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It's the last week of our summer spectacular giveaway! On September 4,
we will draw three Grand Prize winners from all the orders and entries
received from June 25 - September 3. Each winner will be able to choose
one of three amazing fabric bundles, valued at more than $200 each, or a
$75 gift certificate to NearSea Naturals and American Grown•Spun•Milled.
The fabric bundles are as follows:
Bundle One:
The earthy colors in this bundle are so very appealing, and the gorgeous
eco-friendly fabrics are even more so. The winner will love working with
pieces of our Forest Green Merino Interlock (no longer available, and it
was such a splendid material!), Medium Natural Interlock (an incredible
workhorse of a fabric), Mocha Jersey, Roswell Light French Terry,
Espresso/Charcoal Stripe 1x1 Rib (perfect for so many items of
clothing), Ginko Green Fine Jersey, Martini Ribbed Thermal (an excellent
way to start thinking about making warmer clothes for fall and winter),
Natural Herringbone, and Natural Loopy French Terry.
Bundle Two:
The woven fabrics in this collection are wonderfully sophisticated and
so very useful. The winner will enjoy pieces of our Dusky Plum
Hemp/Organic Cotton Corduroy (a beautiful color), Chocolate and Black
Wide-Width Sateens (the wide width of the fabric makes them so much fun
to work with), Natural Rainstorm, Natural Heavy Flannel, Natural
Herringbone (one of Tara's favorite fabrics), Autumn Hemp Silk Charmeuse (a gorgeous deep hue, in a material that is perfect for eye pillows,
fancy homemade bias tape, and so much more), Black Wool Suiting, and
Licorice/Earl Gray Butterfly Jubilee.
Bundle Three:
This bundle is full of colorful fabrics that'll spice up your sewing,
and a few basic neutrals as well. The winner will have so much fun
working with pieces of our Magenta Light Interlock, Cranberry Heavy
Fleece (highly-coveted around here -- this is a gorgeous and incredibly
cozy material), Solid Pink Interlock, Waverine Interlock (the pattern
makes for wonderfully eye-catching accents and details), Light
Pink/Maroon Jersey Jacquard, and Tickled Pink (a marvelously whimsical
print that's excellent for home dec, crafts, kid items, and more). The
neutrals are our White 1x1 Rib, Ebony Interlock, Natural Heavy Flannel,
and Natural Herringbone.
Do make sure to enter for your chance to win. Do so either by placing an
order or by sending us an email -- and remember, if you've already
ordered or emailed an entry during this promotion, you're already entered!
Note: Grand Prize Winners will be drawn in order. The first winner will
be able to choose from any of the packages or a gift certificate. The
second winner will be able to choose from the remaining packages, or a
gift certificate. The third will be able to choose from any remaining
packages, or a gift certificate. If we do not hear back from any of the
winners within 24 hours of attempting contact, we'll choose the prize
for them. (The prizes are so splendid, though, that having us choose for
you would not be a dreadful thing!)
Fine print/official rules: Open to US residents only. No purchase necessary to enter; send an email to summerspectacular@nearseanaturals.com with your name, email address, street address, and phone number to enter in lieu of placing an order. Weekly drawings will be based on the orders and entries received between Monday and Sunday of the week prior to the drawing; the "grand prize" drawing will include all orders and entries received between June 25 and September 2. It is possible for the same person to win more than once. We will use random.org or a similar random-number generator to choose each winner. Employees of NearSea Naturals and their family members are not eligible to participate. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Last week was for people who like to sew knit fabrics (knitwits?);
this week Laura and Debbie gathered a collection of wonderful wovens.
Summer Rainstorm and Autumn Grass come from our collection of fabrics
made from colorgrown cotton, while Light Green Twill matches our Let It Grow Wide
Twill and is also delightful alone. Our Softest Sheeting and Light
Rich Flannel are incredibly multipurpose fabrics -- great for
embellishing, lining other creations, and so much more. Will you be the
lucky recipient of this week's prize package? Don't forget to either place an order or send us an email to be entered in this week's drawing. ( see rules)
Prize package for the July 29th drawing:
Fine print/official rules: Open to US residents only. No purchase necessary to enter; send an email to summerspectacular@nearseanaturals.com with your name, email address, street address, and phone number to enter in lieu of placing an order. Weekly drawings will be based on the orders and entries received between Monday and Sunday of the week prior to the drawing; the "grand prize" drawing will include all orders and entries received between June 25 and September 2. It is possible for the same person to win more than once. We will use random.org or a similar random-number generator to choose each winner. Employees of NearSea Naturals and their family members are not eligible to participate. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
I think Debbie, Laura, and Tim must've been hungry when putting together
this week's prize package! It includes pieces of Asparagus Stalk,
Radiant Raspberry (which is no longer available), and (chocolate-) Brown
Herringbone wovens, and our Bright Green and Paisley Pizaaz Interlocks (one the green of so many summer veggies, and the other with the
intricate whorls and lines of my favorite gardens). They're adding a
yard of lace and a spool of thread, too -- just what you need to fill
your appetite for summer sewing. Don't forget to either place an order or send us an email to be entered in this week's drawing. ( see rules) Prize package for the July 15th drawing:
Fine print/official rules: Open to US residents only. No purchase necessary to enter; send an email to summerspectacular@nearseanaturals.com with your name, email address, street address, and phone number to enter in lieu of placing an order. Weekly drawings will be based on the orders and entries received between Monday and Sunday of the week prior to the drawing; the "grand prize" drawing will include all orders and entries received between June 25 and September 2. It is possible for the same person to win more than once. We will use random.org or a similar random-number generator to choose each winner. Employees of NearSea Naturals and their family members are not eligible to participate. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
This week's prize package is as natural as can be, made up of undyed fabrics and notions. It includes pieces of Pecan Mist, Corn Maiden (an absolutely gorgeous material), Summer Rainstorm, Natural Light Hemp Canvas, and Business Builder Medium Jersey. It also includes a spool of natural thread, a yard of lace, and four tagua buttons (in two different sizes). This package is perfect for anyone who has wanted to see some of the variety of natural organic fabrics, who appreciates the subtle beauty of undyed cloth, or who simply likes to sew! Don't forget to either place an order or send us an email to be entered in this week's drawing. ( see rules)
Prize package for the July 9th drawing:
Fine print/official rules: Open to US residents only. No purchase necessary to enter; send an email to summerspectacular@nearseanaturals.com with your name, email address, street address, and phone number to enter in lieu of placing an order. Weekly drawings will be based on the orders and entries received between Monday and Sunday of the week prior to the drawing; the "grand prize" drawing will include all orders and entries received between June 25 and September 2. It is possible for the same person to win more than once. We will use random.org or a similar random-number generator to choose each winner. Employees of NearSea Naturals and their family members are not eligible to participate. All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
I do, obviously -- that's one of the reasons we started NearSea Naturals: because I wanted organic, toxin-free fabrics for clothing my firstborn. But even though I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about possible dangers from conventional fabrics, particularly synthetics, I have to admit that I was surprised and dismayed by much of what I read in a new book. Killer Clothes: How Seemingly Innocent Clothing Choices Endanger Your Health ... And How To Protect Yourself, by Anna Maria Clement and Brian R. Clement, appeared in our mailbox the other day. I think they sent it because NearSea is referenced a couple of times (which we always appreciate), and I found it fascinating reading.
