a sparkly, sexy...significant bangle - Eden: Fusion Leather Snap bracelet

This wrist stunner is made from twenty four hand-beaded strands affixed to two soft, sturdy leather strands. The wristlet closes with three snap buttons that adorn the leather. Stand out in this luscious piece of jewelry from Raven and Lily.

This bangle is made by women who live on the Entoto Mountain in Ethiopia, where the artisans melt down bullet casings to create the beads for their designs, "transforming what was once used for harm into beauty."

This is my third post for Raven and Lily, a company I positively love. The initial post with all appropriate accolades here.

Forever Smitten with Raven and Lily.

mocha infused liqueur - FAIR

The combination of coffee and alcohol - heaven to me! And I cannot remember the last time I had such a delectable glass of heaven then yesterday when I tried FAIR. Cafe' Liqueur. Smooth, deep, intense...a very provocative cocktail.

FAIR. is an independent spirits brand. The folks behind the company are dedicated to high quality products, source ethically and sustainably.

"Think Human Drink Fair"

The delicious bang from this perfect combination comes from slow roasting the finest organically grown, Fair Trade Certified Arabica coffee beans, then infusing the freshly ground beans directly into the liqueur base. Creating a bountifully flavored coffee based spirit.

Their coffee beans are organically grown and Fair Trade certified and  come from a co-op of more than 1,900 independent farmers in the Huatusco region of Veracruz, Mexico.

The sugar used in FAIR. Café Liqueur is also organic and Fair Trade Certified, and comes from various co-ops in countries such as Malawi and Paraguay.

FAIR. was founded in 2009 by Alexandre Koiransky. "Alexandre follows his own intuition, his love for people, his heart."

The FAIR. ideology is to treat all people, at every stage of the process, fairly.

Heavenly Smitten.

beautiful block print scarf...Hello fall! - Greenola Style

This luxurious block print scarf certainly welcomes fall with a big "hello!" Not only will neckwear keep you warm, but can pull a look together in one fell swoop...and always adds a bit of mystery. This 100% cotton scarf has such a subtle design, thin geometric lines of lavender and miniature diamonds of deep rose. Gorgeous.

This beautiful garment was made in India.

Greenola Style provides advancement opportunities to artisans in marginalized parts of the world - particularly in Bolivia and Kenya.

Respecting the cultural heritage and promoting the craftsmanship in each country, Greenola pays fair wages - Fair Trade Federation.

Greenola donates a percentage of their profits to Solidarity Bridge, an organization that trains and equips medical communities in Bolivia and Paraguay empowering them to provide high-complexity surgery and other healthcare for those living in poverty.

This partnership also helps Bolivian artisans access quality healthcare.

To donate directly to Solidarity Bridge.

Greenola Style is not affiliated with Solidarity Bridge, however they donate to help support their mission.

Smitten with Greenola Style and Solidarity Bridge!

gold, pretty, altruistic - Global Goods Partners

These golden, dangly, fun earrings are made from magazine paper! Rolled into delicate cylinders and strung onto these perfectly sized hoops. Light and pretty, a compliment to any outfit day or night.

I've written about Global Goods Partners in the past...because I positively love what they do!

Smitten again and again.

shackle and rope men's arm band...Amsterdam love - Pig and Hen

This uncomplicated, elegant, confident piece of jewelry for men has a power all its own. The craftsmanship is bold and distinguished...adventuresome. Pig and Hen have created a line of jewelry for men..."meant to survive a lifetime, stronger than steel and will age like your wrinkled face."

I landed in Amsterdam a couple of days ago for a reunion with my husband who was working on a film just outside the city. We had been apart for too many weeks...I love buying him gifts...I wanted to find something special to commemorate our reconnection.

While strolling Rozengracht that first afternoon, I landed at the door of Les Deux Freres - a posh, distinctive men's store that beckoned me in with its heavy lush aroma. I went straight to the accessories counter, and there were these black shackle and rope arm bands. I really liked the titanium toggle and the monikers, this one is called "Legendary Larry".

I am totally notablySmitten with Pig and Hen's message and story:

In the early 1600’s the Dutch were the leading nation sailing out to unknown parts of the world, with the biggest naval fleet the world had ever seen. With some serious sea legs, they discovered new lands, different ways of life but also ran into some big obstacles along the way.

