The following is Julia's(!) book review of Thoreau at Walden, a graphic novel by John Porcellino ::


"My greatest skill has been to want but little."

I love that quote by Henry David Thoreau. It reminds me to find enjoyment in the small things and to think more about the simple things I really need rather than everything I think I have to have. 

Thoreau was a smart and educated man who was unhappy working in business or teaching before he became a writer. He eventually built a small cabin in the woods on the shore of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau planned on living alone in his cabin as an experiment. He would write full time with only a large vegetable garden to support him. During his time living in the woods, Thoreau took hikes and observed the beauty of nature around him. Every once in a while, Thoreau would visit the village a mile away to visit family or to buy something. Thoreau loved waking up to birds singing and spending long hours in the sun. He finally found happiness living a life in nature's glory with little need for money. 

Thoreau wrote beautiful ideas about discovering joy in simple living and nature's beauty that still inspire people up to this day. 

-Julia 

P.S. From Jane: I too enjoy this lighter take on Thoreau's Walden...lots of the great quotes + concepts without all of the dense language.  :) Though graphic novels aren't our usual mode of education, it can be nice to throw a little variety into the mix on occasion. Graphic novels are never substitutes for primary sources, but can lend a little perspective to the spirit of some of these literary giants + historical periods. My girls + I move through history + literature from ancient to modern times three times from kindergarten through twelfth grade. One time we'll read the novel itself, and one time we might read a graphic novel as an introduction or review. A few more educational graphic novels we've included in our mix along the way: 
-Lies in the Dust: A Tale of Remorse from the Salem Witch Trials by Jakob Crane
-Poe: Stories and Poems by Gareth Hinds
-(Gareth Hinds has also written graphic novels on ancient literature + Shakespeare plays.)
-In the younger years, we found the Shakespeare Can be Fun books helpful.

We love the library!

Zero-waste, plant-based, tiny living.
We raise our hands. We raise our voices. We raise the next generation.
We went to Black Panther last weekend + loved it! I noticed some gorgeous knits + found that the costume designer who knit Nakia's scarf released a free pattern for it.
"If happiness is on the opposite side of success, your brain never gets there." This is so good! 
Why are we making our children be braver than our politicians? Take a stand.

Have a lovely weekend, friends! 
​
Love,
Jane

Check out the updated fair athletic wear post. There are some new resources, like Tasc + Mission Workshop. As always, look for these brands on ebay or other resale sites for used items at lower prices.

Speaking of athletic wear, these shoes are made from plastic bottles.
Climate friendly farming to fiber we can use.
This brought back memories of those transportive fashion catalogs.
I was too late this time (8 minutes in!), but this collaboration is just that good.
Garment worker interactive reports.
"Do you agree there's a monster at the front door?"

I believe that this monster can finally be tamed
Deep in the hearts of the hearts of the youth
There is a magical flower blooming parachutes
Plenty to go around 
~Trevor Hall

Have an amazing + hopeful weekend, friends! 
Love,
Jane

I've really been enjoying Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver. She spends a little bit more time dealing with inner issues rather than just the outer clutter. 

Vending machines for the homeless.
"The third largest criminal industry in the world".
A dreamy collaboration.
Non-plastic athletic wear. 
​Looking forward to seeing this (because I loved the book + that cast!)

Have a fantastic weekend, friends!!
Love,
Jane

I've been rereading Freedom of Simplicity by Richard J. Foster this month. It's my favorite book on Christian simplicity. 
​I preordered Fashion Revolution's zine as a Christmas gift for Jo, but then realized that it was more about my interests than Jo's. I bought her The Best American Non-required Reading instead (since she liked last year's edition so much). We can always share.  :)

Two incredible announcements!
Beyond the label.
Another reason to do less recycling rather than more. (That means buying less that needs to be recycled.)
Quilt box.
The first major city to run out of water.
​Repair is a radical act.
"The garbage we generate creates opportunities for everyone."

Hope you are having a productive/relaxing weekend, depending on your intent!  :)

Love,
​Jane

Chai is my favorite during these cold winter days...but this zero-waste golden milk mix is making me happy right now too! Inspired by Naomi, I mixed bulk spices + put them into a jar. Now it's super easy to make golden milk any time.

Golden Milk Mix
2 parts turmeric
1 part ginger
1 part cinnamon
a few peppercorns or cracked pepper
Somewhere between 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of this mix stirred into warm milk along with a squeeze of honey is delicious!

​What I've been reading lately:
Sacred Acts: How Church's are Working to Protect Earth's Climate by Mallory McDuff :: Encouraging.
Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zamorodi :: A good reminder to be mindful of how much time we spend with our devices.
Vintage Saints and Sinners by Karen Wright Marsh :: I ended up purchasing this to be part of the curriculum for Julia's junior year next year (so, yes, I like it!).

