green*space

mini bloomer project [step two]

2011-04-10T22:20:00.001-04:00

"it's just fabric. you get to tell it what to do!" ~rachel rector

colette patterns knickers project continues! while the other pdx ladies garden clubers were on the back deck nurturing seedlings, i was hard at work in rachel's sewing room [re]familiarizing myself with her machine after a nearly twenty year hiatus from needle crafting of any kind. thankfully, rachel is both an enthusiastic and very patient teacher!

here's what i accomplished:

step one:

pin the pattern to the fabric, right sides together making sure the grainline arrow is parallel to the selvedge.
cut out the pattern using a sharp pair of sewing scissors. rachel's are gingher, just like my grandma alice always used!

after a few practice runs both straight stitching and zigzagging on scrap fabric, i was set to go on to the next step:

step two:

with right sides pinned together, sew seams of both the front and back panels.
once sewn, i had to cut back the 5/8 seam allowance and iron them flat, so that i could then zigzag and finish them to prevent raveling.

with right sides together, i then stitched the front and back panels together at the crotch seam.
this is the tricky part. you have to be really precise when you match up a seam like this, or it will come out seriously wonky. i thought i had it spot on, but turns out it was just enough off once i finished stitching, that i had to use a seam ripper to remove what i'd done and start over.

on the second pass, the crotch seam was a lot better than the first go-round, but still not 100% perfect. but one of the biggest lessons i learned was to remember it's just fabric, and we have the power to control how we want it to move and where it goes in the machine. also: you will make mistakes! it's ok, you can always rip a seam out and start over.

i'm a self-professed perfectionist. but i have to try to remember: no one, or thing, is perfect. not even these mini bloomers!

next up: finishing the rest of the seams, and casings for the elastic and ribbon!

spring seed starters

2011-04-10T22:17:00.001-04:00

pdx ladies garden club gathered last weekend to start seeds! jenna and rachel had already been over to urban farm on belmont to pick up non gmo tomato and basil seeds. but since lisa and i were interested in picking up tomato and herb starters, we all took a trip to the hawthorn fred meyer garden center to browse the selection of starters, pots and potting soil.

i came back with lemon thyme, sage, rosemary, lavender and lemon verbena and lisa picked up a tomato plant and some terracotta pots. we headed back to rachel's and the planting commenced on her back deck!

the girls used fiber egg cartons to start their seedlings, which is a great way to re-purpose! you can also use larger solo cups, or plastic dixi cups, and large seedling flats are also avail to purchase at most garden centers. the upside to starting your seeds in larger containers first, is that you can do two to three peppers or tomatoes at a time, then separate them out once they get large enough, which you will have to do anyway, and sooner, with a smaller/more shallow container like the egg carton.

either way is fine though, so long as you remember these tips:

slightly moisten the potting mix before planting your seedlings. just make sure it's not soaking wet.

plant according to the directions on the seed packet. but in general, most require you only bore a small hole about 1/2 inch deep. the eraser end of a pencil works really well for this.

gently cover the seed/hole with potting mix, but don't push/pat it down tight. you want to make sure that when you go to lightly water it the seed doesn't wash away, but you also don't want it so covered that it gets no sun.

lightly water the seedlings with a watering can so that you aren't washing away the seeds. if you don't have a watering can, a small spray bottle will work just fine.

cover the containers with a layer of plastic wrap, or a clear plastic bag, cut into sheets. this will help retain moisture so you don't have to water as frequently. just be sure not to close it tightly around the sides. draping it loosely on top is just fine!

depending on what types of seeds you've planted, you should begin to see sprouting action in only a couple of weeks. i've come to find that peppers and tomatoes take longer than say, basil. but the great thing is, if you get a dud, you can always start over. seed packets are inexpensive enough that it won't be a huge cost burden if you do. and if you go in together with friends, you can share/swap seeds too!

