Check out Timmy T-Rex made with Chili Pepper Red Flannel and Space Cowboy Red/Green by Pauline at Funky Friends Factory!  It's it great?!  There will be three winners selected.  You might win Timmy, or fabric + pattern or the pattern.  Just bop on over to the Funky Friends Factory blog for entry and details.  Note:  Giveaway ends on Monday, January 23rd.

Funky Friends Factory specializes in simple soft toy patterns.  The business is based in Australia but all the patterns can be purchased and downloaded instantly via pdf.  By signing up for Funky Friends Factory newsletter, you can get a FREE Honey Teddy pattern.  

While we are on the subject of giveaways, Monkey See, Monkey Do is giving away some of our knit fabrics... enough to make your very own version of this "yoga skirt" which features our Apricot interlock paired with our Solstice Interlock.  If you have always been curious about knits but have been afraid to try them here's your opportunity.

So check out Monkey See, Monkey Do and enter to win.  Note:  Giveaway ends Tuesday, January 24th.

Good Luck!  Happy Sewing!

When I attended my first All Things Organic conference and trade show back in 2004, I rode the bus back to our hotel with a buyer from China.  We got to talking, he owned a natural foods store in China.  I asked him why he came all the way to Chicago to source products for his store.  Couldn't you get anything you needed in China?  I have never forgotten his response:  "They'll lie to you and tell you it is organic but it isn't."  Oh my.  That answer from a Chinese man about his own country's organics convinced me to steer clear of Chinese produced organic fabrics. 

I have been approached by many "organic" fabric producers from overseas in the last 6 years.  It only takes 2 questions: "What is your organic cotton fabric certified to?" and "Who is your certifier?"  If they can't answer those basic questions I know they are clueless at best and potential frauds at worst.

Then I met Laurie and Tony from Sapphire International Ltd..  (Our meeting was one of those incredible small world experiences -- too long to go into here -- but if you are interested post a comment and I will post that story later.)  As we ate lunch at the Timber Cove Inn there was an instant connection.  Not only were they also members of the OTA, they knew about GOTS.  They had been to the same Organic Exchange (now the Textile Exchange) conference I had.  These were not phonies.  They knew their stuff.  We commiserated and collaborated, brainstormed and shared stories.  They showed me videos of their weaving facility (in China) and explained the process.

When they asked me to create an Australian animal theme towel collection for their Breganwood label of course I said YES.  Now, I must admit, I am a print designer by trade....NOT a woven designer so this was uncharted territory for me.  Add to the complexity that they were experimenting with a NEW 4 color Jacquard weaving technique and it was an uphill battle getting the design figured out.  The learning curve on this project was exceptionally steep but many emails and skype conversations later.... you can see the finished product above and below.  I think we both learned a lot. 

From the moment we met, I was impressed with Laurie and Tony.  I am confident in their ethics and their commitment to true organic production.  Yep, an Australian themed organic towel, designed in California and woven in China.  It's true, textiles are indeed a global industry and there are good, honest, thoughtful people EVERYWHERE!

For your chance to win one of these cozy towels, just "like" Breganwood on facebook and then leave a comment on which Jacquard towel is your favorite before Sept. 30th.  They will also have a booth at the upcoming ABC show in KY (booth 4402).  Feel free to stop by and tell them hello if you are attending the show. 

Living Craft Magazine just posted and interview and giveaway on their blog with yours truly.  Check it out if you have a minute and leave a post for a chance to win some of our newest Harmony Art organic fabric and Green Bag Lady fabric bags for your whole family. 

One of the questions they ask is: "Do you teach fabric design or other design?" I'm really curious to see if anyone will respond to that answer.  Time will tell.

Amorette!  Congratulations.  Mallory from Amy Bulter will be contacting you with the details.  Thank you EVERYONE who entered!  I was truly smitten by the thoughtful responses.

Have a lovely rest of the week! 

My customers and friends know I end most of my emails with the quote from Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

That small group committed to organic cotton just added a BIG NAME endorsement with the impending release of: Organic Soul by Amy Butler for Rowan.  The collection contains nine prints on 44/45" wide organic cotton fabric.  You don't  have to wait very much longer; the fabric will be shipping to retailers in mid August.  Here are some photos of the loveliness in action . . .

Amy is a dear friend and so this is EXTRA special and exciting for me.  I thought I would take the opportunity to ask Amy a few questions...

Why did you decide to release an organic collection?
It's something that I've wanted to do for years, and we finally found a great source for high-quality, GOTS certified organic cotton. It's close to my heart, and I want to support it in any way I can. I'm hoping that by supporting the industry through making choices to buy organic, that it can eventually become "the way" and not the exception.

