On a beautiful yet crisp day in November I was lucky enough to finally attend  a tea party and perfume launch with Ayala Moriel Parfums.  The tea and the fantastic homemade delicacies prepared by Ayala Moriel were served on the beautiful ceramic wares of Eikcam Designs.

I have followed Ayala for a little while now as what she creates is unique and in this chemical-infused world, a welcome alternative to highly processed scents.   Ayala Moriel has a line that includes not only the handcrafted perfumes, but teas, candles, bath salts and balms.

Above is the Zangvil Tea that Ayala launched accompanied by the new Cocoa Nymph chocolate bar, White Potion, that was created in collaboration with Ayala.  The tea is a white tea scented with jasmine and flavoured with candied ginger and vanilla bean.

The white chocolate bar is made with coconut for a smooth creamy texture, but is not too sweet. White Potion bar is based on the perfume of that name and also has tuberose flower essence in it, which is what makes it so special and different from all other chocolates in the world!

Above are a few baked homemade goodies: ginger-orange icebox cookies, Halva and snowballs.

Ayala offers tea and scent parties to interested brides-to-be.  These parties include her signature teas, handbaked cookies, sandwiches and a tutorial with the opportunity for guests to create their blended perfumes.  Her tea parties for brides can have up to 15 people.

 Her Zangvil Tea debuted at this event, but we were all warmed first with a delightful chai tea served in Eikcam teapots and cups.

The pears were most excellent having spent the morning marinating in wine and vanilla pods . . . yummy goodness.  The pears were marinated with ginger, citron fruit, vanilla, honey & Riesling.  These were just one of the many courses offered. 

The tea sandwiches pictured below are Asian pear with cheddar & quince mustard .  I believe these were my favourite!

For more information on scent bridal parties please contact Ayala directly at ayala@ayalamoriel.com . Eikcam ceramic ware can be purchased through Grace Lee’s studio in the Mergatroid Building on Vernon Street in Vancouver or if you make it out to One of a Kind, Grace will be exhibiting there next week!  Cocoa Nymph can be found online and at Portobello Market.

photos by sweet earth photographics

This past weekend The Grassroots Wedding Fair participated in Love Vancouver Love Your Planet at Olympic Village on the Vancouver waterfront.  We demonstrated how to make our lovely 3D paper hearts that so many people seem interested in. 

It was a glorious sunny day and despite the cool breeze we had many people stopping by to make our little DIY decoration.  Our whole booth swayed in the wind as our  long 3D circle and heart decorations beckoned to the crowd.  I will not miss out on reporting that our booth was described as simply lovely. With all our supplies on hand the hearts were ready to be constructed.

The most important tool in this venture is an awl, which is the tool that makes perfect holes through which our embroidery needle can fit that sews up the centre lines of our hearts.

The paper used in this project came from old natural history books, an old German bible and repurposed handmade paper from a local artisan.

Hearts were cut out with a punch and gathered together in bunches of at least six.  A line was created with the awl down the centre of the heart to create a minimum of 4 holes through which embroidery thread was sewn.

Once this complete a bead can be thread through the bottom string and the edges of the hearts folded over along the thread line to create the 3D effect!

Over 30 people took part in making our 3D hearts.

The one thing I enjoy most about attending events such as these is being with like minded people and sharing our story with the public.  When I tell people we have a website with ideas on how to have a sustainable wedding with an event once a year to showcase our amazing vendors people are very excited.  My greatest joy is hearing the positive feedback from such people.  And I also enjoy speaking truthfully about our event, the commitment our vendors have to their community, and making a difference without any greenwashing. 

Love Vancouver was a great event and well attended for its first year.  The music was fabulous, the company inspiring and the location was perfect for the numbers of cyclists and passerbyers that visited.  I would love to come back and be a part of this event next year and who knows what new inspired DIY idea we will have to share.

Many tasty treats were also at the festival and two caught my eye.

Sweet and Sprout Vegan Bakery are both two companies that we would like to further investigate as their sample products were oh, so tasty.

photos by sweet earth photographics

Article by Shona Dion

Many  vendors from The Grassroots Wedding Fair are at EP!C this year.  The event itself is quite phenomenal and it truly is an eco-friendly love-in.  The wedding showcase features many old friends and day 1 was great to meet and see how everyone is doing.

