The Stray Dog Just Got Friendlier -- Environmentally

Chattanooga, TN (PRWEB) January 9, 2008 -- Stray Dog Designs announces the addition of 12 environmentally friendly colors to its Papier Mache Collection of lamps and home accessories. Stray Dog's papier mache products -- made primarily from recycled cement bags by artisans in sustainable jobs -- are already plenty environmentally friendly. But now they're colored exclusively via a line of water based, low VOC (volatile organic compounds) Aura paints from Benjamin Moore. And the colors are gorgeous.

VOC's emit smog-forming chemicals -- a major contributor to ground-level ozone pollution. Lower VOC paints preserve both indoor and outdoor air quality and reduce eye and respiratory irritation from exposure to VOC fumes. And since low VOC paints are water based, they don't use petroleum products, which also harm the environment.

Since 2006 Stray Dog Designs' Papier Mache Collection has featured a growing line of captivating lamps and chic accessories in delightful, organic shapes -- all in elegant, gleaming white.

But this year designer Jane Gray employs her inspired color sense with gusto to stunning effect. Keeping the ever popular white, she ups the ante by drenching her papier mache designs in 12 sumptuous new colors -- like African Violet, Pumpkin Blush, and Douglas Fir -- a whole spectrum of vibrant, radiant, and in some cases, downright zesty shades.

And since they're all water based, low VOC paints, no matter what color you choose -- it's still green!

Stray Dog Designs founder Billy Pritchard can't stop grinning about the new colors, saying, "This is only the latest addition to our already environmentally conscious product line. We're pretty proud of that!"

Stray Dog Designs is a designer/manufacturer of unique lamps and home accessories made from glass, tin, iron, and papier mache. Each piece is a handmade, original work of art made by artisans in Mexico, where half the population lives in poverty, and in Haiti, where almost 80% are unemployed. With the addition of low VOC paints Stray Dog Designs continues to:

Support sustainable jobs throughout the world by creating employment where it's needed the most;

Seek out artisans who have history and skill in the mediums we choose so that they can work in their own area of expertise, keeping their rich traditions alive;

Make sure our artisans earn a fair, living wage to support their families;

Use recycled and recyclable materials whenever possible, and;

Donate to organizations that work toward making all of our lives better

"Considering the large amount of products coming from overseas that have been found to contain dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals, we are ecstatic that we found paint for our Papier Mache Collection that is safe for the environment, our customers, and our employees," said Pritchard.

For more information about Stray Dog Designs, go to www.straydogdesigns.com or call 423-756-7337.

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