Daisy Janie

quote | nature's peace.

Communed with nature this weekend.
And some dear friends.

One brought peace and awe.
One brought laughter and belongingness.

Both were good for my soul.

Life is wonderful.
We are lucky.
I am grateful.

Happy Earth Day to you!

Growing Organically | intro to the GOTS Certification.

In last week's Growing Organically post - "what's not on the pricetag" - I referred to the idea of transparency where a company's raw materials and manufacturing processes are concerned. Given the need to brand and advertise one's business in today's market, you can be assured that a company will not be shy about letting you know if they ARE producing eco-friendly, green, sustainable products. Their message will be tailored to inform! Often, a company will seek outside certification from another entity to show the level of their compliance or to be more transparent to their customers.

This fantastic & informative video is produced by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which is the standard I use for the production of my printed organic cotton fabric for Daisy Janie. It is the most comprehensive standard in the organic textile market, and the goal is to "provide transparency and product security so the seller knows what she is selling and the consumer knows what she is buying."

GOTS is recognized as the gold standard in certifications for organic textiles and products b/c of its breadth of coverage - they have left no stone unturned in considering the entire supply chain involved in production! Many other standards only look at the raw material or test for specific harmful chemicals in the final product, but none addresses and monitors the entire soup-to-nuts process like GOTS. *more detailed info in a future post

I have chosen the GOTS certification for Daisy Janie's organic fabrics because it is the only level of certification that matches my passion for doing as much as I can in the business realm I have chosen. Other standards leave too many loopholes for introducing toxic chemicals during processing, printing and finishing, or using abusive labor practices. Companies might still call their products organic, but it's not even close to being the same when you stop at the fiber. It's like saying you made organic pizza when the only organic ingredient in the pizza are the tomatoes in the sauce. ALL the ingredients and processes count - not just 1 or 2. I will not have the Daisy Janie name attached to something that isn't as all-inclusive and scrupulous as possible. I want to be able to hand over a beautiful piece of fabric to you, and say, "Here. This is the very best I could do to keep you, your loved ones, everyone else and Mother Nature free from harm." And I want to feel good about those words so you can feel good about your choice.

Transparency matters. Ask questions. Look for certifications.

More reading:
Global Organic Textile Standard / main website
GOTS, Organic Cotton & Other Links / Daisy Janie blog
Reasons to Love Daisy Janie's Organic Fabrics / Daisy Janie blog

grommets make everything better.

Banged out a couple mending projects from the pile I shared recently. This top and a pair of pants that now has new buttons. I was bummed tho when I tried on the pants b/c they are much snugger than last year at this time! I guess when your buttons pop-off a pair of pants, it's a sign that you need to move the extra-sharp cheddar cheese and cashews from the bottom of your food pyramid.

See my notes below on this top...

The plunging vee-cut in the front of this top did absolutely nothing for me. It has a serged edge, so I didn't think simply stitching the vee together would look right. Grommets! Yay!

I added 5 grommets to both sides of the vee, using a fusible interfacing behind them to stablize the jersey fabric. With thick leather cord, I created a laced effect through the grommets. Added a couple beads that I had on-hand - the only ones with holes wide enough for the leather.

When I tried it on, there was a funny pucker at the bottom of the vee. I just added a dart to that spot - no more pucker.

The first time I installed the grommets, I didn't use interfacing. BIG mistake! I put it through the wash, and all the grommets popped out of their holes. Was kinda funny! I just unthreaded the leather, removed the failed grommets and re-did the whole thing after fusing the interfacing. S'all good now!

Earth Day Giveaway x 2!

Earth Day 2012 is this Sunday, April 22nd. I've partnered up with my good friend Trish Preston to bring you a special Earth Day Giveaway ~ a two-fer!

Trish designs incredibly cute and functional sewing patterns for her business, Two Peas in a Pod. She has quite a variety ~ from home dec to accessories and lots in-between! She always adds charming little details that set her designs apart and add some extra flair! Pretty and sweet, just like Trish!

She recently completed 2 new patterns: the Date Night Clutch and the Always a Bridesmaid bag. I was flattered that she opted to use Daisy Janie's organic fabrics for some of her samples ~ and that she put them right on the covers!! The Date Night Clutch is shown in Shades of Grey, and the Always a Bridesmaid bag is shown in Tilly.

Trish is ever the environmentalist, and walks the walk: from her previous life as a Nat'l Park Ranger to her degree in Environmental Science & Natural Resources to the way she lives her life. Having Daisy Janie's organic fabrics represented on her patterns is a perfect match!

I sure hope they're a match for you, too! Shall we get onto these giveaways then? YES!!!!

A B O V E
Giveaway Package #1:
- 1 Date Night Clutch pattern
- 1 fat quarter bundle of Shades of Grey
- 1 surprise home dec pattern from Trish
- 1 surprise scrap pack of fabric from Jan

To enter to win Package #1 -
Leave a comment on this post with an earth friendly tip - it can be something you do (or don't do), a website where you shop, something you make, something you do everyday or something you do once a year! Anything that's a conscientious choice on your part to be eco-friendly! We can all learn from one another!