The book covers many different areas within the general framework of a discussion of how and why conventional clothing choices can be dangerous. There's a pretty comprehensive bibliography, which I appreciate because I often want to know more before simply taking what I read as truth. It's good to be able to refer to the original sources. One thing the Clements devote a fair amount of space to is the problem of synthetic fabrics; on the very first page of the introduction, they write:
"Synthetic-fiber clothing is worn with an illusion of safety but hides invisible chemical and other dangers that clothing manufacturers and much of the world's health care industry ignore or attempt to rationalize away."
They discuss how synthetic fabrics have really only been in common use for the past 60 years or so (rayon was introduced in 1924, nylon in 1939, and others following), and describe the various chemicals used in their production and the possible hazards involved. There's a fascinating section that considers a 2001 Polish study that showed that synthetic fibers fatigue your muscles, even when only worn for a few hours. I'd thought that there might be a measurable short-term effect to wearing or using these fibers, though I've long wondered about long-term hazards. Nanoparticles and the use of nanotechnology in fabric is considered, as is fabric care (what's in your detergent? do you use fabric softeners? do you know what's in them?).
This was a telling quote, from page 10:
"The vast majority of clothing items produced in the world today -- constituting a $7 trillion a year industry -- are either manufactured or the fabric fibers are grown, using synthetic chemicals, many of which are toxic to human health. As a further challenge to health and safety, most of the cleaning agents used to wash or dry-clean clothes contain chemicals that can trigger adverse physical symptoms. These effects on health should be particularly worrisome for parents with babies and young children -- who often place clothing in their mouths and then chew and suck on the fabric -- because the natural detoxification systems of children's bodies aren't fully developed enough to quickly or completely eliminate fabric chemicals.
According to The Ecologist magazine, an estimated eight thousand chemicals are employed to transform raw materials into clothes, a process that involves bleaching, dyeing, scouring, sizing, and finishing the fabrics. Synthetic clothing now commonly contains such toxins as formaldehyde, brominated flame retardants, and perfluorinated chemicals like Teflon fibers to give trousers, skirts, and other apparel "noniron" and "nonwrinkle" durability. "
Killer Clothes also includes random bits of only somewhat-related information that I can see being useful at various times. For instance, pages 121 and 122 cover the burn test, one way you can determine whether a fabric is natural, synthetic, or a blend. I knew the basics of this, but I'd never even tried to distinguish between nylon (melts and smells like burning plastic), polyester (burns and melts simultaneously, leaving an ash that adheres to surfaces), and other synthetics. I'd also never considered using either nail polish remover or Fiber-Etch to determine fabric type. (The Clements cite fabrics.net for information about the burn test.)
One section of the book that really concerned me talked about how long many chemicals remain on conventional fabric. I'd always believed that when I didn't have the time to sew something from organic fabric and couldn't afford to purchase a new, organic, item, buying used clothes was fairly safe, that repeated washings would have dissipated many of the nasties. I really didn't want to learn that I was wrong on that front, but that's just what happened. I learned about the difference between free and bound formaldehyde in garments, and how free formaldehyde washes away while bound stays fairly constant through many many washes and ironings. Apparently many school uniforms are made from fabric coated with chemicals to give stain and wrinkle resistance, and these chemicals, released through washings and wearings, can be absorbed by kids. That's a dismal thought!
As disturbing as parts of this book were, though, it's ultimately hopeful; the Clements write:
"...all of us retain the power to minimize risks to our health by taking simple precautions and practicing mindfulness about our clothing choices and the buying options that we still have..."
Killer Clothes is a good way to begin to develop a knowledge base that'll help you make wise clothing choices. And like I said, the fact that they recommend NearSea Naturals is a definite plus!
Caveat: the book really could have used a better copy editor. Also, there are some parts that set off my wacko meter. I ignored them, and focused on the other parts. That didn't bother me, but it may you. So be forewarned. It's somewhat like reading about autism -- my aforementioned firstborn has Asperger's, very likely from being born at 24 weeks' gestation -- and seeing something in an otherwise very good publication that says "fully 93 percent of all children with autism were diagnosed after receiving vaccinations." I'm not even discussing the validity of the idea that vaccinations cause autism here -- simply the fact that yes, the vast majority of babies and children in the US receive some amount of vaccinations, generally starting as infants, and the vast majority of cases of autism are diagnosed once children are at an age to at least be babbling, interacting with parents and the world, etc. So of course that statistic is true, since vaccinations happen early and diagnoses happen later. Correlation does not equal causation! But I digress, which shouldn't surprise anyone.
When I was young, February simultaneously thrilled and depressed me. (Yes, I was clearly a strange child.) See, it was the only month with fewer than 30 days, so there wasn't as much time to get things done in February as there was in the other eleven months. That was disturbing if I had a deadline -- a paper due, a room to clean, something like that. But it was exciting, too, because I knew that February would soon be over and then came March, which was almost spring! So I could legitimately start looking forward to warmer weather. (Living in upstate New York, I was half-frozen all winter; the thought of thawing out was very appealing!)
My poor mother, though -- I would pester her beginning in early February, wanting her to make sure that everything was ready for spring. I needed to know that we'd have plenty of outside toys, that I still had a swimsuit, that any pants I'd worn the knees through on would work for cutoffs. (Cutoff shorts were one clothing item I could make all by myself, especially since I didn't care if the cuts were a bit more crooked than was necessarily desirable.) My mother would indulgently get out spring and summer things and involve me in the preparations. We would make over old clothes, turn some of her worn-out items into things for me and my siblings, and generally make at least one new item for every family member too. As a girly-girl, I loved twirly skirts and all things ruffled -- but then would generally tear everything nice when I insisted on wearing it while riding bikes or climbing trees! My brother loved anything with pockets -- he would have adored the Woodland Shirt and Pocket Pants, while my baby sister wore as little as possible. Things like the One-Piece Sundress were perfect for her. My mom and dad didn't care as much about the styles they wore as they did about the fabrics they were made from; my mom loved bright colors and patterns, while my dad preferred more durable choices.
Looking back, I realize now that the Februrary Flurry was probably more a way to keep busy through the winter doldrums than anything else, but every year I was thrilled nonetheless. It's a tradition I try to maintain with my kids, too -- helping them be involved in caring for and creating our clothes and our house, and anticipating summer even in the depths of winter.
How do you spend February?
