Bumble Bea Green

Bea Green Blogorama--One step at a time

2008-09-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Being "green" is a very noble, necessary goal. But when you make a decision to be greener with your purchases and practices, sometimes the sheer amount of information and ways to be green can be overwhelming. So I'd like to suggest that if you are new to this whole movement, you start slowly and take it one step at a time.
1. Start small
Focus on one thing at a time. Research it, figure out if it's worth caring about and how you can be a force for positive change in that topic.

2. Set some goals.
Change one thing at a time. Decide what to focus on, or focus on first, and make a plan. Whether you decide to change one thing a month, or one thing a week, or 4 things a year, spend a few minutes planning out what you will research and how you will implement the change.

3. Go easy at first
Sure, it would be great to switch to biofuel and start fresh on your pantry, but while high and lofty goals are good vision-casting, start small. Instead of throwing out all your old cleaners and shampoo, simply buy the green version when you run out. Simplify.

If you aren't sure where to get started, here are a few small changes you can begin with:

~ Switch to natural cleaners (like baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, etc.) or find ecologically sound alternatives. Pick one to start, such as your glass cleaner (use vinegar instead) or your laundry detergent (when you run out, start buying something better like bio-kleen).

~ Replace your incandescent light bulbs with a greener, more energy-efficient light bulb. You don't need to toss all your light bulbs in one day, just replace them as they burn out.

~ Unplug. Practice unplugging appliances when they are not in use, or find a power strip that does not idly drain energy.

~ Pick a food group and start replacing your current staples with healthier, more natural/organic ones. For instance, perhaps you can't afford to get (or are overwhelmed by finding) farm-fresh local organic produce. Read up on which produce is the most contaminated and start in your local grocery store with that. Maybe someday you can buy a cropshare from a local organic grower, but if you find that overwhelming, start small now.

~ Pick an area of beauty or health aids and start buying safe, eco-friendly options as you run out of the old ones. You might not be able to go from using 10 different products for 10 different things to Dr. Bronner's instead overnight, but perhaps find a paraben and SLS-free shampoo and start there. Skin Deep is a good place to research your best options.

~ Ride a bike! Exercise is good for you, and riding somewhere rather than driving impacts the environment in a good way. Be sure to be safe about it (wear your helmet! follow the rules of the road!), and find one thing you can bike to as opposed to drive to. Maybe you're not going to be able to jump on your bike tomorrow and begin commuting to work that way, but when you run out of milk and need to hit the store, consider biking to the nearest place instead.

How about you? What steps are you taking?

AAAAnnd the winner IS!!!!

2008-09-07T10:15:00.001-07:00

Using the random integer generator from random.org:
Here are your random numbers:

13

Timestamp: 2008-09-07 17:14:36 UTC

Simply Brandy! Congratulations!

Closed!

2008-09-06T23:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who participated in the latest Bea Green Blogorama! Be sure to come back on the 16th for the next meme, although there won't be a giveaway associated with that one. Still, a chance to spread the word about making the world a better place, and show off your natural savvy!

Use It Up, Make Do

2008-09-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

In the past, people would find very creative ways to use every scrap of every thing they owned. Clothes were patched, or remade into something else, or when they were just too ratty to even be used as rags, shredded into stuffing. Parts of animals we wouldn't dream of eating were made into sausages and regional dishes.

Maybe we don't need to make headcheese anymore, but I think a principle has been lost over the decades as we've moved into a consumerist, disposable society. I can't think of many people I know that would patch the holey knees in their jeans--it's hardly fashionable these days (and unfortunately, cut-offs and holey jeans are also not fashionable), but rather would run out to buy new ones, and throw the old ones away.

On the flip side of the coin, there are those that save every last little thing, but never do anything with it. They hang on to those holey jeans in case they need them for something, someday (full disclosure: this would be my bad habit). Every gadget they've ever received is stored for future use--whether they will ever, in fact use it or even KNOW how to use it or not.

As I've begun this journey toward a more green, frugal, simple life, I am learning there are things to keep and things to give away. Being more of a "pack-rat" I have lovely intentions for everything I have, but frankly, I don't need the clutter and stuff. And frankly, it does NO ONE good for piles of stuff to sit gathering dust. So I have begun trying to practice "use it up, make do, reinvent, go without". Out of all the kitchen gadgets I have ever owned, the best three have been a wooden spoon, a large sharp knife and my can opener. Everything else is nice, but peripheral. "Make do" for me is slowly weeding out my kitchen for things I don't need and don't use.

The difference between being a hopeless pack-rat and becoming simple, green and frugal is simply actually USING it. And allowing yourself to go without (at least, possibly in the future). And acknowledging that other people may find a more immediate use for something than you can. I might *like* to use these sheets to make a shabby chic rag quilt, but maybe someone else needs them for something right now. If I can't fit that project in to my life in the next 6 months, I need to give it up.

On the other side, those who would consume and replace could take some notes from the pack-rats. :) Instead of immediately tossing something, see if you can fix it. If you can't fix it, see if you can remake it into something else. If you can't, see if someone else could use it. Don't just toss it in a landfill. And see if you can "make do" or go without.

