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Designer Rachael Reichert uses many NearSea Naturals fabrics in her eco-friendly collections. She designs for "women of the world wanting to dress ethically without sacrificing style," creating with organic cotton, peace silk, and other green materials (including our lace, which looks gorgeous dyed black and edging a chic dress). Her work's lines are unique and eye-catching, don't you think?
See more of Rachael's works in her etsy store.
In response to our request for images of things all y'all have made (see? I'm trying to get Southern here!), Sabrina sent some very impressive images. She's been a NearSea customer since 2007, and I envy her children. Here's what Sabrina, who lives in Florida, wrote:
I clothe my four children almost exclusively in Near Sea fabrics. If it's not something handed down within the family it is sewn by me. I take a lot of joy knowing they are wearing the best and that it was sewn with love by their mom instead of shipped from overseas.
Here are a few pics of my Near Sea Creations for my 10 year old son. The short & pants have flat fell seams which gave them a very professional finish. The patterns used were by Simplicity and Kwik Sew.
I'll send some more pics of other creations. You'll probably recognize each fabric, but if you have any questions just let me know.
I've always wanted to suggest the idea of having pics for customers to view for each fabric to help them visualize how the fabric could be used. I know a lot of people, especially those new to sewing, have trouble seeing how a finished product could look. I'd be happy to share what I have so far.
So in addition to having these wonderful pictures, we're looking forward to seeing more of Sabrina's creations in the future!
(By the way, if you don't know how to make flat-felled seams, you can learn how to do so here. Sabrina is, of course, right; they can add a nice feeling of professional quality to your work!)
Sabrina also included pictures of an excellent bathrobe she made for her son, and of a set of pajamas and a nightgown she made for her kids. See why I'm jealous of her kids? Nobody's making things like this for me! :)
Take a look at these stunning wedding gowns, created by designer Patty Nayel of Pure Magnolia Gowns. She combines new eco-friendly fabrics, including cottons from NearSea Naturals, with some vintage materials, other designers' works, and more to create custom, affordable dresses for environmentally-minded brides who want to look gorgeous on their special day.
"How much stuffing do I need for a futon?"
That's a question we hear all the time around her, and our typical response is indeed correct, even if it isn't as specific as you might prefer: "It depends on what size of futon, how thick you want it to be, and how tightly packed you want the stuffing to be. You may choose to put natural latex, organic wool stuffing, or another filling material in the futon in addition to the organic cotton stuffing -- these different additions give different properties to the futon and also, of course, reduce the amount of cotton that you need. One option is to find a futon that you like (size, thickness, and overall feel) and weigh it, which should give you a fairly accurate idea of your stuffing needs."
We finally got smart, though, and asked our local organic futon maven, the doyenne of sustainable pillows (including gorgeous organic meditation cushions), Lois Hamamoto of Sachi Organics. Lois generously shared the knowledge she's gained from years of working with organic cotton stuffing, saying:
"we go by height rather than weight. We do, however, have a general and flexible weight for each size, and they are as follows:
twin 38 - 42 lbs
double 55 -57 lbs
queen 60 - 65 lbs
king 110 - 120 lbs
For the pillows, we weigh the cotton batting so this is easier:
standard 2lbs
queen 2.5 lbs
king 3 lbs
I hope this helps!"
Upon further questioning, Lois added:
In addition to the cotton, we add 2 layers of wool (one top and one bottom) to each futon. This adds to the loft and the general height so that the futons come out at 6" in height. Each layer of wool is about 1" thick (will compress to half that height when stuffed) so the total height increases about 1", resulting in 6" overall. The futons will look thicker and will compress down as the casing is put on.
That's a lot of stuffing, isn't it? If the whole project seems a bit overwhelming we do recommend contacting Lois and the rest of the ethical, talented people at Sachi Organics. And if you still want to make your own, you'll need to decide between our Futon-Grade Organic Cotton Stuffing, our more refined Organic Cotton Stuffing/Organic Cotton Batting, and our Organic Wool Stuffing - Bolus. (Yes, you're allowed to use a combination of two or more types; we won't tell on you!)
