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Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

An enlightening day at the gallery…

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Inspired. That’s what I felt after visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery last weekend. My husband and I are members, so we’re free to pop in any time we like to check out the newest exhibition which is a great luxury. So much so that we may not even look into a new exhibit in that much detail in advance like we would otherwise, we’ll just head down instead to check it out in person. For some reason I wasn’t that excited about the WE: Vancouver exhibit. I figured, I live here already, and as much as I love it I’m not super interested in some kind of rah rah city pride type of thing. I found something very very different that encouraged me in more ways than one. (The Reclaimed Dress above is from Etsy shop, Adhesif.)

Seed Bombs from Visual Lingual

With the dawn of the internet, we’ve seen the rise of countless different types of sites – and I couldn’t help but wonder after visiting the exhibit, how this easy transmission of information might be changing our collective perspectives for the better. Now it’s altogether possible that the folks whose thoughts and work were on display came to these views without the internet’s helping hand, but there were three outlooks that I have heard expressed again and again by people online and by my own friends in the last couple of years that I can’t help but wonder if there is some kind of interplay there, and a really great one at that, that is making these types of views far more mainstream than they ever have been before.

Throughout this post, you’ll find handmade items that I feel fit the various themes of this post in one way or another!

Reclaimed Wood Vase from Peg and Awl

The first “manifesto” I came across in the gallery found it’s main focus in nature and architecture, and painted an enticing vision of individuals who find themselves deeply connected to the outside world in a sustainable way. If you’d like, read more here about Mari Fujita and Matthew Soules vision of a future where we commute by kayak and pluck tomatoes from our wallpaper, right here.

Next, a commentary on conscious consumption – reminding us to be in touch with what we eat and use in our day to day lives. Either by baking bread, or planting a fruit tree or any other number of things as Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon suggest here.


Reclaimed wood terrarium from Ecogro

Next stop – a display courtesy of Natalie Purschwitz, who for one year decided to wear only things she made herself. You can read more about her project here.

If you have a chance to read these manifestos or to peruse Natalie’s blog, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Are you inspired like me, or do you think these lofty ideas and ambitions are unrealistic or somehow unattainable?

The Swat Team

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Mosquito card by Southern Pest Prints.

My home province holds the dubious distinction of being the “Mosquito Capital of Canada”. I don’t know how official that is, but ask any resident of Manitoba and I doubt any would argue. At the start of every summer, we grit our teeth and prepare for the onslaught of the pesky little bloodsuckers; this year is no exception. In fact, after heavier than usual rains in May and June, an excess of standing water has made mosquito breeding conditions more than ideal. And, according to the latest reports from entomologists, my city is on the brink of the worst infestation in over a decade. It seems that everywhere I go, “eaten alive“ is a phrase found on everyone‘s lips and in everyone’s ears. *swat*

Sterling silver earrings by Pathos Designs.

More than just annoying, mosquitoes can carry several deadly diseases; from Western Equine Encephalitis to West Nile Virus to, in some parts of the world, Malaria. Yikes! It’s no wonder that drastic measures, such as insecticide fogging, are taken by municipalities looking to protect their citizens. Of course, procedures like this never come without controversy. Although the chemicals used here in my city are said to have a low level of toxicity to humans, many concerned residents object to the wide-spread pesticide use and would prefer to take matters into their own hands by employing more human-friendly methods of mosquito-control. *swat*

The Homemade Soy Candle shop is full of the yummiest-sounding scents, but the one that is going on my list of summer “must haves” is the citronella travel candle, pictured above. In this season of spontaneous outdoor activities, you never know where you might end up, but around here, you can always count on mosquitoes being there when you arrive. Tossing a citronella candle or two into your backpack or picnic basket will help to ensure that when you stop to take a break, you can do it relatively pest-free. The unbreakable, lidded containers are ideal for parks and patios alike and the naturally-scented, clean-burning soy wax is an effective, non-toxic alternative to chemical sprays and repellents.

