So, in searching for fun crafting ideas I came across about a zillion crafting blogs. One of which is CraftZine, where I found this very cool project: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2012/02/project_kokedama_string_garden.html
Do you have a favorite crafting blog to recommend that can aid in sorting through the massive web of blogs?
Our friend Peggy just sent us a picture from our early days of our Craft Show Days. I had to share. Dennis and I are on the ends and our friends Peggy and Paul are in the middle. They were across from us at our first show. How young we were.
Do you have a blast from the past? Share and post it on our facebook page.
As exciting as NYC Fashion Week may be, I have been finding it hard to pay too much attention. There are great new designs for the Spring and Summer but there are also the sounds and images taking place in Syria in the back of my mind. Whether you pay attention to international politics or not, it’s hard to ignore what’s been happening. I’d just like to take a minute (at least) to regain some perspective and appreciate our own positions in life.
Most of you know what Etsy is. For those that do not it is a marketplace for Hand Crafted products as well as Vintage and tool suppliers. It has really grown by leaps and bounds. In fact, I attended a seminar last week where Judith Russell from ApparelStrategist.com said that it was a 5 Million dollar Business. We have an Etsy Store but like departments stores vs boutiques I prefer shopping in a place that is less congested.
At the bottom of each page we have links to different places. Three Sisters Marketplace(TSM) is one of them. As I was surfing the site I came across Ziva Designs.
One-of-a-kind, hand-crafted jewelry made by Ziva Averbuch. In her work she uses fine silver (pure silver), 24K gold, seed beads, handmade glass beads, Swarovski and Heishi beads. Check her out at Three Sisters Marketplace.
Have you discovered an artist you like? Share.
I belong to a group called The Sustainable Business Network. It is an organization for people interested in creating, growing or financing sustainable businesses. They asked their members to develop some resolutions that challenged what they call ” the triple bottom line” people, planet and profit. As a Sustainable Business we are always working on how to make our product more sustainable and our business more environmentally friendly.
Last year we added low immersion dying which is a technique that uses no salt and almost no water. It makes a beautiful Wearable Art garment. This year I am working on changing our hangtags to a tag that is plantable and will grow wildflowers.
I think we should all, as humans on the planet try to change something that will effect our planet. Even in a small way.
I challenge you.
Share your ideas with us. Help Inspire.
Saturday Event Beer Tasting
As you may know, we have been having special events in our Studio to promote our Saturday Boutique. This week we will be talking about that. I did a little video on our Hula Hooping Event. t will give you a little bit of an idea of what we have been doing. I hope you enjoy it. Please give me feedback.
On Monday Jessica wrote about things not being made in America anymore. I am here to tell you a story about what is happening in America.
I was at a Trade Show showing my newest collections and met a woman with a store in the Southwest. After complaining how retail has changed forever and not in a good way, and telling me how we must be struggling because anyone making quality Artwear Clothing is out priced not to mention that Americans are dressing in a very uninteresting way. She went on to tell me that she can go to a street in downtown LA and buy scarves “made in America” for $8.00 and then turns around and sells them for $68.00.
I was dumbfounded. I was reminded in a very personal way the Greed I saw in the 1980′s with large companies who took advantage of others in 3rd world countries. Only this was close to home. It just reminded me that we might be the next 3rd World Country, Companies from other counties will take advantage of as our desperation just to put food on the table.
What is your opinion. Click on the yellow icon and give me your thoughts.
Many things are no longer made in America. Cheaper wages and outsourcing are the major causes. I was very surprised to learn that some iconic American items are no longer made here. Levi’s (new pairs, not vintage) jeans are made in Asia and Latin America. James Dean made them cool, but they haven’t been made here since 2003! Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, but there’s only one small plant left in Pennsylvania. Rawling’s baseballs haven’t been made in America since 1969! They one manufacture out of Costa Rica.
Everyone is talking about local, how about made in America? What product do you love or support that’s still made here?
*Information was found in Maureen Callahan’s article in The New York Post “Not Made in America” 12/12/10