The key here is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce the amount of stuff you have--and especially the amount of stuff you have coming in and going out--, reuse what you can until you can't, or remake it creatively; and recycle things you can't use to those that can or to an appropriate facility. Did you know, for instance, that there are cotton recycling facilities? As long as your item is 100% cotton, you can send that unusable whatever to be remade into something new rather than sitting in a landfill.

GIVEAWAAAAAAAY!
To participate in this giveaway, you have three options:

1. To earn one entry, leave a comment to THIS entry detailing a way you are bea-ing green

2. To earn one entry, write about bea-ing green on your blog (feel free to use the bea-green blogorama button, and do link back to this entry). Then, use Mr. Linky below to input your blog entry. DO NOT link to your blog, you must link DIRECTLY to your entry! I will delete any inappropriate links or general links.

3. To earn TWO entries, do both!!!!!!

This giveaway will close on Saturday, September 6th at 10pm PST. A winner will be chosen by a random number generator on Sunday, September 7th and announced sometime that day. :) Please be sure there is a way I can contact you if you win, whether through your blog or through email!

This time, I decided to go with a gender-neutral option for our giveaway. Winner will receive one Basic Black market tote with shoulder straps!!! Great for a guy, great for your husband, and great for the woman who appreciates the chic simplicity of black. Black is always in style, and more palatable for the "green"-averse guy in your life. My husband won't carry the groceries in foofy bags, and he didn't even want any "guy" prints. So if you or someone you know is that guy, or even that girl, this is the bag for you! On the other hand, if you are someone who appreciates the finer things in life, black is also an excellent choice. Classic, elegant, and classy could definitely describe this bag. :)

Now, I like to take my pictures in natural light, but it's raining :*( So here is a picture of the Basic Black market tote to tide you over until I can take pictures of the actual bag (so please note, while your bag will look like this, it won't be *exactly* like this, as handmade items vary a bit naturally...for instance I used white thread on top of the label instead of the black you see on this bag.):

Remember, you have until Saturday to comment and/or post. Have a bea-utiful day, and have fun bea-ing green!!!

Get Ready!!!!

2008-09-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Be on the lookout later today for the Bea Green Blogorama!

Get your posts on bea-ing green ready, for there is a market tote to win :)

Go Green, Save Money?

2008-08-28T22:52:00.000-07:00

An article on MSN that talks about ways going "green" can save you money

It's true...there is another reason to switch to fabric or reusable grocery bags--it may save you money. Many stores all over the world will give you a "bag refund"--a small amount of money back per bag you use that isn't theirs. And more and more states, cities, and countries are moving toward fining, banning, phasing out, or penalizing plastic or paper bags.

I did find it ironic, though, that the bags they featured--while very cool--were rather expensive. I mean, it would take you a long time to make that money back. I understand...I mean, I sell my bags basically at wholesale price. I could--and probably should--charge more than I do. But that would kind of make them out-of-reach for some people, and perhaps take advantage of the more economically advantaged green folk. But we won't get into all that since I've talked about it before. It was still rather ironic. :) However, the good news for those that can't afford a reusable grocery bag priced at $50 or more is that you have many more affordable options. Including yours truly, of course. :)

Housewarming Gift

2008-08-27T23:19:00.000-07:00

My littlest sister recently struck out on her own, renting a two-bedroom house with a friend. Her friend had lived on her own before, and apparently had many of the basic gadgets covered. Between that and what my mother was giving her, she didn't really need much in the way of basic necessities. So what's a girl to give as a housewarming gift?

I knew she wanted a bag from me, which would make an excellent gift in and of itself. Especially as more cities and states and countries are moving toward limiting, taxing, fining, or banning plastic and/or paper grocery bags, the gift of a Bumble Bea Green market tote or three is an excellent choice for the savvy giver. Green, beautiful, and rather multi-purpose, a market tote is sure to score.

Of course, she is my sister, and I can't just stop at one thing. Oh no. I'm the type of person who likes to give theme gifts. Last Christmas, I made several family members cry--in a good way--with a thoughtful gift. That Christmas will be hard to top, heh. Anyways, I knew that for her gift I wanted to give her things that were ordinary and yet so often overlooked. Things like, the little touches that make a house a home.

So I scoured Etsy for something unique, handmade, and yet ordinary. I found a refreshing "bath tea infusion" from Ollie Baby. My sister works a very physical job, and I knew it would be the perfect tool to help her soak away those sore muscles in her antique claw-foot tub. One thing that is fun to have are pretty magnets. So I consulted one of my favorite Etsy shops, Washi by Maoiliosa, for a perfect set of lovely pink magnets to grace her antique fridge. Finally, I wanted to add one more personal touch to her house. Having added a bit of relaxation and heavenly scent in the bathroom and a glimpse of her pink-obsessed personality in the kitchen, I decided to go with a set of coasters from RuBee Designs that reflected her shopping obsession (especially with shoes and purses!). Perfect! Now all I needed to do was put it together!

Another great use for my totes is using them as gift bags. These items, however, were small and fragile. So I thought I could just wrap it all together, but that wasn't a fun and eco-friendly idea. Then I thought...what if I use the bag to wrap it up?

Here are my carefully chosen and handmade-by me and others--items

A close up of the goodies I bought

I carefully placed all the items inside, putting the coasters more on one side and the other items on the other side

Then folded the bag up around the items

I folded the bag in half, and used the straps to secure it. Voilà!

