Henna is a natural paste that has been used to etch temporary exotic flourishes on hands and other body parts for 5,000 years. The tattoos are said to date back to ancient Egypt, when they stained the fingers of the pharaohs prior to mummification. Adopted by Indian and Middle Eastern cultures, it is traditional to decorate women for Mehndi wedding ceremonies and to paint the bellies of pregnant women in their 8th month for good luck and calming effects.

I’m a huge fan of henna motifs, not just on the skin but in home design. I have borrowed the paisley floral motifs to stamp lamp shades and headboards, and have framed painted images of henna hands that I find in various art shops. I’ve employed one of the greatest henna artists, Daracy Vasudev of Henna Lounge in San Francisco, to work her magic on window coverings (below) and walls for some of my design clients.

I’ve been waiting and waiting for someone to produce henna designs for the home so I wouldn’t have to come up with a line myself. And now, it seems, in the new year, some vendors are getting hip to the tattoos for wool and natural cotton textiles.

Among them, the producers of the Hamsah Hand Rug at West Elm. It’s made of pure hand-tufted wool and is sold up to an 8×10 ($499). I’m floored by the carpet’s interpretation of a henna hand, while borrowing from the hamsah, a Middle-Eastern symbol of protection, especially from the evil eye.

Meantime, CB2 introduces Mehndi Bedding (above), filigree medallions in chocolate embroidery on organic, undyed cotton. It emerges as an intricate, hand-drawn motif right out of a henna book. It includes a duvet $119 to $129) and shams, along with a chocolate Danita accent pillow ($39.95). There’s also a teal version of the henna pillow.

Prior to these ready-made henna objects for the home, I’ve looked to textile maker John Robshaw, who produces a few hand-blocked natural fabrics with henna-style floral motifs such as the three below.

I’m hoping henna for the home is here to stay, unlike the gorgeous body tattoos that sadly fade away after a day or two.

This fall, Suzani rugs, pillows, blankets and more are sure to take center stage, so, before this craze is unleashed, I consider it my duty as a décor dilettante to explore its origin and history. Suzani is much more than just a trend; it represents centuries of Central Asian culture.

In generations past, the art of Suzani was a family tradition, similar to the patchwork quilt, and each female contributed a creative hand to produce their treasured heirlooms. These Suzanis were commonly designed to depict motifs representative of the Ottoman Empire, such as tulips and grapevines. Vibrant colors brought the images on these masterpieces to life through the use of natural, vegetable-based dyes.

So, how are these intricate works of art made? As it turns out, the process is as elaborate as the patterns that adorn each Suzani. Several strips of fabric, usually silk or cotton, are basted together, and the desired pattern is then drawn onto this amalgamation of textiles. While authentic Suzanis were printed on neutral-hued fabrics, today’s versions incorporate more colorful backdrops. When the basting stitches are removed, each family member carefully stitches their portion of the design. In fact, the term Suzani derived from the Persian word for needle because these gorgeous, functional creations require painstakingly-detailed embroidery. Once all of the pieces are complete, they are reassembled to form stunning Suzanis.

This centuries-old tradition has yet to lose its impact. Suzanis of the past continue to inspire designers of the present with their awe-inspiring detail and eco-friendly appeal. Among my favorites of these replications, the Suzani bench at VivaTerra is timelessly stylish and 100% green, made from organic cotton, sustainable sheesham wood and natural, non-toxic dyes. If you truly fancy this fad, make sure that you check out the Suzani pillows as well. (Available in narrow and wide at sponsor VivaTerra for $395- $895.)

Some say print books are passé, but I still like curling up on the couch with a mind-expanding read. Here are my top picks for ecological and sustainable reading.

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough & Michael Braungart. Why settle for a throwaway culture? This book inspires elegant design solutions, stating that every single product must either go back to the earth or back into industry to be made into something else. A revolutionary way of upgrading the Industrial Revolution.

Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison. The classic text on permaculture design (which is not limited to gardens, but can also be used to design homes, communities and societies in general). An excellent introduction for the aspiring student or someone who just wants to know what it’s all about.

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman. What exactly would happen to the earth if human life disappeared? The author explores a few different scenarios in great detail (including a suddenly depopulated Manhattan). Absolutely addictive reading.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver. A great read for the locavores. The author spends a year eating only from her garden, or that which is locally grown or raised. A foodie’s delight, this book proves how richly one can live off the land.

Eating For Beauty by David Wolfe. Leading raw foodist David Wolfe takes that old adage “you are what you eat” to a new level. He describes how what you eat literally creates who you are, and which foods will create the most beautiful you – in body and in spirit.

Lifeplace: Bioregional Thought and Practice by Robert L. Thayer, Jr. In a world gone insanely global, this book takes us deeper into the microcosm.  A bioregion is defined by nature, not by politics, and having intimate connection with your home means living within that context – historically, geographically and culturally.

Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies by Eric Corey Freed. Written by the founder of organicARCHITECT, this book is a comprehensive guide to green building materials and techniques, energy and water systems, and the pros and cons of everything. Check out a sample chapter here.

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth by James Lovelock. First published in 1979, this book sets forth the Gaia Hypothesis, stating that our planet is more than a sum of its resources, but rather a fully integrated living being, with systems of life more complex than previously imagined. I wonder what Gaia’s thinking about us now?

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. Follow a McDonald’s meal back to a cornfield in Iowa. Learn about the differences between large and small organic farms. See what it’s like to hunt and gather for oneself. Food is what builds our bodies – we ought to know what it takes to build our food.

Ecovillages: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Communities by Jan Martin Bang. Documenting some of the successful Ecovillages around the world, the author shows us how groups of people have come to together to live out the permaculture model in both rural and urban environments.

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves by McCamant, Durrett and Hertzman. If you think intentional communities are too much like communes, but typical modern housing creates too much isolation, cohousing may be the answer you’re looking for. Explore these European neighborhoods built with the aim of fostering community while simultaneously respecting each family’s personal space.

The Findhorn Garden: Pioneering a New Vision of Man and Nature in Cooperation by The Findhorn Community. The founders of Findhorn were guided to begin growing a garden (including tomatoes, roses and tropicals) on an infertile, sandy plot in cold coastal Scotland. The quality and quantity of what they grew stunned horticulturists around the world. Enjoy this photo-filled book and learn the surprising secret of their success.

Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M. Benyus. We’ve thus far created a modern world based on artificial ideals, but nature, which runs on sunlight and creates no waste, holds the solution to many modern problems. This isn’t a “back to nature” book, but rather a book proposing thoroughly modern technologies that copy nature’s best traits.

Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making by Allan Savory and J
ody
Butterfield. A great read for businesspeople and managers – particularly those in charge of large areas of land. This book views people, economies and the environment as interconnected. Using holistic management techniques, we can make decisions that take all factors into account, for both short and long term. I’d like our government leaders to read this book.

Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin. Living with less “stuff”
can mean living with more purpose, balance and connection. Here’s the inspiration you need to scale back on material goods and make more room for the priceless things that money can’t buy.

Now if all these books were printed on tree-free paper (like Cradle to Cradle) with soy-based ink, we’d be another step towards true sustainability. Otherwise, the audio or e-book will suffice. However you do it, you’ll be inspired. Let us know any other books that are on your list of eco essentials.

Image: kimota

If you’re now clicking your way towards Amazon to buy some of these good green reads – why not take our survey to help us find out more about our audience and be in with a chance of winning £50 of Amazon vouchers? Click here to take part. Thanks!

Peruvian designer Giuliana Testino’s stunningly structured, hand-crocheted designs are inspired by her university studies in  architecture. Testino’s Summer 2008 line features an entirely handcrafted inventory of magnificent yet light pieces, originally inspired by the traditional clothing of the Peruvian Highlanders.

The designer is passionate about preserving the artisan sensibility – each garment takes 2-3 weeks to complete. Techniques used by the artisans include crochet, hand knitting, macramé, and embroidery.

The results are intricate and fresh, and Testino has a strong sense of social responsibility within the communities of artisans she employs. She takes a proactive stances towards improving their quality of life and deeply valuing their masterful craftsmanship.

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Our love affair with recycled glass continues.

Origin Crafts (Fair Trade certified) are the official distributors of this gorgeous bedside water bottle (with drinking glass doubling as lid). They’re handblown in Columbia from, would you believe, recycled windshield glass, tinted the green of glacial springwater.

In the same range and also from Columbia, there are these amber-trimmed handblown goblets, tumbers, flutes and jugs.

History lesson: it’s not hard to see where designers get their inspiration from. Here’s a 6th Century CE Byzantine green glass beaker. Not a million miles from the goblets mentioned above, I’m sure you’ll agree…

Image: Origin Crafts

There’ll be no crying over spilt milk paint. Enough with the cans of decorative yet toxic paint stacking up in the crawl space of my basement. If only I had known about milk paint before I customized all my desks and armoires! This is a paint so safe and eco-friendly, you can throw the excess into the yard without harming your bushes or your brains.

Milk paint (casein paint) has been used by decorative painters for centuries because of its vibrant color and durability. I’ve come across antiques with the original color still intact. A Pennsylvania company called The Real Milk Paint Company® offers a palette of 28 fresh colors,  made from organic materials (powdered purified casein, lime and pigments) drawn from the age-old formula. The paint is best used on raw wood or unsealed walls and wall boards, and can spruce up outdoor furniture or covered porch wicker as well. So long solvents!

Image:  Katmere