this old world

This old world can get a little scary sometimes. These are some sayings that make me feel a little better when it gets overwhelming:

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.
Helen Keller

Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best.
David O. McKay

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi

Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight - always try to be a little kinder than is necessary.
Sir James M. Barrie

sierra sierra

As summer approaches on this side of the world, some friends of mine and I have decided to detox for the month of October. Although I generally don't drink a lot anyway, the temperature hit 35 degrees celsius this week, and it's had us a little obsessed about the amber stuff.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. strive to make quality drops while applying resource conservation as a guiding principal. In 2007 the brewery diverted 33,038 tonnes of materials (98.2% of their total waste) from landfill. The same year Sierra Nevada began utilising used vegetable oil from their Taproom and Restaurant as an alternative fuel source for their fleet of trucks. They also use energy-efficient fuel cells that use natural gas while producing extremely low emissions. They go further and use methane from their waste water treatment plant as fuel. The company also capture steam and CO2 to reutilise in other aspects of production. Amazingly, I have only mentioned a few of the initiatives that they have implemented. It's lucky that after all that hard work saving energy, they can relax with a cold one!

LOCATION: CHICO, CALIFORNIA, USA.

summer on the hill

The Summerhill Pyramid Vineyard in Kelowna, Canada produce (27 at last count) certified organic wines. They impressively range from red, white, sparkling, dessert, and ice wines. Never heard of ice wines? Neither had I until now (my sister lived nearby recently, and she told me that ice wines are refreshingly sweet). Also any company that bottles a special wine in a blue, violin-shaped bottle deserves a little kudos if you ask me.

LOCATION: KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

cute as a quail

You may have seen my previous post about the very cute, very English company Quail. There are a couple more things that I really wanted to share about them. Firstly, these little brooches made from recycled fabrics! Also, what I wasn't aware of before I wrote my first post is quite a lovely story. Quail employ 7 ladies, some near retirement age, to make their clothing in the small town in which they are based. These women used to sew for a large, well-known company in the 1980's before said company moved their manufacturing to the cheap-laboured shores of Asia. When the owner of Quail rang them for a contract, they had resorted to making their living sewing prison uniforms and Desert Storm-coloured balaclavas for the British government. Needless to say, they are loving making dresses and blouses again!

Speaking of sewing (I got a sewing machine recently so I am), Quail also sells handloomed Indian organic cotton fabric by the metre. It is non-Azo dyed in a variety of non-garish hues (I've been looking everywhere for nice stuff). All in all pretty pheasant, I mean pleasant (ha!).

LOCATION: DEVON, ENGLAND, UK.

to your advantage

Gorgeous gowns. Cute day dresses. Sweet cardies. Vintageous do vintage, very well. It's like having your grandmother's, and all of your friend's grandmother's wardrobes (especially if they wore designer) at your fingertips. They have good shots, great descriptions, and loads of variety. They are in the process of making the site a little more user-friendly, but what's a little old school internet page among friends...

LOCATION: SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA, USA.

kitty coup

This. Is. Exciting. For those of you in London especially. Kitty Cooper (who make those amazingly ethical and environmentally-friendly shoes I have spoken of before) are holding a uber-sale (click the photo for deets). They tell me it's pretty massive with up to 85% off, in a little temporary space, just next to the legendary Travel Bookshop off the Portobello Road. I wish that I was there so I could go for a look-see. But then I checked the Kitty Cooper website, and lo and behold - they are having a pretty good sale there too!

LOCATION: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK.

bow down

I remember scouring the op shops when I was about 15-16, it was smelly and the pickings were slim. Bowerbird takes out the hard work. All vintage clothing and accessories on the site have been sourced locally throughout Australia and New Zealand. The items are cleaned and restored, or reworked under the "Rescued by Bowerbird" label. Reusing at it's best.

LOCATION: SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA.

burda's the word

On the search for sustainable clothing, it might have crossed your mind to try to make something yourself. But maybe you remember all those trips to the sewing store with your mum, and her leafing through pattern book after pattern book. What I love about BurdaStyle is that you can find really lovely quality patterns with great photographs, that you can download for free or cheap. Then you print them (on recycled paper of course), source some eco or vintage fabric, and you are well on your way! Loves it!