It seems like the holiday season is earlier every year ... or perhaps it's simply that I have more people on my gift list each year, so the amount of time I have for each present is diminished. Either way, it's generally in October that I really have to kick my crafting into high gear, if there's to be any hope at all!
Do you give homemade presents? We try to buy as little as possible, focusing instead on handmade items, repurposed goodies, family treasures that can be given to someone else who will appreciate their history and usefulness ... anything except brand-new, mass-produced things that will probably end up breaking quickly and being thrown away anyway! This year I'm particularly loving the 1920s Clothespin Apron, which is quick to make and a wonderful gift for anybody who does laundry. (Yes, conveniently enough, that's almost every adult I know!) If I'm giving it to someone who's never hung out wet clothes before, I may pair it with a pack of clothespins and even a laundry line, to make the process particularly easy. And sometimes including directions for tying clothesline knots can be a good idea, too!
(As a side note, if you know anyone even slightly handy with tools, a knot board is a wonderful gift for almost anybody above 6 or so. The concept is similar to this Boy Scout project, but is designed for practice instead of display. The simplest version is simply a piece of wood with metal loops on each end and two holes in the wood as well, given with two differently-colored pieces of rope or thick string and directions for tying several different kinds of knots -- these directions can be found in many places online, in various books, and elsewhere.)
The Protect and Serve Apron makes a wonderful gift also -- can you tell that I really like aprons? The name is splendid, of course, but the apron itself is wonderfully useful. I love pairing an apron with a set of cloth napkins or a couple of dishtowels. And it almost goes without saying that I make all these things with either organic fabric or reclaimed material from clothes that aren't useable any longer. Any fabric pieces too small to use for other projects become gift bags, continuing our tradition of not using wrapping paper through the holiday season. (I love knowing that the bags are part of the gift, and that they'll be used and passed on in the future.)
People with babies generally get either receiving blankets (quite possibly the easiest and most useful gift in the world) or one-piece bodysuits (what were called onesies before the term was patented). Some exceptionally lucky babies might get both, but that's fairly infrequent!
The Reading Pillow is another of my go-to gifts this year, as it works for all ages. I can personalize my fabric choice for each recipient -- a "manly" black hemp/tencel is perfect for my dad, while Corn Maiden's been Winnie's favorite fabric for quite some time now and Debbie is definitely a Cream Clara kind of girl. My youngest just might get one made from pieces of worn-out jeans patchworked together, as he needs the extra durability and doesn't care as much about how it looks!
Those are my plans and works-in-progress at the moment; what are yours?
 I well remember back-to-school shopping when I was young, trying to get everything I needed on a budget we could afford. School supplies were fairly basic (though picking the right design for my Trapper Keepers was always a big deal), and if we were lucky there was even money left over for a new outfit or two. (Or, more likely, a new-to-us outfit or two. "Brand new" didn't happen very often in those days!)
Friends with kids in school now tell me that things are very different these days. Where we used to need a notebook, paper, pencils, and possibly a calculator for the upper grades, I hear that teachers now send home long lists of supplies that kids will need (20 glue sticks in first grade? really??? wow.), because schools simply can't provide as much as they used to. This proves to be both an opportunity and an irritation for parents, who can use this chance to replace some of the conventional materials asked for with green alternatives. And, thankfully, there are many places to get these more eco-friendly options; if you can't find them locally, check out these and other online shops: Red Apple School Supply (which has a great School Supply Box program in which teachers or schools can specify the items students will need so parents can just pay for the supply box and not have to worry about choosing the appropriate materials), The Ultimate Green Store (what a name, eh?), and The Green Office.
The Center for Environmental Health and Justice offers a yearly Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies, and EcoMall offers a (poorly formatted) list of earth-friendly back-to-school tips. Indeed, even iVillage.com has a pretty picture collection of Earth-friendly school supplies!
And, of course, the conventional school lunch often brings with it ridiculous amounts of trash (Lunchables, anyone?). It doesn't have to be so harmful to the environment, though; there are tons of more eco-friendly options. For example, ReuseIt.com has a wide selection of containers, bags, and bottles to help kids have a waste-free lunch. Other places do too. (My favorite option, though, is to make a reusable bag -- either from fabric or old jeans, whip up a few sandwich and snack bags, and cut a few small napkins from pinking shears (yes, I'm lazy sometimes; if I weren't, I'd actually hem the napkins). Add a water bottle, which we always have around, and you've got a great waste-free lunch option all your own ... and you've saved money, too!)
When I was in school, lo these many years ago, we had the occasional fundraiser; I'm told that they're ubiquitous now. "They're trying to sell us something every month, seems like," said a friend, elaborating that "and it's mostly plastic, made in China, or lousy chocolates. I hate having to choose between supporting my kids' school and saving the earth." Some schools have found a different solution, though -- they choose "green" fundraisers, like those you'll see at Equal Exchange, Mother Earth Fundraising, Koru Fundraising, Go Green Fundraising, Urban Farmer Seeds, and other places.
And as far as those beautiful back-to-school clothes we used to covet? I hear kids want them now, too -- and are more likely to get them, too, perhaps. ("My son will only wear GAP clothes," said the mom of a 7-year-old recently. Ouch!) But there are other choices here, too. We, of course, strongly support making clothes for your kids -- using eco-friendly fabrics, and making them yourself, you can be sure that they'll be as sustainable as possible. Don't forget that we have wonderful patterns, in addition to the 300+ sustainable fabrics and natural notions we offer to make your sewing projects greener and more enjoyable. Shopping at the local secondhand store is another excellent option (that's where we get the "dress-up clothes" we need for our kids' music recitals). And there are, of course, wonderful people and companies making organic kids' clothes -- many of them our customers, even! We strongly recommend buying either US-made or certified Fair Trade organic clothes, as that way you can be more sure that the workers who made them were fairly treated and fairly compensated.
(And yes, we know that not all our customer have young kids, and not all those who have kids have chosen to put their kids in school. Many of these tips may be of interest anyway -- most of us need green office supplies at some point or another -- and if they aren't, perhaps you know someone to whom they will be helpful regardless. And, yes again, we know that the picture chosen for this entry isn't of school supplies; it's actually of my kids and their friends rock clambering at Rocky Mountain National Park last weekend. Because you can learn anywhere, right? :))
And humid, too -- we were up to 44% humidity the other day! (Yes, I know that's nothing to people who don't live in the Southwest ... but we were melting, I tell you!)
So why does the heat and humidity matter? Because I've been wanting to wear clothing that is as unobtrusive as possible, and thankfully we offer a wide selection of wonderfully light fabric from which to create all sorts of wonderful items. There are so many -- here are just a few: Superfine Crepe, in colors including the vibrant Leaf; Natural Light Lattice, which is like a mesh but not as opaque; Moss and Russet Featherweight Plaid (marvelous for lightweight shirts); the Perfect Paisley Lilac Crinkle Cut, which just begs to be made into a sundress; Medium Summercloth, which is excellent for home dec projects; and the amazing Double-Layer Amity Silk, which I would choose as a veil were I in the getting-married mood. (As is, I'm in the been-married-for-a-while-and-planning-to-stay-that-way,-thanks mood, so I have no need for veils ... but a lovely light shoulder wrap would work quite nicely too!)