everything's in bloom

2011-03-27T15:53:00.001-04:00

bought some amazing vintage(y) cotton voile & velvet ribbon from bolt yesterday during my crafternoon adventures with miss rachel for the colette patterns mini bloomer project. pattern's all printed and assembled (thank's rachel!). next steps/next weekend: wash, iron, cut fabric & sew!

more soon, as the project progresses...

maple oatmeal scones

2011-03-27T15:41:00.002-04:00

i've yet to meet a scone i didn't love. mixed berry, black current, lemon ginger, cranberry orange, pumpkin.

when i was ten years old, i declared my to my parents that i was going to be an inn keeper when i grew up. i made meticulous plans regarding the inn's locale, decor and of course, breakfast. every weekend i would practice making different elements of the meals i planned to serve my guests. scones were always on the menu, and mom and dad were always happy to oblige.

more than twenty years later, i'm still at it. i doubt i'll ever own a b&b (alas, too much laundry, not enough scone making...), but i sure as heck love the idea of a sunday morning kitchen with the smell of pure maple sugar wafting through the air.

this recipe comes from my favorite goddess of heavy cream & butter: the barefoot contessa's ina garten. simple to make, and even easier to [eat]. try out the recipe next weekend morn. your tummy will thank you heartily.

how [succulent]: diy terrariums

2011-03-21T02:14:00.010-04:00

ever since my first visit to the wee gem artemisia on 110 se 28th ave almost a year ago, i've been lusting over succulent terrariums. shop owner amy makes incredible wet & dry "botanical worlds in miniature," using a host of glass vessels, sand, specialty mosses/lichen, stones, crystals, shells, bone, and of course both succulents and ferns or other tiny tropical plants. a veritable reservoir of [terrarium] knowledge, she's most helpful to the novice, and encourages clients to compose artful plant "palettes," with whimsy. any guest to her shop is sure to find her passion for flora and fauna infectious.

since that first terrarium encounter, i've been transfixed. i read about them online and in magazines. chatted about them with my friend [and fellow terrarium connoisseur] natasha pickowicz. every time i passed a thrift shop, i couldn't help but pop in to scavenge for glass fishbowls, orbs and vases to house my future terrarium creations. images of crassula, sansevieria & portulacaria danced in my head.

for whatever reason [time & money, money & time], i never actually got around to making them. until this afternoon...

enter the newly-formed portland ladies garden club [nonchalantly coined over cups of tea and with a notable glow on all three of our terrarium-blissed cheeks]: myself, lisa kislingbury anderson and rachel rector. tales of all-too proper southern ladies garden clubs [though the mint juleps are a tradition we may want to preserve...] prompted the idea. but of course, our club would have to be decidedly [portland]. which is to say, an irreverent air and penchant for DIY projects & reuse are a must. an afternoon of treasure hunting, brain-picking and inspired arranging later, and all three of us went home with some of the most gorgeous lil' compositions, if i do say so myself.

but first things first: inspiration & materials.

everywhere you turn at this time of year, chartreuse & sea foam lichen & moss beckon. it's hard not to stop & swoon over the beauty of early spring crocus blossoms, fallen camellia petals & tufts of green peaking out of rock gardens on a walk down the street.

with that in mind, we purchased all of the requisite materials for both wet & dry terrariums.

here's what you will need:

ceramic or glass vessels: we recommend combing the housewares section of salv, goodwill & other thrift stores for inexpensive pieces. i used a variety of glass vases and candle holders, as well as a small tag sale tea cup.

sand: washed & kiln-baked is best. you don't want salt residue which will harm plants. portland nursery stocks a basic sand sourced from rivers on the east coast [we are praying this works!] and artemisia has a wide variety of rose quartz, onyx and other decorative sands to choose from.

plants: succulents for dry/arid terrariums, tropical plants and ferns for wet/humid terrariums [i purchased ferns and ficus]. both portland nursery and artemisia have a selection, though you can find many of these [even more reasonably priced] at stores like fred meyer and new seasons as well. spend the extra $ on a package of specialty moss or lichen from artemisia or another terrarium shop, however. it's worth it.