The green wedding community is not very large and EP!C is a nice way to welcome new businesses into the fold.  I believe we will all come away from this event more resolved in making a difference in our community. 

sweet earth photographics (that’s me!) and Sweet Naturally Bakery fill out one corner of the wedding showcase quite nicely.  I am enjoying chatting with Francis and Dickson of Sweet Naturally and finding out more about how their stint with the winter Farmers Markets went.  They will return for the summer markets as well.  I love the diversity of their baking specialties from gorgeous wedding cakes to scrumptious scones and cookies.

Another old friend is Onyx from Amoda Flowers who brought in both centrepieces for the Epicurean Court and bouquets for the Wedding Showcase.  Her sense of style always impresses me and the range of bouquets she creates can match any bride’s whimsy.

Shoo-Foo Bamboo offers wedding registries to couples interested in more sustainable options.  Shoo-Foo has a well-organized system to help couples set up their registries and their products are beautifully made.

Pure Magnolia provided wedding attire and Spark Jewelry provided bridal accessories for the EP!C Wedding Showcase.  Patty and Christina make sustainable fashion come to life with gowns made from natural materials and bridal jewelry made from recycled silver.

Olla Urban Flower Project is also at EP!C with air plant boutennieres, stunning bouquets and their signature living favours and centrepieces.

EP!C is a truly exciting event for those commited to sustainability and for those who are curious and want to learn more.  I am very pleased to see so many familiar faces.  Change may come slowly, but attending an event such as this just reminds me that yes, we are on the right path.

Shona Dion

photos by sweet earth photographics

Sleep is a luxury at times.  In this busy life our nighttime respite from the every day is gold.  Unfortunately for the majority of us our beds are not always the safe havens they should be. 

A completely safe and sustainable bedding system is definitely a financial investment, but one that will pay off immediately.  What better way to invest in a more sustainable sleep system by creating a wedding registry that can address all of your nighttime needs.  Organic latex mattress alone can last between 20 and 30 years!

inBed Organics is a local and sustainable company that is unique in its custom mattresses and bedding.  It is also the only company in Canada to offer a complete certified organic sleeping experience.  Their custom-made 100% organic latex mattresses are certified through very strict European and North American standards.

All sewing for inBed Organics is done in-house.  This includes duvets, sheets,  pillows and pillowcases made from organic wools, organic cottons, hemp, natural wood fibres and even shredded organic latex.  Their products are many and can easily be ordered online from their website. 

Jem, the owner of inBed Organics ,started her company Organic O’Canada five years ago when she started asking questions about what her and her family were sleeping on and her own education process began.  Jem believed in a healthy bed and found limited choices available to her in Canada.    What she found about the chemicals added to mattresses to make sure that they are flame retardant left her feeling deceived, angry and mislead.  She began Organic O’Canada as a ‘basic human right’ for anyone concerned about what they were sleeping on. Her advice, “Do your research.  Educate yourself and do not always believe what sales people will tell you.”  Many ‘organic’ mattresses may only have components that are organic without the whole process following those guidelines.

inBed Organics has a wealth of information available through their website and is definitely worth a visit to learn more about how organic latex mattresses can help you live a healthier lifestyle.  For all your wedding needs set up an appointment for a consultation and visit their Vancouver showroom to arrange your registry and allow your family and friends to contribute to a complete organic sleep system. 

article by Shona Dion

photography by sweet earth photographics

We may be still in the dark of winter, but  with spring around the corner what better way to celebrate the blossoming of new life than a DIY vintage inspired table setting.

These gorgeous fair trade blooms are courtesty of Whole Foods Cambie Market.  We supplied the vintage bubble vase and the mason jar and the lovely ladies of the floral department created a display of subtle pinks and greens with a vintage flair in mind. 

The table runner is a handmade creation upcycled from an old wool blanket which was felted and cut into the shape of a giant leaf with green thread accenting the edging.

The wooden table numbers are created from recycled tree ends from a Christmas tree lot, with tiny holes drilled into the tops and recycled metal curled into a post to  hold the table card.

Green stemmed vintage wine glasses are accompanied by handmade ceramic dishware from eikcam .  Full dishware sets can be customed ordered from eikcam and make a great wedding gift.  Visit Grace at her studio at the Mergatroid Building on Vernon street in Vancouver.