We also have patterns that are splendid for summer sewing, ranging from our ever-popular One-Piece Sundress Pattern to Maternity (and non-maternity) Bathing Suits, from Folkwear's Blonde Bombshell to Jalie's always useful Pants & Shorts pattern for men and boys. And, of course, everything in-between!
So get yourself some light-weight fabrics and a pattern or two, and create a whole new wardrobe for the next few months. You'll be so glad you did! (And yes, if you're a well-organized always-prepared sort of person, or simply the sort of person who lives Down Under, we have no end of heavier fabrics too -- they're just what you need for fall and winter outfits, for holiday presents, and just to curl up in during the chilly nights that really will be coming even to New Mexico at some point!)
Oh, and just a couple of reminders:
(1) If you haven't yet "liked" us on Facebook, you're missing out -- not only do we encourage people to post pictures of creations made with our fabrics, but we also offer not-infrequent sales and freebies. So come on over and join the fun!
(2) There are, of course, new Yard Sale items -- we change them out every three or four weeks, so make sure you check back at least that frequently.
(3) We love to see what you've made with our fabrics -- post pictures on our facebook group, send them in an email, turn a snapshot into a postcard and actually mail it to us ... we'll be thrilled!
The article Craft a Trip: Sewing Projects for Camping Comfort, by Fiona Duthie, shows how to "make your own hammock and other accessories, all with organic fabrics." My favorite project is the Utensil/Tool Roll, which is a much more elegant solution to the perennial problem of utensil storage than my generally-chosen "stick them all in a cloth bag and hope they're all still there when you get home" option. There are also roll-up placemats and a hammock made from Let It Grow Twill and Light Green Wide-Width Twill.
So why am I telling you this? Well, firstly because I love the idea of making a hammock, which for some reason I'd never really considered before. And it looks so easy, too! Secondly, because even though the article recommends using our Thicker Organic Cotton Cording as the hammock cords, we're not convinced it would work well as is. (You might want to consider braiding it, to add strength, or putting the cords much closer together so there are many more cords supporting the hammock, like you'd find in a Mayan-Style Hammock. Except, of course, made with cloth for the body and not as floppy thanks to the dowel. But still...) And thirdly, because we think it's pretty cool that we're the source listed for the various fabrics used throughout the article. That always makes us happy!
(You can find Living Crafts Magazine online, though you need to buy the magazine to get the actual article.)
 Check out our Yard Sale -- in celebration of National Garden Month, we've put some splendid plant- and flower-themed fabrics on sale! Our brand new Persimmon/Seed Bloom is one of these fabrics; it's a wonderful upholstery-weight material that is marvelous for home dec, crafts, and even clothing. The ever-popular Criss-Cross Tops pattern is also on sale, along with quite a few other things. Check them out!
Now, back to actually gardening, which you can of course do while wearing wonderful organic clothes that you've made from our fabrics!
Few people deny that homegrown vegetables generally taste better than conventional, store-bought ones; the classic example is that of a fresh, sweet tomato just plucked from the plant compared with a tasteless supermarket one that was picked early and shipped a thousand miles. Indeed, the desire for good tomatoes is often the reason that people start gardening! In recognition of that, the need to have just one good gardening experience, check out the the One Pot Pledge, from the UK's Garden Organic, "the national charity for organic growing." Dedicated to getting people who've never grown their own food to try at least one pot's worth this year, it has all sorts of help and inspiration for these beginning gardeners. KidsGardening.org is, of course, devoted to encouraging kids to garden; teacher resources and more can be found there. It's wonderful for kids to have a real connection to their food, and many children will happily eat vegetables they've helped grow even if they weren't adventurous eaters before.
In both public and private initiatives, cities are encouraging their residents to start Victory Gardens (sometimes called Recession Gardens, in a modern update to the name); one such example is Victory Gardens San Diego. Indeed, an ever-increasing amount of people are learning how to garden, frequently out of financial necessity. (This NYTimes article about Latino gardens in San Jose was fascinating -- and as a side note, I loved learning that an old friend, Poncho Guevara, was instrumental in the program's success!) Even my little neighborhood is forming a community garden -- one family is contributing the land, another loaned us a tractor for rototilling (a necessity in never-before farmed land in New Mexico!), I'll be supplying the seeds (by the way, here's a great page discussing how to get free and low-cost seeds), someone else is fencing it in, etc. With so many people out of work -- and still wanting to eat healthy, fresh food -- the garden will be a true benefit to us all!
So however you want to do it -- a single plant, a schoolyard garden, your entire backyard, or a large farm -- go out and get your hands dirty. The rewards are stupendous, and oh-so-tasty!
I've mentioned this on our Facebook page multiple times, but in light of Saturday's earthquake in Chile following the devastation in Haiti, I wanted to make a little plug for one of my personal favorite relief groups. Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders is "an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe." They were already on the ground in Haiti before the quake; they were in Chile the day after. They have portable field hospitals that they take to some of the most dangerous places in the world, places other organizations are often unwilling to go, and they stay there long-term. So if you're looking for an organization where your donations will really make a difference, I definitely recommend MSF/Doctors Without Borders. I know many of our customers want to create items for people affected by the most recent natural disasters -- I can only encourage you to start crafting now, but to realize that anything you make won't necessarily find a home in Haiti or Chile anytime soon. So make things, with love, and save them until the time is right to send them.
It feels wrong to turn to business after talking about a natural disaster, but I did want to let you know that I added three glorious new fabrics today -- two splendid fleeces, in creme de cassis and fern, and our perennially popular naval stripe -- on a white background. Don't miss any of them. And definitely check out the new yard sale items, good through March 16. There are many green and lavender fabrics -- St Patrick's Day, anyone? -- and some other goodies as well.
The public radio show To The Best of Our Knowledge interviewed Carl Honore, author of In Praise of Slowness, about the Slow Philosophy and its growth worldwide; you can find the show here. I found his comments about the speed pendulum very interesting, how the world's quest for the future had led us to go faster, faster, faster over the past century and we're now working to reach an equilibrium in which we're valuing the right speed ... what musicians call tempo justo.
Honore spoke about how "slow" isn't just a speed -- that might be obvious, but sometimes what should be obvious isn't -- it's a mindset that can incorporate the entire lifecycle of a product, an action, or an idea. So people aren't simply making something to be thrown away, using slave labor, or flying to another country for a whirlwind weekend trip; they're paying someone fairly to create an heirloom object, or enjoying the journey as well as the destination. The parallels for sewing using organic fabric are obvious, are they not? So very many of our customers, both businesses and home sewists, are involved in the sustainability movement ... which is, I think, another name for the Slow Movement, the Green Movement, the Eco-Friendly Movement, etc. We're all working to end up in the same place, regardless of the name. (Long-time readers of our blog are familiar with our comments about Slow Money and Slow Food, of course, so really this is just more of the same!)