findings: rocks/stones, crystals, shells, beach glass, feathers, bones, oh my! any tiny treasure is fair game.

now it's time to build your palette:

play around with color, texture, plant shape/size and test-arrange within the vessels you've chosen to see what works best. i found that one to three small plants per container seems most attractive, and favor an arrangement of varying heights.

contrasting colors really make a terrarium pop. for example, the reddish pink on the tips of the sunset jade is stunning set against a backdrop of vibrant chartreuse reindeer moss and a lighter shade of rose in the sea fan.

assemble & arrange:

prepare your plants by taking them out of their mini pots and shaking some of the soil loose from the roots. though, artemisia shop owner amy did say if you felt more comfortable keeping them in their pots, especially in a tall/narrow glass container, you may do so and just build up around each plant with sand and moss.

fill a glass container part way with sand. using your fingers or a spoon, make a small well where each plant will sit.

nestle each plant in its spot and continue to layer more sand up/around them so no roots or soil are visible.

now it's time to landscape your miniature botanical garden! add in whatever small decorations suit your fancy.

a few hours [and much gushing] later, all three of us went home not only with some beautiful little container gardens, but a whole lot of satisfaction. my four [wee] terrariums are already making themselves comfortable in my bedroom & loo:

next portland ladies garden club adventure:

vegetable garden seed starters. we hope you'll join us :)

holidays with [re]purpose

2010-12-04T14:45:00.011-05:00

it's been a while, y'all, i know i know. but i'm back at it just in time for some [green] holiday cheer! so it may seem a little cheap and sneaky, but i'm going to use this post to share a few great ideas from other sites. there are so many, how to choose just one? today i'm going to tell you about just a few, namely, design*sponge, cb2's lil blog, the ANTHROPOLOGIST, what katie ate, and the lovely miss rachel rector's blog, rachel red lips.

it's all about handcrafted love this holiday season. why would you give someone a plastic toy, or big box gift card when you could sew them dainty underpinnings or a sweet necktie, cook them a scrumptious meal, or gift them something meticulously crafted and time-honored?

and with the resurgence of popularity for heritage clothing and their recent partnerships with mainstream retailers (j.crew hawking cutler & gross? pendleton + opening ceremony?), there's no reason to buy anything *new* unless it's something that will last for another two-three generations.

the same goes for decorating. why waste natural resources and spend money on bits of fancy made in china? there are plenty of beautiful (and free!) objects in nature just waiting to be snapped up and lovingly arranged for your hearth & home.

re-purpose a branch and turn it into a gorgeous floating centerpiece (though i admit, i plan to do this and hang it over my bed like a dreamy fixture). line your mantle with fall leaves, pine cones, seed pods and other fall/winter treasures, or display them on a smart fall collection board. diy a set of coasters made from a fallen log. and if you're more into the mod look, why cut down a tree at all when you can make your own out of a wooden ladder, lights and handmade decorations?

so grab your wellies, and go for a walk in the woods! string some popcorn, or cranberries and make your own garland. bake something special for a loved one. and celebrate christmas like they did in the good ol' days.

2009-07-31T12:32:00.004-04:00

oohlala! the new eco-fashion offerings from organic pioneers Stewart + Brown are to die for. antique-inspired knit and lace-like finishes, rich hues, tunics, way-femme dresses and layering pieces. check them all out here on Treehugger!

2009-07-23T20:19:00.005-04:00

[mm]make mine pacifca!

This delicious [and sustainable] co. from cali. has a decidedly fresh take on fragrance. luscious notes mingle with the effervescent; and are always just a little bit playful, and a lot irreverent.
with Pacifica's wide offering of fruit, floral, spice and wood/herbal-tinged scents, there's a little something for every green girl on your list. i adore the solid perfume tins [perfect for the purse or gym bag!] and the spray fragrances which are still small enough to carry on an airplane. and since the co. uses nothing but sustainable, raw, organic materials and essential oils, you can feel good about wearing them!

