If you see the world as
beautiful, thrilling + mysterious...
then you feel quite alive.
~David Hockney
beautiful, thrilling + mysterious...
then you feel quite alive.
~David Hockney
April Meets October designs + makes beautiful pieces from (mostly) natural fibers in Los Angeles. Most of these pieces come in one size, which normally seems unrealistic...but these pieces seem like they would look lovely on quite a variety of bodies. I find that really exciting.
Making clothing in a variety of sizes can lead to a lot of waste. Stocking each size can lead to leftovers of just a size or two that struggle to find their wearing mates. (This can be remedied somewhat with a made-to-order model.) Wrong size purchases involve mailing pieces back + forth across the miles which involves cost to customer, brand + planet. A one size model of business has the potential to cut out much of this waste. April Meets October also has an adorable children's line which is made in Korea. All lovely photos via April Meets October. Love, Jane  Tuning in to "enough" has made me aware of the ways that it could be useful to those just starting out or starting over. Most of us move away from home at some point + need a few things in order to keep ourselves fed. When we moved overseas twice, I had to consider what was most important to replace right away, when we reached our new homes. Previously fostered young people, refugees, newly housed persons + formerly incarcerated individuals all need to consider what kitchen items are necessary in order to feed themselves.
When we are starting out or starting over, we often don't have a ton of money + need to prioritize purchases. When we are downsizing or taking life on the road, we also need to prioritize. Knowing "enough" when combining households can allow us to realize that we don't need as much space (as large a house or apartment) for all of our stuff. I was recently talking with someone considering one such move + was able to go reference my personal list of "enough". (I keep a written list in order to stay mindful.) We talked through the price of each item + which ones to look for secondhand. We discussed how to consider if she would use an item with her preferred meal choices + that she could surely do without things until the need arises. Thinking through personal desires + habits is so important when starting out. Stocking a kitchen from scratch need not be overly stressful or especially costly. We do no one any favors when we make them feel like superfluous stuff is a necessity...just because we've been told everyone should have one. We can be helpful + encouraging resources for people when we are aware of how little is truly necessary. There is enough for everybody's need. Let's participate in this balancing action. :) Love, Jane 
Plastic microfibers come up quite a bit around here, so I thought you might be interested in hearing about this all natural puffer jacket by Older Brother. I feel like it is less pure innovation and more a blending of ancient + modern elements. The outer fabric is hand beeswaxed, organic cotton. The colored jacket + vest are naturally dyed with chaga mushrooms, wood extract + iron oxides. The puffer fill is made out of cruelty-free tree fill. Not a plastic microfiber in sight! And these jackets are made in California.
This puffer is a bit pricey, but it's a beautiful example of what can be done when we, humans, put on our thinking caps + do what it takes to make it happen! Bravo, Older Brother! Lead the way! All lovely photos via Older Brother. Love, Jane  I hope your first kitchen experiment is going well! Ready for another one? Clear off the table or the counter, because we're about to pull some more stuff out of the cupboards. :) This time, let's address all of our cookware, cooking utensils + small appliances. Remember, we're doing these experiments with less in search of our personal "enough". There are different things you might want to do with this knowledge...from downsizing to finding some mental security. In terms of this exercise, keep in mind that some people make homemade tortillas or pasta or bread several times per week. Some of us have made them once. :) No judgement or guilt...just honesty...with ourselves please.  Step 1 :: Pull all of the cookware (pots, pans, etc.), cooking utensils (knives, spatulas, etc.) + small appliances (rice cooker, bread machine, tortilla press, coffee paraphernalia, etc.) out onto the table (or counter). Open every drawer + cabinet just to check that everything is out. (I didn't do this + kept thinking of more things to add.) How does it feel to see all of this in one place?
Step 2 :: Take the opportunity to clean those empty cupboards + drawers + to let them dry. :)  Step 3 :: Consider thinking differently about what + how much cooking equipment might be "enough".
