then i asked myself:

is this was a good number of items...if not where could i adjust?
~i feel like this is a good number of items for me.  i could possibly stand another top, or just to love a couple of the ones i have just a little bit more in the cold.
~this number may seem extravagant to some, and it may seem paltry to others.  it worked well for me this season with my lifestyle.  

did i like all of the pieces and silhouettes that i had?  if not, what ones might i like to try next time?
~yes.

what did i buy/make this season?
~the only new items in this season's wardrobe were the two linen tops that i sewed and the see-sun top that i bought.  
~that fact feels really good to me.

what will likely need to be replaced next winter?
~possibly the striped tees
~probably leggings
~the see-sun top and indigo tee might work better in other seasons
~possibly the grey cardigan

what notes do i have for my future self?
~you have to wear socks, even though you don't like them.  it's cold.
~clogs to slide socked feet into for drop-off/pick-ups??
~long-sleeved warm jumpsuit??
~you really like to wear leggings, even though you pretend to be more diverse than that at first thought of winter.  :)  
~a pair or two of hand knit socks could be nice

do i need to let some pieces go at the end of this season?
~i've still got a little ways to go, but i don't think i have anything really needing to go right now.  i'll hold on to what i have and then be able to replace what needs to be replaced little by little next season. 
~knowing what things i'm thinking of replacing will let me be on the lookout for them as the season nears.

how do i need to prepare these pieces for storage?  any repairs?
~this year, i think i'll try hand washing my sweaters that need it before storing them.  (as opposed to "green" dry-cleaning)
~make another lavender sachet for storage.
~store wool sweaters in my suitcase to keep moths away.

i will try to do the same with the other clothes in the house- with the corresponding owners.  it feels good to have this assessment under my belt before thinking of the next season's pieces.

happy leap day!
​love,
jane

we could all do with a bit more patience.  i think any time we are pushed to have a little patience is good for us.  we are used to instant gratification, and it's good to remember what waiting feels like sometimes.  look up.  look around.  feel now. 

a couple little things we've been doing at the grocery store lately:

1.  the past few weeks, i've started asking for cheese behind the cheese counter to be put into my container from home.  i just ask for what i'd like and hold out my container asking, "and would you mind putting it in this?"  with a smile.  the people look a bit puzzled, but always oblige.  soon they'll be used to me, and hopefully not dreading the sight of me.  :)  previously, the bulk cheese was only wrapped in a scant amount of plastic wrap, and i felt a bit odd asking at the counter.  the cheese now comes all packaged in thicker plastic packages, so i found the courage to ask at the counter.  small victory for me, not for the packaged cheese.

2.  we've taken to collecting pizza and bread crusts that don't get eaten (i know we should eat all of them or make breadcrumbs), butter wrappers, compostable parchment paper (i know...silpat- but does that work for roasting vegetables?)...to be put into the more heavy-duty compost at whole foods.  some items are compostable, but need a bigger compost pile to break down and/or not attract pests (rather than our backyard compost heap).  we get additional free compost (rich soil) from the this source each spring, so i feel good about adding to their pile.  :)

here's the thing:

i've been asking for my bread to be put into a cloth bag for years now.  it would be lovely to say that i have a friendly chat with the woman behind the counter each week, but i know she doesn't like trying to manipulate the sliced bread into the bag.  she's not really happy to see me.  i just give her a big grateful smile and sincere thank you and go on my way.

while i have no problem doing things a bit differently and getting a few strange looks along the way, i don't like to put other people out.  i have a hard time asking for favors.  i'm not good with small talk.  i'm a bit shy.  it can take a bit of nerve to walk up to the counter and ask for something different.