Handmade paper hearts to decorate are made from reclaimed booksand handmade papers and stitched together with embroidery thread.  Holes are made through 6 sheets or more of paper with a awl and then pulled apart to create the 3D effect. 

Large mason jars work beautifully as vases and can be found at any second  hand store.

This vintage bubble vase was found at a second hand store for $2.00.

All of the vendors listed and the DIY ideas shown could be found at The Grassroots Wedding Fair.  More DIY and vendor spotlights will follow.

Photoshoot Contributors:

photography: sweet earth photographics

ceramic plates: eikcam

floral arrangements: Wholefoods Cambie Market

DIY elements:

paper hearts

felted leaf table runner

table number holder

For a complete list of all of our vendors please visit Our Exhibitors Page and for the full range of photos from our event with each vendors information please visit our Facebook page!

Wendy Boys of Cocolico has been around chocolate a long time.  Coming from a background as a pastry chef she ventured out on her own in 2008 and hasn’t looked back.  Her signature chocolate, Vanilla Salt Caramel with Peanut Butter Crunch, was voted by Vancouver Magazine in 2008, as one of the “101 Things to taste before you die”( as previously mentioned in our article, Home Grow-In Part I).  It was a good start for Cocolico.

By 2009 her distributor needed more product and her line expanded and is now in over 100 stores across Canada with 8 different chocolate products.  From the Blim Sunday Market to Portobello and Edible B.C. she has also kept her business in the local community.  She now operates as a co-operative owner at The Home Grow-In Cambie Market and has a beautiful display with many products on hand to purchase. 

And what interests us the most today is that she also makes her chocolates available as wedding favours.  Wendy is able to customize her 2 piece boxes and coordinate them with ribbon and stickers to match a wedding’s colour scheme. 

Cocolico will be at The Grassroots Wedding Fair on February 12 with a table full of chocolate goodies to sample and to purchase.  Pick up a box for your sweetheart and sample what can only be the most luxurious of wedding favours.

article by Shona

photos by sweet earth photographics

With today’s entrepreneurial, post-American-dream economy, tree huggers and mainstream green buyers alike can find eco-friendly, local and fair trade products to compose their wedding gift registry. The dilemma? It isn’t a cinch like walking to the big box retailer and using an electronic scanner to ‘beep’ your gift list within an hour.

But the fact remains that sustainable gift registries and ideas are out there, and it only takes a little bit of effort for the planet-minded brides and grooms-to-be to find them. Yes, it may mean splitting up gift registries into categories of different stores, and yes, it may be an online-only thing, which grandma may have trouble with (until you teach her the modern meaning of ‘mouse’). But is it worth it?

Boy, is it ever! Going with small, local and green companies for your wedding registry will get you the most unique and well-cared for products out there. Green doesn’t have to be more expensive, and in fact the quality and sustainable specialties of green brands are just as prestigious as going high-end on your wedding registry. Take, for example, Cookworks, a local Vancouver kitchenware store. For lovebirds who already have all the household necessities, thinking outside the box with a gift registry is also an option with requests for fine art gifts (a great investment scheme), or experience gifts, like a gourmet kayaking trip from Edible British Columbia. Then there are things like rafting or some other fear-defying activity perfect for learning the meaning of “till death do us part.”

Shoo-Foo Eco Linens, exhibitor at the upcoming Grassroots Wedding Fair, also has a local, green wedding gift registry. It’s a great place to start a gift registry for wedding showers, stagettes and rehearsal dinners that are all about healthy home lifestyles with linens sourced from organically grown bamboo.

Available to add to your Shoo-Foo bamboo linen gift registry includes:

A 300-thread count bedding set. These sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover and blanket hang and shine like silk or cashmere. They are breathable and ultra comfortable for a good night’s rest. They go especially well for people with sensitive skin and temperature problems while sleeping. Click on this link to see them all! http://shoo-foo.com/en/e-boutique/bamboo-beddings/

Luxury bath towels. They’ve got it all from robes to face cloths, shower mats, gym towels and of course, a huge bath sheet! (plus more!). Many of their products come in four colours: natural, royal indigo, sage green and mocha brown, allowing a great match for any home decor! The towels are 600gr/sq meter, which means lasting quality. Best of all, all their products are sourced from organically grown bamboo. View the complete line here: http://shoo-foo.com/en/e-boutique/bamboo-bath-towels/

Are they really green? You bet they are. While rumors abound questioning the sustainability of bamboo products ‘out there’, Shoo-Foo can say for sure that our manufacturing process is certified eco-friendly by multiple governing bodies including the USDA and OCIA. To learn more about their certifications, click on this link: http://shoo-foo.com/en/bamboo/organic-certification/

Receiving gifts is only one way to use bamboo linens for your wedding day – there are plenty more ways! Want more ideas? check out their blog post on How to Use Bamboo Linens for a Green Wedding! Not bad for a Canadian local green gift registry, eh?