• Giveway ends on Sunday, 4/22 at midnight EST.
• 1 winner will be chosen from the Daisy Janie entrants to win Package #1.
• Winner will be chosen by a random number generator
• 1 entry per person. Dupes will be deleted.
• Open to US & International entries.
• Fabric not to be resold!
• Winners will be announced on Monday, 4/23.

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!

A B O V E
Giveaway Package #2:
- 1 Always a Bridesmaid bag Pattern
- 1 fat quarter bundle of Tilly
- 1 surprise home dec pattern from Trish
- 1 surprise scrap pack of fabric from Jan

Enter Giveaway #2 on Trish's blog, Two Peas in a Pod - follow her rules for entry!

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Need to give some props to Miss Trish...

Trish holds a very special place in my business journey, and I'm not even sure she knows it! We met at Fall Quilt Market 2010, and we hit it off immediately - instant understanding and connection as strong women both very interested in eco-friendly living. She was quite effusive about Daisy Janie: the fabrics, the organic nature of them and the fact that I run this business all by lonesome.

Typically, when someone is doling out praise directly, I will always offer a sincere thank you - but I'm also quick to change the subject or turn the praise back onto them. Trish didn't let me wiggle out of her niceties, tho! She was savvy, and she meant to make a point. I listened. And later, I let it sink in. That Quilt Market was one of the first times I was standing with my fabrics in public, in person, where facial expressions and commentary are unavoidable b/c you're not hiding behind a computer screen. Up until that moment with Trish, I hadn't allowed myself to "enjoy" the fruits of my labor in terms of how special it really, really is; how challenging it really, really can be; and how dedicated I really, really am. It took someone stopping in me in my tracks, shining a spotlight on me and making me listen that enabled me to see the unique nature of my own work. Trish gave me the push I needed to stand taller and be louder & prouder about what I do! Forever grateful for that conversation!!!

field trip to the Rodale Institute - organic pioneers!

Daisy Janie is a business built on a foundation of organic agriculture. Without it, I would have not have any pretty fabrics to offer the quilting industry. Knowing that Daisy Janie stands with a slim handful of like-minded organic fabric pioneers, I think it's beyond cool that a real, honest-to-goodness, holy-smokes, been-doing-this-for-65-years organic pioneer in the broader realm of organic agriculture is just 20 miles down the road from me in Kutztown, PA! A stone's throw!

This noble place is the Rodale Institute. They conduct research on "the best practices of organic agriculture and share our findings with farmers and scientists throughout the world, advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating consumers about how going organic is the healthiest option for people and the planet."

We visited on Saturday for the first time, and I'm pretty sure I was vibrating as we drove into the parking lot. 333 acres dedicated to what I believe in - to what is at the core of my being - to the one message we strive to pass along to our son: good health & well-being starts with one's daily sustenance, and that nourishment should be as clean and as in harmony with nature as possible.

Rodale Institute
website | facebook | twitter | youtube

On Saturday, the Rodale Institute held their first annual organic tulip festival. They planted beds of thousands of tulips all over the farm, and you could meander around and pick your own (bulb and all) to take home and plant. Did, did and done!

Above:
They also had workshops on composting and straw bale gardening as well as a cold crop sale of started veggie plants, among other things. We bought a coupla straw bales to try it out! We also picked out a bunch of interesting lettuces, kales and chards. Yum!

We wandered around the farm, and they have examples of garden plots and other ideas one might consider in their gardening or farming.

Below:
Plant a garden for something specific using various veggies and herbs.

Above:
A living roof. And simple veggie markers.

Below:
Root cellar! They only had to dig down about 4 feet b/c the pile above ground allows for the headroom and space needed.

Growing Organically | what's not on the pricetag.

It occurred to me that this first batch of Growing Organically posts is sort of a primer ~ quick & generalized to whet your whistle for more detailed & specific concepts to come. It wasn't planned that way (ha), but, in retrospect, it seems better to use a big brush right now - just to get you thinking more broadly about the whole, big, macro picture! Thank you for your comments, tweets and emails about this series!!
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Video from GECKO Online Lesson © 2011 by Greennovate

Today's topic is about what's not on the pricetag.
When we buy mass-produced, conventionally grown cotton products, the pricetag rarely reflects the damaging, insurmountable, tangential costs of bringing that item to market. From extreme environmental pollution to sick & destitute (and sometimes dead) farmers to sweatshop labor, the bottom line extends far, far beyond what we pay directly out of our pockets to take our purchases merrily on our way.

Mass manufacturers are not eager for you to know these things so there certainly isn't a whole lot of transparency in the industry. If a company is doing something eco- or human-friendly, they'll shout it from the rooftops b/c they'll definitely want you to know. I know I do! If they're not saying anything about their manufacturing processes or raw materials anywhere - not even in their own company bio or literature, you can be pretty sure they would rather you didn't know. I often think the manufacturers themselves don't want to know - they just want to source their goods, get them in shops and get paid - no matter who or what gets hurt in the process.