As I've mentioned before, our customers make amazing things from the fabrics we offer. Sometimes we're lucky enough to see pictures of the finished products, and occasionally we like to share pictures of special creations with everyone else. This is one of those times: Loralee Holman shared pictures of her beautiful wedding gown and bridesmaids' dresses that we'd like to let you see too.
 Loralee's mother must love her very, very much, as her mom sewed all the dresses for the wedding. The bridesmaids' dresses were made using our Plum Hemp/Silk Charmeuse, while the wedding gown was crafted from our Natural Hemp/Silk Charmeuse.
 Look at the details that went into the whole process -- the embroidery on the wedding gown that matches the bridesmaids' dresses, the barefoot bridesmaids carrying wildflowers ... doesn't it look like a beautiful wedding? I love how eco-friendly weddings can run the gamut from the simplest, least-fuss ideas imaginable to incredibly ornate, and it's so marvelous knowing that our customers care enough to ensure that their happy day will be a happy one for the earth as well.
(Click on any of the pictures to see them larger -- they're definitely worth it!)
I have to share these finds with you, and they go in one post because they're both bag-related even though they're so very different. First, I've been using the Ridley veggie/bulk foods bag carrier from 4U2ReUSE for the last few months, and it's made my shopping easier. The Ridley is a little triangle-shaped fabric storage container, very well made, that holds a good bunch of bags (they say 10-15, but I've never bothered counting) -- more than enough for my typical farmer's market or grocery store trip. When I empty a bag at home, I simply stuff it back in my Ridley and I'm good to go for the next time. I keep the Ridley attached to my shopping basket, which I never go shopping without (I empty it as soon as I get home and stick it by the door, and it's a matter of habit to grab and stick it in the car when I next leave the house), so I always have bags with me. There's a mix of biodegradable plastic and fabric bags in my Ridley -- sometimes fabric ones just don't work as well, as for things like flour, but I don't feel as bad using plastic when I know I'll be reusing them again and again and again, and the Ridley makes doing so much, much easier. So two thumbs up on the Ridley, which just might make for a good gift for people you know who have difficulties remembering to reuse their bags.
 My second bag-related love these days? Willywaw Studios. Ashley Van Etten's work is absolutely amazing. I want her bags, all of them, but especially the Turtle Tote. Isn't that an amazing turtle? It makes me think of the Northwest Haida designs. The leatherback turtle is also available as a T-shirt, as are several of Ashley's other designs, but I prefer the bags because (a) they're organic and (b) they're simply more functional in my life. :)
Continue reading "I'm in the mood for bags: Willywaw and 4U2ReUSE" »
Leah Siemens, one of our amazingly creative customers, has started a business that takes advantage of her incredible sewing skills. Her first auction is on ebay right now, and you only have a day to get your bid in. So start typing!
Here's what Leah has to say:
"Here are the pics and write up that are in my current auction, almost all of the fabric and notions came from Near Sea Naturals.... This is the first set that I've made to sell, but I plan it to be the first of many more - I'm starting with baby, but plan to do other household items as well.
"A bit about myself. I am 36 years old, and the mother of four children, 3 girls ages 8, 23 months and 10 months, and a boy aged 7. I grew up with a love for nature and taking care of the earth - my parents gardened organically while I grew up and I follow their example. My Grandparents lived on a farm with no electricity - my grandmother raised sheep, sheared them, spun the wool and died it with natural dyes from plants that she made herself. She made beautiful things that she sold all over the world.
"2 years ago we had to shut down our family business as my husband could no longer do that work, and now he is recovering from spinal surgery. Having had two babies in the last two years and not wanting to leave their care to someone else - my husband's condition doesn't allow him to care for them until he is fully recovered, I started to think about what I could do from home. So I took my love of things organic, and my love of fabric art, and decided to put the two together and see what happened! Here is my 'debut'."
