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From the category archives:
buy local
The gifting season is so close I can almost smell the pine tree sap. If you’re like me, in charge of figuring out what everyone wants, why not consider something planet friendly and the perfect group gift? Make it easy on everyone, including the planet! Examples? Simply send an Inlu invitation through the office, ask the cubicle posse to pitch in for something fresh and funky. Invite siblings to go in for one really cool, handmade or earth friendly gift for the grandparents. Collect enough from all the cousins to get Uncle Nice a fabulous piece of art. You get it- people pitch in as a group in lieu of a bunch of people buying, wrapping and shipping. It just makes sense!
Here are 10 Fun, Fresh Green Gift Options:
1. Eco Friendly Abstract Art on Salvaged Wood (12 SMALL Tree Rings)
These are a creative, cool eco-friendly gift perfect for any boss, friend or relative who digs artsy deco. You can create a custom arrangement based on the space. focuslineart, $300
2. EarthPan Eco Friendly Kitchenware
This is perfect for the foodie in your life who loves to cook but doesn’t want the icky chemicals on many stove top essentials- a GREAT group gift for an aunt, uncle, parents or grandparents. Perhaps you have a newlywed couple with ubertastebuds on your list? Pool funds and get them one gift they’ll use together to make all those fancy dishes the rest of us can’t. Earthpan 10 Piece Set $149.99. (Admittedly, not funky or handmade BUT the food that comes of it = no toxins and it’s a fresh idea for a great gift:).
3. Mirrored Wine Glass Holder
Cheers to great art! Hang two wine glasses on this fabulous, mirrored frame made from recycled metal. What a cool gift for the wine lovers in your life. LarsMetalReflection, $225
4. Upcycled Biycle Tire Clock
Got a brother who digs bikes? A sister who races downhill? Anyone in your family a beach cruising fool? Well, why not pitch in together and get an upcycled spoke-style clock? Love it. upcyclebicycle, $109
5. Elk Head Wall Art from Recycled Machinery
Know an urban soul longing for a trip to the backwoods? This Elk Head is created entirely from recycled farm machinery and is made in rural Pennsylvania. Gift hunters will score on this unique craftsmanship. Perfect in a work or social setting! TheSteelFork, $380
6. Recycled Glass Art
This whimsical piece is crafted from broken glass. It would be an excellent gift from the kids to a mother or grandmother. I can see it now in the entryway, capturing what winter sunlight it can find. RECreationsART, $275
6. Peace of Art
This 44″ peace of art will make a BIG statement. It’s recycled and handmade and totally awesome. So, why not give peace a chance? (Especially when friends come together to split the cost!) Uncommon Goods, $1900
7. 45 RPM Mirror
This retro record wall-mounted mirror by Jeff Davis will add a touch of color to any room in the house. The frame of the mirror is composed of 12 vintage 45 rpm records mounted on Trupan, a composite wood created from 100% sustainable lumber. Mirrors are made using actual vintage records from a variety of genres, and chosen for their visual appeal. EcoArtware $130
8. Coconut Shell Earrings, Hand Crafted in Thailand
Love these ‘Lotus Love’ earrings! Again, these would great from the grown up kids to the much deserving mom. “Shaped by hand, lovely lotus petals of coconut shell nestle in shining silver.” Sustainable and simple. Novica, $104.99
9. BlueIQ Ecosystem
This is an excellent group gift for a boss or coworker because it’s an entirely balanced ecosystem fit for a small space, like a desktop. It’s clever, cool and fascinating. You can add shrimp and snails and plants, oh my! BLUEiQ $79 + accessories.
10. 7 FT Farmstyle Recaimed Dining Set
Last year, did you happen to notice time has taken its toll on the family table? Does it wobble too and fro? Are you short a few seats now that the grandkids have come along? Well check out this reclaimed dining set! It comes with 2 7 ft benches so the entire brood can brunch together. ModernRust, $759
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how inlu works
If you have used Inlu to collect for any gift, any charity or both, you know there are endless ideas out there. So many great gifts can be given by simplifying and streamlining the process! If you’ve never used Inlu but have wondered, what the heck are people collecting for ?, here’s a fabulous list of gifts and collections that will inspire you to collect for something awesome: something your friends, family members or yes, even you’d really love.
1. First House Deposit
2. iPad
3. Skateboard
4. Dollhouse
5. Legos
6. Design Your Own Converse
7. Tech Pen
8. Spa Treatments
9. Airplane Tickets
10. Camera Lenses
11. Bulk purchases
12. Tap Shoes and Tap Dance Lessons
13. Vespa Riding Outfit
14. Flowers
15. Wheelchair ramp
16. Medical Assistance Funds
18. Broadway Play Tickets
19. A Day At The Mac Store (gift certificate)
20. An Olympic Hopeful’s Training Fund
21. Fish Aquarium
22. A New Business Start Up Fund
23. Travel Funds for a Middle School National Championship Game
24. Drumset (and Headphones!)
25. Double Strollers and Infant Car Seats
Want to try it?
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At Inlu, we spend a lot of time focusing on the joy of group giving- the art of many people pitching in for something special, a group donation (or both). We focus on the rewarding, empowering feeling of creating less excess, hassle and wasted resources (like trees and shipping and all that jazz). We love the social companionship that comes from collaboration.
What I’d like to call out today is that fabulous feeling of giving (even if it’s your day to be receiving!).
When I saw this clip, I became absorbed in the enlightened sentiment: that giving is bliss.