Learn more about slow movements at slowplanet.com. I particularly like the Slow Parenting concept; it resonates with what my children and my family need -- and with our planet's need for less driving, too. Of course, when I was young we just said we were too poor to participate in lots of activities, but I guess everything deserves a fancy name nowadays!
We've swapped out our sale items, by the way; you won't want to miss the goodies we have on sale for you now. Since Valentine's Day is in February, we thought you might want a headstart crafting. We thus chose some popular romantic fabrics and notions ... enjoy them! If you're not celebrating Valentine's Day this year, it's the perfect time to stock up on these fabrics anyway (they're wonderful for other uses -- nobody said they have to be used for holidays!).
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!
We're absolutely thrilled to have heavyweight (8 oz/sq yd) organic cotton flannel back in stock just in time for winter. Woven in the United States from US-grown organic cotton, it's available in Natural and Peroxide-Whitened. Soft already, the fabric becomes positively luscious when you wash it. I'm so thrilled to have this material available again; it took a long time to find another US mill who would make it for us, and we're hoping to have it available for a long time! (Truthfully, I think these are much nicer flannels than any we've had before, which is wonderful.)
To celebrate flannel's return, both versions are on sale through the 26th of October, along with some other splendid fabrics -- be sure to check them all out.
We also encourage you to check out Friends of Slow Money. After attending the Slow Money conference last month, Winnie and I both came away very inspired that this is a movement that truly can and will make a difference. Friends of Slow Money is aimed at getting 5,000 people to donate $5 and sign the manifesto this week ... won't you join us in doing so?
Not sure about the whiskers on kittens, though I do find it very amusing watching cats chase their own tails. Anyway, I wanted to spend a few minutes talking about Kickstarter, which is one of my current favorite things.
Kickstarter is "a funding platform for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers..." It's much like a microloan program, like Kiva or Microplace (both of which I recommend highly), but for a completely different group. People join together to fund projects ranging from buying art supplies for kids in Africa to filming a movie, and in return you get some sort of reward ranging from the artist's gratitude to something physical (a photograph, a book, a CD, a puppet, etc). My current favorite projects, both of which I've invested in, are:
- Spread Organic Flower Love -- help an organic flower grower get eco-friendly packaging so they can ship flowers nation-wide. If you contribute enough, you get organic flowers in return (and I love organic flowers!). They have an incredible offer for brides who contribute, too -- SO worth looking at.
- Innovative Non-Boring History Camp In Small Southern Town -- help fund scholarships for kids to attend what sounds like an absolutely amazing summer camp. The physical rewards aren't necessarily as impressive as those for the organic flowers you see above, but what you're doing is amazing.
I'm betting if you check it out, you'll find something on Kickstarter worth considering for yourself or a loved one ... and it's a good feeling to be part of a microloan community for artists!
Did you know that September is National Sewing Month? If you didn't before, you do now! This year's contest from NationalSewingMonth.org is the Reuse, Remake, Restyle Challenge; it's all about repurposing.
In honor of National Sewing Month we have a freebie for our facebook fans. So head on over there and see what it is -- you won't want to miss out.
Oh, and we've swapped out the sale items, and there are now some wonderful cool-weather fabrics, a couple of marvelous prints, and more. They'll be on sale until October 6, so you have time to request swatches now, receive them, plan your projects, and still get your yardage order in before the sale is done. As long as you actually do get started right away!
 Breaking news from ApparelNews.net:
A new vote has exempted fabric and yarn from the lead testing and certification requirements for children's products under the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The exemption, which is expected to go into effect within a matter of days, does not include snaps, buttons, zippers and the like. The result is that the final garment will still need to be tested.
I'm sure there'll be a more in-depth analysis at Fashion-Incubator soon, and I can't wait to hear what they have to say.
(keep reading for much more!)
Continue reading "CPSIA exemptions, why we don't sell "bamboo," and NearSea items up for auction" »
We talk to multiple manufacturers every day, people and companies making and selling everything from a single sewn product to thousands at a time. Although the scale is different, many of their questions and needs are similar. And frequently we refer them to the same place: Fashion Incubator: Lessons From The Sustainable Factory Floor.
With Kathleen's blog, a marvelous set of forums, absolutely incredible tutorials, and so much more, I visit the site regularly and I recommend it to everyone involved in any aspect of "sewn product manufacturing". Kathleen Fasanella's book, The Entrepreneur's Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing, is amazing and well worth the cost. (I also recommend buying it simply as a way to support the site and to let Kathleen know how much you appreciate her knowledge and her willingness to share it -- seriously, it's not that common for people with this much experience, intelligence, and passion to put so much effort into helping other people get it right.) Kathleen's also available for pattern services, consulting, and instruction -- and talking with her for a few hours just might be the difference between your concept's ultimate success or failure.
Why do I spend so much time raving about someone with whom we're not affiliated? It's simple, really. I believe in what Kathleen does; I think she's sharing invaluable knowledge that can keep companies in business (and in the US -- and that's one of our big goals here too: sustainable local businesses). She led the fight to inform people about the CPSIA and is still active in that fight, and her site is absolutely invaluable for both beginning and experienced manufacturers. Whether you're considering a boutique line or are already in the midst of full-scale production, I highly recommend visiting Fashion-Incubator.com.
The demand for sustainable and organic fabric products is increasing yearly, and many of our customers are helping fill that need; it's wonderful to know that Fashion-Incubator appreciates and respects the need for sustainability and helps our customers succeed.
I just spent a week caring for my aunt after hip replacement surgery, and was reminded anew how important handsewn and handcreated gifts can be for people who are in less than perfect health. Much of my goal -- when I wasn't helping her stand up or sit down again -- was to find ways to help my aunt be both more comfortable and more independent when I left, since she won't be able to drive or go anywhere for a month. So I spent time doing things like:
- Fashioning simple bags for her walker, to carry her cell phone and water bottle.
- Creating a mattress pad for her bed, to cushion her whole body but especially her hip -- so important when there's limited movement and you don't want bedsores! (I know I've said it before, but our Luxurious Wool Pile is perfect for mattress pads, and doubled or tripled up it makes splendid malleable padding to help get just the right level of comfort.)
- Making simple nightgowns that are comfortable to wear, decent when sitting, in bed, or participating in physical therapy, and don't get caught up in the walker when she's moving around. (The Subtle Pointelle is really nice for knit nightgowns, and the Natural Brushed Wide-Width Sheeting for woven ones.)
- Sewing simple rice packs that can be either microwaved for spot heat or chilled for temporary cooling. (When making longer/bigger pads, it's nice to make them segmented so all the rice doesn't fall to the bottom. That's the concept behind a baffled featherbed, and it works here too.)