Look at the incredible details on the set. The lace beautifully edges the quilt and crib skirt, the appliques are edged in colorgrown yarn, vintage buttons top the canopy, and so much more. This is the sort of creation I always wanted to make for my kids but somehow it never happened. (Something about a lack of time, or so I claimed ... but Leah has FOUR kids and is still making these incredible things. So perhaps I'll have to come up with a better excuse at some point...) Click on the images to see bigger pictures, and check out the ebay page for even more, as well as more information.
To learn more about Leah's plans (or commission her to make something special, perhaps?), email her. You can see any ebay auctions here.
(Yes, it's entirely possible Gentian will turn out to be Customer of the Quarter, or even of the year, depending on how inspired I am to profile someone else. But Gentian deserves the recognition, regardless of how long it takes me to add a new blog entry. :)
Gentian has been a NearSea customer for years now, and as we've gotten to know her better we've been amazed and inspired by the wonderful lifestyle she's chosen to live. Living in the thriving town of Homer, Alaska (population 4,000, with another 8,000 outside the city limits and what looks like a splendid brownie recipe in the Homer Tribune), Gentian has made sustainability her focus.
Read on to find out more.
Continue reading "Customer of the Month: Gentian" »
Barbara, of Oasis Originals, shares with us information about her latest creation. She writes, "I just wanted to let you know that I have just made MYSELF, not my dogs, a new blanket. I used your sateen and heavy duty flannel. Sewed them together at the edges but left a gap open ( with edge trim ) on each side so that I can clean out the lint. I have in the past sewn a stitch down the entire length of the blanket every so often but after the many washings I give my bedding I end up with rocks in between the layers, so I left a gap to clean them out, we will see how that works. I also bound the edges with the same flannel...I just thought I would pass on what I do with your wonderful fabrics and also express how happy I am to find out I purr in my sleep now :-) .
"I'm not to sure on how to take a photo of a blanket but here's a try, I even positioned it so you can see the " pocket " I left to clean out the flannel lint later... The first one I made was out of the regular weight flannel and the heavy duty is so much more wonderful, I can not wait, I guess it's early to bed !!"
It sounds so cozy, and like it would work wonderfully for people with allergies (who may need to wash their bedding frequently), for babies (whose blankets need washed frequently for other reasons), and really for just about everybody! If you make one yourself, let us know how it goes. :)
Anja has created an amazing collection of clothes (only available in Stockholm, Sweden, unfortunately). Her line includes "lingerie, day-, evening-, and outer-wear and haute couture made from handspun yarns, black smith made buttons, unique lace trimmings and vintage fabrics. Tailored garments in woven fabrics are being created among knitted and crocheted ones, all carefully made and meant to last for a long time." Looking at her creations, you just might recognize a fabric or two... :)
Anja's preparing to show her collection at Fashion Week Mexico, and we wish her the best of luck!
Although she grew up in West Texas, the nation’s cotton-producing capital, Michelle Meyer never thought she’d have any association with the world of textiles once she left her parents’ home. Instead she studied interior design and then went to graduate school in architecture, eventually earning her LEED certification and specializing in sustainable buildings. But the impending arrival of her first child inspired a new focus.
Michelle says, “When I was expecting my son, I saw a need for stylish organic baby bedding. With my design background, I knew I could fill this niche.” The Harmony Arts fabric line, which had recently been released, was perfect for Michelle’s needs and thus Cotton Monkey was born.
Continue reading "Cotton Monkey" »
It's always amazing what clever ideas our customers come up with, and how beautifully they're executed. Take these splendid produce bags -- useful, good-looking, and a great way to make a difference.
Melissa explains her project like this:
"At my grocery store, we are required to weigh organic produce and affix a price sticker before checkout. Not wanting to waste so many plastic bags for each individual item, I decided to make my own 15x11 inch cloth produce bag using your sustainable cotton/hemp artichoke print fabric. Now I can weigh my produce, place the sticker on the outside of the bag, and conveniently carry everything together. I estimate that I save at least three produce bags with each visit, amounting to a whopping 300+ bags a year!"