This isn't an exercise in deprivation, but I do think that the kitchen has become a place where marketers have found an especially rich playing field. There is a gadget for each + every process. Our hands can squeeze citrus. A knife can mince garlic. Yet, I have owned both a lemon squeezer + a garlic press.  Step 4 :: Let's take a look at what we have + get honest about what truly gets used during the course of a year. We might only make popsicles in the warmer months + use cookie cutters during the holidays...so a year seems an appropriate measure of time. We might have moved on from making bread...or never have used that pasta maker that was a gift. Maybe we don't need the things that we haven't used for a year. Set them aside (this doesn't necessarily mean that we are getting rid of them yet...but it might...you decide).
Step 5 :: Choose your most versatile cookware to cook with for the next month. Taking a look at things by category might be helpful here. This is what I'm working with: small appliances ::
set aside : icecube tray, small spiralizer (used in the warmer months) + cookie cutters (actually art supplies that we used to make ornaments)  Step 6 :: Consider the left overs. Set aside things you are willing to let go. Put the rest in a cupboard that you can close + not look inside for the month...or on a shelf with a towel draped over (out of sight). At the end of a month, take a fresh look at each of these items + decide whether they serve the life you currently choose to live. If there is anything that you are happy to let go of now, do your best to get it into the hands of someone who will appreciate it. (Offer it to friends, family or an agency that works with adolescents aging out of foster care, refugees, abused mamas, formerly incarcerated or homeless folks.) Or sell it. Take note of the feelings this action brings.  Step 7 ::
Cook with less for the rest of the month. If you come up against a situation that you would usually use a put-away item for, try to get creative. I don't mean, just make something else. Use the blender rather than the hand mixer for the whipped cream. Cut up the apple by hand rather than using the apple corer. Talk to friends + family about strengthening community around food. Share food (not Covid). Be creative. :) Find our other experiments with less in the kitchen here: 01, 03, 04, 05, 06. Love, Jane  Let the good in me
connect with the good in others, until all the world is transformed through the compelling power of love. ~Nachman of Breslov
My overalls are finished! This pair uses the Merchant & Mills Harlene sewing pattern. I made it without modifications, except shortening the length. (I should shorten the straps a bit too.) This pattern features a classic overalls shape meant to fit a bit oversized. The darts at the back waist (shown in the bottom left photo) give a little shape to the backside.
This pattern takes some time to sew, but offers some really professional feeling finishes in the end. Hammering in the hardware at the end made me feel like I'd made something substantial with my own two hands. The fit of the these overalls is maybe a bit looser than I'd prefer in the end. It could also be that the fabric is a bit stiffer than I'd prefer. Finding just the right fabric is often my biggest barrier to sewing. If I end up with a piece of clothing that feels a little bit off, I've learned that it would just be better not to make it. Something else will always be chosen to wear instead. Anyway...my intention is to wear these overalls in (hopefully like Joanna's partner's jacket) + to love them. I love the pattern + am dreaming of what fabric I might make them in next...maybe lighter fabric + a size smaller. :) Sewing pattern : Merchant & Mills Harlene Fabric : Merchant & Mills 8 oz. dark denim Hardware : Citron Jeans Love, Jane p.s. please ignore my wet mess of hair that I did not foresee making an appearance here. :)
Versatile, comfy basics are my favorites. Sister Katie offers a tight collection of just such pieces that I could imagine wearing over + over again all year round. There is the soft, oversized gauze top without a collar that I'd be devoted to over leggings now + would wear open over a slip dress, shorts or a swim suit later. The pants are the perfect secret (or actual) pajamas to wear with a big, slouchy sweater or fitted sweatshirt now + with a tank or tee later.