I also had far too much fun with sticky-backed velcro, which is not at all organic but is incredibly useful for people with limited mobility -- with a nice wide strip of velcro on one edge of her chair-side table and pieces on her cell phone charger, flashlight, grabber, and other necessaries, my aunt is much less likely to drop things and have to laboriously attempt to pick them up again. (And, knowing me, you won't be surprised to hear that I cooked -- my aunt's freezer was nicely filled before I left, so she can bring out organic meals whenever she's hurting too much to cook for herself. I wish I could have stayed longer, but my family pretended to want me back so who was I to argue?)
My aunt, of course, is incredibly fortunate -- she'll be up and around soon and should be all the better for this eventually. Not everyone is so lucky, though, and this was borne home to me on Tuesday when I went to visit a family friend who is struggling with cancer. For people in her position sometimes being surrounded with comfort and love is of utmost importance (as I suppose it is for all of us, but it's even more important as we're facing the final transition). I find myself in a position where I don't quite know what to do to show my love, my appreciation of her role in my life, and I fall back again on creating things. My ideas?
- When cooking for sick people and their caregivers, the best book I've ever found bar none is Laurel's Kitchen Caring. It's full of nutritious recipes designed to tempt even the most feeble appetite, including many broths and clear liquids that can sometimes be all that people can swallow.
- Although the bigger rice bags can be too heavy for people who are weak, smaller handwarmers are sometimes still appreciated -- especially if there are caregivers who will warm them up for someone who is bedridden.
- Beautiful things and comfortable textures are both very valued at times like this, when they can fall by the wayside.
- If someone is very sick in the height of summer, consider the indulgence of a wrap of Amity Peace Silk which is so light and gorgeous but yet will help maintain modesty and provide the perfect amount of modesty.
- If the person is likely to be chilled, consider making a simple quilt (like this, or one of the projects from Meryl Ann Butler's book) out of fleeces or other soft fabrics to quite literally wrap them in your love.
- If you have an organic garden (and the person you're visiting isn't allergic), bring some long-lasting flowers or an arrangement of greens -- it seems obvious, but isn't necessarily. Organic only, though, if the person is at all sensitive; my aunt reacted really badly to a conventional bouquet that we had to ask the nurses to remove from her room but was absolutely fine with a similar arrangement from Organic Bouquet. (And notice, please, that I'm not even discussing the environmental, social, etc, aspects of non-organic flowers; can you believe it? Neither can I!)
 Many wonderful, wonderful people sew, knit, and crochet for charity -- making things for people who they'll never see but who will benefit immeasurably from their hard work. We benefited from that when my firstborn son was in the hospital for so long ... he was the recipient of a hat, booties, and a blanket that people made for babies in the NICU. He was such a tiny, scary-looking baby, with wires and tubes sticking out all over, and seeing him in clothes made such a difference -- it made him look like a real baby. Almost more important than that was the knowledge that people we didn't even know cared enough to make these items for my baby, that they were made with love, compassion, and best wishes. That hat, booties, and blanket meant so much more than any commercially-made clothes ever could have, and I still have them today. (The picture, in case you couldn't guess, is of Neil when he was only a few days old. Notice how my finger's bigger than his arm? Winnie wants me to mention that he's 10 now, and just had his Suzuki Violin Book 4 recital last weekend. His arms are stronger now. Bigger, too.)
I was lucky enough to talk with a woman who makes blankets for NICU babies about a year ago. She was denigrating her work, saying it was a way to pass the time and probably wasn't that important, and I was able to tell her how much it meant to those of us whose babies benefitted from the work of people just like her.
It's not just NICU babies, of course -- Project Linus provides blankets for children in need (and the Miss Hailey's Baby Quilt Pattern was designed to benefit Project Linus and to be a good introduction to quilting). ChemoCaps and Head Huggers focus on making hats for chemo patients who've lost their hair (and The Daily Knitter has a partial list of other charity options for knitters). Ugly Quilts are marvelous, easy-to-make sleeping bags for the homeless, and a perfect project for any group to which you might belong (friends, dinner groups, moms or dads groups, church groups, SCA folks, etc). Mama to Mama's goal is "connecting families through homemade action"; their first project was making blankets and caps for babies in Haiti, and I'm looking forward to seeing what their next focus will be.
And, of course, I firmly believe in the curative power of crafting with sustainable materials. Or at least in the "first do no harm" theory thereof. But when combining the love, care, and positive intent of a handmade item with the best, safest materials, I feel like I'm doing as much as I can in this area.
Is it sad to admit that one of the highlights of my trip to California last week was the apricot tree in my friend's front yard? Thousands of fruits, all on one medium-sized tree. Apricot juice running down our chins, apricot-heavy fruit salad, apricots at every meal ... but apricots are only ripe for a few weeks and then they're gone until next summer, and so many people end up just letting them fall to the ground and rot. The library near Cheryl's house has a dozen trees in front, and the ground's orange from all the fallen fruit; I kept expecting to see people there picking the trees bare but never did. How sad!
 I can't bear to see the fruit go to waste, though, and wasn't there long enough to dry any (had I been in New Mexico it would have dried very quickly, but it takes longer in CA), so I canned it instead ...
Continue reading "Food and Food Security" »
 First of all, woohoo, we've added bunches of new fabrics including a fabulous new safari print. Check them all out. (Oh, and new yarns, including the best deal imaginable on bulk merino yarn, and pretty single-needle silk cases to go with our Ultimate Silk Knitting Needle Cases.)
Secondly, I've been thinking about sleep a lot lately. We've had many customer questions about pillow making, and I've had to admit that I haven't had the time or inclination to make my own pillows since children entered my life lo those many years ago. I know a lot about the concept and I've worked with a good many people who've made pillows, but making my own? Not a chance. My sewing time is dedicated to other projects these days, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. But many of our customers are more dedicated than I, and others are in the same boat as I am, and it's to all of you that I dedicate this entry. :)
Continue reading "New organic cotton fabrics, organic pillows, and chocolate, always chocolate." »
 It may just be because I love their logo, but I'm really fascinated by the new Organic Consumers Association-sponsored Planting Peace resource center. Designed to "build a powerful coalition to bring about cooperation and synergy between the peace movement, the climate crisis movement, and the organic community," this group is made up of "Organic and Socially Responsible Consumers [who] Say No to War and Climate Chaos".
I can't stop quoting from their site -- I know it's getting a bit silly here, but read this:
Help us build up a national and international network of organic and socially responsible consumers who wish to protect Gaia/Mother Earth, put an end to war and military madness, and green and re-localize the global ecology. Please join us in building up a powerful coalition that brings about cooperation and synergy between the anti-war movement, the climate crisis movement, and the organic community.
