Creating the world around us, one stitch at a time

First, for our business customers, I wanted to draw your attention to Southwest Creations, an Albuquerque "contract manufacturing business with an ambitious social mission: to end poverty and create intergenerational wealth." They offer domestic production and manufacturing services for wholesale and retail businesses in the US, performing custom and contract sewing as well as other artisanal and industrial services; they can also manage packaging and shipping. With a minimum of only 250 pieces per style, they're able to work with smaller businesses, and from what I've heard of their skills you'll be very pleased with the results. We definitely recommend talking with the people at Southwest Creations Collaborative if you're looking for a cut-and-sew facility.

And secondly, I know many people are out there looking for Black Friday deals, but you're not going to find anything special here. Why not? Multiple reasons, really. First, we want our employees to spend time relaxing and recuperating Thanksgiving weekend, instead of going crazy -- we're thankful for everyone who works here, and they need a break! Secondly, even though we're a business and we dearly love and appreciate our customers (and we truly do!), we think there's a very good point behind Buy Nothing Day. Our business is built around sustainability -- we're encouraging people to think about what they buy and make and do, and we know that's what our customers do; you don't need us to be your conscience! But Buy Nothing Day is built around the idea that just for a day, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, what if you refrain from buying anything? Do it in solidarity with the millions of people who have no choice, or to end up without a retail hangover the next morning. Do it just to prove you can! Adbusters, who founded BND, encourages you to "not only stop buying for 24 hours, but to shut off your lights, televisions and other nonessential appliances. We want you to park your car, turn off your phones and log off of your computer for the day." Go for a hike, read a book, sing a song, feed the birds ... we'll still be here when you come back online, and we'll have some marvelous fabrics and goodies waiting for you!

(Oh, and did you know that shopping online is greener than driving around to do your shopping? And that study didn't even take into account a business's eco-friendly practices, which should make you feel even better about buying from us!)

Posted by Tara at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

First, some business: we've changed out the sale items, so you'll want to see what goodies are in store for you now. My current favorite sale fabric? Superfine Crepe - Zinnia, a splendidly bright (in an autumnal way), incredibly light, thoroughly complex fabric that's chosen by many designers.

Next, do keep in mind that our Clearance Super Sale ends at the end of November, so now's definitely the time to stock up on clearance fabrics. We don't have sales like this often, so don't miss this opportunity!

And finally, it's appropriate -- albeit completely coincidental -- that we are celebrating Neil's eleventh birthday during Prematurity Awareness Month. NearSea Naturals started small, just like Neil did, and both have grown perhaps bigger than we'd ever imagined. (It's very difficult to look at an under-two-pound baby and visualize a pre-teen, or at least it was for me!) Do let me again mention how much of a difference your hand-crafted items can make for people in precarious situations (health-wise, facing natural disasters, etc); I wrote a blog post with some links to sources earlier in the year and there are many more online. We still treasure items Neil was given while in the Neonatal Intensice Care Unit, some of which were made specifically for him and others that were made for "any preemie." And preemies are easy to craft for; they're so small that they require hardly any material!

Posted by Tara at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)