To protect themselves against bad luck the men had a tattoo of a pig and a hen on their feet. It was believed it gave the sailors the ability to survive when they had to abandon ship.

The sailors felt they would be able to find land, just like the Pig and Hen who were kept in wooden crates and thus floated, and would let the tide bring them home.

Pig&Hen will save your life, even in a tight situation.

Their bracelets are handmade in Amsterdam, using authentic ship rope...they carry on the Dutch legacy.

Yes, Smitten.

reclaimed wood...Happy 4th y'all! - Holstee

How about displaying pics, art, inspirational memes or quotes in this absolutely delicious alternative to a classic frame.  Reclaimed wood, simple, elegant...stylish.

Holstee met the team from Urban Ashes, a company that creates with reclaimed wood, and also works and trains formerly incarcerated individuals.

The frames are handcrafted using wood taken from deconstructed homes and buildings in the Detroit Metro Area...excellent!! (The frames themselves are put together in Ann Arbor, MI.)

"We are proud that through our work with Urban Ashes, we are able to give both the wood of these frames, and the craftsman and women who assemble them, a second chance." ~ Holstee

Holstee also creates outstandingly dynamic letterpress stationary, cards and paper goods made from 50% elephant poo and 50% recycled paper! Handmade, acid free and 100% natural.

Reclaimed wood...elephant poo?

Totally Smitten!

a perfect carry-all - Apolis Los Angeles Tote

The Los Angeles Bag from Apolis is the perfect accessory to a Sunday farmer’s market adventure in Los Angeles.  This stylish, causal, reusable tote is a true tribute to Apolis’ lifestyle brand, as well as a nod to their LA Arts District studio location. 

When brother duo Raan and Shea Parton named their company Apolis, meaning “global citizen”, they sent a clear message about their commitment to global advocacy.  Founded in 2004 with the idea that business can create social change, they now have grown into a group of entrepreneurs with the same vision.  Their “Advocacy through Industry” business model ensures that they source and manufacture locally, while still keeping a global perspective on impact and change.  Apolis is also proud to be certified as a B Corporation, which is awarded to organizations that hold high standards of social and economic performance, transparency, and accountability. 

Smitten on a global scale!

breaking a cycle through craftsmanship - Lamon Luther

Lamon Luther is a furniture company who, in their own words, “turn brokenness into beauty”. Brian Preston founded Lamon Luther in 2007 after meeting a group of homeless men living in a tent village in the woods of suburban Georgia.  After learning that many of the men were skilled construction workers and laborers who lost jobs after the economic crisis, Preston realized that meaningful employment was the key to transitioning out of addiction and homelessness. He started first by picking up men each day to take odd jobs, and slowly grew into a furniture company.  Providing hope, pride, and a source of income has made all the difference in the lives of Lamon Luther’s craftsmen.

Brian Preston

Today, partnering with huge companies like West Elm has allowed Lamon Luther to grow into a steady and reliable employment source for skilled laborers who strive to break their cycle of poverty.  Using over 240,000 lbs of reclaimed materials and hiring only homeless or transitioning craftsmen, Lamon Luther has built thousands of beautiful tables, cabinets, bookshelves and benches in Douglasville, GA.  

Strong, hopeful and Smitten.

release your Love - Unlock Hope, Africa key necklace

Unlock Hope’s Africa Key Necklace is a beautiful gift  with a very serious mission as it’s namesake.  A relatively new organization with an ambitious focus, Unlock Hope works hard to fully fund the Think Humanity Hostel in Uganda solely through their sales!

Too often, girls in small villages do not advance past primary school, often leading to early marriages and large families that are difficult to care for without any education or skills.  In 2012, the Think Humanity Hostel began in Uganda as a place for 30 orphaned girls to break the cycle of poverty with an education, basic life skills, and entrepreneurial training in a yearly “Girls' Leadership Summit”.  Think Humanity believes that “patience pains, but later pays”, and the success of the girls living in their hostel is proof of that being true. Unlock Hope has an exclusive partnership with Think Humanity, and because of their sales were able to 100% fund the hostel’s budget last year!  

Unlock Hope’s Africa Key necklace is a great reminder of how much has already been achieved, as well as how much more is still needed globally.

Hopeful and Smitten.

good girl gifts - Anekdot

Beautiful designs and an innovative approach to creation make Anekdot a notablySmitten favorite!

Pictured here is the Cherry Blossom Set. Sheer, pink and perfect.