when i started making an effort to move toward zero-waste grocery shopping a few years ago, we were so blessed to encounter an enthusiastic check-out woman and a cheerful bagger who offered encouragement and acceptance.  these two slowly became friends that we looked forward to seeing each week.  as the years have passed those cheerleaders have gotten promotions and had babies (so happy for them!)... and some of the ones that are left sometimes make us feel like we are nuisances.  i pick my check-out lane carefully.  :)

i just want to say, if you face resistance along the way...take courage in knowing we are pioneers, we are educators, we are part of a community, we are doing what we feel is right and good.  the earth and i are your cheerleaders, and you are not alone!  :)  

love,
​jane

a couple of weeks ago, i went to the fabric store with a list.  i knew exactly what i wanted and how much.  you know what happened next.  i saw something that wasn't on the list, and it was fabulous. there was only a little over a yard of fabric left on the bolt, so i knew it was a now or never situation. 

well, in this case, i knew exactly what it could become and that it would be useful in my closet.  i had donated a piece recently, and i had noted wanting a piece or two that would make leggings more of an option.  the fabric is 100% linen in a color that fits my aesthetic and style.  it is a whole different feeling to buy the fabric, make this top, and not feel a bit of guilt or uncertainty over adding it to my simple wardrobe.  i know it will be worn and loved.

fabric:  indigo dyed tiny checked linen
pattern:  improvised by tracing and tweaking an existing top

don't tell my planned for white linen top, but i might even like this one better.  :)  they'll both get plenty of love.

love,
​jane

here we have two quite large bags of textile "waste".  there are scraps of fabric too small for me to want to sew with, a couple of ripped/threadbare sheets, beyond repair leggings, too holey and worn through socks, and other bits of beyond-my-use fabric.  i'm not sure how long i've been collecting this time, but i'm guessing that this is from somewhere around a year of collecting.  i would call this general living textile waste.  even with care and repair, things will eventually reach the point of uselessness in my home.

if one is interested, there are obviously ways to use even these scraps.  one can stuff bits like this into a big cube of sturdy fabric to make a stuffed footstool.  stuffed toys can be created.  a few rags could be made from larger pieces.  i am, however, ready to let these bits go.    

there are different ways to look at this, but seeing it all together like this does make me stop and think.  on one hand this waste is about to become something else...and is not really waste at all.  on the other hand this is a lot of waste.  these bags make me very conscious of how my choices affect the planet.

every time i type "zero-waste", i feel a little jab in my gut.  there are not many things in our times that are truly zero-waste.  gardening with seed saving and composting is truly zero-waste.  sewing my own clothing is not. waste is inevitably created in the process of manufacturing and transporting the fabric.  buying in bulk definitely decreases packaging, but it is not zero-waste.  there is again packaging and waste involved in processing and transport.  i will continue to use the term, because it is recognizable and compelling...but my true focus can only be on significantly reducing my family's waste and also getting the waste i do create into the right hands.

these bags of textile waste are going to goodwill, where i believe they will be sorted, transported and eventually be made into things like carpet padding, rags and car insulation.  jobs are created in sorting and transport, volume is saved from the landfill, and less raw materials are needed for the manufacture of these items.  i believe this is responsible disposal, but it does create further waste in the form of transport and manufacturing emissions.  

​it always comes back to less, in my mind.  the less we need... the less we use...the less we use up and need to dispose of.

here is my big question:  if we all kept our consumption to needs and the occasional luxury...could our waste actually balance out into productive closed loop systems?

love,
jane

during the summer, i bought some local beeswax from the honey guy at the farmer's market.  (ok, it may have been two or three summers ago.)  :)  

and then, a friend of mine (hey, j) gave me these little candle tins thinking i could reuse them somehow.  so i decided to reuse them in the most obvious way...more candles.  i already had wicks, and if i'd thought of candles sooner, i could have even reused some of the leftover wax that i cleaned out.  a little essential oil could be added, if desired...and these candle tins could be perpetual candles being refilled over and over again.

my plan was to make the three candles plus a little wood polish in the jar.  

while the beeswax was melting, i thought about how i like candles to give off light, not just scent.  i really like candles in glass better than in these little tins, so i decided to pour the wax into the jar for a candle first.  it turns out that i only had enough beeswax for the candle...so when i get some more beeswax, i'll carry out the rest of my plan.

