Sunday, January 25, 2009

Reusable Bags

In need of some super-sweet and durable grocery bags? Reusable Bags.com is a great resource.

According to their information page, each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year. Check out the running total of bags used this year at the top of their page or the side of mine. Pretty mind blowing.

They have a huge selection and a variety or prices that can fit any one's budget.
We gave Tyler's mom, Cathy, dual handle canvas bags for Christmas along with some string produce bags.

I always carry one of their Acme Workhorse Bags in my purse. They fold into a pouch that is built in the interior of the bag and are only $5.95 and $4.95 each if you buy four or more. It's convenient when you are at a boutique or mall and don't want to use their shoppers. It fits quite a bit and if you're on a spree, 3 or 4 would work in a snap!

If you already have bags, but have trouble remembering to take them with you, unpack after you go to the store and then put them by your keys. When you leave, you'll think to toss them in the back of your car and be ready next time.

Reusable Bags also have water bottles, lunch bags and sandwich pouches that can be used over and over.

Below is a link to one of their newsletters. Simple, no-brainers that don't take a lot of effort.
Ten tips for a less wasteful 2009

If you live around OKC, Collected Thread on 16th and Blackwelder also carries reusable cloth bags. Go see Lindsay and shop local.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Mod Green Pod Eco Fabrics

Mod Green Pod is a fabulous eco-friendly fabric and wallpaper company based out of Austin, Texas. Their fabrics are made of 100% organic cotton canvas, printed with non-toxic pigments and made in the US of A. Unprinted fabric cost $15 per yard and prints are $39 per yard.

We picked Aspire in Peppercorn to re-cover our extra long 1950's feather stuffed couch.


A couple more favorite patterns:
Atticus in Cherry


Grand Jubilee in Chocolate



They also have a vinyl-free wallpaper line that is printed with non-toxic ink and runs $60 a roll.
Below is Butterfly Jubilee in Raspberry and Honey.


The room creator feature on there site is a great tool to try out fabrics and wallpapers to see what they look like upholstered or hung.

Samples are available for $3.00 and if you return to buy yardage within a month of sample purchase, I THINK they put the $3.00 towards your purchase.

The big, gold couch is going to the upholstery shop next week. Will post pics when it returns, renewed and recycled!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

For those of you with furry friends...

From the beginning of cat ownership we have been fans of Feline Pine.

After reading this article I would encourage anyone with a feline companion to make the switch. According to the article found below, in the average life span of a cat, 15 years, about 2,000 pounds of litter us dumped into landfills. Yikes! Kind of terrifying my Toby and Oliver could contribute over 2 tons! By lining the box with yesterdays paper and filling it with biodegradable litter, you would being doing our planet and your home environment a great service. Please check out this article.

Should I clay or should I go now?


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Thankful for today and looking forward....

Different situations and relationships of late have got me thinking. I'm very humbled by the goodness of dear ones in my life.

I at times get lost in the rush of day to day "stuff" and bogged down by the trivial and just plain stupid. I'm am happy for the life that has been given to me and refuse to become complacent. It is a small, but good life full of simple bits of joy!

I give thanks for:

Tyler & his unique ways of being himself.

The ability to spend time & work with my family every week. For Momma's spunk, Dad's wisdom and Jeff's get it done attitude. I'm proud to be a part of a business that grows beautiful things. For my "new" family that welcomed me as a part of their own. It's so much fun to have so many aunts, uncles, cousins and new grand parents. They are a rambunctious and fun loving group.

Friendships. I cherish the fact I have wonderful friends from childhood and growing up and that our friendships have grown up with us! Thanks for new friendships! Monthly book club meetings have been so refreshing. It's of course great to read something new and learn perspectives but it's the bits of our own stories we share that I love. Friends far away. Happy that I get to hear bits and pieces of the lives they are making for themselves.
I realize that grace and understanding is what makes friendship so great.

Freedom. To create and think. A bit of a recluse by nature, I'm happy to stay at home a couple of days a week and work out of our back bedroom. I'm so thankful for the encouragement provided by family and friends to pursue my own business. Happy to have this as an outlet for my sometimes inarticulate brain waves.

Now on to less philosophical musings:
After the reorganization of my sewing room:
with a little help from these two:
I now feel ready and inspired to get with it.
I made some more belts:
and a few new cloth scarfs:
I'm thinking about spring time and printed cotton shifts. Playing with a couple of ideas for flower puff elastic head bands. Take care and have a wonderful day!