Hello, my friends. I am currently working on an entry that is a bit complicated and requires some major research. I didn't want to leave you hanging so I thought I would post some related media to get you in the mood for things to come. Give a listen to Fresh Air with Terry Gross from earlier this week and tell me if you want to know more! Get ready to get mad.Thursday, November 29, 2007
Talk Amongst Yourselves
Hello, my friends. I am currently working on an entry that is a bit complicated and requires some major research. I didn't want to leave you hanging so I thought I would post some related media to get you in the mood for things to come. Give a listen to Fresh Air with Terry Gross from earlier this week and tell me if you want to know more! Get ready to get mad.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
It's Sew Time
I totally stole this line from the promo of Project Runway which begins anew tomorrow night! 
I have heard that this show is inspiring people to start sewing and I too am hoping to inspire you to try your hand at an oldie, a goodie, and I do think an eco... sewing.
I think sewing is in my blood. My Baba sewed, and in fact, when she came to the U.S. got a job in Brodsky's clothing factory and retired there with many many years of service. My grandmother M. was such a skilled sewer that she actually tatted, which is an ever so complicated process of hand making lace! Impressive indeed.
That leads me over to my grandfather, my Dido. His obsession as the "original freegan" was fixing and restoring vacuums and sewing machines. He was fantastic at it and the house had too many machines to count. There were ones in beautiful wooden furniture cabinets, giant overlock machines and the more compact portable ones. Well as I found out, portable is a relative term.
About 12 years ago while I was still a single gal living in my single gal apartment, I decided that I should try my hand a sewing. The last time I sewed was in the late 80's when I was unemployed and decided to make sachet and satin pouches for my friends for Christmas. I went to my grandparents house and my Baba and Aunt helped me. Well, they really did most of the work. I was the designer.
I really wanted to make some pillows for my apartment so hence the need for a sewing machine.
I just went to my grandparents house for my "shopping" . My grandfather took the request and several weeks later I went over their house for the pick-up of my small portable apartment-friendly machine. It was a Viking cast iron machine made in "occupied Japan". It weighs about 40 pounds. I was a bit disappointed as I visioned myself with a more "modern" lightweight version of "portable". I probably should not have expressed my feelings (very ungrateful) as it caused the biggest argument I have every seen my grandparents have. (in very loud and fast Belorussian) My grandmother was very sympathetic to me as she was always.
The bottom line, my grandfather was right. It is the perfect machine for me. It is indestructible. No zig zag, no button holer, nothing except perfect stitches forward and backwards! It has served me so very well and continues to do so. It really doesn't need to be new and fancy it just needs to work!
I have been on a bit of a sewing tear since thinking about ways to be more eco-friendly. I have been a frequent visitor to the locally- owned Fabric Place at the Woburn Mall. It is always so busy and I am wondering if folks are back into basics or I am just fairly new to it all and never paid attention. I know that a friend of mine also has just caught the sewing bug and is making the most amazing bags, just like that. You just have to go for it!
I had this silly thought lately while I am browsing around the fabric store. It harkens back to my too-much TV-watching-childhood in the 1970's. I am Mrs. Ingalls in the Olsen's store, fretting over the prices of calico for Laura's and Mary's dresses. I just want to choose the best for the money and perhaps a few eggs. O.K. I know that it was just a TV show and Karen Grassley probably was at Studio 57 after she shot the scene, but I really want to believe that what I will be making will be meaningful and valued.
So I guess that is part of the reason why I think sewing is eco-friendly. If you make it yourself or someone you care for does, you will value the piece more, and they are less likely to be tossed out with yesterday's news. I have two rooms worth of curtains made my my grandmother many, many years ago and I adore them, mainly for sentimental reasons. I can look at the stitches, some of them by hand, and I know that my grandmother is still there within these small gestures. Something that I would not feel the same about if I bought them from Macy's. While sewing is still consumption, it does take out a portion of that global economic machine...the actual manufacturing. I do think that most materials are made in Asia and specifically in China, but I think that it is a trade-off I have live with for the time being.
