Year: 2007

Searching for environmentally conscious fabric, I came across Les Indiennes one of the companies with the most beautiful environmentally friendly fabrics I’ve seen, check out their website.  These cotton fabrics are hand blocked with natural dyes made from roots, rocks, earth, and plants in India.  The technique is called kalamkari- a complex printing method used to produce Les Indiennes fabrics.  This eco-conscious method of creating fabric does not cause pollution nor does it disrupt the traditional lifestyle of the village where it is made.  The process of making the eco-consciously fabric has various steps.  First, the fabric is prepared by softening and bleaching the organic cotton.  Then comes the pretty process of block printing, craftsmen dip hand-carved teak blocks in dyes the derived from the natural sources mentioned above.

The final two steps are color fixing and final touches where the cotton is steamed over a fire of rice chaff to fix the color.  Workers next haul the cloth to a stream and rinse the fabric to remove excess dye. Colors emerge from different streams in different tones.  Finally, after the color is fully saturated, the fabric undergoes another round of softening and color-brightening.  The fabrics are boiled, laid in the sun once more, and dipped in
a natural, color-intensifying solution.  Les Indiennes is located in Hudson, NY.

les indiennes, environmentally conscious fabric
les indiennes, environmentally conscious fabric
les indiennes, environmentally conscious fabric
les indiennes, environmentally conscious fabric
les indiennes, environmentally conscious fabric

 

 

casa colonial beach and spa in dominican republic swiming pool
casa colonial beach and spa hotel entrance

My husband and I spent a weekend in this magical tropical oasis called Casa Colonial Beach and Spa.  A Boutique Hotel located on the exotic north side of Dominican Republic. Casa Colonial Hotel is the ultimate, world-class seaside resort. The gorgeous tropical chic interior was designed by Sarah Garcia, the owner’s daughter. It’s a high-end colonial style with a contemporary edge. The service is incredible and just one good-reason-enough to visit. “This is a hotel for the discriminating traveler who demands the best that life has to offer”

Casa colonial beach and spa hotel review via belle vivir blog

Casa colonial hotel review via belle vivir blog

What can I say about the food? I can testify that is one of the best I have ever tasted in D.R. That is a lot to say considering that D.R. is well known for their great food. Casa Colonial features an extensive dinner selection of Asian fusion dishes prepared by an award-wining chef. How does this sound to you? Fresh lobster Cobb salad served with a lemon terragon vinaigrette and tropical fruit with a glass of a rich French Bordeaux from the Restaurant’s wine cellar? Umh… my mouth is watered now.

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