2009-07-23T20:16:00.002-04:00

Read my article about Essential Saltes Baby [handmade reusable diapering system] in the Ithaca Times. Click RIGHT HERE for the full story!

french breakfast radishes; fresh-picked this morning

2009-06-21T13:24:00.005-04:00

re-use is [sew] green!

2009-06-12T13:48:00.000-04:00

my interview with CSMA/SewGreen's Wendy Skinner in the ithaca times: RIGHT HERE

green beauty, right in your back yard

2009-06-12T13:44:00.001-04:00

norabloom botanicals; green beauty right in your back yard! read my article in the ithaca times, RIGHT HERE

think pink

2009-06-11T22:04:00.008-04:00

this just in: victoria's secret--purveyors of all things naughty--has just come up with something very, very nice. the PINK line of 100% organic and vegan beauty products to compliment their line of organic cotton panties. these lip butters in berry and nude are on my must-have list! *sweet* ;)

[green] beauty products i can't live without

2009-06-11T21:21:00.012-04:00

every green girl's gotta look good! thankfully, there's a bevy of manufacturers [both old and new!] out there trying to make a difference. paraben, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, mineral oil and petroleum-free products that not only pass the cosmetics with conscience test, but look and feel good too. no compromise! here's what's in my bathroom:
avalon organics vitamin c facial moisturizer with spf 15
kiss my face tinted moisturizer almay pure blends lip gloss aveda brilliant shampoo/conditioner & aveda "tonic" volume spray tom's of maine toothpaste and flat floss thai crystal spray deo

from blue to [green]

2009-06-03T22:28:00.007-04:00

am i the only one who loves a pair of jeans even more as they age? that perfect grade of *soft*, just the right amount of give in all the right places. my uniform! alas, even all good [old] things must eventually come to an end. and so it is with jeans.

what to do with that old pair so it doesn't end up in a landfill? donating to a secondhand clothing store or charity is always an option. but this can pose issues with conflicting political and religious beliefs. i personally choose not to donate to the national charities like salv and goodwill because i know all those items can get shifted to regional warehouses and end up in locations all over the country; thereby spending more energy in the form of fossil fuels. and, ultimately, that money and those items don't get thrown back into my local community.

but if you're not a crafter or savvy enough with a sewing machine to re-purpose them into "new" fashionable clothing items, don't lose all hope. you can always find a way to recycle them. some local recycling programs accept textiles and turn the fiber into rags. and, you can always donate that old pair to a campaign like Cotton's "from blue to green".

from blue to green turns donated bluejeans into natural cotton fiber "bonded logic" insulation. find out HERE how to donate your pair and give back to communities throughout the country by helping insulate the homes of those in need. but hurry! this year's campaign only accepts donations through june 30!

not a bad end for that old pair of levis...

gambusia affinis

2009-06-02T20:32:00.001-04:00

and speaking of pests...

any source of standing water [as with the aforementioned rain barrels for my garden] is a potential breeding ground for mosquitos. uck! gotta get rid of the lil' pesky guys; they pose a real threat for spreading west nile virus. but i don't want to use any harmful chemicals so close to an integral part of my food source. so what's an eco-girl to do?

enter, gambusia affinis. aka, the mosquito fish. in talking with a neighbor today, i learned that letting loose some goldfish or mosquito fish [a species of freshwater fish obtainable through your local vector-control agent], you can keep the larvae under from ever developing into the winged beasts we *so* love to hate.

each fish eats up to 300 mosquito larvae/day and requires little to no feeding!