So
what am I making? I made my son's Halloween costume, sexy red silk pillows for our bedroom, a superhero cape, and I am currently making curtains for my son's Christmas present complete with trains! I am not such a skilled sewer but these are straight lines! Even a caveman can do it! :) You just need a bit of planning before hand and go for it. I will use "natural" canvas that uses no dyes and of course the train fabric used on his made in USA comforter. I was a bit disappointed when I found out the fabric was made in Korea, but it was not unexpected. I know that when these are done he will love them and I certainly will do the same.
I have found a local Connecticut company, Poly-fil , to use as my pillow fill. Unfortunately, while it is a local company ,I used the polyester version (polypropylene) ...not so green. After visiting their web site I see that they are manufacturing bamboo fill! Great news and that much better for the next project!
So now you are saying, "Oh yeah sure, when am I going to find the time," and "I can't sew." I have solutions for you! First for time. There is something zen about sewing and just give yourself permission take some "me" time and create! Second,there are many classes in the area such as at Marie's Sewing Center in the Woburn Mall right next to the Fabric Place. Check out the website for a list of classes and the calendar. If a class is too much of an obligation go to the Sew Trendy Studio in Wakefield (the amazingly cute smiles on the girls is worth the trip to the website) for drop in time. If you need help on a project the studio can help you get going! If you need some resources perhaps check out the Reading library for sewing books.
My mother,not a crafty type, actually took a class in the 70's at an adult continuing ed with our neighbor. She made the coolest purple polyester long dress that I absolutely loved. She looked great in it and wore it many times for her dressiest of occasions. Really if my mom can do it, you too can make a funky purple dress. :)
This weekend we took a family trip to the Wenham Museum to see...can you guess...trains! They also have a new show on quilting for dolls. I studied these small treasures and smiled at the perfect stitches probably done by young girls side by side with their Mothers. What a wonderful skill to pass along and perhaps a sewing class could be a perfect gift especially if you do it together.
I have heard that this show is inspiring people to start sewing and I too am hoping to inspire you to try your hand at an oldie, a goodie, and I do think an eco... sewing.I think sewing is in my blood. My Baba sewed, and in fact, when she came to the U.S. got a job in Brodsky's clothing factory and retired there with many many years of service. My grandmother M. was such a skilled sewer that she actually tatted, which is an ever so complicated process of hand making lace! Impressive indeed.
That leads me over to my grandfather, my Dido. His obsession as the "original freegan" was fixing and restoring vacuums and sewing machines. He was fantastic at it and the house had too many machines to count. There were ones in beautiful wooden furniture cabinets, giant overlock machines and the more compact portable ones. Well as I found out, portable is a relative term.
About 12 years ago while I was still a single gal living in my single gal apartment, I decided that I should try my hand a sewing. The last time I sewed was in the late 80's when I was unemployed and decided to make sachet and satin pouches for my friends for Christmas. I went to my grandparents house and my Baba and Aunt helped me. Well, they really did most of the work. I was the designer.
I really wanted to make some pillows for my apartment so hence the need for a sewing machine.
I just went to my grandparents house for my "shopping" . My grandfather took the request and several weeks later I went over their house for the pick-up of my small portable apartment-friendly machine. It was a Viking cast iron machine made in "occupied Japan". It weighs about 40 pounds. I was a bit disappointed as I visioned myself with a more "modern" lightweight version of "portable". I probably should not have expressed my feelings (very ungrateful) as it caused the biggest argument I have every seen my grandparents have. (in very loud and fast Belorussian) My grandmother was very sympathetic to me as she was always.The bottom line, my grandfather was right. It is the perfect machine for me. It is indestructible. No zig zag, no button holer, nothing except perfect stitches forward and backwards! It has served me so very well and continues to do so. It really doesn't need to be new and fancy it just needs to work!
I have been on a bit of a sewing tear since thinking about ways to be more eco-friendly. I have been a frequent visitor to the locally- owned Fabric Place at the Woburn Mall. It is always so busy and I am wondering if folks are back into basics or I am just fairly new to it all and never paid attention. I know that a friend of mine also has just caught the sewing bug and is making the most amazing bags, just like that. You just have to go for it!I had this silly thought lately while I am browsing around the fabric store. It harkens back to my too-much TV-watching-childhood in the 1970's. I am Mrs. Ingalls in the Olsen's store, fretting over the prices of calico for Laura's and Mary's dresses. I just want to choose the best for the money and perhaps a few eggs. O.K. I know that it was just a TV show and Karen Grassley probably was at Studio 57 after she shot the scene, but I really want to believe that what I will be making will be meaningful and valued.
