Crafting a Green World

Now, this may read as a little gossipy, since I, myself, am a member of this team (for now, the reasons for which you’ll soon see), but I think these recent struggles within one group of crafters are important to share, because they say a lot about where our contemporary culture is right now, politically, socially, even globally.

You see, the Craftivism Etsy Team recently had a really big fight, so big that a lot of us actually left the team. Feelings are still hurt, and a lot of those who are left for now are left wondering exactly what our team is, after all, and what it actually stands for.

What did we fight about, you ask?

We fought about the definition of craftivism. Read the rest of this entry »

On Friday night, I hit up the Young Blood Gallery here in Atlanta to check out the Re-Construct DVD release party! We munched on snacks served on compostable dishware and watched the trailer for Garth Johnson’s and Jeanée Ledoux’s new film about eco-friendly crafting! Garth is the man behind Extreme Craft and the upcoming book 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse. Jeanée is a maker and writer of Abode à la Mode: 44 Projects for Hip Home Decor.
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While checking out my blog list waiting for the coffee to brew, I found the following post on Whip Up–Rosar Pomar + Oilily: Blatant Ripoff?

Basically, a new product line from big company Oilily looks suspiciously similar, from fabric to shape to the smallest facial features, to an old product line that independent small crafter Rosa Pomar has been lovingly producing on her own for years.

The photo to the left is from the Oilily Summer of Love baby girl layette. The doll shown here is shockingly identical to the beautiful dolls that Pomar has been creating for years–see here for examples of her dolls from 2007. Read the rest of this entry »

[Creative Commons photo by dyanna]

As I’ve confessed before, I’m a hoarder. Right next to that bowl full of used corks is another bowl full of bottle caps. I just can’t bear to pitch them! Also like with the corks, a certain husband has been wondering what in the world I plan to do with all these bottle caps.

Luckily, there are a ton fun projects that I can choose from!
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The dust has settled down for just a little while, but you might remember that I did my best to do my part by writing letters to my representatives protesting the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Senator Lugar replied quite a while ago, and I haven’t heard a peep out of Senator Bayh, but at long last, I have received my reply from Representative Baron Hill. Here it is:

February 25, 2009 

Dear Mrs. Finn, [I specifically signed my name as “Ms.”–harumph)

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Not only are home made beauty supplies less expensive, they’re better for you and for the planet.

Conventional beauty products often contain harmful additives to increase lather or give the product a creamy texture. Ingredients like Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (SLS), for example, are in pretty much every skin- and hair-care product. SLS is a known mutagen and skin irritant and is even a suspected carcinogen! Even many natural products even contain some of the more toxic beauty industry chemicals. You can keep harsh chemicals off of your skin and out of the environment by making beauty supplies at home!
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We use a lot of paper in our day to day, but it doesn’t have to be that way!

[Creative Commons photo by Eunice]

Americans go through 700 pounds of paper products per person on average every single year. That’s a lot of trees! On top of things like paper towels and tissues, billions of menstrual products end up in the bin. In 1988, a field study found that 6.5 billion tampons and 13.5 billion sanitary pads and their packaging end up in America’s waste stream annually. You’ve got a weapon to fight all this waste right in your craft room: your sewing machine or even a simple needle and thread! Here are a few ways you can stitch your way to less waste.
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Check out this fabulous organic cotton from Harmony Art! Harmony Susalla, (yes, Harmony is her real name) the company’s creative director, started out doing fabric design for a pajama company and then at a design firm for big box customers before striking out on her own to design her own line of fab Earth-friendly fabrics!

Harmony Art’s fabric line includes lovely shades of solids and nature-inspired prints. If you’re looking to stock up, there are a couple of options! She offers fabric through her site on a wholesale basis, but there are a bunch of places you can snag it from retailers:
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Tomorrow in the U.S. is the eventful day where our president-elect becomes our 44th president. Being lucky enough to live in Washington, D.C. I plan on braving the crowds and the cold to participate in history.

One thing that has taken hold throughout this historic campaign is the slow rise of political art. Remember the McCain earrings and all the amazing DIY that was found at the DNC?

Art has played a huge role in the president-elect’s campaign. You only have to look at Shepard Fairey’s now ubiquitous Hope poster to see the affect. Political art and craft is just one way to stump for a cause, or show support for a president-elect.

Obama paraphernalia has been popping up all over the city. It is mostly cheap t-shirts and buttons and pins with the likeness of Obama and his family. But, I happened across this great “That’s my DJ” t-shirt. It is hand printed and designed by Sound College.

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So you may remember that a few weeks ago I looked up my representatives and wrote a letter each to Senator Richard G. Lugar, Senator Evan Bayh, and Representative Baron P. Hill about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA for short).

On Wednesday, Senator Lugar wrote me back. Here is his reply:

Dear Ms. Finn,

Thank you for sharing with me your concerns about legislation that was recently enacted to modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  I appreciate knowing of the difficulties individuals such as yourself and other small toymakers expect to face in complying with this new law. Read the rest of this entry »