the "g" factor

2009-06-02T20:12:00.000-04:00

turns out there's another cool alternative to both the cloth and plastic diaper, and it comes in the form of one really snazzy hybrid: the "g" diaper! friend kari landerholm lead me to this product. her response to the great diaper debate here:

so funny, I have been researching this endlessly, for the upcoming bun out of the oven:) I have found that the best option is the "g diaper." Because it is 100% biodegradable, organic, non toxic, etc....
What I have found with the cloth diaper is that the farming methods for cotton and the usage of water consumption to launder the diaper and sanitize it creates an equally messy, yet different, catastrophe on our environment. Check out the "g diaper." they are awesome and hopefully just the beginning of options for diaper usage, as it would seem with all of our advances that we could eliminate any diaper that poses a severe threat to our ecological surroundings:)

fiar dinkum, and happy "g" diapering ;)

the great [diaper] debate

2009-06-01T17:35:00.000-04:00

seems as if everywhere i turn, someone i know [co-worker, old college pal, family member] has got a bun in the oven! and while i may not have to consider issues like cloth vs. disposable diapers for my two children [pups frida & diego], i certainly still think about the impact such a choice has the potential to make on our environment.

did you know that in the 30 month average period an infant uses diapers before potty training is completed, it goes through some 5,000 diapers? that's a sizable contribution to our landfills: currently estimated at a total of over 16 billion diapers [or 2.7 million tons of single use diapers] requiring disposal each year.

and when you consider the amount of plastic debris floating in the middle of the pacific ocean's "great garbage patch" [roughly ten million tons to date] due to our plastic consumption habits, it sure makes it harder to take the conventional diaper route in good conscience.

not to fear: green momma's have options! consider these stylish and sustainable alternatives to the conventional plastic diaper/liner combo. cloth diapers & diapering services are growing in popularity once again after years of suffering from a taboo status in popular american culture--heck, my own momma used them on me and my sis when we were just wee ones! now, thankfully, there are some really cute handmade versions available on sites like etsy and through both national and local retailers.

i came across this company [essential saltes baby] while meandering through the local green company tents at the recent ithaca festival celebration. cute, comfy, and with numerous options for fit and function. also come in organic versions and wool if you're not into buying conventionally grown cotton.

shop green: repeat street

2009-06-01T17:26:00.000-04:00

check out my article on jackson's [ms] re-use and consignment mecca; repeat street. click right here for the full article in the jackson free press.

when it rains, it pours

2009-06-01T17:09:00.000-04:00

collecting rainwater is easy. and better yet; free. you'll still need the hose from time to time, but as long as you don't mind a little hard work [toting around 2-gallon watering cans can really work up a sweat!], your effort will re-pay you with a substantial savings on your water and energy bills. after only one good rain, the two 30 gallon barrels we installed were completely full and lasted through a week and a half of daily watering.

these beauties were hand made from garbage cans [the blue one was my old trash bin that sat empty because we hardly ever throw anything out; and the new one was purchased from target and is made from 60% post-consumer recycled material]. just cut a hole in the lid where the gutter can feed through, and voila! instant rainwater collector.

everything's coming up green

2009-06-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

when i decided to plant and tend my own organic plot this year, it never occurred to me how easy it would actually be. instead, i combed every organic gardening pub on the newsstand and drilled my parents for questions on everything from starting seeds indoors, to transplanting and soil health/composting. sure, it's always good to be informed. but, truth be told, if you push a seed gently into healthy soil, it wants to grow!

barring such irksome details as garden pests [i've had, and lost, some interesting battles with ants already], and particulars like finding and planting in the spot with the best sun exposure and combating late frost here in ithaca--there's really not a lot to it. in little time, and with minimal effort, your garden will become a veritable backyard organic grocery.

even if you purchase sustainably-grown crops from your local farmer's market or join a csa [community supported agriculture], there's really nothing more satisfying than picking vegetables and fresh herbs straight from your own garden to enjoy them at their fullest [and most flavorful] potential; direct from the earth.

here are some pics of the organic & heirloom seed varieties i used [some italian varieties, but mostly seeds of change] and the bamboo supports i'm using for tomatoes and beans [the most sustainable option] and the method [thanks to mom!] i used for starting seeds indoors [recyclable/reusable solo cups].