Ped has THE most interesting customers! From artists to teachers to world travelers, our fans take their Ped goods on some amazing adventures. It’s always the highlight of our day at Ped HQ when we get to hear about who did what where wearing what. So, don’t hold back–share your “Tale of the Sole”!!! To make it worth your while to put fingers to keyboard and upload a few photos, each month we’ll pick one entertaining tale to post on the blog, and that storyteller will get a $100 Ped gift certificate! That’s right–$100 in Ped credit to whoever makes us smile the most with her sole-ful tale!

Maybe you were carrying your Cydwoq Bright Bag when you stumbled onto a Hindi movie set while visiting the Taj Mahal in India. Perhaps your true love surprised you with Jamie Joseph’s Oval Drusy Ring on your anniversary. Or maybe a reluctant editor oohed and aahed over your Chie Mihara Frederica heels and offered you the book contract after all (but we think it’s because you felt super confident and persuasive in your Chies). Whatever your story, we want to see and hear all about it! (And extra points if you tell your tale from the perspective of your shoes or bag or other Ped treasure.) So, send your “Tale of the Sole,” ideally with pictures, to yourfriends@pedshoes.com, and maybe we’ll send you a sweet $100 Ped gift certificate in return.

Laura's worn-everywhere Cydwoq Plant shoes take a breather in the garden.

As most of you know, Ped takes great care in selecting what we carry. We look for lines that offer beautiful, exquisitely made items that are also ethically produced using environmentally sound practices. The former is what dazzles the eye, but the latter is what truly matters(!) even though it often goes unnoticed. Which is why we are SO EXCITED that our Seattle-based friend, Jamie Joseph, is getting props for her eco-responsible approach to jewelry in an upcoming issue of Time magazine!

Written by Christine Lennon, “The New Gold Standard” focuses on a handful of environmentally aware jewelers who use reclaimed gold in their creations. Here is the excerpt profiling our gal Jamie:

Seattle-based designer Jamie Joseph was similarly committed to environmental issues, quietly letting her principles guide her long before eco-awareness made it to the Bergdorf Goodman crowd that’s now devoted to her work. And judging by her politics and her environmental commitment, she fits right in with the celebrities who wear Jamie Joseph on the red carpet, including Cameron Diaz and Naomi Watts. She drives a biodiesal car, uses compact fluorescent bulbs and cloth towels in the historic warehouse from which she runs her business and has been using reclaimed gold for close to a decade.

“It’s great that the whole green thing is in vogue now, but we’ve been thinking this way up here for a long time,” she says. “My husband, who’s also my business partner, has a degree in environmental science. I saw a documentary about mining years ago, and I was really disturbed. But I said, Well this is my passion—how am I going to address this? I started investigating. And there were vendors that I found where I could buy all-recycled gold.”

Joseph also makes an effort to buy “conflict-free” gemstones—those that aren’t sold to fund wars or mined by exploited workers in unethical ways—from reliable dealers and often uses less rare, large-scale stones like rose quartz and chalcedony with tiny accents of diamonds. “We work with small owner-operated vendors that have similar beliefs and try to build a community around that,” she says. “The whole gemstone industry, it’s a little like the used-car business. You’ve got to know and trust your vendors. We make a point at least once a year of meeting face to face with people. Before I buy a stone from someone, I have to have an interview first. I want to make sure they’re not out raping the land.”

The article also features this beautiful image of one of Jamie’s necklaces (it’s the one on the left):

© Anita Calero, Time

Isn’t that necklace drop-dead gorgeous? It’s available by special order from Ped! Just let us know, and we’ll ask the incomparable Ms. Joseph to create one for you.

In the meantime, here are a few other Jamie Joseph lovelies currently available at Ped:
 

We love how the tiny gold-set diamond in this Oval Drusy Ring complements the fairy-dust sparkle of the larger stone.

These Mint Quartz Earrings are so fresh and green that wearing them is like wearing springtime!

One of the things we like best about Jamie Joseph is the way she turns to nature for design inspiration, as in the wonderful gold oak leaf she uses in combination with the aquamarine stone in this beautiful necklace.

And there is plenty more gorgeousness where those came from! Isn’t it nice to know Jamie Joseph really walks the talk in caring for the world? Ped hearts Jamie Joseph!

Once again, we’d like to express a boatload of gratitude to several sites that have found things to appreciate at Ped! Whenever we discover a Ped item highlighted on these wonderful blogs, it’s like finding ourselves at a party where the other guests are all so interesting (not to mention pretty!). So, thanks for including us!

pincurls.blogspot.com — a blog about lovely things by Michelle Alyssa Mae, owner of the Etsy shop, Pale Woods & Co., which specializes in select vintage fashions.

deargolden.blogspot.com — a site where graphic designer, yoga instructor, and vintage purveyor, Lauren, shares all the loveliness she discovers. (She also owns an Etsy vintage shop of the same name, Dear Golden Vintage.)

bluemossgirls.blogspot.com — Michelle Taylor continues to thrill us by putting us in good company in her rundowns of well-designed things. (And, yes, in addition to selling her beautiful repurposed baubles in stores, she, too, has an Etsy shop, Blue Moss.)

blissfulb.blogspot.com — Mrs. French serves up aesthetic treats all week long at Bliss, but her “I heart Mondays” are not-to-be-missed. Getting hearted is like receiving an unexpected valentine. (She also has an Etsy Shop, Blissful Images, where she sells her lovely photographs.)

If we haven’t mentioned your site, but you’ve mentioned Ped, we are so appreciative (and invite you to let us know)! At Ped, we only carry things we truly love, so it’s nice when others notice. To all of you who are so kind to us, we send a virtual bouquet of spring flowers!

I want to give a Valentine’s Day shout-out to several online sites that have spread the Ped love! We are especially delighted by recent sweetness in the following blogs:

ooh-shiny.net—which accurately calls itself “a random directory of pretties.” Lots of prettiness, indeed!

bluemossgirls.blogspot.com—not only does Michelle Taylor, founder of Blue Moss, create dazzling jewelry from re-purposed baubles, but she also serves as a wonderful guide to things of beauty on the Web.

blissfulb.blogspot.com—where Mrs. French shares lovely items that have captured her attention.

We also send roses and thanks to members of Ped’s overseas fan club, like stardust31.livejournal.com and www.laboutiquedelupi.com/blog. We can’t always read their blogs, but we’re still delighted they’ve noticed us.

We’re so grateful to all of you who have taken the time to tell others about Ped! Here’s hoping your Valentine’s Day overflows with love, wine, and chocolate! (Just don’t let any spill on your fabulous shoes.)