Green, handmade, beautiful, meaningful, unique gift that wrapped and even padded itself. How awesome is that? :D

Bea Green Blogorama is BACK!

2008-08-27T10:52:00.001-07:00

What?
On the 1st and 16th I will be hosting this "green meme"-the Bea Green Blogorama! I'd love to get our heads together and learn about living a more green and natural way from each other. Most of my friends already post about "green" topics frequently, so I figured, why not put them all together once in awhile so we can all enjoy them?

How?
To participate, all you need to do is dig up a past post or write a new one about bea-ing green...how you are, what you are doing that is 'green', ways to be green, what it means to you--the sky's the limit, as long as it's family-friendly and environmentally conscious. Hang your laundry instead of using the dryer? Tell us about it! Saving money and the air on gas somehow? Please share! Planting a garden--and growing it organically? The topic is broad and yet the focus is narrow.

Huzzah!

2008-08-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

I scored another treasury! What is a treasury, you may ask? On Etsy, when you visit their homepage and see the lovely featured items, that is a treasury. Treasuries are collections of favorite things picked by fellow Etsy artists. To score a treasury, one must be in the right place at the right time, and that is actually harder than it sounds. Getting your treasury on the Etsy homepage is even harder. Etsy Admins choose from usually 300-500+ treasuries for truly exceptional ones to grace the front page.

It may sound like perhaps it's not something to be terribly excited about, because it's not for self-promotion. But I like to think of it as self-promotion in a backwards sort of way. First of all, I love to promote Etsy, and I definitely love to promote handmade products, and I DEFINITELY love to promote quality handmade products from sellers I trust or know personally. When I pick you for a treasury, I let you know. In a way, that's promotion, and good for both of us. My name is on the treasury, so my name is at least out there, if not my products. So it is good for me, and good for my friends and fellow respected artists and artisans. I figure that eventually, people will do the same and pick me.

And in fact it already happened once, and that particular treasury featuring one of my bags made it to the front page, which was quite an honor. :) This is the second treasury I have made. :) I'm pretty excited about it! I either know or have purchased from about half of the people I featured this time, and found some new neat stuff from people I haven't.

So if you haven't yet, take a peek!

Treasury!

2008-08-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

I love Etsy and that it is such a community. We support each other and buy from each other and promote each other. One of the ways to promote each other that is uniquely built in to Etsy is the Treasury. It's not a place to promote *your* work, but others. And it is darn hard to score a spot. But I managed to score one! Check it out:

Summer's Last Stand...of Lemonade

I love all those items, and have had personal, favorable interactions with jenngee, Tumus, 29 Cherry Blossoms, Naiad Soap Arts, and Washi by Maoiliosa. I have personally been featured once that I know of, and that treasury actually made it to the front page of Etsy which is quite the honor :D.

Life and Being Your Own Boss

2008-08-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

One thing that is very nice about being your own boss is that you don't get in trouble when you need to take an unexpected break due to life circumstances. One bad thing about it is that business comes to an all-stop. I fear my little shop may have suffered due to my inattention; people looking for new bags may be discouraged from shopping with me since it has been so long since I have posted anything new. But alas, it cannot be helped.

So instead, I will focus on the blessing that it is to be free to take a break when I need it. 2008 has been a crazy, up-and-down, difficult year. Some wonderful and exciting things happened this year (like the long-time-coming birth of my business), but I do not think I will remember 2008 with much fondness besides.

Most recently, my dear Grandma and next-door neighbor had a stroke. Fortunately, it was caught early and she is recovering well and expected to continue to recover, but of course that has taken up much of my emotional and mental energy. It is difficult for me to attend to much of her care because of the little ones I have, but I have filled in here and there wherever there are gaps in her care.

Two other people precious to me have had falling accidents in the past week; one very serious, one not as serious. My sister, the less serious accident, was bucked off of a horse and sustained a mild head injury as well as a broken back. So we are rallying to try and help her in HER business, as she works with horses and it is physical labor that she cannot do at this time.

Add to that the craziness of "birthday season", and well, I am one busy lady. We homeschool, and I am attempting to plan for the school year as well as our annual de-clutter and thorough deep clean of our home. After a period of unemployment, my husband is back to work at a new job, which has required paperwork and such. Yup, life is full right now...full of happiness and wonder, minutiae and grunt work, heartaches and worry. And a lot of busyness. I hope to get back to making bags with more regularity soon, and rolling out new products. Fortunately there *are* some bags for sale on my website, or I'd feel like a total slacker. ;) But August is seeming a daunting month for me to get through...we'll just have to see! :)

Pretty Packaging Vs. The Earth

2008-07-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

When I buy something from someone on etsy or hyena cart or handmade from a shop or boutique--online or in town--, I really enjoy all the little details. Pretty hang tags, attractive packaging, little extras, etc. All that stuff is fun and really makes you feel special.

