Saving the planet... one napkin at a time

Have you always wanted to learn how to sew?

The following classes will give you some basic information on hand and machine sewing, even if you don’t have a sewing machine !

Over 3 Saturday mornings, 2 hours per session, I’ll be teaching folks how to sew – with the assumption that you have no previous experience or just that high school class you took a few years back!

Learning to sew yourself is a great way to be more environmentally aware, repair things that can be salvaged, reuse things that need to be transformed!

Sign up soon if you would like to get sewing!

• Sewing Level 1 – $50.00 Register – Course #: 678157

  Saturdays, Jan 28 to Feb 11, 2012 – 10:00 AM 2.00 hours

  Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON [Map]

Description:

Learn how to hem your own pants, sew on your own buttons and the very basics of sewing! This course is based on hand work, with the option to bring in your sewing machine for the second class.

And once you’ve covered those basics, or perhaps you already know them, the level 2 course will take it up a notch!

Learning to sew yourself is a great way to be more environmentally aware, repair things that can be salvaged, reuse things that need to be transformed!

• Sewing Level 2 – $50.00 Register – Course #: 678181

Saturdays, Feb 25 to Mar 10, 2012 – 10:00 AM 2.00 hours

Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON [Map]

Description:

Learn to alter your clothes, install a zipper and general repairs. Hand and sewing machine work. Basic store bought patterns will be covered.

Info: Muslin will be provided and a basic zipper. Students may choose to bring in their own projects to work on. An information sheet will be provided upon registration or via email.

And after that:

Level 3 will take place in April 2012 – on the 14/21/28 – and details for it will be updated online closer to it!

This project connects the past to the present and the future as the bride took the gift of her grandmother’s veil, and has graciously divided it into matching pieces for her bridesmaids – all cousins and granddaughter’s of the matriarch in question.

Making 5 matching garter’s was the best way this bride could envision sharing this piece of history with her family and feel the energy passed on.  These ladies can wear them at each other’s future weddings, knowing their family ties are connected by the delicate threads creating these pretty pieces. Here are the finished 5 garters!

I’ve been happy to have connected with Chantal and Jay of LifeWithoutPlastic.com from the early days of Eco-TAV. I had spoken with them when I was first getting rolling about helping them design a lunch bag, they were very early supporters of my line of Pouches and Napkins and have become my main retail partner!

My Blossom Bags were an early idea I had shown them, but was not quite what they were looking for at the time, so I created my own line of Artisan Blossom Bags, using reclaimed textiles and keeping them out of the organic fibre realm, just in case…

And this spring, Chantal and I played with the idea of creating the organic canvas line of Blossom Bags for LWP  - and you can check those out on their website here.  I was also pleased to brainstorm with her to create their line of Placemats with cutlery holder { I called them “CutleryMats”, but they have chosen more words }  You should email them and tell them you think “Cutlery Mats” is a better name- hint hint!

And now, new fabric has arrived from India after much research and hunting, and this Khadi is beautiful.

Very soon, the first Khadi Blossom Bags and Cutlery Mats will be available at Life Without Plastic – so go sign up to their newsletter to find out when you can get your loved ones some Ottawa-made, environmentally -appreciative goodies for the upcoming holiday season! – and all year round!

Have you wanted to learn how to do some basic sewing?

Saturday morning starts my 3 Saturday Level 1 session at the Routhier Community centre – where I’ll be teaching basics like sewing on a button, hemming pants and other fun stuff.  Save money by doing it yourself, or gain appreciation for how it’s done !

Details are HERE!

And then Sunday brings me to the Dancers’ Bazaar!

I’m restocking my Eco-TAV pouches, napkins and have a few gift bags and Blossom bags remaining from previous stock – think SALE!

There will also be a limited selection of ready made pieces in the dance costume realm – my main love for clothing is custom making it for you with your own ideas in mind, but i like to have a few pieces handy just to show some options and feed the quick purchase needs! Head over to my Artfire site for a preview- see the left sidebar and click on through!!

And hope to see you Sunday!

Have you always wanted to learn how to sew?

The following classes will give you some basic information on hand and machine sewing, even if you don’t have  a sewing machine !

Over 3 Saturday mornings, 2 hours per session, I’ll be teaching folks how to sew – with the assumption that you have no previous experience or just that high school class you took a few years back!

Learning to sew yourself is a great way to be more environmentally aware, repair things that can be salvaged, reuse things that need to be transformed!

Sign up soon if you would like to get sewing!

Sewing Level 1 – $50.00 plus HST

Description:

Learn how to hem your own pants, sew on your own buttons and the very basics of sewing! This course is based on hand work, with the option to bring in your sewing machine for the second class.

Register online or call 613-244-4470 for more info
Saturdays, October 15, 22, and 29, 2011 – 10:00 AM  to 12 noon
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON [Map]
Note: Check the Room location upon arrival – signs are inside the main entrances.

