This Earth Day, we're proud to partner with the FEED Foundation in their mission to end hunger - one child at a time.

Now through Monday, April 30th
enter promocode FEED
for complimentary shipping at shopterrain.com
and 10% of your order will benefit FEED's initiatives
here and around the globe.

ABOUT FEED

Co-founded by Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson, the FEED Foundation is dedicated to ending hunger - one child at a time. The foundation’s mission is to effectively fight hunger and malnutrition both stateside and abroad. As of 2012, the FEED Foundation and its partner projects have donated over $6 million and provided 60 million free, nutritious school meals to children around the globe. Its latest initiative, FEED USA, funds hunger and nutrition programs in classrooms and communities across America.


 

Each of us at terrain has our own favorite scent from MCMC Fragrances, so we had to ask founder Anne McClain more about her work. With each bottle hand-packaged in her studio in Brooklyn, NY, it's hard to deny the soul and passion behind this independent perfumery. In this interview, Anne tells us about her time studying aromatherapy in Southern France and her intricate process for creating new scents.  

terrain: Tell us about your time studying in Grasse, France.

Anne: I applied to the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in November of 2008 and was accepted as one of twelve students to attend the one-year intensive training program. After I was accepted, I had just six weeks to move - which meant leaving my job as a project manager, leaving my beloved apartment, and leaving a new boyfriend! But becoming a perfumer was a real dream of mine, and I knew there was no better place for me to study than the traditional center for perfume in southern France.

terrain: What was the highlight of your experience in Grasse? What did you find most inspiring?

Anne: In some ways, I think the highlight of my time there was all of the solo time. I was really able to concentrate on this new art that I was learning. In New York, life is very hectic and in Grasse, my life was very meditative. I attended school 8 hours a day, and spent the evenings and weekends brainstorming about what has since become MCMC Fragrances. I got a lot done and that was a certainly a highlight! As for most inspiring, I was blown away by the realization that my nose could be "trained." We spent the first three months intensively memorizing individual ingredients and during the course of that time, my nose actually became stronger, and I was able to recognize nuances within scents that I couldn't detect before.

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Linnea's Lights share with us their inspirations behind the wildly popular Fir Candle and what they're looking forward to in the New Year.

terrain: The Forest Fir candle is a definite winter favorite – what was your process for perfecting this scent?
Linnea's: We drew inspiration from our experiences of getting fresh trees for our homes - the crisp feeling in the air, the scent of the sap on your hands and the vibrance of the tree itself. All those items inspired the forest fir scent; it's meant to invoke the feeling of having a fresh cut tree along with the zest of winter in your home.

terrain: How does the Linnea’s Lights family celebrate the holidays?
Linnea's: We love to enjoy the holiday season with laughter and joy of being together. We put up a holiday tree and a menorah in the studio to celebrate all our religions. We trade names and play "Secret Santa" and listen to holiday music on Pandora while we make and prepare candles.

terrain: What do you love most about the holidays?
Linnea's: The first snow fall, preparing the Christmas tree as a family while sipping hot chocolate with candy canes, and Christmas Eve - it's so magical, elegant and loving when we are all together.

terrain: What are you looking forward to in the New Year?
Linnea's: We are looking forward to growing with our loyal partners and finding new ways to bring Linnea's Lights into people's homes. We are also really excited about doing more for those in need and creating a platform in which to "share the lights" and make a difference where it matters most. 

Simone LeBlanc makes an art of extraordinary gift-giving for the creative client, along with her own friends, family, and holiday hosts. Here she shares a handful of cozy favorites from terrain, along with her thoughts on finding the perfect present during this season of gifting.

terrain: Can you tell us a bit about what inspired your favorites file?

Simone: As you can imagine, this season is the busiest for a gifting company like mine. While I'm busy putting other people's gifts in order, the thing that inspires me most are thoughts of relaxed, cozy time around the house with loved ones. My picks were inspired by that idea; items that are luxurious, comfy and will add to the enjoyment of some holiday downtime.

terrain: In this season of cocktail parties and holiday open houses, what do you think about when selecting the perfect hostess gift?

Simone: Hostess gifts are one of my favorite types of gifts to give. So much effort is put in to creating a great evening, and that shouldn't go unnoticed. I focus on a small indulgence for my hostess. If she's a tea drinker, I bring an assortment of unique, unexpected teas that she may not have bought herself. If she's a busy mom, I bring her a bit of pampering products to enjoy. The hostess gift is all about saying "After this evening is done - relax and indulge yourself, because you deserve it."

terrain: Often giving a gift is more exciting than getting one. Why do you think that is?

Simone: This is such a wonderful sentiment and one I truly agree with. At the heart of it, people are simple and people are kind. Gift giving is not only about showing that you care - it's about showing how you care. There's nothing better than showing your appreciation in a way that is specific to you. The idea of finding a gift that says just what you want it to say, putting time into tracking down an item that you know the recipient will love - all of these efforts do not go unnoticed. Simply put, it feels good to show someone that you care, in a way that is unique to you.