I would love to wrap my bags in fancy tissue and tie them with expensive ribbons and have a tag or four on the product, but I keep bumping up against an issue that is important to me: saving the environment by reducing waste and my carbon footprint. I'd also feel like I'd need to charge a bit more, since I've priced my bags at the absolute cheapest I could. Being both a frugal person and a person desiring to save the environment by reducing waste, that doesn't seem appealing either. I mean, I know that my work is worth more than I am charging--a lot more. The care and quality of my products are definitely worth more, my time is worth more. But, being both a frugal person and a person desiring to save the environment by reducing waste (hee), I felt that charging more would inordinately elevate my bags beyond their very humble use. The frugal side of me gasps at market tote prices...I wouldn't personally pay $30 for a grocery bag, so I don't feel like I can expect my customers to. The tree-hugger side of me wants to make attractive and affordable grocery bags so that the average consumer will be inspired to try bringing their own bag rather than perpetuating the waste issue with plastic bags. In other words, I felt that if I charged $25 for my market totes, or $30, or $50, I'd be taking advantage of the green-committed people and snubbing people of more humble means or at least condemning them to the ugly plastic reusable store bags. ;)

But I digress.

The point is, I'm trying to come up with a solution. I would like to find some sort of sustainable/recycled/recyclable way to make my customers feel special, and to give my products a bit of their boutique dignity. I feel like I'd be selling out to print out tags on the ol' printer and wrap the bags in tissue paper. Certainly, it can all be recycled. But I'd like to come up with a better way to do it.

One thing I keep coming back to (for tags at least) is using a stamp. I already make my bag labels by hand with scrap fabric and a stamp. So if I could find a recycled/recyclable solution for the actual tag part, that would be easy, frugal, and environmentally friendly. Frugal eventually, that is, as the upfront cost of a custom rubber stamp is somewhat expensive. I've been pondering using a stamp for care/website address on the inner bottom of the bag. I've also been looking for a way to recycle my thread snips and fabric bits, and have thought of making my own paper, but that's definitely a future project, not a now one.

And then there is the "free sample" or little extra gift. I know that I super duper love those, personally. Even if it's just a magnet advertising the shop. Again, the question for me is...how do I find an easy, inexpensive, environmentally-friendly solution? Hrm.

I've also run across sellers who state upfront that in their effort to reduce waste or be environmentally friendly, they don't print receipts or use excessive packaging, and that is very attractive to me as well. I like people who like what I like and care what I care about, so it makes me inclined to give them my business as well. Perhaps at least for now, *I* should just mention that, myself.

Just ramblings, really...but if you have any suggestions, I'm certainly open!

Bea Green Blogorama!

2008-07-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to roll out a new product today and thusly a giveaway, but I've had *two* family issues this week (the more serious one this morning) so this post will just be about bea-ing green. :) Incidentally, just to be clear, not every Bea Green Blogorama will involve a giveaway. This meme is about green topics, not stuff :D But I like giveaways, so chances are you'll see them more often than not :D You may even see them randomly...hee hee :D

My tip and challenge for being green today is to consider how much waste you make, and take a baby step toward reducing your waste.

One thing my family has done for a long time now is to use cloth napkins. The mildly-to-barely "dirty" ones can be reused, and the really soiled ones go in with our towels, but I find they don't add a lot of bulk to our regular wash. We don't use paper napkins at all, and only very rarely do we use paper towels. I generally don't keep them in the house, so I've had to be creative with things like draining meat and bacon grease :)

For those kinds of jobs, I use the thin dishcloth towels that are often referred to as "Flour Sacks" or cheesecloth. Then, I wait til the grease is cooled and scrape what I can into the garbage. What I can't scrape off, I wash the towel in very hot water with a generous amount of soap. The soap ensures that the grease is encapsulated and not going to clog your drains (plus it should be a small amount). Also, if you use cheesecloth, you can also save it in the fridge or freezer and use it to grease pans for things like stir fry. Ok, not the healthiest oil for sure, but I'm just sayin'. ;)

So tell me, how do you reduce waste? What's a baby step you can take? How are you bea-ing green? :D

Delayed!

2008-07-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

I had some family things to attend to today and through tomorrow morning, so there will be a short delay on the customs I am finishing up as well as the carnival. Check back Friday for the carnival! :D

Monday, July 14th Stocking

2008-07-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

6 new bags up, all with shoulder straps (except one) as promised! A new solid color, two Asian prints, two old favorites, and one Victorian inspiration. A few of the bags don't have full pictures yet because I ran out of light. I'll remedy that tomorrow of course. :D I realized I'd run out of light and fortunately had the presence of mind to at least photograph the fabric...

Also, later this week we will be having another Bea Green carnival, so be prepared to write about bea-ing green!

A preview of tonights' stocking:

Monday, July 7th Stocking

2008-07-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

...is live. :) It was up earlier today, actually. Five bags, 4 tote straps and 1 shoulder-length one, four different prints in all. :)

Retro Rooster

Next week I plan on stocking Monday as usual, but all the bags will have shoulder straps. There will be several bags that were previously available in tote length straps, so if you loved that one bag but wished it had shoulder straps, check back then! I might just have one for you!

Preview

Giveaway Winners!

2008-07-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Giveaway # 1:
Here are your random numbers:

59

Timestamp: 2008-07-07 01:53:16 UTC

Congrats to Lisa Sharp!

Giveaway # 2:

Here are your random numbers:

7

Timestamp: 2008-07-07 01:49:55 UTC

Congrats to The Wandering Woman!

As soon as I get your addresses, I will send out your prizes!

