The Mustard Seed stall stands in the Columbia Earth Day Festival

Earth Day 2012

Several vendors, volunteers and residents braved gray skies on Earth Day to celebrate Columbia’s 2012 Earth Day Festival. Mustard Seed set up a stall on Elm Street with items such as jewelry, t-shirts and recycled sari journals. Despite a few showers, the crowds remained full throughout the festival. The Earth Day Festival is an annual… Continue reading »

View full post
Namazzi Joyce

The Ladies of Sseko

Hey Everyone! I haven’t posted in awhile but I finally got some time to travel to Kampala to meet with the lovely ladies that make Sseko sandals. You may of heard the story of how Sseko came about but for those of you who have no idea here’s a brief overview. Sseko considers itself to be a not-just-for-profit enterprise… Continue reading »

View full post
pchoco1

Patric Chocolate

Mustard Seed is thrilled to now be carrying Patric chocolate. We’re excited because it is not only delicious, but also happens to be made by a local company. Patric began after Alan “Patric” McClure spent a year in France, where he studied the chocolate making process. In 2006 he set up shop here in Columbia,… Continue reading »

View full post
Artisan sewing detail on handmade paper

Handmade Expressions Wrapping Paper

While the gifts many exchange this time of year are no doubt important, how your wrap it also adds the festivity of gift giving. When one thinks of “Fair Trade,” wrapping paper probably isn’t the first thing you think of, but here at Mustard Seed, we’ve managed to track some down! Handmaid Expressions is distributing lovely… Continue reading »

View full post
Batik Childrens Clothing Image, boys smiling

Batik Children’s Clothing

The past few weeks I’ve focused on items for us grown ups, but I can’t neglect mentioning some items we carry for the youngsters in our lives.We’ve come across some children’s clothing from Global Mamas which are just fantastic. With fun, bright colors and unique batik prints, these clothing items suit any child’s personality. Additionally,… Continue reading »

View full post
Earth Day 2012 The Ladies of Sseko Patric Chocolate Handmade Expressions Wrapping Paper Batik Children’s Clothing

Oct
27

New Arrival: The Scrunch Jacket

by

Fall is in full swing, and here at the Mustard Seed we’re celebrating with fall colors and things to keep you warm on a cool night. That’s why we’re excited about a new arrival: the Scrunch jacket from Unique Batik. Available in red and black (or via custom order in blue or denim) this 100% cotton jacket is perfect for this fall weather. The “scrunch” appears at the collar where you can strategically add interest by extending the tabs around the neckline. Each tab can be extended individually allowing you to transform your jacket to suit your outfit or your mood.

This clever jacket comes to us from a family in Guatemala. They benefit from access to the incredible world wide web to monitor fashion trends in Europe to increase the marketability of their fashions on the international market. Come check this jacket out, along with our other fall arrivals.

We can’t decide what we like better about fall: layering, or that it makes for great shopping weather.
Scrunch Jacket in Blue

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Leave comment

Sep
29

CJFF Discount! Yahoo!

by

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave comment

Sep
16

share} love

by

Just some love and encouragement to the lovely ladies at Sseko Designs! :)

Tags: , , , , , ,

Leave comment

Aug
26

wowza! neon straps… limited edition

by

get ‘em while you can!
in store now

This post has no tag

Leave comment

Aug
23

Back to School { With Happy Handbags

by

Mustard Seed’s August window display features some great bags for back to school!

Some of my favorite bags (largely because of the name) are the Happy Handbags from Unique Batik. In addition to the happy handbags, Unique Batik also makes the creatively-named “secret-size bags” and “small bags with big possibilities”. All these bags can be great for back to school! Particularly the happy hand bags, which are the most roomy, with tons of pockets!

And like Unique Batik says, “If these bags seem cheerful, lively and ready to have good days — it’s because they’re made that way.” The hands of artisans in Ghana, Guatemala, Thailand or Pakistan create these bags so that you, like the bags, will have a cheerful, lively day.

Need the perfect book to carry in your bag? Try our school paper journals. They are absolutely amazing. The books are made by Eco-Friendly Papers, coming all the way from Rajasthan, India. Some families working for Eco-Friendly Papers have been in the paper making industry for over 80 years! Rather than using the conventional way of making paper, the artisans use cotton rags.

However, it is the cover that is my favorite part of these journals. The cover is actually made from old school papers that were once used by students. The book covers are also embellished with hand embroidery and hand-embossed patterns. The book is finished with cruelty-free leather, which comes from animals that died naturally, in an area that is strictly vegetarian. The journals are obviously beautifully handcrafted in the most environmental way. A pretty unique journal!

