I had to save the best for (almost) last. I have had my eye on Jo Totes for a long time. If you (or a woman you know) own a DSLR camera, or really any quality camera that you use all the time, you will L-O-V-E these bags.

I’ve had my Nikon D40 for a few years now, and I learn something new about it every day. Wen I bought it, I also bought an ugly, but functional, boxy Nikon camera bag. I hate it. It is big and clunky, and I only use it for storage or traveling when absolutely necessary. Most of the time, I just stick my DSLR in my purse. But it’s not a very good idea to have an expensive camera jostling around inside a bag full of keys, pens and Lord knows what else. (aff)

Imagine my glee when I discovered Jo Totes, a company that clearly felt my pain and decided to make fabulous camera-ready purses to ease it. Wait. You mean that’s not why the company started? Well, that’s how it feels to me!

So what’s the green part? These bags are made of vegan leather. Ie. No animals were killed in the making of these bags. On top of that, they are very affordable for bags of such awesome quality. Plus, they are available in several gorgeous styles and beautiful colors — including turquoise (swoon) and yellow. That was all the information I needed to become a fan from afar. But the up-close and personal experience? Much, much better!

I received the Rose bag in Pewter, and boy, am I smitten! I have a habit of carrying large purses, so this sizable bag felt right at home on my shoulder. It also has an optional longer strap so you can wear it as a crossbody bag if you choose. However, the magic happens inside the bag. Rose comes with 5 detachable padded partitions that can be arranged as needed to fit your camera and accessories.

There was more than enough space to hold my camera, charger and extra memory cards, and since I put a new lens on my Christmas list, I left some space for that too After all that, there was still ample space for my iPhone, wallet, checkbook, keys and a couple of reusable shopping bags that I always keep in my purse. If I did have one complaint, it would be that there is no space for my iPad. But of course, Jo Totes has already thought of that too. Their newest bag style, the Betsy (shown below in Mustard), features a rear pocket that is large enough for an iPad. Problem solved!

Seriously, I couldn’t love Rose more. She makes me happy. And I know you want to feel the love too

Why It’s Green:

• Made of vegan leather.

Price: $84-90

Want to Win?

Jo Totes is going to make one camera owner of the female variety very happy. One lucky reader is going to take home a Jo Totes bag in the style and color of your choice! Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/27/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas.

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I always have the best intentions when it comes to setting my table. I will pin photos of lavish table settings on Pinterest, and promise myself that for the next holiday, I’ll make my table look just like them — or better. Needless to say, it usually doesn’t work out that way. After spending all day in the kitchen on Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever, the last thing I’m interested in doing in making the table look great. Jennifer Nelson of Home Sweet understands that, and she has created a product that will let you give your table a little something extra without all the fuss.

Her “chopped” table runner is just 24″ long — big enough to make the table look fancy, but small enough to avoid getting in the way while you’re eating. While having the place settings at the ends of the table on top of a traditional table runner looks nice, the ends of the runner always end up requiring more cleaning than the middle — because the person seated there is likely to spill something on it. This “chopped” runner is a great solution.

Like all of Home Sweet’s other sustainable home textiles, the table runner in block-printed by hand with water-based inks. The table runners are printed on a gray recycled hemp/organic cotton blend fabric that has a cool, slubby appearance — sort of like linen. I personally love the texture of it, and the gray and navy color scheme is perfect for my dining room — a great complement to our ikat dinnerware.

Why It’s Green:

• Hand-printed with water-based inks
• Made of a recycled hemp/organic cotton blend fabric

Price: $28/ea.

Want to Win?

Home Sweet is offer a chopped runner to one lucky reader. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/27/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas!

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There are some green products that will always be on my go-to list when gift-giving time comes around. Sprout Watches are absolutely among those items — which is why they appear in so many categories of the Green Gift Guide! They are stylish, high quality, eco-friendly and affordable. And best of all, Sprout is constantly evolving and releasing new styles. So while you can get some of the same watches this year that were available last year, you can also find a variety of new styles.

Among those new styles are watches made from — believe it or not — fish leather! Yes! Sprout recycled skin from salmon and other fish to create bands with beautiful texture, as shown in the photo above. Fish skins are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather because it is made of the by-product from fish farmers who are catching non-endangered species for human consumption. In other words, if companies like Sprout didn’t find ways to use it, it would simply be thrown away. Fish skin is praised as being one of the strongest leathers on earth, as well as having great elasticity. Plus, there’s the bonus that no two skins are exactly alike.