Thank you again for all the entries--I truly wish I could have given each and everyone of you a prize. You all get an "A" in my book--keep bea-ing green!

Excellent Ideas!

2008-07-03T21:58:00.000-07:00

I'm loving all the ways you are "bea-ing" green! Whether a veteran at it or taking one small baby step at a time, I'm inspired by all the good tips and ideas but most especially the effort. Way to go! Keep it up! I will be hosting more blog memes about "bea-ing" green in the near future, but not all of them will involve giveaways. Either way, it's great to gather all that smart information and all those great ideas into one place :)

There will be a few more bags up for sale tomorrow, and then on Monday (usual stocking day). So if you didn't see anything you LOVED, check back! And after that, we will be back to a more relaxed stocking schedule.

I also hope to debut more products this month, so that's another good reason to keep up with the happenings via this blog or directly at the store. :)

And of course, check back on Sunday, when I will be announcing the winners of the giveaways! :D I wish I could give a bag to all of you, and I'm so excited that you are excited about the giveaway too. :)

Grand Opening!

2008-07-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that we are out of beta and releasing on time! ;) Check back later today and over the next few days for even MORE bags to be listed, although I just finished listing a whole batch. :) Welcome to Bumble Bea Green!

To celebrate, I have two giveaways going on...scroll down to participate!

Giveaway # 2

2008-07-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

This giveaway is for two Produce Totes with a white ribbon drawstring closure! See my other giveaway below for more fabulous prizes!

Made of gauzy cotton voile and drawn with a polyester grosgrain ribbon, this Produce Tote set features both sizes (Carrot Bunch and Banana Bunch)

To win this fabulous set, all you need to do is visit my store and leave a comment telling me what your favorite tote or product is to this entry. Yup, that's it. Just make sure I know who you are and how to contact you! One entry per person/household, please. A winner will be chosen using a random number generator on Sunday, July 6th in the evening (PST)!

This giveaway is now CLOSED!

Introducing Market Essentials product line by Bumble Bea Green

2008-07-01T02:55:00.000-07:00

The Market Essentials
Paper? Plastic? Neither! Sturdier, more attractive, affordable, reusable items for your grocery needs are here! Be the belle of the market, the hero of the manatees every time you use a Bumble Bea Green Market product.

To ferry your fresh produce (or for whatever else you use those plastic produce bags for), check out Produce Totes by Bumble Bea Green. Your fruits and veggies never had it so good! Gauzy cotton voile keeps your lemons looking fab and in one place!

To ferry a lot of fresh produce in your produce totes--and for the rest of your groceries--check out Market Totes by Bumble Bea Green. Whether you like your tote to be plain or funky, whimsical or lush, show off your own flavor and know you will look great--and so will your groceries--carrying this tote around!

To ferry many of your food carriers around, check out the Bea Keeper! This product is coming soon, and will feature a convenient way to store and manage all your grocery totes.

Not Just For Groceries
Of course, these bags are as beautiful as they are versatile. Use the produce totes to store your ribbon collection, or to store your jacks-and-marbles set. Use the market totes for anything you'd use a tote bag for--carrying your books; as a handy travel bag; for your sunscreen and beach towels on a hot summer day--the possibilities abound!

Every Product Has A Story...
When I began to realize just how wasteful and what a detrimental environmental impact the making, distributing, and discarding of plastic grocery bags is, I knew that I needed to make a switch. So I started looking around at fabric grocery bags. I bought some of those cheap recycled ones from various stores, I bought an extremely expensive unlined tote while on vacation, and ogled the expensive totes at REI and other places...but I didn't really find anything I fell in love with. I didn't like how floppy the totes were, and how ugly and cheap the store bags were. So I made some for myself.

And then I made some as gifts. And then people started asking me to make some for them. And then more people did and offered to pay me for my time and effort, and eventually I decided to offer these totes to any and all who had the same desires I did--for a sturdy and shapely grocery tote that wasn't too big or too small and didn't look like it fell out of the bargain bin's dumpster. Bonus points for being fabulous looking as well.

Although I'd been kicking around the idea of turning my hobby--creatively sewing--into a more widespread adventure, that was the impetus I needed, the proverbial kick-in-the-pants. I am passionate about what I do--whether sewing or hugging trees--and I wanted to offer something to the world that would make it a better place--and I truly mean that. Grocery bags seemed like a reachable ideal. I'm just one person, and I can't do everything--but I can do something.

Did you know that according to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually, and that an estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags? That's a lot of oil, and a LOT of bags. There are so very many reasons to reduce or eliminate the use of paper and plastic grocery bags, and I hope to make affordable, cute bags an option for people who desire that as well. That's why I say I'm "going green" one bag at a time, and why my subtitle talks about caring for the future. Because every time you use a reusable grocery bag--even if it's one you made out of a pillowcase--you have saved a tiny spot in a landfill somewhere, and created less demand for the plastic and oil behind the disposable ones. That's something to be proud of.

My Market Essentials line strives to meet that ideal in a beautiful and affordable way. Going green doesn't have to mean going ugly, or going without. It can truly mean going beautiful--especially with a Bumble Bea Green market tote on your arm.

Giveaway and Bea Green Carnival!