And once you’ve covered those basics, or perhaps you already know them, the level 2 course will take it up a notch!

Learning to sew yourself is a great way to be more environmentally aware, repair things that can be salvaged, reuse things that need to be transformed!

Sewing Level 2 – $50.00 plus HST

Description:Learn to alter your clothes, install a zipper and general repairs. Hand and sewing machine work. Basic store bought patterns will be covered.

Info: Muslin will be provided and a basic zipper.  Students may choose to bring in their own projects to work on. An information sheet will be provided upon registration or via email.

Register online or call 613-244-4470 for more info
Saturdays, November 5- 19, 2011 – 10:00 AM  to 12 noon
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON [Map]
Note: Check the Room location upon arrival – signs are inside the main entrances.

IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND AND WANT SOME SEWING HINTS, CHECK MY VIDEO LESSONS PAGE !

is sabbatical the right word?

Does my going off into the woods to commune with my family, nature and the occasional crew of friends count and a sabbatical?

sabbatical |səˈbatikəl|nouna period of paid leave granted to a college teacher for study or travel,traditionally every seventh year : she’s away on sabbatical.

Nope, I guess not.

But hey, every 11 months, I need a break.  And I do teach, along with everything else I do with my other businesses, so I think it’s more than a vacation.

At any rate – I’m outta here.

I’ll be back in September to get things rocking’ again, but in the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer and talk to ya later!!

Tracey

Eco-TAV Creations

… let me rephrase that!

Over 3 Saturday mornings, 2 hours per session, I’ll be teaching folks how to sew – with the assumption that you have no previous experience or just that high school class you took a few years back!

Learning to sew yourself is a great way to be more environmentally aware, repair things that can be salvaged, reuse things that need to be transformed!

There are a few spaces remaining, and the class is limited so that i can spend time with each person as we go along!  Sign up soon if you would like to get sewing!

Sewing Level 1 – $50.00 plus HST

Description:

Learn how to hem your own pants, sew on your own buttons and the very basics of sewing! This course is based on hand work, with the option to bring in your sewing machine for the second class.

Register online or call 613-244-4470 for more info
Saturdays, Feb 26 , March 5 and Mar 12, 2011 – 10:00 AM  to 12 noon
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON [Map]
Note: Check the Room location upon arrival – signs are inside the main entrances.

After a very successful first run in the fall, I will be offering two more 6 hour sessions coming up this winter!  Learning to sew yourself is a great way to be more environmentally aware, repair things that can be salvaged, reuse things that need to be transformed!

The first session coming up in late January  is actually a Level 2 course – continuing on the information taught in the Level 1 course from the fall.

Sewing Level 2 – $50.00 plus HST

Description:Learn to alter your clothes, install a zipper and general repairs. Hand and sewing machine work. Basic store bought patterns will be covered.

Info: Muslin will be provided and a basic zipper.  Students may choose to bring in their own projects to work on. An information sheet will be provided upon registration or via email.

Register online or call 613-244-4470 for more info
Saturdays, Jan 29 to Feb 12, 2011 – 10:00 AM  to 12 noon
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON [Map]
Note: Check the Room location upon arrival – signs are inside the main entrances.

And to revisit the basics:

Sewing Level 1 – $50.00 plus HST

Description:

Learn how to hem your own pants, sew on your own buttons and the very basics of sewing! This course is based on hand work, with the option to bring in your sewing machine for the second class.

Register online or call 613-244-4470 for more info
Saturdays, Feb 26 to Mar 12, 2011 – 10:00 AM 2.00 hours
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON [Map]
Note: Check the Room location upon arrival – signs are inside the main entrances.

IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND AND WANT SOME SEWING HINTS, CHECK MY VIDEO LESSONS PAGE !

I think everyone reading this will already be part of the choir, so I won’t let this turn into a rant – I swear!

With the Bombardment having begun before Halloween was even over, and now the US has had its weekend of shopping/ feeding frenzy, which seems to affect a lot of us up here in the Great White North too, it all leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Encouraging local shopping, supporting the artisans in the area, and trying to keep from running amuck  are annual events for me and my hubby.  The entire concept of gift giving out of obligation is an incredible marketing tool – so at least if you are getting it on sale, then you are winning too right?

We don’t give gifts anymore.  Or at least in a very limited way.  If we do give something physical, it’s either a re-gift [ if I cannot use it and you can, I'm happy to pass it along any time of year - holiday time included!] or it’s a piece from a local artist or someone we know even if they are not local.

We give to charity on your behalf most of the time.  Last year, I set up the Canada Helps Eco-TAV/TAV Creations page to let our friends and family know what charities we give to.  And sometimes we let the recipient choose by giving a gift card.