I love their downloadable card, and their compendium of blogs and websites that might be useful or interesting. You may or may not agree with everything on their site -- heck, I may or may not agree with everything on their site, but there's still quite a lot to read, learn, and ponder. And really, regardless of how you feel about the details, how can you disagree with the basic tenets of promoting peace, organics, and reducing adverse climate change? Check out the site and see what you think ... and while you're there, check out the OCA's front page, where the top story is "Monsanto Repents! Announces that They Will Never Genetically Modify Another Organism Ever". Can you say "April Fools"? I sure can!
 I've been intrigued by Furoshiki, the Japanese art of gift wrapping with fabric, since I first learned about it many years ago. It wasn't until a business trip to California, however, that I found the book Gift Wrapping With Textiles: Stylish Ideas from Japan (available other places too, of course!). That book, combined with a little spare time (hey, there's not all that much to do in a hotel room, even an eco-friendly one, besides watch really bad TV and work), inspired me to start playing around with the concept ... and it's so very much fun!
 Today I was lucky enough to be able to work with two new Harmony Arts fabrics, Black and White Whispering Grass Wide-Width Sateen and Blue Moon Light Flannel, and I couldn't resist trying a little furoshiki. (The new fabrics are probably worth an entry in their own right, especially because it's so wonderful having a printed flannel that can be used for the whole family and because the black and white version of Whispering Grass is so strikingly eye-catching, but instead I'm simply using the fabrics as props for a larger post. Do check them out, even if I'm not giving them their due in the blog.)
Continue reading "Furoshiki, and new Harmony Arts fabrics. " »
I know we've been remiss in writing blog entries, but that's because we've been putting all our efforts into entering new fabrics. And what a lot of fun surprises we have in store for you! We're happy to announce some more NearSea Naturals exclusives, including five colors of glorious hand-batiked wide-width sateens. There's our exclusive Cave Art Print, available in fleece, Plain Weave, Knit Summercloth, Arctic French Terry, and Colorgrown Green Woven, several with unprinted versions of the fabric to match. And don't miss our Amity Peace Silk, which is a double-layer fabric (the two layers of the fabric are attached only at the selvages) of the sheerest tussah silk imaginable. Glorious for summer wear, formal attire, and so much more, it was imported from a women's cooperative in India just for us.
There's more in the extended entry, so keep reading.
Continue reading "Fun new fabrics and a quartet of recommendations..." »
Have you seen Miriam's Traditional Mexican Dress pattern? It's downloadable -- you pay $5 and can download the pattern almost immediately. (And isn't $5 a great price for a pattern? Not having to get it professionally printed saves money, which is passed on to the customers.) Miriam has created a pattern that I think would be really good for beginning sewing enthuiasts, with directions that are clearly stated and make sense. You create the pattern pieces yourself, for a custom fit, which is another good exercise for beginners ... and with a pattern as forgiving as this, it's okay if you aren't perfect. (That is a very good thing, trust me.)
Continue reading "Downloadable Mexican Sundress Pattern" »
We added ten new laces last week, including Balmoral (pictured at left). Whenever I look at the laces, I have so much fun thinking about ways I could use them -- and there are so many! From the simplest accents (trimming a gift bag, using lace as a ribbon/tie, making quick and easy scrunchies) to the more involved (bedding with inset lace, wedding and christening gowns, etc), the uses are endless and so very much fun to consider!
One of our favorite customers, Gentian, who lives in Alaska, sent pictures of some of the things she and her sister have made lately. They're absolutely amazing, folks, and I anticipate at least a few posts showing them over the next couple of weeks. (I need to process the pictures and write some text first. Oh, and quit drooling over the craftswomanship.)
Bad news: BCI Labels, about whom I wrote in an earlier post, apparently aren't making organic cotton labels right now. They're having trouble sourcing the cloth tape. Thanks to Willow, of Holy Lamb Organics, for letting us know.
The Organic Consumers Association, to which I personally belong, is calling for a boycott of Walmart for degrading organic standards and labeling non-organic stuff as organic. Read more about the boycott here. Here's more about factory farming organic milk, too, as well as information about producers to avoid when possible.
We're working on adding some fun new fabrics this week; I'll let you know once they're up.
Many of you have probably seen Amy's name on filled orders, admired the rag doll we featured earlier this year, or heard us rave about her over the phone. I've included a picture of the rag doll at right, just to remind everyone how cute it is. Since Amy's snowed out (the road to the headquarters is so bad that she can't get there today), she decided to take the opportunity to write a blog post for us instead. So here goes:
I've had the pleasure of working for Nearsea for almost two years now, and this message is long overdue. I don't spend much time with the computer, though I often thought about communicating with Nearsea's customers because working here is truly a unique and priceless experience.
Finding Winnie again (she and my sister were friends in high school) was the first pleasant suprise; learning about her business was the second. I work there two days a week, largely filling orders. I have loved cloth as long as I can remember, and as an adult made clothes for my family. I used a treadle machine for many years as I share with Winnie having made a challenging decision with endless effects: that of living and raising families far off the "grid". It is uncommon to find others who carried out this choice, and I believe it has added a dimension to our relationship.
But, to the point: the cloth, buttons, yarns, patterns, the swatches, boxes, and the company. (I'm not sure that's a sentence!) Every day we spend some or much time carrying rolls of cloth to the cutting table to get the pieces our customers want, thus I have the pleasure of handling these many and various examples of the mill industry. I have favorites of course, and we have in-house jokes, such as the word gravel applied to the amazingly tough (yet supple, how's that?) hemp cloths we cut. I have been given some very beautiful pieces of different kinds, and bought a few, like the blush jersey I used for my mother's nightgown. I've taken home many very small scraps I use to make dolls. During the holiday I made a hemp horse. I'll take him to work next week to get a picture for this site.
Winnie gave me a sewing machine, and I have a project going of course, to which I'd better return. The road to Nearsea headquarters is quite formidable and after the snow (34" here), well, this is the third week I've been unable to go in. There is also wood to fetch and guinea pigs to feed, but I thank you for the opportunity to express some of the pleasure I have in being a small part of this family business.
Sincerely, Amy Caldwell
With the holidays fast upon us, so many of us are in the midst of a whirlwind of gift-making, present-purchasing, gift-bag-sewing (because it's my goal this year, as for the past several, to not buy any wrapping paper), package-sending, baking, story-telling, song-singing, party-planning, and so very much more. There's still time to make presents, and gift certificates can be ordered at the last minute; we've also been busy adding goodies that make excellent stocking stuffers and presents for next to the Menorah or under the tree.
Our alpaca goodies are my absolute favorite gift this year; I keep hoping I'll be given some, because they're just so wonderfully cozy and luxurious. Organic Candles are perfect for a stocking, a teacher's gift, the next-door neighbor, and so many other people. We've had a run on organic washcloths lately, as people stock up for holiday giving and their own use. And our hand-woven rugs make for a special splurge for that special someone...
If you know people who like to knit, we've got them covered (sustainably, of course!). Our ever-expanding selection of yarns include plant-dyed organic cottons, recycled sari yarns, multiple types of wool, and so much more. What knitter, crochet enthusiast, or weaver wouldn't be absolutely delighted with a selection of gorgeous yarns to work with?
