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Hello friends, lovers, and accomplices:
I am excited to write today because I have been inspired by our trip to the San Francisco Green Festival along with the random editorial/article writing opportunities I have been presented with lately. I was already in the mood to write more, and now seeing your faces and talking to y’all in person has got me really hyped up. I love that so many of you totally understand our perspective and are digging the great Guffly stuff we scout out. I also really enjoyed meeting new friends with great potential Guffs. Power to the producers, I support your endeavors! Your awesome ideas are why we got started in the first place.
So, what’s up in our world? We’re getting prepared for a few more shows, where we’ll set up a similar experience to that we had at Green Fest – lots of Guffs to touch and feel and our happy Guffly family to answer your questions and help you score the perfect gifts. More details to come rearding dates and locations so that you can come visit us if you are near they places we’ll play.
We’re also spending some serious time meeting new supplier friends and figuring out more ways to help one another. We’ll be out scouting new Gufflings (this might be my favorite use for our word) this weekend at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. Intrigued? I knew you would be. Here’s the info from DUCF’s website: “The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is an annual event showcasing the work of 50+ independent artists and alternative crafters in one of the Midwest’s most industrial cities. As Michigan’s largest and most visible indie craft fair, DUCF serves as an entry point for the state’s alternative craft scene. The 2009 DUCF is November 21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Majestic Theatre, located at 4120-4140 Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit.” I know, right up our alley! I’m crossing my fingers for eco friendly awesomeness, and I’m feeling lucky.
If you know of good people with cool product creations (ones with a heart of course – be it eco or fair) please send them our way. Likewise, tell us if there is something you want to see on Guffly. Have you been searching for a certain product and would prefer it to be eco friendly? Do you dream up ways to improve products by giving them a makeover of the green variety? Do you have a problem (like a need for serious winter boots because you refuse to have cold, wet feet again this winter…just as an example) and want to find the most functional, stylish, eco friendly way to solve it? Tell us and we will dig.
That’s all for now friends, but we’ll be posting a lot more updates about our lovechild in a series we’ll call… “Guffly in Real Life” (just thought of that…not bad for on the fly ey?) We’ll keep you better informed about our little world here in the heart of Detroit.
Lots of Guffly Love,
Chanell
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Well it’s safe to say that the 8th Annual Green Festival in San Francisco was a hit for Guffly! We came, we exhibited, we connected, and we had a blast. This was the first big event for the Guffly team and we think we held our own and established a unique presence at the huge festival.
Since Guffly is an online store, we don’t get to see the smiling faces of our lovely customers and being able to see the excitement and smiles that our products created was awesome. It seems that the Guffly perspective – living an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to compromise your sense of style – is one that resonates with TONS of you! Thanks – we’re glad you like it!
Some customer favorites included:
Reusable Stainless Steel Razor Kit – men and women alike were thrilled to find an eco-friendly alternative to the disposable razor craziness! The flashy design sure makes it fun too.
Medium Seat Belt Tote – of course, we could have guessed this one based on the feedback we’ve already been getting. People are beyond impressed with the quality of craftsmanship and the functionality of this purse.
Fair Trade Shoes – we knew this but, we heard you all loud and clear: Stylish eco-friendly shoes are incredibly difficult to find! Guys and gals loved the design and humor in these shoes. We definitely are going to be scouting for more options…stay tuned!
Recycled Game Tile Tree Pendant – another online customer favorite held its own in person. These too cute pendants have eye catching designs that drew people in, then we told them to flip it over and they were surprised to find that it was a Scrabble tile!
We got a lot of “Thank Yous!” from people that were there searching for ways to be eco-friendly that felt comfortably in reach to them. There were also people living impressive green lifestyles that really enjoyed what we brought to the table. We think it’s safe to say that regardless of your “green-ness” or age there is something at Guffly for you. Plus with the availability of gift certificates (that’s right, we’re cool like that) and always $2 shipping it’s hard to beat Guffly for your eco-stylish shopping needs.
We also held a drawing ever other hour for one of our cool, eco-stylish products – the response was overwhelming. Winners are in the process of being notified and we appreciate everyone that stopped by to enter.
Something that we always want you folks to remember is we accept product suggestions anytime – just contact us. We also want to know if you are looking for a particular eco-friendly product and can’t find it…we’ll do the searching and work our hardest to find the best products for you.
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Have you heard of Green Festival? It’s a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America…and we’re going to be exhibiting at the upcoming San Francisco festival, November 13-15, 2009.
This is the world’s largest sustainability event that features the best of what’s green. According to Green Festivals you can, “enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. Shop in our unique marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly businesses—everything from all-natural body care products and organic cotton clothing to Fair Trade gifts and beautiful kitchen tiles made from renewable resources.”