Our support of the economy happens all year round, so we try to not go crazy this time of year, but sometimes a bit of crazy is fun.

This year, I’ve used some of the reclaimed textiles that have come my way to make fun little and big reusable gift bags.  Based on my classic Eco-TAV Pouch design, these bags are also french seamed with the flip top, and can be typed with your own ribbon or in the case of the smaller ones, just flipped and they’ll be fine!

I’ll be putting photos and details up on my Artisan page soon, and will figure out some sort of special offer for those purchasing the standard Eco-TAV Napkins and Pouches – if you get a set, you can have them gift wrapped in a gift bag… that kinda thing.

I do have to say that it feels a bit funky, offering a holiday special, and helping feed the beast of consumerism, but I guess I can remind myself that at least I’m encouraging folks to use re-usable stuff, not disposable… #torn

Happy Holidays …

To Whet Your Appetite…

Okay, so if you don’t live / shop in the Byward Market area of Ottawa, you may not have a long term relationship with the store once known as the natural Food Pantry, and for the past few years, known as Market Organics. Located at 126 York Street, just a bit away from Dalhousie Street and a really good shawarma place called, Garlic Corner, Market Organics has been a great place to get organic foods, funky vegan stuff and more for myself and @wtl for years.  We usually get our B.Goods Cookies there if we are not near the B.Goods “Mobile Bakery”, and while their prices and selection may not compare to big box places like the Bulk Barn in quantity, the quality of what we find there and the convenience more than makes up for it!

So, in case I forgot to mention it at the beginning of this post, Market Organics was also one of the very first retailers [ see the list to the left of the others] of Eco-TAV Pouches.  In the past, when the location was smaller { half the size} and crowded with oodles of stuff, the pouches were pretty much invisible.  I missed last weekend’s grand re-opening but was able to pop in today for my fix of bulk choc chips, aforementioned cookies, almond milk , etc.  And I saw my babies!  There, to the left as you stand in the single line waiting to pay for your purchases and perusing the fresh baked goods, hanging below a hand written sign suggesting” Why take a paper bag when you can get a Reusable bag”, there were a healthy selection of Mini Pouches, and Large Pouches.  There is NO ECO-TAV LOGO on DISPLAY, but you’ll see it when you look closely at the care-label on the flap!

The Eco-TAV Mini Pouches really are just the right size for a single yummy cookie from any of the bakeries that supply the store.  And the Large makes a great place to assemble a wondrous collection of a prepackaged  Market Organics sandwich, fruit and perhaps a lovely side of couscous or salad from their fridge!   It keeps it all just fine to get you to your snacking destination and is large enough to create an eating surface

Shameless self-promotion done now.

Back to the new layout!

I chose to enter by the front of 126 York by fluke, I did not actually realize that the other entrance on the side is now closed off.  So, I walked into the building and was directed leftwards, into the store.  FLOORSPACE!!! OMG!  If you were ever in the store when it was only half the size, you may remember how there were always little ladders, and boxes to walk around as staff was constantly restocking shelves!  Now, I can envision an entire impromptu dance number in the entrance area alone!  They have a sidebar/nook/ eating area ‘ cause they have a little cafe set up!  Woot!  I was not able to try any of the food, but it looked like a small selection of yummies – salads and gourmet coffee – I’ll be back to test that one of these days for sure!

So, after getting over the initial shock of walking into a huge open space with shelves full of stuff, I kept walking around the horseshoe shaped layout to see what I could see!  Food first, then fridges, then around the corner for cosmetics, vitamins, and the bulk foods are still along the inner wall, though rearranged, of course.  I kept going and found the new check out system with the “Please form one line” sign and two cashes.  These are a bit smaller in counter space, but you are no longer competing with the baked goods for surface area to put your purchases down while paying for them.

You can get your baked goods while you wait in line – great marketing and yes, I picked up one of my favorite Bread and Roses vegan peanut butter squares [ they come in a tiny plastic bag, but what can you do when you know they are really tasty and only offered in the prepackaged manner?].  They always remind me of the peanut butter balls my mom used to make when I was a kid – covered in chocolate, and full of sugar – but these are so much healthier – I swear!

Anyhoo – if you get a moment, pop in, say hi, buy and Eco-TAV Pouch from their display, fill it with yummy baked goods and support 3 or even 4 small businesses in one shot!

On a side note, I am now frequenting the Bridgehead on Richmond Road near Churchill/ MEC, and the lovely lady [ manager?] who served me gave me an “own mug” discount for both my stainless steel mug and my Eco-TAV Pouch! She was very adamant that yes, this discount would be given anytime someone uses something “reusable”!  So, while the head office is really not  interested in carrying the Eco-TAV line, yet, the stores have been very supportive – especially if you are nice about it!  My home Bridgehead location on Dalhousie has been great from the start and kudos to them for that!

Keeping it shades of green!

Tracey