Anekdot is an innovative and unique company that approaches fashion and creativity in a totally revolutionary way.  Rather than designing undergarments and seeking textiles to fulfill those visions, they focus first on the fabrics and allow those vintage and reclaimed textiles to dictate the designs and collections.  

The result of this process is a beautiful collection of bras, knickers and loungewear that leaves a significantly smaller ecological footprint by minimizing waste and shifting the fashion industry’s level of responsibility. 

Anekdot turns left-behinds and leftovers into beautiful, wearable collections!  

Forward-thinking...We're Smitten.

the perfect gift = Wello WaterWheel

Cynthia Koenig has spent the last two years creating an extremely innovative solution to a very real problem in Rajathsan: the gathering and storing of clean water.  Simply put, water collecting eats up a large portion of the day for many women and is very taxing on the body.  The Wello WaterWheel is a deceptively simple tool that allows up to 45liters of water at a time to be gathered and safely stored by simply pushing the wheel like a cart. 

Wello claims that 1 in 7 people globally lives more than a kilometer from the nearest water source, and most women carry 20 liters on average (weighing around 45lbs) at a time.  It is also estimated that 75% of the girls between the ages of 15-17 in Rajathsan drop out of school to help with the household.  Water gathering is a slow, tiring process and almost exclusively a woman’s job.  

With the WaterWheel, women are able to dramatically improve their daily life with an estimated 35 hours a week saved by no longer gathering water in a traditional method!  They have time to work a job and produce income, have more water each day to keep their home clean, are able to properly hydrate their families, and can create better irrigation for their crops.  All of these factors are key elements to breaking the poverty cycle.

Interested in donating.

We’re so excited to see Wello reach their full potential as they begin distributing WaterWheels this year.  

Inspired and Smitten.

recycled rubber bangles - Made With Love Project

These vivid, recycled, wrapped, rubber bangles are so well constructed and hip, they make me happy!

Made With Love bracelets are made by a Women's Cooperative in Djenne', Mali, West Africa.

In 2007 designer Mary Jane Marcasiano formed MADE WITH LOVE. MWL is a global call to action, dedicated to raising funds and awareness for NGOs aiding women and children. Through the production and sale of products that provide a fair income for women in Brazil and Africa, Made With Love is addressing the need for aid.

Made With Love works in tandem with the Cygnet Foundation, which through the proceeds realized from art-related programs, seeks to help those in need: women and children, the homeless, the hungry as well as abandoned and endangered animals. 

The women are paid a fair price for their work, so the money the bracelets provide create a means of support, and are sold to raise funds for L'Empire des Enfants.

L'Empire des Enfants is a center for homeless children from the streets of Dakar, Senegal. L'Empire grants shelter, meals, education and training programs. They also work with local organizations to return homeless children to their families.

Smitten.

grateful - The Giving Keys

I love the new oxidized finish on The Giving Keys classic necklaces. I wrote my first article about The Giving Keys when I was looking for an anniversary gift for my husband...something significant and loving.

I am grateful and thrilled that this organization exists. Go The Giving Keys!

My being Smitten continues...

a touch of cream and gold, ethical neck-lace - 31 Bits

Gracefully wrapped beads, delicately strung together to create dazzling neckwear. I couldn't love 31 Bits more!!

Perfectly named The Romantic...it is whimsical, hip and pretty. A simple strand of gold accent beads adorned by a row of marble shaped paper beads, here shown in Cream and Gold.

The Romantic is also available in: Cream, Black, Multi and Mint.

- Handmade in Uganda

- Beads are made from recycled paper

- Approximately 29" when laid flat

- Single strand

- Fastens with a button clasp

All their beads are made from recycled paper. "All accessories are handmade in Uganda with exceptional quality and sophisticated design."

More information on 31 Bits from notablySmitten.

Always and forever...Smitten. 

upcycled neckwear - Article 22

This Talisman necklace is a magnificent, elegant piece of jewelry...with an extraordinary story.

I introduced Article 22 to notablySmitten last year...and I am thrilled to continue to write about this unprecedented company.

Made by artisans in Laos. These jewelry pieces are made from a combination of Vietnam War era bombs, plane parts, and other aluminum scrap. Each Peacebomb is hand poured and cast in wood and ash molds.

This gorgeous neckpiece comes complete with story card and hand-woven cotton pouch.

