Pared down to its barest essence, Wabi-Sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and balance in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it respects authenticity above all. Wabi-Sabi celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind. It reminds us that we are all but transient beings on this planet-that the material world around us is in the process of returning to the dust from which it came. Through Wabi-Sabi, we learn the beauty of things imperfect, and impermanent. It is a beauty of things in search of the elusive, delicate balance between modest and humble, the truest “green concept of celebrating life cycles.

Dahlia

California artist Jolee Pink has managed to create modern art pillows that reflect tender, raw beauty; the kind of quiet, undeclared allure that waits patiently to be discovered and embraced. Jolee started her innovative company, Wabisabi Green, to showcase stylish designs for the home. Jolee’s passion to fuse artistic expression with home accessories led her to the development of her EcoArt collection. Her designs are inspired by walks on the beach and the natural sunny surroundings of  southern California.

I was asked to do a review of one of Jolee’s gorgeous pillows. I was sent the “Dahlia” and without hesitation, I can honestly say that I absolutely love it. In home decor, Wabi-Sabi inspires a minimalism that celebrates the human rather than the machine. Possessions are pared down until only those that are necessary for their utility or beauty, (ideally both), are left. Jolee has managed to bridge both of these seamlessly with her collection.

Tortuga

There are six designs available in each the Shore and Zen collection and five designs available in the Leaf collections, (some designs are also available in multiple colors). They are covered in soft organic cotton, and the insert is covered in unbleached cotton. You also have the option to choose between luxuriously silky organic kapok fiber, sustainably harvested from the rain forest, or soft and fluffy eco-fiber made from recycled plastic bottles rescued from landfills.

Wabi-Sabi interiors tend to sometimes be muted with natural materials that are vulnerable to weathering, cracking, and peeling which lend an air to perishability. But Jolee’s collection offers an ambrosial description of modern design and an appreciation of the transient beauty in the physical world. Her pillows bring art, color and comfort to your home with the greatest of respect for our Planet. I feel she has accomplished the transientness of materialism with the practicality of simplicity flawlessly. I’m a true fan.

Bamboo Forest

It is also worth noting that Jolee donates a percentage of all her Tortuga collection design sales to ProPeninsula’s efforts towards Sea Turtle conservation. Jolee has also be gracious enough to donate, not one, but two Dahlia pillows, (a value of around $140), to a Modern Eco Homes reader. We will run a contest Monday, August 3^rd where one lucky winner will be selected. Please stay tuned for contest details. In the mean time head on over to Wabisabi Green and check out Jolee’s collections. Oh, before I forget, make sure you also have a look at her EcoArt Bags. They’re the perfect size for grocery shopping, books, travel and everyday errands. They’re printed with eco-friendly inks on an organic cotton canvas. Stylish, eco-hip and practical. Love em!

Eco Art Pillow Summary Review:

Pros:

• Eco-friendly

• Gorgeous

• Eco art

• Kapok or ecofiber

• Hypoallergenic

• Eco safe

Cons:

• I think it’s clear from my review I don’t have any