Click here to see Simone's curated gifts for the season's special occasions.
 

Each perfectly imperfect piece in our newest collection of handmade jewelry from Pippa Small tells a story in every rough-hewn stone. We asked Pippa to tell us what keeps her inspired and how her pieces make a difference across the globe. 

terrain: What inspired you to start making jewelry?

Pippa: I was very fortunate to travel with my family when I was young and was very influenced by places and people in remote parts of Africa, and Asia. I was very interested in how they create symbols and meanings around the jewelry they wore. I have always loved stones and started to make jewelry as a child by wrapping pebbles and shells around my wrist and neck as a means of gathering and collecting memories of places and people.

terrain: How has your background in anthropology helped you as an artisan?

Pippa: I worked in Asia for small Human Rights organizations and found it so inspiring and humbling. I have been inspired by the people I met and now continue to work with communities in Asia, Africa and South America in order to generate incomes and revive traditional skills.

terrain: Tell us more about your charity efforts overseas.

Pippa: I work with a charity in Afghanistan called Turquoise Mountain where we train and employ men and women in traditional craft work - this has been a moving and wonderful project. I also work with a group in Kibera (a slum in Nairobi) called Made, where we train and employ disadvantaged communities in working with recycled materials.

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*Fall Wellness with Farmaesthetics, Saturday 11/12. To book your appointment for a relaxing hand treatment and consultation with Brenda, call us at 610-459-2400 or click here.  

In anticipation of Saturday's afternoon of wellness, a few thoughts from Farmaesthetics founder Brenda Brock describe our shared outlook on organic skincare.

terrain: What do you think is the greatest benefit of using organic skincare products?

Brenda: They actually feed your skin, your body, the entire you; creating healthy, vital tissue that is equipped to ward off signs of aging and environmental damage. Cosmetics are best known for making the skin “appear” healthier, prettier, younger, and brighter; and that has its place. But for those of us who want our skin to actually BE healthier, prettier, younger, and brighter ; we need to feed, nourish and protect it without compromising chemicals. And that is exactly what you get when you use natural products like Farmaesthetics

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With a collection of wearable bags made here in the USA, Ernest Alexander sat down to tell us about the ethos behind his heritage line.

terrain: How did the line of Ernest Alexander bags come about?

Ernest: The idea for my line came a few years back - I could never find that perfect bag. Something refined enough to carry on the streets of New York but durable enough to last. Everything I saw was either too slick or looked like something out of a mountaineering catalog. And so I essentially started designing bags that I myself would want to carry. It's kind of nice because in that sense my line is a direct reflection of my personal style. Attention to design. Craftsmanship. Heritage fabrics and classic materials. Mixing an easy sense of style with refined sensibility. It makes the design process that much easier because I essentially design something that I would want to wear.

terrain: The materials for your bags; beautiful waxed canvas, soft leather, printed cotton, and brass hardware, are obviously carefully chosen. What factors went into those choices?

Ernest: We try to source interesting and hard to find fabrics for everything we make. So for instance, we use a lot of deadstock British wools for our linings and neckwear. Handsome wax cottons milled right here on the East Coast for our bags. I love applying classic fabrics in interesting ways. Hidden pop color linings. Fun plaids paired with classic wax cottons. Heritage materials applied in a designed way make the product that much more special.

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We asked Rose-Marie Swift, founder of RMS Beauty, to tell us the inspiration behind her products and her quick tips for daily skincare.

terrain: What inspired you to start RMS Beauty?

RMS: After many years in the fashion and make-up industry, I’ve learned a lot about the impact of daily exposure to chemicals in beauty care products. My background as an advocate for cleaner cosmetics came when my own health deteriorated years ago and through my research, I realized many of the chemicals that were in my body were also found throughout the beauty industry.

After the public's response to my website (www.beautytruth.com), the question always asked was, "What shall we use?" I started studying ingredients in our so-called natural cosmetics and I remained unconvinced that they offered anything that actually worked to the degree of purity that I wanted.

I created RMS Beauty from the heart and my desire is to offer a safe, beautiful, fashion-forward cosmetic line that is an alternative to the chemical lines that flood the market. Times are changing and people are slowly realizing that our beauty industry and our world we live in needs to be cleaned up.

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Isa Brito of Isa's Restoratives tells us the beauty behind making her own organic herbal remedies.

terrain: What inspired you to start Isa’s Restoratives?

Isa: I have always been interested in natural ways of preventing illnesses and healing ailments. When my daughter started showing interest in products and make up, and after taking an even closer look at the often harmful chemical ingredients in the main stream brands, I decided to make simple things at home for us.  I made shampoos, deodorants, lip balms, creams, body lotions.  The Lilac Rouge became popular very fast with her girlfriends, then their mothers, and even some school teachers. Soon I was making creams and salves for friends of friends, and I decided to make a website to make things easier.  A year after that I quit my day job.

terrain: Tell us a bit about the natural ingredients that go into your products.

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We asked Mordechai Alvow, founder of Yarok hair products, to tell us the meaning behind their name and tips for daily haircare.

terrain: What inspired you to create Yarok? Where did the name come from?

