Pictures! More pictures this week—we think the web producers were swamped with Fashion Week work last week...
- Green cleaning products: A Safe House? Looks at the huge increase in sales and the different emerging brands of green cleaning supplies. Is it worth it? Article is not definitive but offers valid points from both sides.
- Brainman, at Rest in His Oasis. An autistic savant living by routine in the UK.
- Not Enough Snow for You? Talk to Your Father. This was a bit disturbing—we were unaware of the number of personal snow machines being sold in this country. Environmentally, it's so backward.
- A Tree-Hugger Shows Her Affection With a Saw. Personal narative—we liked it and we learned something.
- Room To Improve: I want my Victorian fainting couch to look like Sigmund Freud’s. Where can I find upholstery fabric in Persian kilim patterns?
- Personal Shooper: Textiles from Maison & Objet.
As a new parent I too am worried about the chemicals my kid comes in contact with - read the safe house article-
So I decided not to clean as often and that seems to be doing the trick, never been happier ;)
Just wanted to comment on the Daniel Tammet piece. Brave man. Gives an entirely new meaning to the point of "home".
That NYT article is infuriating on so many levels. "Some schools, hospitals and government agencies are replacing chemical-based cleaning agents with natural alternatives." Natural alternatives are chemicals with unpronouncable names too. Ugh. People are so scientifically stupid.
Just wanted to say the kilim article is one of the best (non-technical) I've read on Persian carpet design & construction. Well worth the read for any rug addict. ;-> Qashqai rugs like the ones pictured are one of my absolute favorites. I have some made in the 1940's & 50's that are soft and flexible as blankets and still in fantastic shape. Often they feature birds and other animals as well as nice tribal medallions. The December issue of Home magazine had a great two page spread featuring a Qashqai rug along with art-deco furniture.
I know Stephanie, I hate how people think anything "natural" is safe. I especially hated how the woman thought if she couldn't pronounce it she shouldn't use it. Some wonderful natural things that are easy to pronounce are:
Cyanide
Mercury
Lead
Nicotine
I'm not saying the "green" cleaners are bad, I use a number of them. But let's not loose our heads here. We should be more concerned about understanding the potential hazards of the chemicals we use rather than running scared.
But you'd better avoid that dihydrogen monoxide, that's dangerous stuff.
That shot of the cat licking its nose is so cute it makes me insane!
"the English cottage, where he lives"
No it isn't!! - he lives in a modern chalet-style house - thats about as far removed from "cottage as you can get"!!!