The Home Grow-In sits at 3010 Cambie Street and is a lovely new collaboration of 12 co-op vendors and owners bringing fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, gourmet chocolates, locally and sustainably raised meats and dairy and so much more to the Cambie Street corridor.  This co-operative store opened in December 2010 and brings with it a very welcoming and community based market experience.  Already over 300 personal community produce boxes are picked up weekly.

Weddings with many products sourced locally are the best way to be sustainable.  The Home Grow-In is a great location to find products produced in BC that can add a certain westcoast flavour to the celebration. 

Consumable wedding favours are the best wedding favours and jam, honey, soap and chocolates are great examples that guests will love.

Urban Sweet Honey is a Vancouver produced honey and the creation of Russel Godwin.  With beehives established from Kitsilano along the railway line out to Surrey they are a true reflection of the Lower Mainland’s community gardens and of course, local weeds.  The bees don’t care and Russell likes the idea of food produced from weeds. This honey  comes in 250 and 500 gram size at present.

Jolene’s Natural Handmade Soap.

And of course, a most delectable wedding favour is chocolate.  Wendy Boys of Cocolico is a pastry chef who creates award winning chocolates and is a part owner of The Home Grow-In.  More information on Cocolico will follow in Part II of this post.  Cocolico does create amazing wedding favours and will be on hand at The Grassroots Wedding Fair with samples and information on custom ordering.

These lovely chocolates were named by Vancouver Magazine in 2008, as one of the “101 Things to taste before you die”.

The Home Grow-In supports social enterprise groups such as Tradeworks and has a host of beautiful wood work on hand in the store.  The Book Nook brings sustainable gardening to the forefront and celebrates a local diet.

Wild Coast Edibles features Edible Landscapes, and treats from around the province from teas, cedar smudge sticks, skin care products and jewelry from the First Nations and other communities in the north. 

Cedar smudge sticks are not always easy to find.  The are a great tool to add an element of nature to a wedding ceremony or handfasting. 

The Home Grow-In will be a welcome spot to visit when the weather improves with a garden oasis out back.  With custom roasted coffee and yummy baked goods this new store will be the place to come, pick up your locally grown veggies, and relax.  It is a link to where our food comes from and a celebration of the bounty we can find in BC. 

The Market is open 7 days a week and offers a wide selection of food, books and gift products.  It is a completely different business model and I  highly recommend a visit to check it out.

written by Shona Dion

photos by sweet earth photographics

Well, finding locally-owned stores that offer environmentally and socially conscious products and services just got a little easier! Enter ethicalDeal!

 ethicalDeal is an online group buying site that features daily deals from local, green businesses at 50% – 90% off. ethicalDeal’s mission is to make green mainstream by making it easy and fun for people to discover their green city! They love introducing you to the best green stuff that Vancouver has to offer, through their daily deals, and have already featured some amazing companies! Recent Vancouver Deals: 

 Love organic healthy food? ethicalDeal has already featured a number of restaurants at 50% off including Gorilla Food , Radha Eatery , and OrganicLives . 

 Looking for eco-friendly products for the home? Some of ethicalDeal’s  past deals include 50% off at Beansprouts, an eco-conscious Kids store on Main Street; 55% off at Ecoconvenience , an online store based in Vancouver that provides eco-friendly household items; and 60% off at Saje , a natural skin care and body products store. 

Want enjoy eco-guilt free luxury as a part of your wedding? Try an eco-friendly manicure/pedicure for $40 from She to Shic , pamper yourself with an eco spa package for only $55 from SpaKwus or go on an eco-friendly romantic get away or bachelorette party in Tofino at the Ocean Village Resort for only $99!

 Avoid missing out on any more amazing green deals by signing up to ethicalDeal  today!

Article by ethicalDeal.  ethicalDeal will be at The Grassroots Wedding Fair, February 12 with lots of great giveaways!