2008-07-01T01:43:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the grand opening of my store and to kick off what I hope will be a bi-monthly occurrence, I am offering a giveaway along with this blogorama!

What?
On the 1st and 16th I will be hosting this "green meme"-the Bea Green Blogorama! I'd love to get our heads together and learn about living a more green and natural way from each other. Most of my friends already post about "green" topics frequently, so I figured, why not put them all together once in awhile so we can all enjoy them?

How?
To participate, all you need to do is dig up a past post or write a new one about bea-ing green...how you are, what you are doing that is 'green', ways to be green, what it means to you--the sky's the limit, as long as it's family-friendly and environmentally conscious. Hang your laundry instead of using the dryer? Tell us about it! Saving money and the air on gas somehow? Please share! Planting a garden--and growing it organically? The topic is broad and yet the focus is narrow.

So...about that giveaway...
What we have up for grabs is a *fabulous* market tote and a produce tote! And guess what...you can enter twice for twice the chance to win!

This beautiful mellow-toned market tote features "Kleo" by Alexander Henry fabric on the front and back and a coordinating "Bangle Dot" Alexander Henry print for the bottom and sides. Lined in chocolate twill and sporting tote-length straps, this retro-chic tote will be the talk of the town! Additionally, I am including a pink-ribboned produce tote. Color-coordinating your veggies was never so fun! ;)

This is one of my favorite totes so far, and the print is big enough that the back is actually a little different! It is fun and funky enough to use in multiple ways, sturdy and solid enough to haul your groceries from the farmer's market or the canned goods outlet. The best of both worlds!

Yay! So how can I win it?
As I said, there are two ways to enter. The first way is to leave a comment to this post about being green. That's it. Just tell me about your inner tree-hugger or pass on a tip to reduce waste or whatever--as long as it's "safe for work", family-friendly, and most of all GREEN! As long as you leave a comment telling me about being environmentally conscious and leave me a way to contact you if you win, it counts! You may only enter once this way, and duplicates will be deleted.

The second way is to participate in this carnival/meme! To do so, either find a public (family friendly and eco-appropriate) post or make one about being green and then use the handy-dandy Mr. Linky at the bottom! To use Mr. Linky, leave your name in the name slot and a link to your post about being green. Don't leave a link to your blog or your favorite webcomic, it must be to your specific post! Duplicates will not be counted, and you may only enter for a chance to win once--although if you want to offer multiple posts about being green, that's fine by me! If you make a new post just for this meme, please feel free to use the graphic up above, and certainly spread the word!

Winner will be chosen using a random number generator and announced on Sunday, July 6th in the evening (PST)! Have fun and Bea Green!

Commenting to this entry is now CLOSED!

Produce Totes by Bumble Bea Green

2008-06-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

Made of 100% cotton voile, these drawstring bags are a wonderful reusable alternative to plastic produce bags. Lightweight and encumbered only by a grosgrain ribbon for the drawstring, there is no need to worry about adding weight to your produce. Cotton voile (pronounced 'foil') is a lightweight, sheer, gauzy fabric that is delicate but not so flimsy that your peaches will pop through. Washable, made from a natural fiber, and sheer is why I chose to use this fabric.

Produce totes come in two sizes, Carrot Bunch and Banana Bunch.

Carrot Bunch-pictured holding a bunch of celery	Banana Bunch-featuring a bunch of bananas

Carrot Bunch is approx. 12"w x 15"h and Banana Bunch is approx. 8"w x 12"h. Each bag is handmade, so size may vary slightly. Carrot Bunch easily holds a bunch of carrots or celery, while Banana Bunch will fit a bunch of bananas or a few apples. Because of the natural, gauzy nature of the fabric, it does have (as any mesh fabric does) the potential to snag, but voile is also sturdy enough that it will be less prone to snags and isn't as likely to rip as most cotton mesh fabrics.

Edges inside are zig-zag/roll finished, and each bag features a sewn-in casing with secured grosgrain ribbon to pull the bag closed and keep those apricots safe.

The nice thing about these produce bags--aside from being reusable and oh-so-cute-is that they are washable. Strawberry smudges? Dirty celery? No problem--machine wash cool, gentle cycle, tumble dry low.

Monday's Stocking

2008-06-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Some new bags are up as promised, but sometimes design and production of new products takes more time than you realize ;) So I plan to introduce some new things on Friday's stocking rather than today or yesterday because I'd like to have more than one done ;).

Here's a sample of one of the bags available for purchase from Monday's stocking:

Friday June 20th Stocking-Postponed

2008-06-20T10:57:00.001-07:00

As they say, life happens :D I'm hoping to debut a new product, possibly Monday, so there will be more than bags by the next stocking. :) More bags and new possibilities will be available on my etsy very soon--check back around Monday!

ANNOUNCEMENT! Coming Soon...

2008-06-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

Things are on track for a grand opening on July 1st! I've already begun listing items on my etsy (and selling them too!), but prepare for a deluge! There will be a give-away, a carnival/contest for another give-away, and many quality products of various types (but mostly market totes of course) for your viewing and buying pleasure!

So if you've been hoping for a bigger selection, check back then. Of course, if you see something you absolutely must have, then by all means have it ;). But if you are planning on buying a batch, you might want to bide your time and visit me on July 1st!

