Monday, April 22, 2013

Earth Day: Being Green


Being Green shouldn't just be for 1 day of the year.  Yes, it's Earth Day, but let's talk about some sound practices that can make a difference all year long.

In the spirit of that I'm recycling a previous post about how we are "Green" at our shop:



Most shops buy cups to mix stain in….I save my soda cans, cut off the bottom and have a cup.  After I’m done using it, I send it to the recycling plant.  




Most shops buy bottles to properly store stains after mixing them.


 Did you know that soda bottles (the plastic ones) are resistant to acetone, lacquer, thinner and basically every other chemical used in the common wood shop?   I've known this for years and use them all to store these items.  This saves money for the shop and reuses (recycles) these ‘throw away’ products giving them a second life before I send them to the recycling plant.  I pay for them once and use them twice.



Lumber.  I have a ‘firewood pile’ in the shop.  It’s all the scraps from projects worked on.  I even draw from it all the time in the shop if I need a small piece for a moulding , test piece, peg or dowel etc, etc. Then, as a last use, when the pile gets too big I take it out camping with me and…firewood it is (cherry makes some fine tasting marshmallows btw).  I’m currently using the sawdust in the shop to store my olive tree slabs to dry them for my Master’s Project.  Said and done right now only about 3% of all lumber coming into the shop ends up in a landfill.   Judging from the 17 other woodshops outside my door, other shops seem to average about 10-15%.

Rags come from friends, neighbors and old work clothes.  I haven’t bought a rag in the entire history of my shop.

Glass/aluminum are used whenever and wherever I can.  10yrs ago I bought aluminum bottles for my water out camping (the kind you can see in every environmentally friendly hand today)….all my friends said I was crazy and bought lexan bottles.  Mine are all still in use and all of theirs are now in landfills.

GLASS! The miracle product!  It needs no recycling! Hey people…it’s a ROCK it started a ROCK and it’s still a ROCK and it will return to being a ROCK when humans are all dead and gone from this planet!  There is even an entire beach in northern California, known for its beauty, that’s totally made of glass shards due to a now defunct glass factory located nearby.  It’s all been rounded by the sea and re-deposited on the beach.  And study after study cannot find any detrimental effects to the environment…it’s a ROCK people!

Am I an eco nut?...not on your life.  However common sense and a general care of where and how I live goes a long way towards being green.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Win a Handmade Lady Bug Bowling Game!

Every Entrant will receive an Etsy Discount Code.  (one per entrant)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't wait to win it?
You can buy your own now:  Lady Bug Bowling Set



These adorable little lady bugs are brightly hand painted.
Their wide eyes seem to know the ball is coming for them!

We happened upon our friendly wood sprites bowling with some of the loose items in our shop. I guess after a busy day of mischief , even these wee folk like to take a moment for some …well more fun. We noticed they had collected up some ladybugs to play with as well. So when they weren't looking we hand-painted these wooden pegs to look like lady bugs and freed the real ones. The Sprites happily played with these as they don't try to escape.

Now you can attract your own Wood Sprites with these adorable Lady Bugs to bring your home good luck and to keep the real ladybugs safe. Just don't knock on wood or you'll scare the Sprites away!

Play anywhere - or keep these cute guys on display to show your whimsical side.
Fun to play with - easy to set up again and again anywhere there is a flat surface.

Each wooden bowling pin (or skittle) measures approximately 3" and this set comes with a hand-dyed red wooden ball.

Items may vary slightly as they are all hand-painted. All are finished with a semi-gloss to protect the paint of the ladybugs from that mean ball.


Friday, April 19, 2013

Saturday, April 27th at Crafted at the Port of LA!


We'll be at this Great Event.

This is a one day festival taking place at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles in the beautiful ocean side San Pedro. Live music and DJ’s playing a wide variety of music. Southern California handmade artisan vendors, artist, and live art. Food trucks to satisfy your appetite. Give aways and free kids activities! Support Local Artist!!! Buy Handmade!!! Items being sold by vendors must fit in one of the following categories: Art, Handmade, Vintage, or Artisanal Food. 

CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles is a new concept for Southern California; a large-scale permanent craft marketplace.

MUSIC LINE UP:

DJ Frank FoReal

Marie Clare Halpin 
www.facebook.com/marieclaremusic

Triple Dog Dare U
www.facebook.com/tripledogdareu

.... More to be Announced

ACTIVITIES:

Hula Hoop Area
www.facebook.com/Hoopfreak
www.hoopfreak.com

Interactive Art Exhibit
By Super Peat Art
www.superpeatart.com

Face Painting 

Free Give-Aways
Provided by ETSY
www.etsy.com

Free Kids Activities
Provided by SoCal Etsy Guild
www.facebook.com/socaletsyguild

FOOD VENDORS:

Vella Pizza 
https://www.facebook.com/Vellapizza 

Gravy Train 
http://www.gravytrainpoutinerie.com/menu/ 

Monday, April 8, 2013

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