1. A trip to a day spa that uses organic products. Better yet, book a Mother-Daughter day and you both win! Organic Spa magazine has compiled a list of the Top Ten Natural & Organic Facials. If your city isn’t listed, Google “Organic Day Spas” and your location for a spa near you.

2. No spas in your area? Wrap up some organic beauty products, and your mom can treat herself day after day. I just discovered the Sevani Botanica line, and they’re 100% free of synthetic ingredients and chemical preservatives, vegan, gluten-free, certified cruelty free, chemical free, and a portion of their proceeds are donated to animal welfare. I’ve been using the Hyaluronic Wrinkle Defense for a few weeks, and my skin is smoother and feels more exfoliated without any irritation.

3. Is your Mom an avid gardener? Does she truly love being out in her garden? (If she doesn’t you might want to skip this one. You don’t want her to feel like you’re giving her work to do!) Pick up a beautiful planter at a local nursery or consignment shop and fill it with supplies like Safer Brand insecticidal soap and weed killer, bamboo gardening gloves, and a new set of Made in the USA stainless steel gardening tools.

4 & 5. Is your Mom a techy? Can’t drag her away from her Kindle or IPad? Check out these beautiful and handmade covers available on Etsy.com. The traveling-inspired Kindle cover from The2SistersShoppe is only $36.

#4 Travel inspired Kindle Cover from The2SistersShoppe

This bright pink damask IPad cover from Kimoley Bags is also $36

#5 IPad cover from Kimoley Bags

6. As the mother of a teenage son soon to get his driver’s license, I may need one of these — a worry locket! These beautiful lockets combining sea glass and silver are available from Ghost Ship.

# 6 Worry Locket from Ghost Ship

7. Another beautiful necklace made from recycled sterling silver and personalized with an initial and birthstone charm from Martini Jewels in Portland Maine.

#7 Recycled Sterling Silver Necklace from Martini Jewels

8. Boozy Baubles Glass Arts creates jewelry from recycled wine, beer, and liquor bottles!  These gorgeous blue earrings are from an old gin bottle.

#8 Sapphire Gin Bottle Recycled Earrings

Don’t forget your VZWrap for wrapping those great gifts.  I’m sure we have a fabric for your mom. Try a standard sized  Evelyn, a medium Organic Gingko, or a mini Jasmine for the jewelry.

And here’s how they looked once they’re wrapped:

The wrapped presents are in the same order in the grid as the unwrapped gifts. Each present, except for one, was wrapped in about a minute. The set of boxing equipment — two sets of gloves and two packages of head gear — took a little bit longer, about two minutes. (Yes, I timed it!) Imagine how long it would take if you wrapped each of those pieces individually in wrapping paper, especially since they’re in mesh containers with flexible sides.

If you ever have a gift and you’re not sure what size bag it would fit into, just e-mail us the dimensions at info@VZWraps.com, and we’ll get right back to you with the proper size!

Organic Cotton Gingko

I wish you could feel this red organic cotton with the green and white gingko leaves. The fabric is so smooth and silky, but has enough weight that  it isn’t droopy. The green satin ribbon is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester. Did you know that both “gingko” and “ginkgo” are acceptable spellings? You learn something new everyday!

Red Organic Cotton Gift Bag -- Medium $10

We also have a simple red organic cotton with a white eco-grosgrain ribbon.  These bags are so versatile and can be used for any occasion or holiday. They’re certainly appropriate for both Christmas and Valentine’s  Day.  The eco-grosgrain ribbons are made from recycled plastic bottles but feel like traditional fabric.

Samples are being worked up of a  geometric navy & white print organic cotton. I’m just trying to locate the perfect ribbon — made from recycled materials, of course. Check out our Facebook page to track my progress!

I am always looking for more earth-friendly options and will keep you posted  on my progress. Please feel free to check in if you have any ideas or  suggestions for colors or themes you’d like to see in our fabrics.

For Women:

Recycled cashmere flower scarf from Blue Root Design

#1. Scarves are a hot accessory right now, and they’re great at keeping us warm in February! These very cool, upcycled cashmere scarves from Blue Root Design on Etsy would be great for your girlfriend, wife or mother and are affordably-priced in the $40 range.

Heart-shaped succulent wreath from The Little Succelent Shop

#2. Instead of flowers which may have travelled from another continent, consider a beautiful heart-shaped succulent wreath from The Little Succulent Shop. It will last MUCH longer than cut flowers and requires minimal care, perfect for those brown-thumbs out there.

#3. I love Yala Designs — home of natural fabrics and responsible manufacturing. Their bamboo sleepwear is the softest, most comfortable clothing I’ve ever worn — too bad I can’t wear it all day! (There have probably been a few days when I did.) They have styles ranging from lacy lingerie to warm pajamas with prices from around $50 on up. 