Mordechai: I remember spending so much time in perfume shops as a kid, fascinated by the smells and the shapes of the bottles. Yarok was created in my kitchen. I ordered lots of raw ingredients like oils, herbs, butters made of nuts and started to choose ingredients that I wanted to incorporate in my line. "Yarok" means "green" in Hebrew and it was an easy and simple choice - I planned on using only natural, pure ingredients that are "green."

terrain: With all the traveling between New York, Chicago, Miami, Israel and London – which Yarok products can’t you leave home without?

Mordechai: Feed Your Ends has the perfect aroma, it makes my hair soft to the touch, and the spray bottle keeps my hand clean! I also use one or two drops of Feed Your Shine to give a perfect shine without making my hair oily.

terrain: What’s the most important thing we should know about daily care for healthy hair?

Mordechai: Drink lots of water and maintain a healthy diet - vegetables do wonders for hair and nails.

Jessica Frankopan, one of the founders of Green & Spring, tells us about their commitment to natural ingredients and why she loves roses.

terrain: Tell us a bit about the natural ingredients that go into your products.

G&S: We use 100% natural botanical materials and all of our herbal extracts are sourced from the UK.  The principle ingredients of our three ranges offer completely different benefits.  The Relaxing range was inspired by aromatic kitchen herbs, blending the soothing fragrance of lavender with the nurturing and restorative properties of comfrey and rosemary.  The Revitalising range was inspired by green, grassy fields, blending the invigorating fragrance of peppermint with the nourishing and stimulating properties of dandelion and fennel and the Indulging range was inspired by English country gardens, blending the delicate scent of rose and the sensual fragrance of jasmine with the comforting and restful properties of elderflower and red clover.

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We asked Peter and Juwels, the husband-and-wife duo of Pollen Arts, to tell us about the magic behind their candles and their 1975 Winnebago home.

terrain: Tell us more about yourselves and how Pollen Arts was born.

p&j:  Aloha! We’re Peter & Juwels - husband and wife, creative partners, and most of all, best friends. About three years ago, Juwels and I left our fancy top-story loft, sold off the bulk of our things, and moved into a 1975 Winnebago Chieftain. Pollen Arts was born in this Winnie - she’s the love child of our revolution of the now.

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British candlemakers Watts & Co. tell us about their centuries-old technique and their connection to the iconic red telephone...

terrain: Tell us about the history behind Watts & Co..

Watts & Co.: Watts & Co was formed by a group of leading 19th century architects, who wanted a company that could provide high quality furnishings and fabrics for their buildings that would be "items of artistic character", and which they designed themselves.

Since it was founded in 1874, the company is still owned by the descendants of one of the original founders, George Gilbert Scott II - the Gilbert Scott family having produced several of Britain's most distinguished architects and designers, including Giles Gilbert Scott, the creator of the iconic British red telephone box!

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Yuka Morihata tells us how she met her husband Kaz, why they started Morihata, and how she was first introduced to the benefits of charcoal.

terrain: How did you and your husband meet? What inspired you to start Morihata?

Yuka: Kaz and I both attended Rhode Island School of Design and moved to NYC after we graduated. Coincidentally, we ended up in the same department at the same company. Years later, we married in a townhouse in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

After I accepted a job in Tokyo, Japan, Kaz got accepted into the graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. We decided to live apart for three years - though it was a tough decision I am glad we did it. My time in Tokyo definitely became the foundation of Morihata.

Three years later, I left my job in Tokyo and moved back to the U.S. We bought a small loft in Philadelphia and have enjoyed fixing it up as a place to live and work. This is where and when Morihata International Ltd., Co. started.

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terrain: So much of your jewelry is cast from items found outdoors around your studio. Can you describe those surroundings for us?

Mani: Well, I've recently moved back to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and my studio is on an island in the middle of the French Broad River in the old High School, which a wonderful local potter saved from being demolished and beautifully refurbished. So, it's a very lovely setting and I appreciate so much being able to be there.

terrain: Do you have a favorite spot to go looking for natural found objects for your jewelry?

Mani: This is a pretty lush environment so I'm able to find things everywhere. I went raspberry picking this morning for example, and the blueberries at a nearby farm will be ready this weekend. I try to be observant whenever I'm outside. So much is blooming right now, and if I forget to look outside, sometimes I miss something.

terrain: Can you tell us a bit more about your design process? Do you go out in search of a particular botanical element for your jewelry, or does what you find inspire the design?

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A bit of background from Lynn and Laura, the mother and daughter team behind Linnea’s Lights.

terrain: Where did the inspiration for the name come from?

Linnea’s: The name, Linnea’s Lights, is a nod to our ancestry.  The name Linnea has been in our family for over five generations in one form or another. It’s a tribute to the strong foundation of women before us who showed us how to create with one’s own hands using local ingredients or items straight from the garden of the highest quality. 

terrain: Can you tell us a bit about what’s it’s like to work on a mother and daughter team?

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