These lovely pieces from Bianca Cooper are thoughtfully made from organic cotton grown in Texas + milled in North Carolina. They are designed in Oakland + are sewn in a woman-owned factory that pays fair wages in San Fransisco. 

I love the bracelet length sleeves on this sweatshirt for staying out of the way while getting all the things done...and I think it would be perfect over a jumpsuit. Beautiful through + through!

This + so many other fair brands can be found on our ethical brands page when you need it!

All lovely photos via Bianca Cooper.

The planet is out of its comfort zone; we had best be even further out of ours.
A beautiful series.
These innovations can only come by squeezing people to work harder...and by making it invisible. (oh, my heart. this.)
Binge worthy.

Hope you have some time to relax + to wander + to look around and take in the beauty that is to be found right where you are this weekend.
​
Tons of love,
Jane

Supply chain issues are currently affecting what can be found on store shelves. There are a myriad of causes including the pandemic + the fact that our goods are so often made overseas. I have to admit that I wouldn't be too disappointed if supply chain issues nudged people to think about having a different sort of holiday.

Could we try imagining things being different? Could we just daydream for a few minutes?

• What do we wish the holiday season was all about?
• How would our holidays look, if this was the primary focus?
• How would we like our children to think about the holidays?
• What do we truly enjoy most during this season?
• How would we like to feel throughout the weeks to come?
• Could we take a moment to ask those we'll spend festive times with what they love most about the holidays?

I love a good reimagining. I like to be surprised by new thoughts, to experience new ways of doing things, to observe new feelings. 

A few thoughts I'm having:​

• What is my luxury these days? (something like a day with no obligations)
• What do my loved ones really want?
• Would one special gift be enough?
• Could we set a spending limit? A low one?
• Could we "gift" food to a potluck?
• Could we gift handmade or time or service?
• Could we see our time together as a gift?
• A swap of stuff we already have would be fun...a different sort of supply chain.​

Traditions usually have or had a purpose. Gifts were often given to those less fortunate. Time together was the treat worthy of celebration. What is my reason for the season? How do I intend to tune in to that? 

Enjoy!  :)

Love,
Jane

The reality is that there is great terror + pain,
and there is great love + great wisdom.
They're all here,
coexisting in this moment.
~Kaira Jewel Lingo​

We are all powerful + powerless. Our choices are part of a great network that touch people + plants + the planet both near + far from where we stand. At the same time, the climate is shifting, violence rages and a pandemic continues to claim lives.

We cannot keep the leaves from changing colors + falling off the trees, but we can take in their beauty whether overhead or under foot.

We cannot insulate ourselves from suffering, but we can still see beautiful sunsets + drink in the sound of children playing + marvel at the swirl of milk going into coffee in the midst of it.

We cannot single handedly stop climate change, but we can make decisions one by one...choosing not to drive so far, choosing loose soap rather than packaged, choosing to cozy up under a blanket rather than turning the thermostat up a degree or two. We can exercise our influence...sharing our experiences positively.

I think perhaps our greatest power lies in the ability to change our minds...to change our perspective. Goodness is here to be found. Collaboration is necessary. One choice at a time. 

Love,
​Jane

Gifting is on my mind again. I think I say it every year...our own favorites can make thoughtful gifts for those we believe might value them too. Our morning routines might be a good place to tune in to some favorites to share.

​Mornings are (hopefully) full of things that are useful, comforting +/or beautiful. I love finding just the right whatever-it-is + using it over + over...no need to keep trying new things + ending up with half used bottles under the sink. It's a great way to practice (+ share) zero-waste!  ;) It's also a great way to share a local or ethical company we believe in! 

If we take a look at our mornings + don't see a whole lot of comforting or beautiful...maybe a gift to ourselves would be to remove or add until we do. This might be something we could do with a friend...sharing new + old favorites discovered along the way.

Here are a few of the things that I use every morning...(plus a couple of things I wouldn't mind adding to my favorites).  ;)

• I can imagine this robe adding a little sunshine to my mornings. (The thrifted men's shirt I wear works great too!)  
• I use Everyday Oil on my face every morning. One tiny bottle lasts me a whole year.
• Other than Everyday Oil + a little mascara, lip balm is the only other thing I wear on my face. Citrus scents don't seem to bother my allergies like floral ones do. (yay)
• A stack of beautiful, unpackaged soaps makes a lovely (useful + consumable) gift. Look up a local soap maker.
• A pack of most-loved, bamboo toothbrushes + some silk floss.
• A morning playlist to get them moving + grooving.
• A favorite locally roasted coffee or loose tea along with some local honey.
• Homemade granola.
• A favorite lotion that really moisturizes. These have been my favorites for years.

When we gift our favorites, it gives us a chance to really "see" + value the things we already own + enjoy using every day for the gifts that they are. 

All lovely photos via links.

Love, 
Jane

The leaves are turning, the sun is lower in the sky + the air is crisp. Colder weather is here + cozy is the goal for my wardrobe. I like keeping my wardrobe simple. It keeps my shopping list small + keeps me in touch with "enough".

When I get home from work, I change out of my jeans + into leggings. Comfy + simple. A couple of sweatshirts, a couple of pullover sweaters + a few pairs of leggings allows me to make a number of combinations which keeps things interesting. This uniform can accommodate almost all of the things I like to do after work...anything from doing yoga, to taking a walk, to lounging on the couch, to jaunting out into the world.