So next time you go to class, carry a fair trade, recycled, cruelty-free notebook in an amazing fair trade, happy hand bag.

Tags: , ,

Leave comment

Aug
19

Fashion Friday { 30 Ways/30 Days

by

30 Ways/30 Days has Begun!

30 Ways/30 Days is a contest created by Sseko Designs. This is the second annual contest. The contest began on August 15 and will run until September 13th. Check out our blog post on how to win free straps for a year! The overarching idea is to wear the Sseko sandals daily, each day spreading the Sseko story. Considering almost all of our fashion fridays have featured Ssekos, it should not be hard to find a ways to wear them.

As pictured, Ssekos can be worn with your everyday outfits– dresses, skirts, jeans. But, it can also be worn as a holiday accessory. Even better, you could be wearing the most comfortable, fashionable, unique wedding sandals.
Ssekos can nearly be worn in any fashion setting.

My project for you all is to participate in 30 ways/30 days. I know it may not be possible to wear them all day, every day. However, try to wear your Ssekos as much as you can in the most fashionable way. Also, try to find new, exciting ways to tie your Sseko straps. Hopefully, someone will comment on your cute sandals! Then, you can precede to tell them the amazing story behind the sandals.

If you don’t know the story, I will sum it up for you real quick. Sseko sandals was created by Liz Bohannon to help young Ugandan women continue their education. In Uganda, there is a 9 month gap between secondary school and university. The gap was designed to help students earn money to pay for their education. Great, yes. However, in a male dominated society, the women have a hard time finding fair work. It is Sseko Sandals that is helping these young women earn money for their education. These women will go on to do great things. You must visit Ssekos website to learn more and actually meet the women. It is extremely exciting and inspirational. {Side note for our Missouri/Mizzou readers, Ssekos was founded by a mizzou grad!}

I will end with a quote from Ssekos, “Every sandal has a story. This story has only just begun, but with your help, it will be a story of hope, success and change.”
Spread Fashion { Spread the story of hope, success, change

Tags: , ,

1 comment

Aug
17

“Oatmeal Cookies { With a Purpose”

by

While creating yesterday’s blog, I found the most perfect recipe in More-with-Less!

“Oatmeal cookies with a purpose”

Today, I am going to share with you that recipe. The recipe makes 5-6 dozen cookies.
First preheat your oven to 325.

Begin by creaming together:

  • 1 c. margarine or shortening
  • 1 c. brown sugar

Add:

  • 2 c. rolled oats
  • 1 c. dry milk solids
  • 1/2 c. water

In a separate bowl sift together:

  • 2 1/4 c. flour
  • 3 t. baking powder
  • 1 t. salt

Then, combine the two mixtures and mix well. Roll the dough into 1/4″ thickness. Place the cookies onto a baking pan and put into the oven. Then, 10-15 minutes later your cookies will be ready to come out, your house will be filled with wonderful smells, and your stomach will be rumbling.

More-with-Less actually adds a bit of fun to the recipe by giving instructions on how children can participate and make animal cookies! I decided to keep the recipe a bit shorter for our reader’s sake, however, you should really check out the fun recipe. You (and the kids!) will love it.

More-with-Less promises this end result:

1. Sparkling Eyes 2. Happy Faces 3. Grimy Hands 4. Bulging Cheeks 5. Sweet voices saying “Mm, good, it’s yummy yummy in my tummy.” 6. Spontaneous hugs from flour-covered arms 7. A few cookies.

This post has no tag

Leave comment

Aug
15

Cook { With a Purpose

by

This week’s window product is cookbooks! 
All the cookbooks we carry at Mustard Seed allow you to better understand the food you are cooking with.

Where we sell

The Salad Garden at Columbia Farmer's Market. Photo from http://thesaladgarden-mo.com/sell.php

What is really neat about cooking in Columbia is the ability to get a lot of great, fresh produce! Missouri ranks number 2 in number of farms, with 66% of the state’s land being used for farmland. With that said, it is no wonder why Columbia is able to get a lot of delicious produce. Even better, there is now a Sunday farmer’s market located right in downtown Columbia. Also, every day but Monday, the Root Cellar sells products from Missouri’s diverse farmers and artisan food producers.

With all that fresh produce you can make tons of great meals! Unsure what to make or overwhelmed by the recipes available online? Come in to Mustard Seed, check out our amazing cookbooks and let us make cooking easier for you!