I hope to debut a product or two at that time, and watch for other product debuts in the next few weeks.

June 13 Stocking Update

2008-06-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

Four out of five bags are up and ready for a good home! Final bag (the Alexander Henry "Bisbee Butterfly" print in Chocolate) will be up later today.

Why Etsy?

2008-06-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

When I decided to open up my ideas and handiwork to a world-wide audience, I thought long and hard about how I would present my adventure--how I would protect it and put its best foot bravely forward. Buy my own .com? eBay? a pre-made storefront? Craigslist?

After sorting through these ideas, the one venue that stayed consistently at the top of the list was Etsy. I decided to open my shop through Etsy for many reasons, some of which I will share with you:

1. Ease of Use
Etsy is easy to use for both me, as a seller, and you, as a buyer. It offers many protections and options for me, there is no monthly maintenance fee--only a small listing fee and a small percentage of profit. It offers many protections and options for buyers as well. In some ways, it's basically eBay for handmade items, and in other ways, it's not. Just like eBay, I list items for sale and you choose items to buy. Again, small listing fee for me, no fees for you. Just like eBay, you need an account to use its services whether a buyer or a seller. Unlike eBay, my listings don't expire after a short amount of time (incurring more costs to relist) and while they are not up for auction, I haven't marked up a "buy it now" price in hope that someone will really want or need it and just click that "buy it now" button rather than waiting for an auction. And unlike eBay, Etsy is a community...more about that later. Bottom line-the buying and selling process on Etsy is easy, affordable, and safe.

2. Etsy is comprised of men and women passionately pursuing their talents
If you've got it, USE it! I am someone who believes in the beauty of art and the power of creation. I believe in music programs and museums. And I love that there is a place for someone to pursue their art or their handiwork at their own pace, in their own style, as much or as little as they want. Whether taking a fun hobby and occasionally offering the fruits of that labor for a little extra cash or a more serious bread-winning endeavor, I like that I am supporting an entity that enables those people without being greedy.

3. Etsy is more than a website; it is a community
When I list an item in my shop or buy an item from someone else, I feel good that I am putting my money and effort where my mouth is. I firmly believe in local economies and supporting them as well as supporting cottage industries. For stay-at-home moms like me, I may not be in it to get rich and famous, but it's nice to have that extra bit to ease the pressure on the breadwinner--even if it's just enough for some gas and an ice cream treat. I am becoming very picky about what I buy and where I buy it from, so buying something from a fellow seller is a real boon. I'd rather buy a hand-made coaster from someone who makes coasters because she loves it and is talented at it than buy a coaster made in a sweatshop in a third-world country. I believe in fair trade; you couldn't trade fairer than putting the money directly in the hands of the artisan as Etsy has done.

So there you have it. Locally, you may find me in a farmers market. Always, you will find me at bumblebeagreen@gmail.com and online, you will find my home at http://bumblebeagreen.etsy.com :)

Preview of June 13th Evening Stocking

2008-06-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

Market Totes by Bumble Bea Green

2008-06-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

The Anatomy of a Market Tote

Each tote bag is approximately 13" wide, 15.5-16" high, and 7"-7.5" deep(due to handmade nature, totes may vary a bit in size). The makes a sturdy bag that is not too big and not too small for your various grocery needs.

For durability, aesthetics, and sturdiness, every tote is fully lined. In general, I use one "heavy" fabric and one lighter-weight fabric; either can be outer and vice versa. Lining the bags ensures that seams are hidden for longevity during washings, it gives the bag some substance so that it holds its form better or hugs your groceries as needed without being too floppy or too stiff...bag does not stand on its own very well, but again, holds its shape. Lining is either a complimentary solid color or a fun contrasting print.

I use dual-duty thread (to match weight of fabric) and pre-wash all fabrics in a eco-safe detergent to preempt shrinkage. Seams are top-stitched in such a way that they add to the durability, beauty, and form of the bags. The bottom seam is reinforced several times, and the straps are sewn in a box-seam and reinforced further where they attach to the bag.

Straps come in two sizes, "market"(approx. 7.5" drop) and "shoulder". Lightly padded for comfort and grip, these straps are 1" wide.

Bags retain shape well, but aren't too stiff. This means that your delicate peaches won't get as squished together as if they were in a plastic grocery bag, but you can also carry milk jugs in the bags without worrying about the seams prohibiting the item size as paper bags do.

Sturdy, beautiful, dependable, washable, reusable, durable, versatile market totes are a must-have for today's green world. I designed these bags and made them for myself, then as gifts for friends and family, and am now offering them to the rest of the world! I've been using bags for quite awhile, and they have been beach totes, diaper bags, overnight bags, and many other things. To test the weight, I put as many tin cans and packages of rice and beans as I could (somewhat) comfortably lift into one of the totes to demonstrate:

As you can see, it is a heavy load but the bag is sturdy enough to handle it, the straps are secure and not biting into my hands, and the bag is retaining its shape well.

Care And Feeding Of Your Market Tote
Machine was cool, tumble dry low. I do not recommend washing them often--they won't really need it often, and home dec fabrics that may be used can *sometimes* fade over repeated washings, as can repurposed or vintage fabrics. I also do not recommend bleach; to disinfect the bags, I recommend Bac-Out or using tea tree oil in the wash and vinegar in the rinse.