For Men:

#4. Is your guy a beer drinker AND an environmentalist? Then he needs a “Save our Planet — It’s the Only One with Beer” t-shirt from Yeungling brewery (local to us Philadelphians). It’s made from 50% organic cotton and 50% poly made from recycled bottles, and it’s a steal at $28.99.

#5. Does your guy drink beer while out in the cold at a football game or other event? Some heart-shaped hand warmers made from reclaimed, upcycled felted wool will help  keep him warm while reminding him how much you care. Available from WormeWoole on Etsy for only $12 with free US shipping.

For Your Sweetheart:

Custom Lyric on Record by Quiet Boy Studio

#6. Do you and your sweetie share a special song? Pick a lyric and have it beautifully painted onto an old LP by Quiet Boy Studio on Etsy.

#7. Pewter love tokens from Uncommongoods.com are a step up from homemade coupons and could be reused and regifted over and over.  A set of 10 includes 2 each of 5 different treats — breakfast in bed, a massage, a hug, etc. Only $16.00 and made in the USA.

For Kids:

Natural Cotton Gorilla from miYim.com

#8. I used to always give my kids stuffed animals on Valentine’s Day since they brought so much candy home from school it rivaled Halloween! Now that they’re teenagers, those stuffed animals are going to the dog —  literally! I don’t know if I would do that with one of these adorable gorillas made from unbleached, untreated, and untouched natural cotton from the Jane Goodall collection on miYim.com. Proceeds from each sale are donated to the Jane Goodall Foundation.  Characters from Disney and Dr. Seuss are available, too.

#9. For budding artists, I love these heart-shaped soy crayons from Earth Grown Crayons on Etsy. A set of 8 is $10.00. There are other shapes, too, making them perfect for birthday party bags.

For Everybody:

#10. I know some people who just would not be happy on Valentine’s Day if they didn’t get chocolate. So make sure it’s Fair Trade and Organic. Sweet Earth Chocolates is both fair trade, organic, and made in the USA. They offer several choices for Valentine’s Day in a range of affordable prices.

Do you need cloth gift bags for wrapping those Valentine’s gifts? Here are a few VZWraps patterns that work for Valentine’s Day gift bags and other times of the year.

Pink Damask wine bottle bag also available in 3 other sizes

Pink Damask has a brown damask pattern on a background of light pink cotton. Available in 4 sizes: mini, wine bottle bag, standard and large.

Love Letters is a beautiful cream and sage cotton with a print of handwritten french words, presumably a love letter. The attached green ribbon is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester.

Love Letters 10" x 15" Standard Fabric Gift Bag

And last, but certainly not least, is a new red organic cotton bag with a simple white eco-grosgrain ribbon  made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Simple, classic and elegant.

Simply Red Organic Cotton gift bag available as wine bottle bag, standard cloth gift bag, and medium gift bag

New Organic Cotton Fabric

I’ve been searching high and low for organic cottons that are stylish and affordable, and I’m starting to find them. Gift bags made from this organic cotton ginkgo-print fabric,complete with a green eco-satin ribbon which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, will be available soon — hopefully in time for Valentine’s Day.  I’ll be adding a solid, red organic cotton with a white eco-grosgrain ribbon (recycled bottles) as soon as the photography is finished. Keep an eye out for some organic baby shower gift bags and all occasion organic gift bags as well.  They’ll be posted on Facebook as soon as I get them, so check out our page, if you haven’t already.

Sunday, December 18th — Last day for orders to ship via First Class Mail and reach you by Christmas Eve.

Monday, December 19th — Last day for orders to ship via Priority Mail for delivery by Christmas Eve.

Tuesday, December 20th — Now you’re upgrading to Express Mail if you need your VZWraps by Christmas Eve.

So don’t delay; order right away!

We try our best to ship orders the same day, but with the holiday rush it’s sometimes just isn’t physically possible.

But what if you or your hosts don’t drink, you’re going to a gingerbread house-decorating party with the kids and you don’t want to look like a lush, or you just want to be more unique? Here are a few earth-friendly options:

Monopoly Board Coasters from Chaos To Art $15 on Etsy.com

I love these upcycled coasters made from old board games by Chaos to Art on Etsy. There are coasters made from Monopoly, Scrabble and even an old Ouija board.  For more traditional decors, these floral coasters upcycled from an old 1960s Encyclopedia of Natural Science from CrabAppleDesign on Etsy would be beautiful.

Oatmeal & Shea Vegan Lavender Soap from Krug's Eco-Logic

Does your hostess have the caterer on speed-dial and rarely sets foot in the kitchen?   In that case, why not go for some bath and beauty products that are all-natural, vegetable based, and vegan! Krug’s Eco-logic, offers a variety of soaps, skin care products, even men’s aftershave that would help any harried host relax after their big night. I would love to try this Shea and Oatmeal Lavender soap. At $13.99 plus $5 shipping it’s an affordable and earth-friendly option.

