A handmade tin ornament from Pretty Things in Cool Stuff will appeal to the nature lover in your life.

Feb. 7, 2017

Looking for gifts and goodies for Valentine’s Day?  Finding the perfect sustainable gift can be more challenging, but luckily there are several North Texas venues committed to making sure you say “I love you” with a nod to Mother Earth.

Craft cards

Pretty Things & Cool Stuff  V-Day CardKim Young, the eco-conscious Dallas-based owner of Pretty Things & Cool Stuff, has an excellent selection of Valentine’s Day must-haves. Start with a handcut and handcolored Heart Full Hearts valentine by a talented Houston-area artist Dana Lucas-Lederberger. Young said each whimsical and colorful creation also celebrates the beauty and joy of Mother Nature.

Handcut valentine from Pretty Things & Cool Stuff

“She designs each and then painstakingly hand cuts each from paper and then hand colors every little twist and turn with color oil pencils,” Young added.

Orders take about seven days to create and that does not include shipping. Each heart is 12-inches-by-12-inches and can be easily matted and framed. 

Off Avenue Studio VDay CardMeanwhile, Dallas artisan Teresa Wyatt of Off Avenue Studio makes printed cards from plants and flowers she collects in Dallas and around the state for monoprint cards. 

Botanical monoprints cards from Off Avenue Studio.

Dolphin  Blue Tree Gift CardMike LaBuda, chief operating officer of Dallas-based Dolphin Blue, suggests folks dedicate a tree to the one they love. The gift includes the planting and care of a young tree in a U.S. National Forest. The accompanying card and envelope is made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper with a personal message and explanation of the gift. 

Tree planting gift card from Dolphin Blue.

At Fair & Square Imports in McKinney, owner Andrew Jones offers a selection of handmade cards from the Philippines cards suitable for Valentine’s Day.

Birds & Bees

Rooster Home & Hardware Bee ProductsSharon Anderson Wright, owner of Rooster Home and Hardware (formerly Gecko Hardware) in Dallas, recommends something that fits into a “birds and bees theme.”  

“We have a nice red coop, something for your chick. We have a bee hive for your honey. We have a really cool red hummingbird feeder for some sugar,” said Anderson.

Bee and hummingbird items from Rooster Home & Hardware.

Rooster Home & Hardware Hummingbird FeederOf course Rooster Home & Hardware also have plenty of local honey products and foods to take home for a romantic night too.

Young of Pretty Things and Cool Stuff also suggested anything from the local and loved Texas Honeybee Guild with a special mention of the Sweet Nut Thangs.

Pretty Things & Cool Stuff Honey“Packed with organic pecans, it makes a scrumptious topping for pancake, waffles and ice cream. It’s yummy, good for you and good for the bees and our ecosystem,” she said.

Texas Honeybee Guild topping from Pretty Things & Cool Stuff.

Pretty Things & Cool Stuff Tin Dove OrnamentYoung added also suggested one of these little dove-heart tin ornaments handmade by New Mexican artisan Richard Gabriel. 

Handmade tin ornament from Pretty Things & Cool Stuff.

Fair trade

At Fair & Square Imports, owner Jones rounds up his best eco-friendly gifts for the day of love.

Fair & Square Imports urnA Phoenician Glass Tumbler/Candle Holder from the West Bank offers vivid colors swirling across a hand-blown tumbler made by artisans of Hebron Glass & Ceramic Factory. Recycled bottles are smashed into pieces and melted in high temperature ovens. In Fair & Square Imports phone amplifierPhoenician glass blowing, artisans add substances to the molten glass, with the resulting reaction creating a range of colors. Each piece has its own unique blend of color and pattern.

Recycled glass tumbler and bamboo cell phone holder from Fair & Square Imports.

Rooster Home & Hardware felt heartThailand’s Boozik iPhone Amplifier is a natural amplifier made from bamboo with no electricity required. It fits all iPhone models (3, 4, 5 & 6) with an Otter case. 

Fair trade felt heart from Rooster Home & Hardware.

Green Bling

Fair & Square Imports Tree of Life earringsThese circular earrings made in India from Fair & Square Imports are embossed with the symbolic tree of life. Earrings are silver plated brass.

Tree of Life earrings from Fair and Square Imports.

Pretty Things & Cool Stuff Wing EarringsThese handcrafted wing earrings from Pretty Things & Cool Stuff are perfect for the nature lover in life.

 

Pampering

Nourish Organic Personal Skincare & Body Care from Dolphin Blue is cruelty free, vegan, gluten free and USDA organic.

Dolphin Blue skincare productsEco-friendly skin care products from Dolphin Blue

 

Sweets

For a delicious vegan dessert or baked good, Spiral Diner and Bakery, with locations in Dallas and Fort Worth, is the place consider for your best healthy choices.

Spiral Diner cupcakeThey offer a variety of special desserts like Creme Brûlée, Cheesecake and Cake Balls, all vegan of course. A particular standout is the Banana Split Cupcakes— banana cake, strawberry frosting, chocolate ganache, peanuts and a cherry.

Banana split cupcake from Spiral Diner.

In addition, Sara Tomerlin, owner of the Dallas location on North Beckley, said she stocks vegan chocolate bars and candies in her store.  

“We carry Equal Exchange chocolate bars in a variety of flavors,” Tomerlin said. “My favorite is the orange chocolate."

They also carry cocomels brand coconut milk caramels, chocolate covered-espresso-caramels, Surf Sweets brand gummy bears, peach rings and watermelon rings.  

Reverie Bakeshop Valentine CookiesThe all-vegan Reverie Bakeshop in Richardson will be stocked up with plenty of vegan and gluten-free goodies for the big day as well. Preorder from the Valentine’s menu by Feb. 11 for pickup on the 14th.

Fair & Square Imports brownie mixBaked items at Fair & Square Imports include Brownie and Cornbread Mixes from the United States. Women’s Bean Project believes all women have the power to transform their lives through employment. To that end they hire women who have been chronically unemployed and teach them to work by creating nourishing products, such as brownie and gluten free cornbread mix.

 

Checkered Past Winery Texas WineDinner & Drinks

For eco-friendly libations, take your Valentine to Checkered Past Winery on Lamar in Dallas. The venue offers an organic wine out of Australia called "Maverick" at $26-$28 per bottle.  

Mudhens Vegan Valentine Both Spiral Diner locations will offer a special menu with one-night-only entree and appetizers on Valentine’s Day.

In addition, Mudhen Meat and Greens at Dallas Farmer’s Market will host a four-course Vegan Valentine’s Day meal in conjunction with Real Ale Brewing. Wine pairings are offered too. For reservations at 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m., email raynor@anotherplanet.com or call 469-506-3992. Cost is $55 per person.

The all-vegan V-Eats at Trinity Grove in Dallas is also featuring a Valentine’s menu for $125 per couple. RSVP.

Did we miss your favorite eco-friendly Valentine treat in North Texas? Leave your comment below or email Julie@GreenSourceDFW.org.


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