Sister Katie's organic cotton pieces are made in a factory that runs on 100% renewable energy in Portugal. It is GOTS certified + OEKO-TEX class 1. More about the employees working conditions + benefits here. Sister Katie's sweaters would be just as lovely companions to jeans as they are to their comfy pants. They are made under fair-trade conditions in Peru. I really appreciate this brand's ability to imagine (+ create) pieces that truly feel like loungewear and yet truly look like clothes appropriate for the world outside of our homes. Thank you, Sister Katie, for making clothes that we can feel good about wearing + that feel good to wear. All lovely photos via Sister Katie. (Check out their instagram page for more outfit inspiration.) Love, Jane  This November might be a great month to focus on hand making as many holiday gifts as possible. It might be a good time to get creative about celebrating the holidays apart/together. And it might be a good time to experiment with less in the pursuit of finding "enough". :) Experimenting with less doesn't mean that we have to get rid of all of the things that fall outside of our "enough". It might just affirm that we have enough + don't need more. It might allow us to release some resources for the use of others. It might help us manage the laundry, toys or dirty dishes more easily + effectively. All of these outcomes could be especially useful around the holidays...in the midst of a pandemic. There are a many ways that we could approach this experiment, a few of which include:
The examples above each reference the kitchen + that is where I propose we start this go round. Obviously, one can begin wherever they'd like...and often that is in the wardrobe. I intend to get there too, but I thought November might be a good time for the kitchen.  Let's start with dishes. Here's how I propose conducting this experiment: Step 1 :: Let's pull out all of our dishes...plates, bowls, cups, mugs, silverware, serving ware (platters, serving bowls + utensils), etc. and put them all on the table, if we have one. (Yikes, I have a lot of plates!) Take note of how it makes you feel to see all of your dishes in one place? We've moved quite a few times, so I've encountered all of our dishes quite often. Having to pack + unpack all of these delicate pieces does inspire some second thoughts about the necessity of a Christmas-only platter or a Halloween-only candy bowl. (Did you remember to grab those serving pieces too?) :)  Step 2 :: For the sake of "finding enough", think about what dishes the people living in your house right now need to stay fed (considering your current weekly reality). We don't have to get down to the bare minimum (like one bowl + one spoon for each person)...let's just call it a slightly uncomfortable or somewhat challenging minimum, if that's helpful. :) We are experimenting after all. We currently have four people living in our house + I chose:
These are the dishes that we will keep out for this experiment. The habit enabling this decision is that each person hand washes their dishes after use. We let them drip dry to lower the level of effort required. :) We already have this habit in place + no longer have a pile of dishes crusted with food sitting by the sink. This has been especially nice during Covid, when we are all at home more than normal. Since the dishes get washed right away, no elbow grease + little water is necessary. I dish up our meals, so we don't use serving bowls or platters for family meals.  Step 3 :: Set everything else aside...maybe put it into a cupboard that you put a note on reminding everyone to leave it be...or box it up...or whatever gets it out of sight.* If there is anything that you are happy to let go of now, do your best to get it into the hands of someone who will appreciate it. (Offer it to friends, family or an agency that works with adolescents aging out of foster care, refugees, abused mamas, formerly incarcerated or homeless folks.) Or sell it. Take note of the feelings this brings.  Step 4 :: Live with this set up (and any new habits required) + observe. Let fellow family members know what we're trying + why. Make it positive + fun. Thank them for playing along. Shall we try this for the month of November? (I am aware that there are some wooden bowls + a little ceramic creamer shown here that I didn't include in my gathering of dishes. I don't use them as dishes + have already reckoned with the fact that they function as decor in my kitchen. We'll deal with decor in the weeks to come.) :)  *A note on entertaining:
I have not forgotten about entertaining. Whether you want to consider entertaining right now or at the end of our experiment, I'd encourage you to consider less here too. We can often use entertaining as a reason (or excuse) to have lots + lots of extra things. If you have two sets of dishes, you might consider using your favorite set of dishes every day + whether two sets of dishes is necessary. Guilt is never my intention. I just like to mention that "enough" offers opportunities for release + generosity. :) The extra dishes we keep for company include: 6 more of the same 8 inch, white plates we use everyday + 4 more mugs. We can use our assortment of bowls for serving dishes (as well as our mixing bowl). I also serve food straight out of our skillet, pot or glass, baking dishes. We let everyone dish out their food buffet style with our wooden spoons + spatulas. (I like + embrace homey + informal entertaining.) :) Find the rest of our experiments with less in the kitchen here: 02, 03, 04, 05, 06. Love, Jane |
on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
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