Their other new watch style is made from Tyvek®. Ever had one of those really tough envelopes from the post office that you couldn’t tear with your hands if you were Hercules? They’re made of Tyvek®. It is a very strong, high-density fiber that is also water and tear resistant AND recyclable. Also, given the nature of the fibers, Tyvek® develops a leather-like look over time, as you can see in the photo above. Continuing Sprout’s history of innovation, they’ve found a way to turn this material into a long-lasting product rather than a throwaway.

Seriously, how could I not love this company? I have never ever looked at salmon skin and thought to do anything with it but toss it — immediately. So anyone who can figure out how to turn something I’d never give a second thought into a product I’d be happy to give as a gift will get my attention every time.

Why It’s Green:

• All Sprout’s watches are made from eco-friendly materials, including bamboo, organic cotton, recycled Tyvek, fish leather (yes!), biodegradable corn resin, stainless steel, mineral crystal lens, natural mother of pearl and more.
• Mercury free
• Sprout packaging is made from at least 80% post consumer fibers. It is both recycled and recyclable.

Price: $30-75 (aff)

Want to Win?

Sprout Watches is giving away not just one, but THREE of their beautiful products — one each to three different winners! One winner will take home a ladies’ fish leather watch, one winner will get a ladies’ Tyvex watch and one winner will receive a men’s corn resin watch (not necessarily in the colors shown above). How awesome is that? Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/26/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas.

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Buying green gifts for kids can be tough. They’re seeing toys made of plastic plastered all over the TV and everywhere else, and those are usually the gifts that wind up on their wish lists. Thankfully, though, more and more companies are making eco-friendly alternatives to traditional kids’ gifts. miYim is one of those companies, and I was truly excited to have found their organic Disney plush collection. After all, what kid doesn’t like Mickey Mouse or Winnie the Pooh?

These adorable plush toys are designed for infants and toddlers, ie. the ones who we really should be trying to protect from toxic chemicals and plastics. Available characters include Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.

miYim sent me an organic Winnie the Pooh plush, and it is too cute! I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there was a rattle inside, which all parents know will keep an infant or toddler endlessly entertained. It is also extremely soft, but sturdy. The seams are well-made, so this is not a toy your child would be able to tear apart.

If you or your kids love Disney characters, this is your chance to give them a Disney fix without all the questionable materials that usually come with character-branded toys.

Why It’s Green:

• Made from certified organic cotton and colored with nontoxic, low-impact dyes that contain no heavy metals.
• miYim’s environmentally responsible manufacturing process reduces waste by using less heat, energy and water.

Price: $25.99/ea.

Want to win?

miYim is offering one lucky reader the chance to take home an Organic Pooh plush. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/26/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas.

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Just call today “Free Art Friday.” The second giveaway of the day is a beautiful letterpress print by Etsy seller EnormousChampion. The minute I saw this piece, I knew I had to include it in the Green Gift Guide. The 8″ x 10″ print features a vortex of gold and black skeleton keys printed by hand on extra thick cotton paper. To make it even more special, it is printed in an edition of 125 and signed and numbered on the back.

Why It’s Green:

• Printed by hand on cotton paper

Price: $33

Want to win?

One winner will receive a Keys print from Enormous Champion! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/23/11.

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Do you need some artwork for your bare walls, or a gift for the person on your list who has everything? Well, you’re in luck! You have a chance to win a custom-printed, 16″ x 20″ rolled canvas from online printing service UPrinting.com. They offer canvas printing with soy-based inks and finish them with a non-toxic UV coating. And they make great gifts, for you or someone else on your list, and you can have the canvas printed with the image of your choice: from a family photo to a portrait of your favorite pet, a landscape shot of your home, or a closeup of your favorite flower. What’s even cooler is that you can build a design right on the UPrinting website using photos, text, shapes and colors.

Want to win?

The winner will receive one 16” x 20” rolled canvas print with 2-inch border or no border, with turnaround in just one business day and free shipping! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/23/11. Restriction: Entrants must be at least 18 years old.