I’m sure that Krystal of Carvel Country Soapworks, located in knows a thing or two about mosquitoes. As a resident of Alberta, Canada, she has some of the most beautiful (and buggy) wilderness right in her backyard. Her chemical and paraben-free Bug Be Gone Body Butter (above) is a natural way to keep the biters at bay. Handmade in small batches to ensure quality, it combines the essential oils of citronella, black pepper, lavender and nepetalactone (a compound extracted from catnip) in a whipped, emollient base.

It’s not just 2-legged creatures that are bothered by blood-thirsty pests. While you are protecting your family from bites, don’t forget that pets hate to be bugged, too. Luxury Falls’ Critter Repel Dog Shampoo Bar, pictured above, is a two-in-one way to protect man’s best friend from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, while deep-cleaning their fur and skin. The handmade, hand-cut soap contains 100% essential oils in an all-natural moisturizing base, and can even be used on people, making it an excellent addition to your camping supplies.

By far, though, the most passive way of controlling mosquitoes is to let their natural predators take care of it for you. Dragonflies, birds such as Purple Martins and bats can drastically reduce the number of mosquitoes in your backyard. The idea of having bats around might be freaky to some, but as one who has grown to love them, I can assure you that they are completely harmless to humans and will quickly show their worth when they start ridding your yard of annoying insects. In fact, they can eat up to 6 times their own body weight in mosquitoes per night! To encourage a few mosquito-hungry bats to take up residence, choose a quiet, protected spot and put up a bat house like the one above, constructed of natural cedar by The Little Birdhouse Store.

Bat photograph (above) by Owl Viper’s Wildlife Photography.

*swat*

Coffee Talk – part one

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Most weekday mornings, seconds after my clock-radio switches itself on, I begin an internal debate about whether or not to get out of bed. The angel on my shoulder gently reminds me that I have venti-sized responsibilities; lunches that need to be made, bills that need to be paid and the emails waiting on my office computer that aren’t likely to answer themselves. At the same time, the devil on my shoulder presents an almost-convincing argument for staying in bed (and can usually keep me tucked snugly under the duvet for at least another 15 minutes.) I would like to say that it’s virtue that eventually rouses me, but I have to confess – it’s coffee. Just knowing that there is a fresh pot of fair-trade, organic coffee waiting for me in the kitchen gives me the little nudge I need to get into the shower and start my day. You can call a it a habit or an addiction, but I prefer to think of it as a life-long love affair with the stuff.

South African textile & graphic artist Wendren celebrates her own love of coffee in this entry on her blog. After reading her post, it came as no surprise to me to see the influence that coffee has had on the handmade goods available in her shop, The Wren. The bag pictured below, is just one of a number of beautiful accessories that Wendren creates from used coffee sacks.

coffeebag

[Read more…]

For the Birds

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Whether you are a city-dweller, or make your home in the country, bird watching is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to interact with nature. And, save for the coldest months in some areas, it is an activity that can be pursued year-round by people of all ages and with minimal equipment. In fact, all you really need to get started is an interest and a keen pair of eyes.

A big part of the fun of bird watching is recording your sightings. Journals, like Ink Me Up’s lovely Gocco printed moleskin ones pictured above, are the perfect place to jot down all of the important details. These even include a little pocket in the back for gathering feathers and other treasures!

If you are bird watching with the family, you might want to make sure that everyone has their own journal for their observations. The mini eco-booklets by Nature’s Cubbyhole (below) are just the right size for tucking into a pocket or field-bag. Each booklet is filled with 100% recycled banana farm fiber paper pages and hand-stitched with organic cotton thread.

Even smaller children can be encouraged to take part in journaling by making drawings or using stickers, such as these ones (below) made from the waste edges and roll-ends of industrial adhesive vinyl material by Bird vs. Bird Studios.

One of my favourite things about bird watching is that you don’t even have to leave home to do it. Whether you have a backyard or just a balcony, you can easily invite some feathered friends into your space just by providing them with a few creature-comforts. The most obvious way to entice birds is with food. There are dozens of ways to set out a seedy snack, but my favourites are these clever and colourful feeders by Red Yellow & Blue Ink (below).