Your choice of chain: rose gold, yellow gold or sterling silver.

Forever Smitten.

upcycling residuals - supporting notablySmitten!

In August I came forward to speak about my experiences while working on the "The Cosby Show" back in 1989.

Though the show has been dropped from many networks that were still airing re-runs, I am still receiving residual checks.

I recently received my first couple of checks since coming forward.

This post is to share that these most recent checks, as well as any that come to me in the future, will be entirely donated to notablySmitten.com. The money will go to the running, the advertising and the support of all of the companies and organizations that notablySmitten...is Smitten by!

I am grateful to be able to use this money for the growth of this (joy generating for me) seed that is notablySmitten, to help it fully bloom.

Thank you for shopping through us! I am Smitten!

random acts of flowers

It's so simple, so loving...I'm crazy about Random Acts of Flowers!

RAF recycles and repurposes flowers and distributes them to individuals in healthcare facilities across the country...so cool!!

Random Acts of Flowers’ mission is driven by floral recipients, and strives to be a 100% recycling organization.

With more than 500 volunteers making up the core of the operations and mission fulfillment around the country, if you've got the time, they would love to include you in the volunteer team at a branch near you.

Please check out their story here.

Totally Smitten!

vegan goodness - Matt & Nat

I would be totally remiss to not include Matt & Nat (Vegan handbags) on my shopping blog at this stage! I've recently been looking for a new summer bag...I truly have found nothing I feel good about purchasing. Then I came across this red cross body from Matt & Nat...sold!

Founded by Montreal-based designer Inder Bedi in 1997, Matt & Nat offer sophisticated styles, a delicious palette of colors, and environmentally conscious, well-designed vegan handbags to the world of fashion.

The name is inspired by MAT(T)erial and NATure, and “means exploring the synergy between the two, the reflection of one on the other."

“At Matt & Nat, we live by a simple motto, ‘Live beautifully’. Living beautifully means appreciating the humanity, creativity and positivity found in all of us. Our values include social responsibility, excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, learning, authenticity, and, of course, love. We are inspired by the textures and hues of nature, and to better protect it, we aim to constantly better our ways.”

Crafted from smooth Vegan leather and lined with 100% recycled plastic bottles, the entire Matt & Nat line is good for animals, the planet, and us two legged creatures as well.

The concern for sustainability is evident in their manufacturing process and their usage of sustainable materials such as rubber and cork. You can read about their ethics & sustainability practices here.

I am entirely Smitten with Matt & Nat's genius craftsmanship and inspirational business practices!!

Check them out on social media...they've got a lot to share! 

paper triangle drop earrings - Global Goods Partners

These entirely chic, lightweight, geometric lovelies are made from stacked, glued, cut and sanded recycled magazine pages! Totally modern, totally original, swank, sustainable, everyday accessories.

These beautiful earrings are:

~ Made from 100% recycled magazines

~ 3/4"W x 3/4"L, hangs 3"

~ Choose from Aqua, Black, Pink, Orange and Green

Both professionals in International Development, it was part of Catherine Lieber Shimony and Joan Shifrin's job to travel to impoverished areas around the world to see what could be improved. What they began to witness over and over again, were creative, energized women producing magnifient handmade goods...yet, they lacked any access to sustainable markets in which to sell their products.

Catherine and Joan had witnessed women in marginalized communities throughout Asia, Africa, and the US being able to advance the wellness of their families when their income was stabilized. In 2005, the friends founded Global Goods Partners to create a practical pathway for women to generate income opportunities and gain access into the consumer marketplace for handmade, fair trade merchandise.

Global Goods Partners (GGP) is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting social justice and empowers women to create sustainable change.

Once again, Smitten!

give and love - Coco Shine Prosperity Candle

I'm truly not one to make any sort of deal out of Valentine's Day...I've always thought it a wee silly. But if you're going to participate, and purchase anything for anyone this season, why not this exquisite candle?

The gorgeous Coco Shine collection comes in five luxurious scents, as well as non-scented. Created by Prosperity Candles, they smell divine and are poured into recyclable, real coconut shells (5 - 6 inches in diameter!) Made by women artisans from Vietnam, once refugees, now working to build beautiful brighter futures for themselves in western Massachusetts.

Each candle comes gift boxed and wrapped, including a portrait, the signature and story of the woman who made it.

A sense of purpose...

I love this company...Smitten.