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I am incredibly excited about this giveaway. Red Clay Home has been on my radar for a while, mostly because I have a whole lot in common with the owners: We both are passionate about sustainability and about creating beautiful spaces at home — and we are both looking for ways to make doing that easier and more affordable for the average person. So when I learned they had created a collection of gorgeous, eco-friendly ceramics, I didn’t hesitate to add them to the Green Gift Guide.

Their Peek-a-Boo vase, Incline at Sunset bowl and Bubble plate and Bulba vase are all handmade in partnership with Mudshark Studios, a sustainable ceramics studio. And I love the way Red Clay crowdsources their designs. In a nutshell, the community submits design ideas for new products, and then votes on the designs that will go into production.

Their first collection makes me eager to see what will come next! Don’t you just love the bright pops of color these products provide? As you can see in the photo above, Red Clay sent me a Peek-a-Boo vase in peacock (that’s becoming a theme around here, isn’t it?), and I used it to create my simple Christmas centerpiece. I really can’t wait to decorate the rest of the table around it.

Why It’s Green:

• Ceramics handmade in the U.S. in small-run production

Price: $29-69/ea.

Want to win?

Red Clay Home is giving away not just one, but TWO of their beautiful products! One winner will take home a Peek-a-Boo vase, and one winner will receive an Incline bowl, both in the color of their choice. How awesome is that? Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/20/11.

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I’m not much of a girly girl, so while I love earrings (feathers, anyone?), I’m usually not big on other jewelry. However, every other woman or girl on my Christmas shopping list loves it. From my daughter to my nieces and all the adults, they’d be overjoyed to receive a new necklace for Christmas. And the wonderfully eco-friendly jewelry by Kris Nations would also satisfy my desire to give green.

All Kris Nations jewelry is made in the U.S. from recycled materials, but the state necklace is my favorite piece. It’s available for every state in both gold and silver, and it is incredibly cute. While I wish that U.S. territories were included so I could get a Virgin Islands necklace, I can think of more than a handful of people who would be happy to wear their state pride around their necks.

Kris Nations sent me a gold Georgia necklace, and I love it. The chain is 16-18″, so it fits a little longer than a choker. It felt a little short for me, but maybe I just have a large neck I’m a plus-sized woman though. It would likely be perfect for a smaller woman (than me), a teenager or an older child.

Why It’s Green:

• Made in the U.S. from sheets of recycled metal

Price: $48/ea.

Want to win?

Kris Nations is offering two readers the chance to win a State Pride Necklace in your state and finish of choice! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/20/11.

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My daughter goes through a LOT of pencils. She uses them for her homework during the week, but she also loves to write and draw just for fun. Needless to say, I am always looking for pencils made from recycled or otherwise sustainable materials, because I hate the idea of buying pencils made from virgin wood. It just doesn’t seem like a very good reason to cut down trees. Lisa Bacon of Write with Moxie gets that. And her beautiful, recycled paper pencils are just the kind of thoughtful gift that show we can consider sustainability in even the most humble of purchases.

Each pencil is made from layers of recycled colored paper, and the color around the lead changes as you sharpen it. I tried photographing the pencils myself, but I just couldn’t do them justice. So I used some of their official product photos to show you just how spectacular they look, particularly when grouped together in a pretty jar or cup. Because they are made of paper, the weight of the pencils felt different in my hand — slightly lighter. This made writing with them an entirely new experience. Seriously. Plus, they are packaged in cute little cardboard tubes so kids (or whomever) can easily keep them in one place.

These make awesome stocking stuffers (which is why they were a no-brainer for the Green Gift Guide), as I believe in filling stockings with useful items rather than meaningless trinkets that may never be used. Write with Moxie also offers simple, recycled kraft paper journals. Given with a pack of pencils, this is a gift that is sure to jump-start some creativity.

They are available in solid colors as well as colored pencils in sets of 5 or 10.

Why It’s Green:

• Pencils and journal handmade with recycled paper

Price: $6-12

Want to win?

Thanks to Write with Moxie, one winner will take home great prize package that includes a set of green pencils, a set of colored pencils and a kraft paper journal. Sweet! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/19/11.

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I don’t know for sure that I am the No. 1 of Nostalgia Organics, but I can say with certainty that I’m no lower than number 2 or 3. I keep a regular stash of Nostalgia soaps in my bathroom, and I freak out whenever I realize I’m running low. Suffice it to say that I love these products. So when I found out they were getting ready to release two new scents, I knew I had to try them!