And our fabrics and patterns -- so many options there! Keep reading for some of our suggestions...
Continue reading "Holiday gifting..." »
It's like magic -- each year as the days start getting shorter and the leaves start turning, it's like a switch is flipped internally and I suddenly have to start preparing for the cold weather to come. I love winter, but have to admit that I start getting antsy for spring come late February/early March. (Joan Baez has a song in which the refrain goes "can we live through February?" and I completely empathize with it, every year. It's amazing how the shortest month can seem like the longest!) I've been mentally stocking up on projects all summer long, and it's finally time to start making plans for them. Luckily NearSea's getting ready for winter too, and I think much of my winter craftiness will be inspired by some items we've just gotten in stock.
I have a huge pile of mending (possibly something to do with two kids who spend huge parts of each day outside), and need to get my sewing machine serviced before I get started. I've also been saving up patterns, and need to make sure I have fabric for each planned item. (I'm in the midst of adding quite a few new knits, both printed and not, so keep your eyes open for them within the next week. We're also expecting new organic wools by December, and our natural silk charmeuse within a couple of weeks. Finally!)
We just received some incredibly luscious organic alpaca yarn, and I'm determined to make something with it this winter. It may be as simple as using it for doll hair or teaching the kids to finger-knit, or as complex as a scarf (that is, unfortunately, the current limit of my knitting abilities), but I'll be doing something with this yarn as the days get shorter and I have more time to sit there, telling stories to my children and keeping my hands busy. I always feel connected to my pioneer ancestors on evenings like that! (I'll be adding the yarn to the website this next week too; I'm still working on the pictures.)
Someone just told me that if we're not ready for the holidays by now we should give up all hope and concentrate on next year instead; I'm not willing to surrender just yet, but my family does need to get in high gear making both things and plans. It'll all be a bit easier, though, because NearSea is starting to carry beautiful organic alpaca/llama items, ranging from socks for children to so, so soft shawls (ruanas) for adults. I wore one of the ruanas every day for the two weeks of our trip (it was much colder than we had planned) and it kept me cozywarm while taking up hardly any room. So I suspect several people on my list will be getting alpaca goodies this year. The only problem, of course, is that it sets the bar really high for next year! (Yes, these too will be added to the site in the very near future; I'm writing just as fast as I can... :)
I've also been working to get my kitchen and pantry in order for winter; we don't often end up trapped in our house, thanks to New Mexico's fairly mild winters, but it does happen on occasion. One of the many benefits of being off-the-grid is that we don't lose power during big storms, but we still need to have food for the family. As long as we're warm and well-fed, being stuck atop the mesa is an adventure instead of a disaster! I'm a bit behind my usual schedule, but there's a bit about my kitchen preparations in the extended entry...
Continue reading "Preparing for winter..." »
BCI Labels just sent us a sample pack of their clothing labels -- you know, the tags in clothes with the maker, size, care instructions, etc. Among the wide assortment of styles, sizes, and types that they produce are some printed on organic cotton (scroll down a bit; you'll find them). They appear to be quite nicely made, and the short correspondence I had with the company went well; they seem responsive and fairly quick to answer emails. There's a minimum order of 1,000 labels, and the silkscreened organic labels range in price depending on how many colors you need. There's a $50 setup charge, and there may be other fees too -- I didn't buy any labels, I just wanted to pass the information on to our customers because it's a resource I've been asked for many times in the past. I would personally double-check that they are still using organic cotton when ordering, just because I tend to be skeptical that way, but BCI definitely seems like an option worth exploring.
I wanted to bring your attention to this entry into etsy.com's coproduction competition: Hemp Plaid Kilt
(Click on any picture in this entry to make it larger -- they're definitely worth looking at!)
Created with a collaboration between Corrina McFarlane, Regina O'Reilly, and NearSea Naturals, the kilt was made from our Blue Plaid Hemp, which is now a collector's item (we have no more). The kilt is a beautifully-designed and created piece of art that answers the inevitable question ("What's under your kilt?") with an exuberant "Hemp, Hemp, Hooray!" Click on the picture to the right to see the beautifully-embroidered answer.
Corrina and Regina's bios are as follows:
 TimeToShine.etsy.com/Corrina McFarlane : TTS is known on the eco-festival and conference circuits, creating tables like Tibetan sand paintings, with stuff made of hemp, organic cotton, dream catchers and wishes...different every time, brief but always delightful. TTS is intent upon bringing heartening news of what eco-architect, Bill McDonough terms "cradle-to-cradle" initiatives. Moving beyond the throw-away planet (cradle to grave), we get to play in a world that works for everyone, no one left out. That's Corrina, to the left.
WhatsUnderYourKilt.etsy.com/Regina O'Reilly: OTB Kilts came out of a conversation with Regina's mother, who remarked on the courage it takes for some men to put on a kilt, to ‘Step Outside the Box’: "Only The Brave". (Outside The Box/Only The Brave; hence: OTB Kilts!). OTB is about challenging the norm while having FUN! We take our fun seriously. Since 2002 OTB has sponsored golf tournaments and many special events that feature men in KILTS. And the more we can draw from sources the are Fair Trade/Fair Made, the happier we will be!
The contest's winner hasn't been announced yet (it should be later tonight), but regardless of the outcome, Corrina and Regina will always be winners to us. They've taken their passion and made it sustainable, earth-friendly, and so very much fun. We thank them, and can't wait to see their next collaboration.
We've spent the week working on adding an exciting new selection of organic laces and several other items (including amazing organic blankets, both in a cotton/wool blend and in a cotton chenille); we hope to have them all on our website next week. We're also adding a line of patterns made for the "petite plus" woman -- those of us who are short and round. But after spending so much time on the computer, it'll be absolutely lovely to spend the weekend down by the river with family and friends.
We'll watch the kids play, get all muddy when the dogs shake off after their dips, laugh at the donkey when he tries to join in, share some good food and maybe even some adult libations, and remind ourselves of why we're really all here. Although we frequently answer emails during the weekend, we're planning to take all three days off. So don't be surprised if you don't hear back from us until Tuesday or even Wednesday, depending on how many emails and phone messages we're working our way through. :) (That's Buddy the blind Wonder Dog to the right; he can't see any longer, but he's amazing at chasing away coyotes on moonless nights -- he's got an advantage!)
May your weekend be lovely too, be it long or short, calm or hectic. And may we all come back rejuvenated!
Amor Owens, one of our customers, has just officially opened her webstore, and you might want to check it out. She has a beautiful paisley jumper (scroll down to see it) made from our organic corded chenille that almost makes me wish I'd had a daughter just for the clothes. :) Amor plans to make more clothes out of organic material, so you might want to check her site frequently.
Do you make things from our materials, either for sale or for yourself? Let us know, and maybe we'll feature your work too.
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