Just this week, a new article came out in China Daily that accused "46 Chinese and multinational clothing brands and retailers of purchasing from suppliers who illegally discharge polluted water in China. Multinational companies Zara, Adidas, Nike, Calvin Klein, Armani, Walmart and Carrefour ... were among the companies named..." It's frightening (you'll hear me say that a lot) and completely, outrageously wrong.

The best value doesn't always come from the price you pay at the cash register. The best value may be from making sure other humans were treated fairly and that the environment was not defiled for your jeans or t-shirt or fabric. Simple compassion. Not just for us right here, right now - but for the planet and values that we are passing down to our grandchildren. Change doesn't happen by chance and by someone else; it happens by intent and by us.

Above:
Pearl River in Xintang from a screenshot I took on Google Earth ~ this is the one mentioned in the video above. Xintang is the "blue jean capital of the world," and the Pearl River runs blue-black from the water discharged during the indigo dyeing processes. What's most interesting to me is how this represents ONLY WHAT YOU CAN SEE b/c it is colored, kinda like a barium dye and x-ray test that one might get to see if you have a blockage in your digestive track or if your kidneys are functioning properly. Imagine what's being discharged in that water that you can't see.

Next week, I will share some information about the Global Organic Textile Standard that is used to certify Daisy Janie's organic fabrics. It addresses responsible practices for the raw materials, the farmers, the factories, the water, the workers and more in a very transparent manner.

More reading:
China's Famed Pearl River Under Denim Threat / CNN
Slow Down Fashion / Whole Threads
The High Price of Cheap Clothes / Ecopreneurist
Big Brands Buy From Polluting Textile Firms / China Daily
Jeans Ratings & Reviews / Good Guide
About Greenovate

from DJ flickr group | wonky cross quilt in Tilly fabrics

Did you know there's a Daisy Janie flickr group where you can post your projects made with DJ fabrics? I have a little banner in my sidebar that says "Show your stuff!" - click on it, join the group and add your flickr pics. I'd love to see what you're making ~ plus it's dynamite inspiration for others to see what's being created with DJ fabrics!

Yesterday, I spotted this fun wonky cross quilt in the DJ flickr group! Booyah! It was made by Kerry / bellalunaphotography, using the Tilly organic fabrics as her focal fabrics.

Kerry shared some of the quilty details, which you might be curious about:

• finished size: 38" x 54"
• print fabrics:  Daisy Janie's Tilly organic collection 
• solid fabrics: Kona in Curry and Snow
• binding fabric: Kona Espresso
• quilting thread: yellow to match Kona Curry
• binding thread: dark brown to match Kona Espresso
• binding is hand-sewn (way to go, Kerry!)
• quilt tutorial used: Wonky Cross Block by Elizabeth Hartman / Oh Fransson! ~ posted on the Sew Mama Sew blog.

Kerry is a photographer by trade, and you can see her lovely work at Bella Luna Photography. Thanks for using the Tilly fabrics, Kerry - and thanks for letting me share it here with my readers!!! Keep up the beautiful quilting!!

 

knitting | beginner's homework.

Allowing myself to be bombarded by beautiful images, art and hand-crafted projects for so many years has taken its toll. I feel empowered and motivated to do things I never, ever thought I would want to! Knitting is a prime example. I have a vase full of my grandma's needles, but I was very indifferent about learning the craft. For quite a while now, my friend Betz has been a huge source of knitting inspiration, from her personal projects, to her organic fabric line Stitch, to her patterns, and our random conversations. Recently, I felt like I was going to burst if I didn't learn how to knit!

I started a beginner's knitting class at my local yarn shop, Yarn Gallery. I'm only 2 classes in and have nothing to show but these 2 assignments, but I can already feel my fingers getting twitchy for the next project to try! I haven't mastered knitting and talking just yet, and I have a long way to go to get consistent stitches! Heck, just keeping stitches from dropping by accident will be nice! But, man, I love the possibility!

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sewing | tech cover made from repurposed feedsack.

J and I whipped, whipped, whipped out this tech cover for M's birthday on Friday. In like 30 minutes, from choosing which feedsack to done! M's wallet is made from a repurposed moneybag by Rikkianne at chakrapennywhistle. In the spirit of black shoes / black belt or brown shoes / brown belt, now M's accessories coordinate! He's one hip dude ('coursin I already knew that...).

Here are some of the other feedsacks we considered. Love the Guaranteed Analysis above!

A few years ago, our block and the block behind us had a group garage sale. (We live in an old neighborhood, and all the garages are detached from the homes and accessible via a shared alley.) I wandered down the alley to say hi to my neighbors and see what other fun things they had for sale. This sweet, older woman, who lives behind us and whom I had never met, had her garage stacked top-to-bottom with bins of every kind of old linen, sheet or textile you could imagine! She sets up at antique shops and such. I had no clue! I bought these feedsacks from her, and I haven't seen her since. :(

quote | spring fever.

Have a spring-y, sprout-y weekend! We're just hanging here - the three musketeers - nothing better than simple, sweet moments spent with them! And the weather promises to be splendid - digging in the dirt will be #1 on the list!

xo
Jan