Please use common sense in the care and use of these bags. They may hold a lot, but have not been individually weight tested, and it's never smart to overload a bag of any kind or place a greater weight in the bag than you are comfortable carrying. I stand by my products as being high-quality and sturdy, but again, use them responsibly!

Factory Perfection Versus Handmade With Love

2008-06-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

I feel a recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation. ~Madam Benoit

I love handmade items. I myself have made gifts for others and things for myself since I was old enough to glue two pieces of paper together. One of the great charms of something made by hand is that each stitch is a story, each brushstroke a thought. As I knitted my baby's blanket, I prayed for her, dreamed about her, and shared a moment with her. As I conceived of and then created a special apron for my sister, I reflected on her and imagined her joy at receiving the gift.

One thing I have noticed about artisan or hand-made items is that they are imperfect. The soap I bought from a local soapmaker isn't a perfect rectangle--but I know it was hand-cut and hand-crafted with care. It certainly doesn't affect the function of the soap, and really, the slightly-off angle adds to the uniqueness of the item. I know that it was still the advertised ounces, as it was individually weighed. I bought some homemade-jam from a local lavender farm, and the label was not really something you'd find in a store ;). Of course, the lavender-raspberry jam was one of the most delicious jams I'd ever had, but it certainly screamed "homemade". I honestly think it is part of its beauty, but I know there are those that don't--even some artisans, who fret over every teeny misplacement or mistake.

It seems that in our world, we are just used to the sterile perfection of a factory item. Take a cloth napkin turned out by the thousands in a factory, for example. They are punched out to measure the same, the seams are perfectly straight and even, and they are uniform and neat. Ones with small deviations--perhaps a crooked seam--are tossed away as "seconds". Others are simply wasted materials altogether because they are so sub-standard. I find that to be a shame; a few stitches off here and there is no reason to deny that cloth napkin a chance to shine at its brightest, and the materials wasted could have been spared had a more careful eye been on them instead of the mass production that butchered it. Factories are part machine and part human, certainly, but any human error is whisked away before its uncomely blight graces a store's shelf.

Handmade items, even from the most professional of artists, have slight deviations and variations. Factories reflect automation and a glittering idealism of perfection "attained"--at no small cost--and marketed as true beauty and standard. Handmade or artisan-made items reflect the maker, and perhaps an organic view of humanity--beautiful, and slightly flawed.

Of course, there is a difference between a shoddy seam that is so crooked it not only looks awful but does a disservice to its function and a seam that is well sewn but perhaps not entirely straight. There is a difference between quality and laziness, human error and sub-par ability. To an untrained eye, in fact, the differences may be negligible or unnoticed. Of course, to the perfectionist in the craftsman--driven perhaps by a strong work ethic and commitment to quality--every misstep is magnified.

While I am by no means a master artisan of my various crafts, I do take pride in my work and yet embrace the small deviations that occur organically. When I make something for you, it will not be factory perfect. Some of the seams may take a tiny detour, dimensions may not be exact, and the item may not look as perfect and uniform as one borne from a factory. That's ok...because I pour myself into everything I create, and I am not a perfect person. So you won't get factory perfection from me.

What you WILL get is attention to detail, quality workmanship, an eye for aesthetics, and a product that was lovingly handled, created, and crafted from raw materials to final stitch by someone who cares about what she does. What you WILL get is a little piece of me--a bit of my time, a bit of my passion, a bit of my life. You can count on a beautiful, quality product--even if it is not factory perfect.

What's In A Name?

2008-06-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

Bea + Bee?
I love bumble bees. They are cute and fuzzy, they bring great beauty to our world and participate highly in the ecosystem. In fact, my name means "honey bee", so when I thought about what I would call my little adventure, I knew I wanted it to reflect me and bees sprang to mind--the word "Bumble" in particular. "That's all very well and good," you may be thinking, "but erm...there's a typo in your logo...B-E-E, not B-E-A!" I'm so glad you noticed, but it wasn't a typo. :)

The inspiration for my desire to create, to re-create, to make do, to make something beautiful out of something ordinary, is rooted firmly in my family. When I was pondering titles and credos and concepts, I wanted to honor my family legacy. I wanted my adventure to reflect me and reflect the why-behind-the-me. So I lovingly dedicate this adventure to my family, and most particularly to my Great-Grandmothers: Irene, Dini, Esther, and..."Bea". All four women have inspired me in different ways, and Grandma Bea in particular inspired me in handicrafts. It seemed only fitting to include Grandma's name as my identity stamp, so to speak, in this adventure.

The "Green" in the title hopefully speaks for itself. I am dedicated to living as naturally and responsibly as possible. Materials are becoming more affordable and easier found that are all of the principles I embrace about the green movement, and I strive to use those when I can. Even more, I hope to provide safe, affordable, inspiring products that enhance and encourage a "green" way of living beautifully.

The Shape Of Things To Come

2008-06-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to carry your groceries home in style? Wanting to get on the green grocery bag wagon, but don't want to pay $30 for a simple canvas bag nor resort to the cheap plastic-y ones at the grocery store?

Here is a preview of what Bumble Bea Green can offer you:

Be sure to check back for updates and information...store launch TBD, but coming soon!