Sometimes we focus way too much on what is ours, what is owed to us and what we “own” in this world.
This video was put together by Lucas Jatoba (and a group of friends so it had that collaborative excitement), a Brazilian living in Australia. This year, he wanted to do something different to show his appreciation for Sydney, a city he had grown to love. Here, he let the universe lead, which is something we should all try more often (I know I need to!).
Imagine doing this on your next birthday! You could use Inlu to collect funds to go out and give 21, 30, 45…whatever your next number… handmade, local or organic treats to complete strangers.You could deliver 30 baby blankets to a shelter. You could walk into a youth center and deliver 30 basketballs, jump ropes and dodgeballs. Whatever!
(And, yes, they used wrapping paper but that doesn’t mean this tradition couldn’t be tweaked to lessen the landfill and expand the love! Just one more twist of creativity in the wrapping department and this would be pure joy for people and the planet).
If I had seen this before my birthday last week, perhaps I would have given out 30 random Daisies, Lake Champlain Chocolates and Starbucks Coffee Gift Certificates to 30 Strangers (because yeah, I totally just turned 30). VIEW MY SAMPLE INSPIRED BY ’30 Gifts to 30 Strangers’
What twist on the gift giving tradition can YOU come up with?
Collect for something, give back. Tip o’ the hat to the gifting hero in Australia!
30 Gift Guy!
PS If you’d like to know the gifts he handed out, here they are: (Follow him on twitter or check out his website for lots more on the experience: lucasjatoba.com)
The gifts: a Wallabies rugby ball, 30 minute massage voucher, a painting, a skateboard, a scarf, “the doggy bank”, chocolates, bottle of champagne, a teddy bear, a mini tree to hang pictures, a Japanese porcelain tea jar, mini garden tools for kids, scented oil infuser for the home, iTunes music voucher, mini boxer shorts for a new born baby, origami book, “happyland village vet” (toy for a kid), scented soaps and candles, illustrated photo album, a big soft penguin, aromatic moisturizers and shampoos, books, dvds, other toys for kids and more!{ 2 comments }
Have you ever stopped in your tracks to gaze at a piece of art, thinking THAT would be a perfect piece in my house! Do you know an artsy couple about to get hitched? Do you happen to know a local artist you’d love to add to your collection? Could your inlaws use some artistic inspiration in their house? Well, Inlu makes it super easy to round up funds for artwork! And what better site to explore than Etsy? Here are some Etsy art shops that offer cool, unique pieces that would make the recipient smile! (Here’s a sample featuring artwork as the INLU GROUP GIFT),
NewModernArt
Etsy Artwork by NewModernArt $245.00
$150.00 USD © 2011 BenWill Studio.
Original Painting Fine Art Modern Abstract by Henry Parsinia $450.00
LARGE Cherry Blossom Painting Gold Red Black Abstract Modern $285.00 USD
ChristineKrainock Contemporary Art
Modern, Abstract, Metallic Oil, Silver, Textured, Knife Painting $190.00 USD
Art Original Acrylic Painting of Ballerina at Rest in Old Studio Room In Repose $175.00 USD
Autumn Splendor -Original Acrylic Textured Painting $225.00 USD
JMJARTSTUDIO Original 3 Piece Painting 24 X 54 Inches $259.00 USD
AmyGiacomelli -- $275.00 USD
Sunshine Burst of Joy $315.00 USD
Collecting from a group to buy a piece of art is a cinch. Simply create an Inlu, explain WHY the artwork is special and invite people to pitch in!
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Kids + in lieu of gifts in lieu of TOO MANY gifts = AWESOME
Times are a changing. In an era when TV shows are showcasing over the top parties, there’s another trend happening more quietly: lieu of gifts…for kids. We’ve seen bring-a-book parties, no gift parties, bring a canned item parties, in lieu of gifts charity parties and that’s why we’re excited for parents to know all about Inlu. Inlu is the “in lieu of too much-stuff-that-will-end-up-in-a-landfill” meets “give-back-and-feel-good-about-helping-a-cause” option. Kids definitely know the perils of environmental destruction– they see the nature shows, the headlines and the cute polar bears on TV. They also like gifts. Which is totally fair. We had gifts growing up. So why not bring balance? Get something you love, give back to cause. Skip the mess. Done.
Inlu a perfect option for kids parties. It’s easy- as the organizer, you create an invitation with event details. You write a blurb about what your child would REALLY like and then, if you want, you can add any charity to go along with the gift. So for example, let’s say your child wants a new Nerf Gun™, you write that down and all the guests pitch in when they RSVP. At the same time, let’s say you know your child loves dolphins. You add a charity that saves dolphins and your guests can pitch in for the gift, charity or both when they RSVP. The idea is that in lieu of wrapping paper and a card, you can give that money to a cause that matters.
In the end, your kid get a cool gift AND you gave back. There’s no mess from a pile of “stuff” but you didn’t have to skip the gift altogether! It’s all about the balance.
Good idea? Let us know! Want to create your own? It’s free to create and send so give it a shot. OR view a sample.
P.S. The gift part is really flexible. You can set a gift collection limit so excess funds will go to the cause. 
(For example, if you only need $50, you can set the option to cover the gift, anything over that will be put to the charity fund). Or, if you want a traditional “in lieu of gifts” party, Inlu makes that easy too. Simply check the “no gift” box and all the guests can RSVP and contribute to the charity in one step.
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