We’re mostly just excited to get out and meet our customers in person as well as establish new relationships with top-notch eco friendly suppliers. It’s going to be very exciting to be in San Francisco as a part of this great event! Come and visit us in Booth #129 in the Fair Trade section next to the Organic Foods Dining Area and just around the corner from the restrooms (you know you’re going to have to go eventually, might as well swing by and say hi). Our booth is going to be the Guffly website come to life! You’re going to be able to check out our products, play around, listen to some tunes, win some prizes, and purchase those must-have Guffs.
We have some FREE tickets to the Green Festival available to some lucky folks! All you need to do is leave a comment here with a link to your favorite Top Guff and why you love it. Piece of cake, right? You give us awesome feedback we give you free tickets to the Green Festival! Stay tuned to Twitter, Facebook, and right here on our blog for updates on what the Guffly team is up to in San Francisco…
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First we brought the ecofabulous Nut Blob Ring and you loved it! Now the edgier big sister, Chunky Ring comes to the Daily Guff from muichic (moo-ee-sheek) which brings Guffly natural, sustainable, and organic jewelry, which is designed and handmade in Columbia. Natural, sustainable and organic jewelry is music to our ears but once you look at the great pieces you will just have to have one in your collection – it’s eco-stylish to say the least!
Each of muichic’s pieces is made from Tagua nuts which are handmade into a botanical alternative to ivory (they call it vegetable ivory). What’s especially great about what they’re doing (as if you needed another reason) is stimulating the local economy in the region by providing an alternative to cutting down rainforests for farming!
Here’s what the tagua fruit looks like. Crazy to imagine that the nut inside is made into these great rings!
Each of the nuts used to make these rings has its own distinctive shape and grain. The grain is highlighted by the use of all natural dyes. Each of these rings is one of a kind! The team here at Guffly is wowed by muichic’s efforts to create something very stylish while being incredible conscious of the product’s environmental impact. Get the eco-friendly complement to any outfit with the Chunky Ring on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
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We love the fun name of Wabisabi Green as much as we love the products! Obviously since we’re carrying another one of their products on the Daily Guff! This time it’s the Organic Throw Pillow Covers made of organic cotton and handprinted with eco-friendly water based inks. A big shout out to founder Jolee Pink for designing these beautiful products!
Jolee’s passion to fuse her artistic expression with home accessories designed to promote greener living led to the development of her collections. Her designs are inspired by nature and the southern California coastal lifestyle. We love it!
Can’t you just imagine the comfort of snuggling up to this super soft pillow on your sofa or bed? We’re hiding the samples she sent from the Guffly team otherwise we think we’d never get them back! Get yours on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com/
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You might remember the fabulous company LooptWorks from the Organic Corduroy A-Line Skirt we carried a few weeks ago. We’re bringing them back to the Daily Guff with the Bike Burnout Graphic Tee because we love their products!
We appreciate that LooptWorks looks for materials thrown out as excess and figures out how to use them to make innovated products and (the best part!) break the cycle of waste. They are committed to making products and running their business without creating any new material. They say it’s a big goal to live up to and we believe them.
On the Conservation of Matter principle, LooptWorks says, “The conservation or matter is a universal principle that states: Matter can’t be created or destroyed. Only changed and rearranged. Right now, from the looks of our planet, this principle matters a lot. That’s why we stop excess from being scrapped and use it to create 100% of our products.” For real, we love what they’re doing and we think Mother Earth does too!
Here’s a handy dandy size chart for you. Keep in mind those articulated elbows…
Get this awesome bike tee for you or your bike crazy friend on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com/
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It creeps up every year but the holiday decorations are going up in the mall, kids are already starting to write Christmas and Hanukah lists. That’s right, the holidays are coming. It may seem a little silly to some to start planning gifts and parties this early. Especially now when many of us will be put on a holiday budget for the first time due to the recession. But there is nothing wrong with having a holiday budget plan. By planning early for the holidays you can save a lot of money and you won’t have to trim down on as many activities as you thought you would. This is the perfect time to introduce someone close to you to an eco-friendly lifestyle or pick up on the habit yourself. These tips can get you started in the right direction
- Money Money Money: The first thing you need to do is sit down and figure out how much money you are willing to spend this holiday season. It doesn’t have to be a set number, due to sales and the price change of the holiday season it is due to change but you should have a range. $2,000-$2,500? $5,000-$6,000? Think about that now and don’t go over your budget. You do not have to spend a fortune to have a great holiday season.
