15 and the winner will be notified February 16. One entry per person please.

Here's how to enter:

1. Take a photo or dig out a photo of someone with a product from Lavish & Lime. Remember: the photo with the most votes wins so the cuter/more interesting/funnier, the better!

2. Email the photo (in jpeg format) to customerservice@lavishandlime.com by noon, PST February 1st. Please put 'Photo Contest' in the subject line and include a title plus a brief caption with your photo.

3. Look for your photo here at The Lime Post from February 2nd onwards and encourage your friends and family to do the same and cast a vote for you.

4. If you're the winner, you'll know by February 16th!

Any questions? Feel free to email us at customerservice@lavishandlime.com

Good luck!

Please Note: Submitted photos will be posted on this blog in order to be viewed and voted on by visitors to The Lime Post. Photos will not be used by Lavish & Lime for any other purpose, promotional or otherwise.

Green Gift Guide: Top 10 Eco-Chic Gifts for Christmas

Green is definitely the new white this holiday season.

Think eco-friendly and feel good about the gifts you give. Plus they don't have to be boring, or beige. Bright colours and innovative designs mean this Christmas going green never looked so good.

Here's our guide to the top 10 eco-friendly gift picks for her, him and the little ones for a green Christmas.

1) Market Tote 3-Pack: for Her
Why a great green choice? Cuts down on plastic bag use and helps reduce the landfill. Made in Canada so minimal carbon footprint.

Fashion meets function with this stylish grocery tote. Made of 100% cotton with a comfortable webbed handle, it holds up to 3X more than the average plastic shopping bag and includes an interior elastic band for storing a bottle upright. $40

2) Recycled Rectangle Necklace: for Her
Why a great green choice? Handcrafted in Canada using recycled, re-melted, and recombined sterling silver components.

This unique rectangular pendant can easily be worn two ways - horizontally for a wide angle look or turned to the vertical. The rectangle hangs from a delicate, double chain that loops around the sides of the pendant. $52

3) Discs of Life Reclaimed Wood Necklace: for Her
Why a great green choice? Handcrafted from recycled African ebony hardwood. Made in Canada so a minimal carbon footprint.

This chic silver string of five eco-friendly wooden shapes is certain to make a lasting impression. 32" length $92

4) Bamboo Nightshirt: for Her
Why a great green choice? Bamboo is considered nature’s most sustainable and naturally regenerative resource. Bamboo fabric is softer than the softest cotton on the market today and is grown without fertilizers, pesticides or insecticides and is biodegradable. This nightshirt is made with non-toxic and AZO free dyes.

A super soft option for comfy nightwear that also looks and feels great as a long shirt with jeans. Short sleeve, rounded neck, falls above the knee. 95% viscose from bamboo, 5% spandex. S,M,L in black and cielo blue available $49

5) Purple Clutch: for Her
Why a great green choice? Handmade in Canada using high quality naugahyde vinyl from the USA - free of solvents and ozone depleting chemicals - a hard wearing alternative to animal leather and all the resources used to raise animals.

Purple is the colour of the season and this clutch is it. Two snap pockets, sturdy zip and easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. $36

6) Wooden Pirate Ship: for Kids
Why a great green choice? Made from replenishable rubber wood which is preservative free and processed naturally. No harmful additives or coloring are used and all paints are tested for safety. Made by PlanToys which practices the “Three R’s” of green living: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Their manufacturing processes are designed to reduce waste and save energy.

This wonderful pirate ship includes a one-eyed black beard and a dastardly crew of four, with lifeboat and hungry croc. Age 3 years + $55

7) Bug Balance Game: for Kids Why a great green choice? Made from replenishable rubberwood which is preservative free and processed naturally. No harmful additives or coloring are used and all paints are tested for safety. Also made by PlanToys®.

Roll the dice and catch the bugs and then place them on the tree to see how long they can stay on for. The tree is 10.6" high. Age 3+ $25

8) Soda Can Robot Kit: for Kids
Why a great green choice? Gives kids a hands-on education about the value of recycling everyday objects.