Honestly, opening a box from Nostalgia Organics is one of my favorite things to do. The fragrances always hit me in a rush after they’ve been enclosed in a box for shipping, and they are at their most potent right when I break the seal. The combination of the two new fragrances, Lemon Flour and Henrietta, was a powerful cocktail. And honestly, these two are among my favorites.

Lemon Flour smells like fresh lemon zest, or the way you’d love your kitchen to smell right after you clean it. It’s fresh, sweet, citrussy and wonderful. Henrietta is a bold lady, fragrant with full-bodied spearmint and just a hint of floral sweetness. My all time favorite Nostalgia soap is also a minty fragrance, so I was eager to see if this one competes. It does

These fragrances are so new that the Lemon Flour products aren’t even available on the Nostalgia site yet. Get them here first!

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade with organic and natural ingredients

Price: $8-10

SAVE BIG! Get a whopping 25% off your order with coupon code GreenYourHoliday. Good only at http://nostalgiaorganics.com.

Want to win?

One winner will receive an awesome gift set from Nostaglia Organics that includes: one each of Henrietta soap and hand creme, along with one each of Lemon Flour soap and hand creme. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/17/11.

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Many families traditionally give pajamas for Christmas. This had not been true for our family until recent years. The problem is that most kids’ pajamas are made with toxic chemical flame retardants, because most of them are made of polyester. Finding 100% cotton PJs is a challenge, and finding 100% organic cotton PJs is even harder. So when I discovered New Jammies and their stylish, kid-friendly designs, I was thrilled. Plus, they made a great addition to the Green Gift Guide.

They are available up to size 8 in a wide variety of patterns and colors and they close-fitting are completely free of flame retardants. New Jammies sent me their Panda Snuggly pajamas. They are incredibly soft and very well made. I can’t wait to see my daughter in them on Christmas Eve!

I just wish they were available in larger sizes so I could buy a few pairs for my stepsons as well!

Why It’s Green:

• Made of 100% organic cotton

Price: $29-33

BONUS COUPON CODE! Get 15% off your entire order at New Jammies with coupon code GGG9835. Exp. 12/31/11

Want to Win?

One winner will receive a pair of New Jammies kids pajamas in the size and style of your choice. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/17/11.

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You knew they were coming! This year, I have a slew of awesome green gift giveaways for your pleasure, starting with an awesome, handmade iPad case from Zaum.

I love Mod Green Pod fabrics — almost as much as I love my iPad. So when I discovered these beautiful pieces made from Mod Green Pod’s stylish prints and other sustainable materials, I didn’t hesitate to add them to this year’s Green Gift Guide. These fabulous, high quality pieces are handmade by Zaum. In their eco-friendly section, you’ll also find clutches, full-size handbags and totes, coin purses, laptop bags, and iPhone cases — all made of materials like organic cotton and wool felt.

Zaum sent me their Eco Pad iPad case to review, and I love it! The case is lightly padded to offer extra protection. Given the cost of one of these devices, this is the least you could ask. The flap closes securely with velcro, and if you have a light, thin smart cover on your iPad, it should be able to fit in the case even with the cover. However, I usually have a bulkier hard case on mine, and I have to take off the hard case to fit it inside the Zaum case. Not a big deal. Overall, the Eco Pad case is beautiful and incredibly sturdy and well made.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of organic cotton

Price: $45

BONUS SAVINGS! Get 20% your order at the Zaum store with coupon code GYD20. Exp. 12/20/11

Want to Win?

One winner will receive an EcoPad case in the color of your choice. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. The giveaway is restricted to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/15/11.

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I love blue. Really. It is officially my favorite among all the wall colors we’ve ever used. In turn, our finished dining room is my new favorite room. That could be because we haven’t really finished any other spaces in this apartment, but I think it’s because it really just turned out great. And I have FLOR to thank for the inspiration.

The moment I saw their Sophistikat rug last year, I knew I had to have it — eventually, anyway. And I kept finding inspiration elsewhere in similar shades of blue: the gorgeous blue Ikat dinnerware from Viva Terra and sweet cloth napkins from West Elm. Slowly, in my mind, a dining room came together.

And then slowly, it came together in real life too.