We carry three cookbooks, Simply in Season, Extending the Table, and More with Less all from 10 Thousand Villages.

Simply in Season celebrates local, fresh food, allowing you to better understand what crops are in season, and then shows you how to use those crops in your cooking. The cookbook is organized by seasons. In addition, the cookbook explains each vegetable, when it is in season, how to select, prepare and serve it!

More-with-Less is perfect for people trying to save money. It shares recipes from a wide range of contributors on how to cook healthy, delicious meals with fewer food resources. This edition has stories gathered from 25 years of cooking with More-with-Less.

Lastly, Extending the Table, is for those ready to explore and try new things! Extending the Table has an array of recipes from more the 80 countries!

From Mustard Seed { Understand seasonal crops, use fewer resources & try new recipes!

This post has no tag

Leave comment

Aug
15

Seeking} Off-Site Sales Coordinator

by

Hello Mustard Seed fans! :)

We have some exciting news.  We are seeking a new Off-Site Sales Coordinator, with expanded goals and responsibilities!  (See job description below)

It is bitter-sweet to see Rachael move on to pursue other life goals, but she has set up a great framework over the past year for whoever comes on board this year!

We are looking to hire immediately as we prepare for a busy fall and holiday season.

This job is for you if…

1} You Love Mustard Seed!
2} You Are a Super Outgoing People Person
3} You Know How to Stay Organized
4} You Are Highly Motivated by the Mustard Seed Mission
5} You Are a One-of-a-Kind Networking Machine with the Leadership Abilities to Motivate and Inspire

Do any or all of these sound like you or someone you know?

Serious applicants should e-mail their resume and cover letter to info@mustardseedfairtrade.org.  Please feel free to call or e-mail with any questions.

Many thanks!
Mustard Seed Leadership Team

Title of the position
Off-Site Sales Coordinator

Department
Community Outreach, Sales and Customer Service, Volunteer Management

Reports to
Executive Director
Board of Directors

Overall responsibility
Maximize offsite sales and customer service; set and reach sales goals; train and mentor off-site volunteers, manage off-site volunteer schedule
Key areas of responsibility
  • Maintain timely e-mail correspondence for offsite@mustardseedfairtrade.org account
  • Set sales goals for off-site performance
  • Manage monthly off-site sales (scheduling, set-up, sales, tear-down) and Fair Trade 101 Presentations as available
  • Manage off-site inventory (make purchases, receive items, store inventory)
  • Manage Off-Site budget and make off-site payments (booth rentals, supplies, etc)
  • Actively and Regularly Seek out new offsite sale opportunities
  • Maintain communication with volunteers via phone, e-mail, Cozi, and volunteer blog as necessary
  • Manage monthly off-site volunteer schedule and off-site specific volunteer training
  • Assist with monthly orientation meetings for volunteers as available
  • Provide and inspire outstanding service to our customers
  • Report store progress and problems to the Executive Director and Board of Directors
  • Participate in Board Development and Outreach Committee
  • May also manage online sales (update website, customer correspondence, shipping, etc)

Consults with
Volunteers
Intern Team
Executive Director

Weekly Time Commitment
January-September: approximately 10 hours a week , plus on-site sales time
October-December: approximately 15 hours a week, plus on-site sales time
Term of employment
To be determined
Salary**
To be determined based on qualifications and experience
Qualifications
  • Strong sense of customer service, outstanding sales skills
  • Good time management skills
  • Ability to keep volunteer database organized and updated
  • Strong communication and leadership skills
  • Keen financial decision making skills
  • Proficiency in (or ability to learn) Excel, Quick Books Point of Sale, WordPress/Blogger
  • Outgoing and Creative Personality; Incredibly self-sufficient; Team-Player

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Leave comment

Aug
12

30 Days 30 Ways Sseko Tying Contest!

by

It’s that time of year for the Sseko 30 Ways 30 Days Tying Contest! You could win free Sseko straps for a whole entire year! How you ask? Between August 15 through September 15 take photos sporting your Ssekos tied in unique, exciting ways and post them to Sseko’s Facebook wall. Don’t forget to tag us, Mustard Seed Fair Trade,  in the photo. The retailer with the most tags will be crowned 30 Days 30 Ways Queen and win free custom, exclusive straps made especially for them! Individual winners will be chosen weekly.  Help the Seed win this prestigious honor and help your self win free straps for a year! For more information visit Sseko Designs.

This post has no tag

1 comment

Older posts «

» Newer posts