Build, recycle and create a unique robot that is as much a science project as it is a toy. The robug emits a buzzing sound like a real bug and moves across the floor. Great fun from a recycled can (not included). Crank and wind energy kits also available. Ages 8+

9) Mini Crank Lantern: for Him
Why a great green choice? Offers a real alternative to grid electricity or fossil fuels. Made by Freeplay Energy, who through its non-profit Freeplay Foundation has distributed more than 160,000 Lifeline radios since 2003 in Africa and beyond, conservatively reaching six million listeners and making Freeplay the world leader in transferring wind-up technology to those least able to access the information and education that could help lift them out of poverty.

Reputedly the best self sufficient rechargeable lantern on the market. When you wind for power, the self-charge mechanism converts over 74% of your kinetic energy into stored electricity. The task light is ideal for reading at night, and an effective flashlight for walking around the campground. $32

10) Mohair Throw: for Anyone who Likes to Be Warm
Why a great green choice? Recycled yarn samples have been used to create the fringe.

A colourful, multi-texture rainbow fringe accents this stunning, lightweight mohair mix throw. The robin's egg blue colour adds an instant touch of elegant coziness to any room. Also available in white snow, dark grey and chocolate brown. 70"x53" $160

These and other eco-chic gifts are available at Vancouver-based online boutique Lavish & Lime. We ship across Canada and offer a $5 gift wrapping service plus gift enclosure cards with a personal handwritten message - for free.

Designer Interview: Adea Chung is Billy Would

We're really excited to be working with Adea Chung, the designer behind our new recycled wood jewellery line. She works right here in Vancouver under the label Billy Would and guess what? She's the subject our debut designer interview. Look for more designer interviews over the coming weeks.

How did you come up with the idea of making jewellery using recycled wood? Was it difficult to turn the idea into actual pieces?

I first started making jewellery out of purchased exotic hardwoods from local stores. The colours and textures were incredible and I loved picking out choice pieces. This method was short lived as I soon discovered none of the suppliers could guarantee how the trees were harvested.

I tried working with FSC certified wood as well but it was lacking the beauty and strength for jewellery. Constantly striving to reduce my carbon footprint in all aspects of life, it took a few short emails to local woodworkers and shops to connect with some really great people. Because the amount of wood needed for jewellery is small, I'm able to score some really great pieces that may be too small to work with for a guitar maker but perfect for me.

Through networking with all kinds of woodworkers and some creative "salvaging" (ie:old dressers and damaged floor boards) I keep each piece one of a kind and am always getting to work with new woods.

Coming from a family full of artists including a father who was always creating incredible wood carvings, working with wood and tools in the shop is like home.

How long have you been designing jewellery? Have you done other things along the way or have you followed a direct path to founding your own company?

I've only been designing and creating jewellery for about two years but I feel like I've learned so much in that time. Over the years, I've got the chance to do all kinds of things that I'm sure in some way or another lead to working for myself. Working at a heli ski company, as a bank teller, at a massage school, and of course being a mom.

I've always enjoyed art and creating in almost any form. I feel so lucky to be able to do something I love and get to see others enjoy it as much as I do.

What inspires you to come up with new designs?

I'm inspired by almost everything! Obviously nature and shapes are some of my favourites to express. Different pieces of wood with unique lines and colours I try to show off. Creating clean simple designs that allow the eye to appreciate the actual wood.

My biggest inspiration would have to be my five year old daughter. I've "borrowed" a lot of her designs (stars and hearts) and even used her middle name (billy) She's definitively my biggest critic too though.

What's the hardest part of your job? What's the best part of your job?

The hardest part of my job is probably the business end of things and the marketing. It's also one of the most enjoyable too, learning the entire aspect of starting and running a business gives you a great sense of appreciation and respect for others doing the same thing. Participating in shows and fashion markets were never something that appealed to me in the past but since doing them I have grown to love the interaction. It's so much fun to watch people enjoy and wear something you created.

Do you have any advice for designers interested in following a similar path?

Pick something you enjoy and go for it! Don't be scared to ask for help and support, you want to still love it at the end of the day.

Thanks Adea! You can check out Adea's stunning designs at Lavish & Lime.