The feeders, which are made from repurposed traffic signal lenses, are definitely attention-getters. In their past-life, they stopped cars on the street; hang one in your backyard and watch them stop traffic of a different kind. Check out Jenny’s You Tube video of some Gold Finches enthusiastically enjoying their dinner in one of her upcycled feeders:

Another essential for attracting birds to your backyard is water. Birds who stop by for a snack will appreciate a cool drink and an opportunity to have a refreshing bath; something that is always entertaining for observers. Birdbaths range from simple to elaborate and can be found to suit any landscaping theme. Don’t feel that you need to spend a lot of money, though; the important thing is to keep the bath full with fresh, clean water.

Lastly, if you have the space, why not invite a family of birds to take up permanent residence in your backyard? It’s as simple as finding a safe place to put out a nesting box or birdhouse, like this rustic example from Roy Road Fish Company (above). Made from scrap cedar, aluminum roofing, leftover hardware and a coat-hook, this sweet little casa would make a suitable home for rural and urban birds alike.

I also love the graphic appeal of this unique house by Garage Inc. (below) Fashioned from reclaimed election campaign signs (below), it is a great use of salvaged materials as well as a subtle reminder that politics can sometimes be “for the birds”.

You can do some of your research on the internet, but it‘s also nice to have a good, portable guidebook about birds to refer to. Bookstores and online booksellers will have many to choose from, but be sure to select one that is relevant to your area. Be prepared to be surprised, too, as you never know who might turn up on a feeder or branch. (Many birding websites have rare bird-sighting “hotlines” for just this reason.)

There are dozens of sites around the web with information on backyard bird watching. Check out A Home for Wild Birds for tips on making your yard a bird-friendly zone and for ideas on how to get the whole family involved.

Tell Me Something Good

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When stress or boredom starts to take its toll on me, I ask my fella to “tell me something good”. More often than not, he rolls his eyes and carries on with what he’s doing. I don’t take it personally, though; who can be expected to think up “good stuff” on demand? This week, however, he surprised me with something good – an email containing a link to Hello Rewind’s t-shirt upcycling program. It was the first that I had heard of the fledgling organization and I was immediately impressed. Not only is it something good for the earth, it’s something good for survivors of sex trafficking in New York City.

Here’s how it works: you have a favourite t-shirt that you no longer wear, but can’t bear to part with. Rather than let it langish at the bottom of a drawer, you contact Hello Rewind and tell them that you want it made into a sleeve for your 13“, 15“ or 17“ laptop. You pay them 49 bucks and in a few days you’ll receive a prepaid envelope, which you fill with the aformentioned shirt and drop back into the mail. They stitch it up into a custom, padded sleeve and before you can say “upcycle”, it is back in your hands. Not only will your laptop be cozy and happy, you’ll be happy knowing that you’ve helped women get off the street and back on their feet. How cool is that?

Hello Rewind got its start as a simple idea – take an old t-shirt and make it into something new and usable like, say, a laptop sleeve. The social/rehabilitation aspect of the business came into the picture when the company formed an alliance with the founder of Restore, NYC; an organization which provides support and housing to women victimized by the international sex trade. Soon, the ball was rolling and the company is becoming a source of support, training and income for women trying to break free from prostitution rings. The young women, mostly in their 20s and 30s, are taught to make the custom laptop sleeves, paid a fair wage and given a safe and viable option to a dangerous and marginalizing lifestyle.

The $49 that Hello Rewind charges for the sleeves is, in their words, a “break-even” price. The money that they receive is spent on training and wages for the women in the program, materials, shipping and operational costs. If there is anything left after that, it is used to sustain the business itself. From the sounds of it, no one is getting rich over at Hello Rewind. Not financially, that is.

Check out the Hello Rewind blog for more info on their background and what they do. To read more about what Restore, NYC are doing to help integrate ex-sex trade workers back into society, visit their site.