So I guess that is part of the reason why I think sewing is eco-friendly. If you make it yourself or someone you care for does, you will value the piece more, and they are less likely to be tossed out with yesterday's news. I have two rooms worth of curtains made my my grandmother many, many years ago and I adore them, mainly for sentimental reasons. I can look at the stitches, some of them by hand, and I know that my grandmother is still there within these small gestures. Something that I would not feel the same about if I bought them from Macy's. While sewing is still consumption, it does take out a portion of that global economic machine...the actual manufacturing. I do think that most materials are made in Asia and specifically in China, but I think that it is a trade-off I have live with for the time being.
So
what am I making? I made my son's Halloween costume, sexy red silk pillows for our bedroom, a superhero cape, and I am currently making curtains for my son's Christmas present complete with trains! I am not such a skilled sewer but these are straight lines! Even a caveman can do it! :) You just need a bit of planning before hand and go for it. I will use "natural" canvas that uses no dyes and of course the train fabric used on his made in USA comforter. I was a bit disappointed when I found out the fabric was made in Korea, but it was not unexpected. I know that when these are done he will love them and I certainly will do the same.
I have found a local Connecticut company, Poly-fil , to use as my pillow fill. Unfortunately, while it is a local company ,I used the polyester version (polypropylene) ...not so green. After visiting their web site I see that they are manufacturing bamboo fill! Great news and that much better for the next project!So now you are saying, "Oh yeah sure, when am I going to find the time," and "I can't sew." I have solutions for you! First for time. There is something zen about sewing and just give yourself permission take some "me" time and create! Second,there are many classes in the area such as at Marie's Sewing Center in the Woburn Mall right next to the Fabric Place. Check out the website for a list of classes and the calendar. If a class is too much of an obligation go to the Sew Trendy Studio in Wakefield (the amazingly cute smiles on the girls is worth the trip to the website) for drop in time. If you need help on a project the studio can help you get going! If you need some resources perhaps check out the Reading library for sewing books.
My mother,not a crafty type, actually took a class in the 70's at an adult continuing ed with our neighbor. She made the coolest purple polyester long dress that I absolutely loved. She looked great in it and wore it many times for her dressiest of occasions. Really if my mom can do it, you too can make a funky purple dress. :)
This weekend we took a family trip to the Wenham Museum to see...can you guess...trains! They also have a new show on quilting for dolls. I studied these small treasures and smiled at the perfect stitches probably done by young girls side by side with their Mothers. What a wonderful skill to pass along and perhaps a sewing class could be a perfect gift especially if you do it together.
I am really hoping that you give it a try, as I am sure that you have a sewing machine tucked away somewhere. If you don't check out craigslist for one! You also have plenty of time to get sewing for gifts for the holidays. Just think how much your mom will love something you spent time making! Or how much your daughter will love her new pink pillow!
In parting, I want to share a special memory of my grandparents that I thought about so much today in writing this entry. I had this coat that I loved so much and the lining was totally worn, well let's be honest, it was ripped to shreds, but I wore it anyway. My grandmother seeing this was horrified and set off to repair it pronto. At the beloved sewing machines, my grandfather came over to help her and they had their heads together working in partnership as only life-long partners could. The mid-winter, late afternoon light was coming in from the large window and the picture before me, magical and loving, I knew in my heart, needed to be forever burned into my deepest memories. I know that sewing has a reputation as being mundane, but it can also be a beautiful thing.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Collective Toxic Awareness
Sometimes realizations come to us in the collective. They day before my last post, Tom Ashbrook from WBUR's On Point hosted a great show on all the issues I presented in relations to chemical concerns.It's a great listen and it will perhaps solidify your understanding, or at least get you thinking and perhaps hopeful that things can change.
http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2007/10/20071029_a_main.asp
At the end of the show one of the guests highlighted a new series of articles in USA Today entitled Our Toxic Legacy. Lead, mercury, and plastics are covered in detail. A trifecta of chemical nasties. As Borat might say, "Good times..............................NOT."
Just off the top of my head, my take away is that I will be investing in some old school glass storage containers. Just add this to my ever growing to do list.
The learning just continues...as does the anxiety!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
