100th Post & A Giveaway!!! ecoleeko dolls…

Stay up to date on the latest posts. Subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

 ** GIVEAWAY AT THE END OF THIS POST**

Awhile back, I came across an eco whimiscal site called ecoleeko. ecoleeko sells eco friendly colorful plush dolls and rattles. I’d been checking them out for quite some time that I finally decided to contact the woman behind these gorgeous organic dolls. I felt they deserved some eco credit! As we all know, sometimes being green means you have to go “the extra mile” but it also means you’re setting a standard. You’ll soon find out that the designer of these organic plush dolls has done so with pride…

How did you start making the dolls- how did you learn- and why eco friendly?

I think I was first influenced by my aunt who made me a Raggedy Ann 
life size doll when I was 4. I still have it. I started making actual 
dolls I guess in 2001, playing around with materials, I dabbled in 
everything. I would make ‘artdolls’ and submit them to Art Doll 
Quarterly. I still do, but wanted to get back to my schooling, what I 
learned there, and use eco friendly materials. My sister had a baby 
and it inspired me to make soft baby toys as well.
I went to school for textiles, and learned alot about how fabric is 
made, processed and dyed. It was then I decided it was important to 
use eco friendly materials but at the time materials were limited. I 
wrote a paper on hemp fiber as my yarn thesis..I know, yarn thesis? Ha!

What is your inspiration for saving the planet?

I think my inspiration initially came from an experience I had at 
college, where a large hemp company gave a lecture. I was super 
excited. I listened as he spoke of hemp, it’s properties, etc. Then he 
held up a purse they marketed as an example. I noticed the strap on 
the bag was polypropylene. I was confused, then a little mad. Here’s a 
company going off about natural this natural that, eco friendly blah 
blah blah, and they aren’t even practicing it. After the lecture, I 
went up to the gentleman, and asked him why they didn’t use hemp 
webbing for the strap, webbing which they sold! He told me it was too 
expensive. I was shocked. I really thought these green companies went 
the extra mile to use organic thread or non poly fill or eco friendly 
zippers made of organic cotton, but nope. It seemed like it was a 
marketing thing I guess. I mean I totally understand if it’s a money 
issue. Eco materials seem to be priced higher, but I must say as an 
avid sewer of 19 years, the fabric is really no higher priced 
wholesale than a yard at your local store. So when a large company 
tells me it’s too expensive, I kinda say, hmmmmm.. I think it’s a 
matter of consumers knowing what’s in products they buy. I never knew 
till I went to school. Now some people don’t care, or whatever, but 
it’s important for me at least to feel good about what I’m making and 
selling to others.

How long does it take to make one doll?

It’s really hard to say. I know some people can determine it exactly, 
but with my process, there are many steps..the fabric is first washed, 
then dyed. I then print on the fabric, cut out the patterns, sew the 
patterns, stuff, and sew again. I try to do more than one at a time 
over a couple of days.

What set you apart from other doll makers in general?

I think in terms of eco dolls, I’m trying to go the extra mile in 
using all eco materials. I feel strongly about educating people about 
textile materials. It’s so overlooked. I recently went to a pet store 
and they were selling eco dog toys. I could immediately tell it was 
printed with a plastic based ink because it sat on the surface, the 
stitching was polyester and it didn’t even say what it was filled 
with. Now someone who sees eco, might be incline to buy it just 
because of that. But unless the consumer knows what it’s made of, it’s 
hard to really determine. I think it’s important to look at everything 
a product is made of, especially for kids in light of the lead scares, 
etc. I also think a lot of eco toys aren’t very colorful and fun. I chose 
to hand dye my fabric to get the color range I wanted. I use low 
impact fiber reactive dyes, that actually bond with the fabric, 
leaving no harsh feel to any of the fabrics. I hope to one day try out 
natural dyes as well.

Is being “green” something you’re new to or has it been a way of life?

Hmm. I’d love to say it’s always been, but I would say I was first 
aware of the issue in 1994-5. But over the years I’ve learned more and 
more and now I’m living in upstate NY growing vegetables and raising 
chickens. HA! It’s a constant striving, you can always be greener.

The materials the dolls are made out of are sustainable, correct?

The fact that you can dump them into your composter- after many years of love, that is- fantanstic!

 Do you compost on a regular basis?

Yes, all the materials I use are eventually biodegradable and can be 
composted. And Yes, I do compost! We have a container in the kitchen 
we fill then dump out in the back. Our chickens also help out with that.

What is your best selling doll?

I think the best selling is EllyBo so far, but I’m routing for 
Monkeeko. He’s my favorite.

 *** I’d like to express my THANKS to Sue, the creator of ecoleeko. The dolls at ecoleeko are HANDMADE and are made with the finest organic materials. I’d LOVE to see one sitting in my son’s crib soon. My favorite is Monkeeko, too! HopLee come in second!! Let’s be honest, they’re all my favorite.

 Check out the Shake Me Snail rattle! Isn’t it super eco adorable!!?? Just stick you’re 2 fingers underneath the snail’s belly and rattle away. Be sure to check out her fun collection of others too!!!! 

Now, for the FUN PART- ecoleeko has generously donated the Shake Me Snail rattle!!!

 WIN IT!

What is your favorite ecoleeko plush doll?

Comment, with your answer.

It’s that simple and eco easy!

If you want the chance to earn an extra entry…

Link up to this giveaway!

Be sure to let me know you did and pls. be sure to leave an email address (SPAM free). 

Contest ends July 25th, 2008!