And for the hostess who truly has the mostess, why not give a flock of geese ($20) or some honeybees ($30)? With Heifer International you can make a donation in your host’s name and help a family somewhere in this great big world become more self-sufficient. You can present your host with a lovely personalized card to let them know of the gift you made in their honor.  I think this is a fabulous way to show that you appreciate their efforts while honoring the true spirit of the holiday season.

New Christmas & Hanukkah fabrics

The green and gold fabric on the left is beautiful and elegant and will be available in all 5 sizes of gift bag. It makes an especially stunning wine bottle bag. The white oranments fabric (on top right) is so cheerful and soft, I should really make pajamas out of it! Instead, it will be turned into gift card holders, standard cloth gift bags & large gift bags.

Hanukkah begins on Wednesday, December 21st this year, and with 8 days of presents, there’s a lot of wrapping to do. These two new fabrics, Stars of David & Silver Dreidels, are a nice complement to the Gold Dreidel fabric already on the site.

Bags are being sewn and photographed this week and should be available for ordering by November 11th (the lucky day — 11/11/11!).

Out-of-stock or running low

Now as new fabrics come, some old fabrics must go!

Green Ornaments (shown on the right) is totally out-of-stock. The other three, Fuchsia Flowers, Funky Jungle and Argyle are running very low and cannot be reordered. So if you had your eye on them, order before they’re gone!

Keep in mind that US shoppers need to order holiday bags by December 15th to receive them via first class mail before Christmas Eve. If you want to upgrade to Priority, you can have a few extra days — until December 19th. International shoppers should order by December 7th to be on the safe side.

Once the holiday rush is over, we’ll be restocking our all occasion, birthday, and wedding fabrics ASAP — and introducing some organic cottons!! Stay tuned….

So what are some eco-friendly, memorable wedding gifts?

24-inch Tree of Life made in Haiti from recycled steel drums

I love this 24-inch Tree of Life hammered from recycled steel drums by Haitian artists. It can be hung indoors or outside, and no two pieces will be exactly alike. While I haven’t seen this piece in person, it gets favorable reviews on the Gifts with Humanity website ($79.99). There are also smaller 8-inch versions available for $24.95.

Christmas Memories Book from Mystic Seaport Museum

If the newlyweds celebrate Christmas, why not help them start their own family traditions?  I bought this Christmas Memories Book for myself early in our marriage.  While I don’t know if it’s made from recycled materials, the fact that you can use it for 20 years makes it eco-OK in my book.  There’s space to record holiday visits, favorite presents, and other holiday memories for the next 20 years! There’s also room for a favorite holiday card and family photo.   I admit there have been several times when I’m tying to remember what happened last year, or even two years before, to fill in the pages, but we always pick a favorite card.  It has definitely become a fun tradition in our house. Although we did skip the year when my son was born on December 27^th! The Christmas Memories Book is available from The Mystic Seaport Museum Shop. The standard version sells for $19.95, or you can have it embossed with the couple’s name for $37.95.

Finally, there are two catalogs that I just drool over whenever I see them. They both have great serving pieces, household items, glassware, and other treasures that would make fabulous wedding gifts, and they both focus on recycled, reclaimed, and sustainable materials.  I have bought a few things for myself from VivaTerra, and I’ve always been happy with the products. I have not yet bought from Art & Artifact, but I certainly would like to.

Both the Christmas Memories Book and the 8-inch tree of life would easily fit inside a Medium VZWrap, and there are several fabrics suitable for weddings.  So tell me — what is your favorite wedding gift? Is there something fabulous you’ve given or received?

VZWrap gift bags under the Christmas tree

Welcome to the new VZWraps website. I started making cloth gift bags a few Christmases ago when I walked into my basement to get my bin of wrapping supplies and just couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t wrap my presents in paper that was going to be thrown away.  So I went to the fabric store, bought some holiday fabric, and stitched up some bags. I loved how they looked and wrapping was so much easier and faster. Next thing you know, I was making bags every time I gave a gift. I made them for bridal showers, baby gifts, birthdays — you name it.  Now at Christmas, I just pull out the stash of bags I’ve made over the past few years and my wrapping is done in no time. No more sitting on the floor, groping for scissors and tape while trying to hold paper on a box. The only thing that bothers me a little bit is that I have all these new gift bags in beautiful fabrics, but I don’t need them because I still have my older bags. I guess I’ll just have to give more presents!

So what will you see in this blog in the future?  Keep an eye out for gift ideas — especially if they’re earth friendly, made from recycled materials, or something I just can’t resist.  I may share other environmental news once in a while, and I’ll show you different gifts and how they fit inside VZWraps.  And why are they called VZWraps? It’s a play on my last name — Vesey – which is pronounced like the two letters, V Z.

Please visit again soon, and join the mailing list for special offers from time to time. (Our newsletter is usually sent monthly, perhaps twice a month over the holidays.) Holiday gift bags will be on the site soon. For a preview of holiday fabrics, check out the photo albums on our Facebook page.

P.S. I’d like to thank Purr Design for all their hard work designing this site and making sure everything works.