In order to carry this outfit out of the house, I'm adding this wool sweater coat along with some birks (over socks) or sneakers. As it gets colder, boots will up the warmth factor. Here are a few details on my simple, cold weather (not work) uniform:

• Sweatshirts :: organic cotton, made in the USA, Mate the Label
• Leggings :: organic cotton, made in the USA, Mate the Label
• Sweatercoat :: 100% merino wool, fair-trade certified factory, Madewell
• Sneakers (or birkenstocks) :: my longtime favorites from Vince shown here

All photos via links.

Love,
​Jane

The temperatures are dipping, and I'm experiencing just how cold it's going to be during these colder months where I work. I have only worn my work uniform to work for months + months...and I like it.  :)

I've been adding my wool Ibex jacket on colder days lately. It's a good layer to take on + off as needed throughout the day. A couple of sweatshirts will be nice to have as well. It is very nice to know exactly what I'm going to wear every day. Once I'm dressed, I don't think about my outfit at all. It just works.

A few of the ways I've thought through my choices:

• Jeans. Jeans register as neutral. I don't get tired of wearing them, and I don't think others notice that I'm wearing the same thing day after day. If I had different clothing requirements, I'd think of what would register as a neutral in that setting...or maybe I'd just have fun with a (very) few fun silhouettes.  :)
• My tops are black, navy, white + caramel. Same concept. Also a little variety.
• I thought through what worked for everything I do at my job. Sometimes it's dirty + sometimes it's customer facing. These clothes work in all the situations.

Here's what I'm wearing to work five days a week:

• Sweatshirts :: organic cotton, made in the USA, Mate the Label
• Jeans :: cotton + hemp, made in a fair-trade certified factory, Madewell (I'm adding one pair this autumn in order to have two pairs)
• Tees :: cotton + modal, designed + made in California, It is well LA
• Socks :: organic cotton, made in a GOTS certified factory, Pact
• Trainers :: mostly plant-based materials + recycled plastic bottles, made in Brazil, Veja
• Jacket :: 100% wool, "fair" workplace in Vietnam, Ibex

I've had most of these pieces for a while + will continue to enjoy wearing them over + over for a long time. Glorious "enough".  :)

All photos via links.

Love,
Jane

We eat out of these lovely bowls every day. They hold anything from pastas to soups to grain bowls to big salads. To me, they make every meal taste better.  :) We treat them with extra care, because handmade ceramics can be a little bit more delicate. Everyone washes their own bowl, dries it + puts it away after they've finished eating. (yay!)

The other night one of the bowls got chipped. I went online to see if Ariele had any more in her shop. They were sold out online, but I decided to reach out anyway. It wasn't long before one was in the mail. And this chipped bowl makes a great spot to float a few of these flowers that are still beautiful three weeks later.

I love my little collection of functional, beautiful ceramics...just enough...used + enjoyed every day. Holding them, I feel connected to an artist + her work...and also to the earth that they are made of. Thank you so much, Ariele! The new bowl is a little different from my original three + I love it that way. 

Love,
Jane

I had plans for this to be a good year for our vegetable garden. My seeds were started inside early in the year. Before I could get them in the ground, however, life threw me a curve ball. Suddenly I had some choices to make about how I would spend my energy in the months to come. 

Early on, I resolved to plant the seeds + tend the soil. With a little more time, I decided to let myself off the hook with the garden. I just didn't have energy to do it all...even all the good things. 

We ended up with some resilient tomatoes + cucumbers anyway (when we decided to go out + get them). The other day, we pulled the tangle of weeds + vines from our garden beds and added spring's compost that still sat in the garage. As I pulled the last leaves, beets dangled heavily underneath them. I couldn't believe it. Were these survivors from our spring planting or were these late developments from months old seeds? I cut one open + found juicy gold inside.

A couple weeks ago, I felt a fierce urgency to set myself up for what comes next at work. I struggled with how to go about doing this for most of the weekend. That Sunday evening, the idea of just loosening by grip + releasing all of the striving occurred to me. My mind seemed to suddenly clear + my perspective shifted totally.

Instead of setting myself up for leadership, I realized that I don't actually need to assert myself in that way. I don't want my currency to be more hours or more status or even more money. I realize that this signals a level of privilege. Certainly there is a point up to which more of these elements truly can translate into a better life. We talk about this often here in terms of garment workers and farmers. But at a certain point happiness or fulfillment levels off + can even begin to decline in relation to increased income. Scientists call this the fulfillment curve. I'm not sure I've reached the top of the curve, but I do believe that we can reach the top of the curve more quickly when we decrease our wants.

We swim in a sea where capitalism is king, and capitalism is all about accumulation. I've come to see clearly that accumulation is not my goal. I don't need a bigger wardrobe, a bigger house, a fancier car or better jewelry. My currency is love...love to give + to receive. My currency is joy, wonder, freedom, friendship, choice...choice in the form of how I spend as much of my time as possible.

Who knows where my work will take me? I've been able to raise questions + influence change from the bottom. I do not need to grasp at power or take every opportunity to make more money in exchange for my precious time. I'm not opposed to taking a leadership position, but the decision to shift into that position will be a carefully considered one should the opportunity arise.

We tend to focus on the benefits gained by focusing on our priorities, but it might be just as valuable to take note of the benefits gained by letting go.

Open hands. Let go. Receive.

Love,
​Jane