We knew we had to find the perfect blue for the walls. Given our past experience picking paint colors on the Internet or in the store, only to bring them home and have them be far from what we expected, we bought 4 testers. One was too blue, one too green and another too black. In the end, we chose Glidden’s Rich Navy, color matched to Behr Premium Plus, paint with primer in it (low-VOC, of course). In the photo above, it is the sample on the far left. I thought it read too purple at first, but my husband convinced me that the other option shown was too green.  Now that it’s on the walls, I’m so happy I listened to him!

The piece that inspired the color scheme, the Sophistikat rug was a challenge to put together — not because of the tiles themselves (which are a breeze to assemble) but because of the pattern. While each tile is similar, they are not exactly the same. So it took a bit of sorting to find ones that would match up relatively closely. As a result, the pattern is a bit random where I switched from a tighter diamond pattern to a wider one. Still, I LOVE the look. It is perfect imperfection.

Now for the next piece of the puzzle. By the time I convinced my husband of my vision for the ikat dinnerware, the dessert plates were no longer in stock. So I had to improvise. I bought a set of 4 dinner plates and a set of 4 bowls (on clearance, of course). But we needed place settings for 6. So I grabbed some cobalt blue glass dinner and dessert plates and bowls from Ikea to complete the collection.

As you can see in the two detail photos above, I mixed and matched them for a look that is loose and eclectic, but still completely cohesive. And guess what? I love this imperfection too!

I grabbed some fabric napkins in blue and white from West Elm (also on clearance). I have to say though, I was really disappointed with the way they were shipped. One afternoon, my husband and I came home to a stack of 8 small boxes, all exactly the same size. I had to take a photo of the stack:

I couldn’t imagine what were in them, but once I saw that they were from West Elm, I jokingly said to my husband, “What did they do? Ship one napkin per box?”

Well, it turns out that’s exactly what they did.

All 8 napkins would’ve fit in a single box, but instead, I received 8. Not impressed with that kind of wastefulness at all. But I did love the napkins

And since we had such beautiful dinnerware, I really wanted to create a simple, but special, centerpiece. $7 worth of mums, $7 worth of organic lemons, a white porcelain bowl and a couple of blue and white porcelain balls, and my work was done.

In addition to the new stuff, we used a bunch of our existing, albeit mismatched, silverware and some wine glasses my husband and I have had since we got married. Oh yeah…and I can’t forget the orange juice. The extra pop of yellow really made the table come alive.

And once everything was assembled, the walls felt a little bare to me. I remembered some blue and white commemorative plates that my mother had given my husband and I a few years back. The two plates feature special locations in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where my husband and I are both from. I never imagined I’d be a person who’d decorate with commemorative plates, but I actually really like how they look. And I get all nostalgic when I see the plate for Magen’s Bay, my favorite beach back home (which has also been named one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world — and oh, how I miss it), and Fort Christian, a location where I once filmed a music video with the steel band I played with in high school.

And here’s a final shot of the room from another angle. From this side, you can see that we painted the three walls in the dining nook, which really makes it feels like it’s own room rather than part of the larger living space. Isn’t that chunky crown molding fabulous?!!

And since it’s immediately to the right of the door when you walk through the short entry hall, you can see a reflection of that delicious blue paint in the magazine sunburst mirror that we hung in the entryway.

So what do you think? We love eating in our dining room now!

Giveaway winner

Now for the giveaway winner! I really thought more people would guess Sophistikat, but Haute Stuff was an obvious contender. But only four people guessed Sophistikat, and of those, Katie R. of Little Green Sewing Machine is the winner! So what did she win? Well, it’s not a FLOR rug, but I think it’s something equally as cool — an Organic Rouched Throw from West Elm!

I own two of these and I love them! They are incredibly soft and comfortable. And she can select which color she wants: Platinum (gray) or natural. PLUS, as a bonus, you can select the t-shirt of your choice from Differently Clothing, an organic t-shirt company I started with my husband! Katie, I’ll contact you via email about your prize!

Disclosure: FLOR provided me with the Sophistikat rug. All opinions are my own (as usual). The giveaway prize, however, is coming from my own pocket.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Whenever I need a new rug for a room, FLOR is one of the first places I look — and with good reason. I can always trust that their products are eco-friendly in a variety of ways, and that there will always be new designs for me to peruse. This summer is no exception. I am loving the bold, graphic new designs from FLOR’s summer collection.