In addition to being the mother to three children under seven, Melissa has a wonderful website "meant for anyone who is concerned about his potential to affect this earth, for it is the culmination of each small action that has the greatest implications. " Check it out at TheColorGreen.info. Melissa even had a contest among her blog commenters, and awarded the winner a beautiful produce bag!
Cloth produce bags are easy to make, and can make a tangible difference. We challenge everyone to have - and use - at least one!
 As one of only twenty-one participants in Winchester School of Art's catwalk/fashion show at London Graduate Fashion Week this summer, Nora Sotamaa had a great opportunity. She was uniquely positioned to show hundreds of viewers, photographers, and reporters that, as she says, "sustainable fashion doesn't have to be boring." These attendees took special note of her six male models, who wore clothing made from natural, organic and sustainable fabrics.
Almost her entire collection was created using NearSeaNaturals fabrics, which Nora was thrilled to find because of the variety of different offerings in a wide range of colors.
Nora, who is from Finland, has been studying fashion in England for the past four years. Winchester School of Art is well-known for fashion and textiles departments, as well as fine art. The small campus is part of the University of Southampton (a larger city about 12 miles south) which offers programs in many different fields.
“My designs and garments support the argument that sustainable fashion doesn't have to be boring. I made suits out of 'Adobe hemp' and 'Sophisticated Jade' and used different weights and colors of organic cotton jerseys for a cardigan and shirts. I also made fitted collared shirts with 'natural hemp muslin' and 'forest blue hemp’ print.
There's more information about and a picture of Nora's collection below.
Continue reading "Sustainable Designs for Men" »
Almost-six-month old Halen's wonderfully talented mama, Christy, made this gorgeous pirate's quilt for her little boy. Doesn't he look thrilled with it? And well he should, really -- look at the great combination of fabrics she used to come up with the oh-so-scary design. All the fabrics are from NearSea, though some are sold out (Christy must've been stashing them for a while -- very appropriate for a pirate's quilt, as I'd love to find a treasure chest full of organic fabrics!), and there's organic batting as well.
People sometimes come to us looking for an organic analog to a specific conventional item that they just have to have for their projects -- rickrack, embroidery thread, ribbon, pompoms, etc. It can be very frustrating to hear that certain things just aren't available in organic versions yet, but as you sew more you become much more adept at figuring out substitutes. They might not look or function exactly the same as the non-organic version, but you just might find that your items are beautiful in their own right. And that's not even mentioning the good feeling that going organic can provide, especially when you're sewing for a baby who you want to surround with the purest of everything! I think Christy's quilt is a perfect example of the charm and interest that fully-organic items can have. Not only is it special because of all the love and care that went into its creation, but it's also visually striking ... and without the need for conventional fabrics or notions. Don't be dissuaded if you can't find exactly what you want in sustainable fabrics and notions; take it as a challenge, and you just might find that you can rise to the occasion!
Here are two more pictures of Halen's quilt; click on them for a larger version.
 
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.
Many of you have seen Amy's name on your packing slips or talked with her on the phone, but few people know how creative she is. We're lucky enough to have Amy work here part-time; her wonderful, artistic eye makes her the go-to person when we need to know if two fabrics really match or if something is a blue-red or an orange-red. Coincidentally, Amy's older sister went to high school with Winnie; they didn't realize the connection until Amy applied for the job. New Mexico really calls to people, and it's always surprising to see who answers.
Anyway, Amy's latest challenge was to make a rag doll using scraps of our fabrics. This is what she made. You may recognize some of the fabrics as ones which sold out long ago, and others from our current offerings. Her arms and legs are braided strips of fabric; her head, body, and feet are stuffed with our organic cotton stuffing. Her face is embroidered, and her mouth is a piece of red herringbone.
Continue reading "Amy's rag doll" »
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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