The Last Lions Documentary

National Geographic has a new documentary/movie called The Last Lions. I believe it opened in theaters on February 11th, on a limited basis; the film is opening here at Sundance 608 (an artsy theater here in Madison) this Friday, so be sure to check to see if/when it will be opening in your area.

If you go to the official The Last Lions website, you can get additional information about the movie, as well as enter a sweepstakes for a trip to Botswana, and watch a trailer.

This movie comes at a time when a coalition of animal welfare groups are seeking protection for the African lion, whose numbers are at sharp declines. The coalition includes Born Free USA, Born Free Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Society of the United States, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Humane Society International.

Marjolein Bastin Items Being Discontinued

Several of the Marjolein Bastin designs are being discontinued by the company that manufacturers the towels and potholders that we sell on our site.

As of this writing, we currently have the following in very limited supply: Chickadee towel, wren towel, bunny towel and hen towel. We also have the Marjolein Bastin hummingbird towel in stock, but we can't guarantee future stock.

We will be on the lookout to see if another company picks up the Marjolein Bastin license.

Purchasing Power - Fair Trade Certified

For the second in our installment on trustworthy seals, we will touch on what it means to be a member of the Fair Trade Federation. Our first segment was on the Leaping Bunny seal.

The Fair Trade Federation issues its seal of approval to manufacturers and others, who offer wares in a variety of categories, including home decor, gifts, clothing and jewelry, to name a few. One example of a Fair Trade Federation member is Far Fetched Imports, whose .925 sterling silver jewelry we sell in our store.

The main goal of fair trade is to ensure equity within international trading partnerships. Fair Trade Federation members are required to follow a set of guidelines, which includes ensuring workers receive, among other things, fair pay and safe workplaces; and that environmental stewardship is promoted.

Another similar certification program is Fair Trade Certified, issued by Trans Fair USA. You may have seen their seals on a number of products, including fair trade coffee, cocoa and body care products.

Having the seal adds a separate layer of trust for consumers. But not having the seal doesn't necessarily mean a US-based company doesn't treat its global workers fairly.

Look for our next installment on trustworthy seals.

Environmental Stewardship

One of the restaurants I patronize here in Madison has a sign posted, stating that they donates portions of thrir food scraps to a local farm for composting. I already had high regards for the place, but this revelation upgraded my opinion of them even more. Can you imagine if all restaurants, cafes and coffee shops donated their food scraps to farms to be used as compost? What if instead of dumping their organic waste, they put it to better use?

This kind of thing inspires me, and gets me thinking about ways I can improve my own environmental stewardship. I believe that even little efforts make a difference, but they can become even more powerful when combined with the efforts of others.

Earth Day, 2011 is about a month way. But why wait until then to make a difference?

Purchasing Power - LeapingBunny.org

I'm a firm believer in the power of the purse. What we buy and who we choose to buy it from does make the difference in the lives on animals, their environments, as well as the people who make the wares we use.

We would like to share with you some of the most trusted seals available, to help you make more conscious purchasing decisions. These will be presented in subsequent blogs; and we will start with LeapingBunny.org.

Some cosmetic, toiletry and cleaning product labels may claim that their final product has not been tested on animals, but how can you be sure? Also, there may not be any claims about each of the individual ingredients used.

The Leaping Bunny program is administered by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, a consortium of animal welfare groups, including The Humane Society of the United States, American Humane Association, and others. Companies who sport the Leaping Bunny logo on their label claim that the product is 100% cruelty free; this means that neither the product - during any stage of its developement - nor the ingredients used were tested on any animal.

The Coalition also has an online Cruelty-free Shopping Guide to help you make the most informed decisions.

Spring is Here

It's official: Spring, 2011, started yesterday. It may still be brisk outside and we may still very well get snow, but the first signs of Spring are most definitely here. The birds are chirping and the first flowers are emerging from the ground; daffodils, irises, to start with.

Our floral jewelry collection is full of items that celebrate the beauty of nature; designers include Sienna Sky, Far Fetched and Zarah. Your favorite backyard flowers are here; like these bleeding heart earrings, as well as iris earrings, tree of life earrings, zinnia with butterfly earrings, dragonfly earrings, and so many more.

Celebrate spring in style.

Supporting Legitimate Animal Rescues

Most people who dedicate their lives to rescue and sanctuary work, do so because they truly love animals and want to give them a second chance. Unfortunately, there are a small percentage of unscrupulous organizations that operate for the wrong reasons.

If you support an animal sanctuary, how well do you know it? Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote excellent animal care in sanctuaries. Their website is full of information for the public and sanctuary operators. They are also on Facebook and Twitter, so you can interact with others who share your passion for animal rescue work.

List of Organizations Helping Japan's Animal Victims

Our thoughts go to the victims - both human and animal - of Japan's earthquake/tsunami tragedy.
Veg News has compiled a wonderful list of animal welfare organizations seeking donations to help the animal victims.

Fur Free Fashion Competiton Deadline Approaching

Since last blogging about Fur Free Fashion Competition Born Free USA has added Julia Barr as a judge. You may know Julia as Brooke from All My Children, but she is also an animal lover.

I think judging will be a tough job. The winning designs from the previous two years were top-notch; matching, and in some cases, better than, those you would see on Project Runway.

The deadline to enter your fur free design is April 15th, 2011. Show the world that fashion can be exquisite, while being cruelty free.

Even More Far Fetched Added - 6 New Designs

Yesterday I told you about new Far Fetched designs we had just added. Today, we've added 6 more fun designs. Themes include farm animals, sisters, eco and inspirational.

• Sheep pin
• Pig pin
• Be the change you wish to see in the world earrings
• Be gentle with the earth earrings
• Three sisters pin
• Well behaved women sterling cuff bracelet

Enjoy!

New Far Fetched Designs Added

New Far Fetched added today:

• Chicken earrings
• Sheep earrings
• Owl pin

Made of .925 sterling silver with copper and brass. Crafted by Taxco, Mexico artisans for Far Fetched, which is a member of the Fair Trade Federation

New Sienna Sky Designs Added

The first signs of spring have arrived in Madison. Daffodil shoots have appeared in our garden, and birds are singing more.

Just in time for spring, we've added 5 Sienna Sky earrings to our floral and garden collection. One of these is the dragonfly in cattails earrings, pictured here.

We've also added Sienna Sky lavender dragonfly earrings, purple iris earrings, tree of life earrings and 3-leaf earrings.

New Shagwear Wallets

We've added 3 new Shagwear wallets to our collection, including the Monkey Wallet, pictured here; this is a brand new design.

Also new to PJ Publications and Gifts is the large-sized Retro Owl Wallet and large-sized Travel Cat Wallet.

These wallets sport whimsical designs, and are cruelty-free.

New Bungalow 360 Designs are Here!

They're here and in stock. We have new designs from Bungalow 360, including the monkey satchel bag, pictured here and matching monkey wristlet.

Also new are the pelican satchel bag and wristlet and jellyfish satchel bag and wristlet. We are also now carrying the whale wristlet, although this is not a new B360 design.

Bungalow 360 bags are made of 100% cotton - all natural - and are incredibly well-constructed.

Our fun bags are sure to brighten your day. They did for us. :)