Lasting Grateness

My personal favorite is the beautiful Lasting Grateness. It is the kind of rug that can either make a room, or work well with the statement pieces you already own. The black and white color palette leaves endless room for bold accent colors, and it’s really hard to “mess up” black and white.

Filligreed

A close second is Filigreed. The black and white color palette continues, this time with a black background and bold white flourishes on top.

Line by Line

If you’re feeling ultra-modern, you’ll love Line by Line, and striped work of art that resembles the graphics you’ll see when there’s a “test” on your favorite TV station. How great would this be under a bright white, vintage tulip table surrounded by Eames chairs? I can see it now!

Of course, there are options with less contrast as well, with names to match. If you want something more neutral, you’ll like the next three designs:

Soft Spoken

Lacebark

Suit Yourself

Reoriented

And if you have a thing for oriental rugs, FLOR has something for you, too. Reoriented is their modern take on a traditional concept. Like most FLOR designs, the finished look is more of a patchwork than a seamless design, but the edges of the tiles are less obvious with this design because of the overdyed colors. Available in lavender, teal and pink, it is definitely not your grandmother’s oriental rug.

Surprise Giveaway!

As always, FLOR has something for everyone — me included. While none of these designs work in my new apartment, I did find something in their catalog that I loved, and FLOR was kind enough to send me a rug from one of their previous collections. I’ll give you a couple of hints:

• It is bold and graphic.
• It is a 2-color design, including a a color I’ve been saying I wanted to use.
• If you search my site for “FLOR,” you’re bound to find it!

Can you guess which FLOR design it is? I have a special prize from my own pocket for one reader who correctly identifies the FLOR rug design I chose! Leave your guess in the comments below, and I’ll choose a winner randomly from all those who guess the correct design. You have until 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 11, 2011 to enter, and you can guess as many times as you’d like. Just leave a separate comment for each guess. U.S. mailing addresses only! I won’t say what the prize is, but I will say that it’s something special!

I’ll reveal my pick and the giveaway winner next week, and I’ll show you how this rug inspired my new dining room design!

Why It’s Green:

• FLOR products are made with renewable and recycled content
• Fully recyclable via FLOR’s Return & Recycle program
• Products are low-VOC
• More than 90 percent of FLOR’s product line is made in the U.S.

Price: $10.99-14.99/tile; Starting at about $200 for a premade rug

Disclosure: FLOR provided me with a rug.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

A longtime fan of FLOR, I am always excited when they debut new designs. Their Spring 2011 products do not disappoint.

Haute Stuff

This is my favorite of the new designs. Each carpet square combines two very different textures, and each set contains two FLOR squares. One square features an area of soft shag in the center, which is bordered by a frame of smooth felt. The other carpet square is the reverse, with felt in the center, framed by shag. The result is a beautiful, textured effect that must be heavenly under your feet. And even better, it is available in 8 different color combinations.

The other designs:

Fine Feathers

Feed Your Sole

Xstatic

Rake Me Over

Why It’s Green:

• FLOR products are made with renewable and recycled content
• Fully recyclable via FLOR’s Return & Recycle program
• Products are low-VOC
• More than 90 percent of FLOR’s product line is made in the U.S.

Price: $11.99-26.99/tile; Starting at about $200 for a premade rug

Win a Haute Stuff rug!

FLOR has generously offered my readers a chance to win a 5′ x 7′ Haute Stuff rug in the color of your choice. Keep in mind that this particular design comes in 8 different color combinations, so you’re bound to find something that works in your home. Want to win?

There are several ways to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY: Leave a comment here telling me what color Haute Stuff rug you’d choose if you won. (NOTE: None of your other entries will count if you don’t do this first)

BONUS ENTRIES!

1. Like FLOR AND Green Your Decor on Facebook. Then come back here and leave a comment with your Facebook name.
2. Follow @FLOR_ AND @greenyourdecor on Twitter. Then come back here and leave a comment letting me know.
3. Vote for my daughter in the Small Moments photo contest. You can vote once a day, and you can enter EACH TIME you vote. So please vote daily, then leave a comment letting me know that you voted. You’ll receive an entry for each vote.
4. If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, February 21, 2010. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. Current subscribers must leave a comment saying that you are a subscriber to be entered.
5. If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS-only subscribers are anonymous otherwise.

You have 6 ways to enter, with up to 20 possible entries per person, and the giveaway entry period ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 21, 2010. U.S. mailing addresses only! A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.