one of my favorite vegetable bullion jars, wick (i got mine from micheals), and beeswax melted over a double boiler (enamel bowl over a pot of boiling water), pour...and done.  i like knowing that beeswax draws toxins out of the air rather than releasing carcinogens like paraffin candles...and it smells divine.

i like my candle without any added scent, because i want a candle to light at dinner time each night.  the light honey scent will not interfere with our dinner scents.  i'm thinking that all of my candle desires could be fulfilled with one or two of these just being refilled over and over.  ...and wouldn't these candles make a great little gift along with some local beeswax and extra wicks?  an essential oil or two could be added, if desired.

love,
​jane

thoughtful words about making thoughtful things.

beautiful sisterhood.

​misty + degas = love.

instant gratification..."slow down consumption."

because unicef says children are making our clothes.

​things slaves are involved in producing...and the US bill to ban them!  (it will still be difficult to enforce.)

also this, because:  "remind your daughter that the best thing she can do with her body is to use it to mobilize her beautiful soul."  amen.

hoping you lose it at some point this lovely weekend!
​
love,
​jane

you cannot be grateful for everything, but in every moment you can be grateful.  ~david steindl-rast via

we sat down to lunchtime leftovers today and i noticed how the sun hit those little pearls of quinoa.  i couldn't quite capture it for you, but suffice it to say...it added a little extra joy to this simple lunch.  this was one of those throw-it-together meals that came out quite lovely. the night before, our dinner was topped with avocado, which was a yummy addition.  i imagine i've posted virtually the same meal here before, but this is how we often eat.  vary the vegetables, grain, protein, cheese (optional), and seasoning...and you've got endless variety.
​

today's zero-waste veggie quinoa
quinoa
broccoli
pepper
feta (bought from the salad bar in a container from home)
avocado (not steamed)
chili pepper, pepper flakes, salt

i like to put the quinoa on to cook...and then chop my vegetables.  when i'm done chopping, i plop them on top of the cooking quinoa...and they just steam right there on top...leaving me with only one pot to clean.


i was able to purchase every item in bulk, although there were a couple vegetable stickers to discard.  this was supposed to have chickpeas (which i just didn't have, though i thought i did).  a squeeze of lemon would be nice, if one is hanging around...but not necessary.

love,
​jane

 this fair companies video focuses on patrick kennedy's san francisco small housing project.  it is full of clever findings and implementations that are specific to the way people live in the city.  there are texting communal washers and dryers, space conscious bike parking, and digital package delivery storage.  what really struck a chord with me was kennedy's mention of his wife accusing him of "trying to manipulate people".

ok.  so it sounds bad, but kennedy is simply trying to influence people to move toward what he believes are positive choices.  kennedy hopes he has created "sticky" common areas that encourage residents to stay for a while and be social.  he makes the common area seating a bit uncomfortable in order to get people to move around a bit.  there are no outlets in this area in order to encourage personal interaction.  there is no parking for the building, but there is a heated uber bench and screens showing realtime transportation schedules and locations.

kennedy got me thinking about the ways that i have made choices in our space in order to manipulate (or encourage)  :)  the outcomes i desire for our family.  we deliberately chose a smaller home to encourage closer proximity and decreased isolation.  there are no televisions in the bedrooms...or main living area.  seating is set up so that computer screens face others to decrease temptation/increase accountability.  homeschooling takes place at the kitchen table which is in close proximity to both kitchen and living room to discourage procrastination.  floors once left spacious to encourage somersaults and playmobil set ups remain so to encourage congregating for movies or sprawling to chat.  i always choose a couch for seating, because i want to be able to snuggle with a daughter or two for a story or homework help...or with my partner for a movie.  lighting is placed for reading, and a spot for a cuppa is always considered.

spatial manipulation is such an interesting concept to me.  i feel like it has enhanced capabilities in smaller spaces.  i'd love to hear your thoughts.  :)

love, 
jane