- Every Card You Write: It just might be a whole lot easier to go the e-card route. It saves time and money since a lot of e-card websites are free and allow you to make cards for up to 100 people. Plus it saves on paper. Make the card now, set the date to make sure the e-card is sent by email during the holidays and you’re done. Using recycled paper if you’re making your cards by hand is definitely the way to go.
- Trim the Tree: Buying a Christmas tree is hard work. There are so many to choose from! A new trend in the green community is to buy a living tree. It may not be as big as the ones you usually get but you can plant it in your backyard or local park after the holidays and reduce the carbon foot print. Try to avoid the artificial trees. They are usually made from non-renewable plastics and other toxins. If you have to go the artificial route there are ways to store your tree so that it may last for years and will keep you from buying a new one every December. Going to an organic Christmas tree farm may not be an option for all but if one is in your area you should look into it. Use LED lights or solar powered lights. They save power and your electricity bill will not be as high as those using traditional lights. Make homemade ornaments by doing origami or go collect pine cones and acorns outside and glue a little glitter on them.
- A Bundle of Gifts: Make a list of the people who you would like to send gifts to. Carry this list with you whenever you leave the house. As the holiday season approaches you never know when you might see a great sale on something that a loved one would like. If your budget is tight you can never go wrong with a homemade gift. Baked goods fill the stomach and warm the heart. Make a coupon book filled with tasks that you are willing to do for your loved one as a gift. Make a coupon for the kids allowing them to pick dinner or a family outing. Your husband might like a coupon for a free kiss and hug. You might want to donate to a college fund or start a 529 college savings plan for a child. Name a star after a sci-fi or astrology lover. Plant a tree in someone’s name. Make a donation to someone’s favorite charity in their name. There are countless ways to buy eco-friendly gifts. Donations can be done online and save time. You can always look to Guffly for great eco-friendly gifts. We have something that everyone can use.
- Make Space: More than likely your household has items that they no longer use that sit somewhere collecting dust. Now is a great time to go through those closets and pack up the clothes that are too small and the toys your kids no longer use. The closest and toy chests will be filled after the holidays. But you can donate your gently used items to places like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross where every donation is tax deductable. That way you’ll be getting some cash when you file your taxes and helping someone that is in need now.
Look for more eco-friendly tips and budget saving for the holidays coming from Guffly soon. Happy Holiday Planning!
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://www.guffly.com
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We’d like to thank the talented artist Kimberly of Backstitched for creating these rad Vintage Fabric Bifold Wallets for the Daily Guff! Kimberly is based in Portland, Oregon and makes a variety of products including wallets, day bags, totes, tobacco pouches and other fun stuff. Each item is sewn with a mix of new and old fabrics – many from recycled clothing!
So many things can be made from existing materials and we’re impressed with Kimberly’s dedication to this cause. The wallet we’re featuring combines vintage (hello we LOVE vintage) canvas and repurposed paisley print. It’s like the fabric that just keeps on keepin’ on! Get your funky Vintage Fabric Bifold Wallet on the Daily Guff (it makes a unique eco gift!): http://guffly.com
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The ecofabulous Nut Blob Ring comes to the Daily Guff from muichic (moo-ee-sheek) which brings Guffly natural, sustainable, and organic jewelry, which is designed and handmade in Columbia. Natural, sustainable and organic jewelry is music to our ears but once you look at the great pieces you will just have to have one in your collection – it’s eco-stylish to say the least!
Each of muichic’s pieces is made from Tagua nuts which are handmade into a botanical alternative to ivory (they call it vegetable ivory). What’s especially great about what they’re doing (as if you needed another reason) is stimulating the local economy in the region by providing an alternative to cutting down rainforests for farming!
Each of the nuts used to make these rings has its own distinctive shape and grain. The grain is highlighted by the use of all natural dyes. Each of these rings is one of a kind! The team here at Guffly is wowed by muichic’s efforts to create something very stylish while being incredible conscious of the product’s environmental impact. Be the hip one in your group of friends and get your Nut Blob ring (and now you know why we call it that) on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
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Today’s throwback Lego My Recycled Cuff Links come from the talented designer Dave in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All the profits from his products go towards his college tuition! What’s better than scoring a cool pair of retro cuff links made of a favorite childhood toy and helping a guy get through college?! Maybe a “magically appear” shipping option but we’re working on that…
By taking something we all know and love (c’mon who doesn’t love Legos?!) and making them into a cool accessory, Dave has embraced an eco-friendly approach to design and we totally dig his products. Everyone deserves their own pair of these awesome cuff links – get your own…or get a pair for the man in your life (it’s never too early to start Christmas shopping 
) at the Daily Guff http://guffly.com/ AND we’re offering FREE shipping today because we’re cool like that.