The art of gentle protest.
​"Winning slowly is the same as losing."
​A year of no shopping.
GOOP delves into zero-waste!

Hope you are keeping warm on this first weekend of 2018!

Love,
Jane

Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced Life by Niki Brantmark is a sweet little book that addresses so many ways to live a lovely life the Swedish way (which is mostly right in line with the simplicity movement).
Be The Gift: Let your Broken be Turned into Abundance by Ann Voskamp is a book filled with inspiration + encouragement to give our broken selves away in order to find wholeness. I'm taking this one slow.
Loving My Actual Life by Alexandra Kuykendall reads like a journal of a busy mom trying to find happiness + satisfaction right where she finds herself...with a year-long experiment.

Ellen Davis + Wendell Berry spoke with Krista Tippett a few years ago. I listened to this conversation + promptly put Ellen's book on hold at the library. What a read it is. I love how Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture (not pictured) weaves scripture into our understanding of current environmental issues + our connection with the land.

​Conducting a yearly summary + gaining some perspective.
Hearing Scott Harrison talk passionately about Charity Water made me fall in love with it all over again.
2017 has been a tough year, but hope + love have been at work.
"We want you to know the full life cycle of every piece we make."
​
Hope you are having a cozy weekend, friends!
Love, 
​Jane

First of all I want to let you know how grateful I am for you. I am grateful to know that I am not alone in this exploration of + journey toward more compassionate + just habits. Thanksgiving is a lovely reminder to pause + revel in enough, abundance, and the opportunity to be generous.

And then...Black Friday. I think that most of us are aware of its ironic calendar placement. It mirrors the cycle of my unfortunate default mindset...recognition of enough, a short attempt at gratitude, + then a free-fall into wantiness + greed (even if it is only wantiness in regard to having the best gifts to give). I'm making an attempt to keep my spirit firmly planted in the spirit of gratitude + compassion today. 

"I think about more than clothes these days. I think about what is sustainable. I think about impact. I think about responsibility. I think about what is too much."
"Instead of trying to change everybody, we start with ourselves."
The lives behind the label.
"We don't have to continue holiday traditions that leave us broke, overwhelmed, or tired."
Restful + gorgeous...and how little is necessary.
​For a ride that's a little less sweaty...when you want it.
Every purchase communicates our values in so many ways.

Love, 
Jane

P.S. It's 100% off, if you don't buy it. Whatever you bought...you can usually return it.  ;)

Japanese sewing pattern books are a wonderful source of simple patterns + inspiration. When I mentioned using one for Julia's pajama pants, I was asked if I might share some of my favorite books...so here are my two current favorites. Happy Homemade :: Sew Chic contains a few shapes that I might like to try at some point. My favorite pattern is for the pants on the cover.

In order to trace the patterns, I use compostable parchment paper or tissue paper as I usually have some on hand. Don't forget to check if seam allowances are included on the pattern sheets or not (often they are not with these patterns, because smaller pieces fit better on the sheets).

I think this jacket would be a perfect summer layer to throw into my bag + could be worn over just about anything.

I've written about Japanese sewing pattern books a few times before. This is maybe the most comprehensive past post. They are one of my most favorite sources for little girl's clothing patterns in particular.

The jumper on the right is just the sort of easy, simple shape that I like...and the tunic on the left could make a lovely top as well.

Since I don't have everyday access to brick + mortar shop where I can browse through these books, my library is the most accessible place to look. Our library system has a small selection, but both of these were requested through interlibrary loan.

Stylish Dress Book also contains a few patterns that I'm intrigued by.

Amazon can be a good source of both the books + peeks inside the books. Another good source is Etsy. This shop + this one in particular offer a lot of books + peeks...but there are others as well. Search "Japanese pattern book".

This dress looks put together while having the most comfortable looking shape.

The shape of this top is appealing as well...simple + comfortable.

These two books have been translated into English, while some of the others are in Japanese. All of the diagrams + numbers are simple enough to follow in either language (in my opinion).

Love, 
​Jane

I've been enjoying reading Justin Dillon's A Selfish Plan to Change the World so far. I like the thoughtful way Dillon differentiates between our efforts to save versus change the world. I'm seeking to clarify my own mission, intent, + next steps in this fair journey... + this book is providing some food for thought.

I also enjoyed taking a look through Janet Crowther's A Well-Crafted Home. Her style is lovely + the projects are totally doable.

Bored = brilliant.
​The clinical term for what results when one is exposed to an indigo vat.
​"I could live simpler."
Lady tested :: zero-waste. (thanks Jo.)
A clog primer.
Zero-waste wardrobe editing.

Keep warm this weekend, friends!

Love,
​Jane