What does organic mean to you?
I want to live my life and run my business as sustainably as I can. It's a consciousness that we have in our home and studio. Simple choices we make like raising our garden organically, buying local organic foods, walking or biking instead of driving, just being healthy and living simply. How we affect our surroundings gives us an appreciation and respect for ourselves. Supporting the organic movement to me is not revolutionary, it just makes sense for the long term health of everyone. I feel that choosing organics whenever I can supports an optimistic vision of my future, our future, and every little bit helps.

Thanks Amy!  I am hopeful that your commitment will get the attention of many more people as we strive together to make sustainable living/eating/crafting/dressing/being the norm.  I too agree that it is the simple choices repeated daily that create our lives and the world we live in.

If you are interested in learning more about why organic textiles are a sustainable option, please visit these 2 informational pages on the Harmony Art web site:  Why Organic Cotton?  and The (r)evolution of textiles.

In the spirit of sustainability, please leave a comment about what small step(s) you are taking to live a more environmentally thoughtful life and you will be entered to win a selection of Amy's sewing patterns.  Comments must be posted by Tuesday, August 2nd for a chance to win.

Thanks Mallory for organizing and including Harmony Art in the blog tour!  Be sure to continue Amy's blog tour as she visits with the ladies at See How We Sew on Tuesday, August 2nd for more information about her new Voile fabrics!

Ever wondered about sewing with knits but were afraid to take the plunge? 

I am super excited to break the news about the GKFE!  In collaboration with Stitch Simple, 6 Experimenters took their pick of pre-washed Harmony Art organic cotton knit fabrics and are sharing their Great Knit Fabric Experiment with you.  Click the Stitch Simple link (or logo above) for a list of participants and also to link to their FREE knit tutorials. 

These brave souls took the challenge and are sharing their experience and tutorials with you!  For those of you interested in getting in on the action you can purchase ALL of the Harmony Art knit fabrics PRE-WASHED from Stitch Simple. 

I look forward to getting your feedback about this experiment and your own experience with knits.  ENJOY! 

Yep, it was six years ago this month that we took the plunge and made the shift to working exclusively with organic fabrics.  In that time, we have produced over 50 fabrics, supported over 200 small businesses and given at least 10 lectures all centered around organic cotton.  We have watched as successful businesses sprouted to life, and have grieved when some have closed up shop.  I would be lying if I said it had all been fun and painless.  There have been many bump and bruises but I can say with all honesty that it has been the lovely, thoughtful, committed, caring people I have met along the way that have made it all worthwhile. 

BIG thanks to everyone who has supported, purchased, shared, laughed, cried and sewed with us over the last S-I-X years!

In honor of the new year and our birthday, we are going to once again offer our gratitude challenge.  The first person to send me a list of 2,011 thoughtful, unique things they are thankful for will win a FULL ROLL of the limited release or clearance fabric of their choice. All you pay for is the cost of shipping!  Let the gratitude begin and spread!  I'm grateful for you! 

Note: this year was the 11th year that we made such a list to welcome in the new year. 

How about starting the new year with a commitment to avoiding single-use plastic bags?  The Green Bag Lady (my friend and hero) is offering 11 Harmony Art organic fabric bags in her current giveaway.  All you need to do is comment on her post and then cross your fingers and let other people know her generous mission.  Even if you don't win you can download the pattern for free (see link on the right hand bar of her web site) and make your own reusable fabric bag.  Act quickly, you only have until tomorrow at midnight to be eligible for this giveaway.

Did you hear that Italy has banned single-use plastic bags as of 1/1/11?  I think the new year is off to a fabulous start!

I am SUPER DUPER happy to announce, after close to 4 years, my contest for a FREE ROLL of fabric has finally been earned.  Three Cheers for Tanya for completing a list of 2,010 unique and thoughtful things to be thankful for.  She is still deciding what roll of fabric (limited release or clearance) she is going to choose.  Her list is more than words on paper it is a work of art.  Here are some photos from the list I received in the mail yesterday.  I love the way her son obviously got in to the gratitude spirit too.  Thank you Mary for introducing Tanya and for helping inspire this contest's completion.

For those of you who are saying, WAH, A FREE ROLL OF FABRIC and all I had to do was create a list of 2,010 things to be thankful for.... take heart, a new year and a new list is right around the corner.  Stay tuned... a 2,011 list to ring in the new year is a likely occurrence.  Hopefully it won't take 4 more years to reward another winner.

There is so much to be grateful for. 

The winners from last week's Pink Fabric Giveaway are Kristy and Beatrix.  They have been notified by email.  THANK YOU to everyone who participated.

Are you curious to find out how I picked?  Well, it was all very scientific.  Well, actually, my husband and I have been doing our I Ching every morning lately so we decided to let the coins decide.  His readings this morning were 37 changing to 17.  Since we didn't have that many entries, we added the numbers together to get 10 and 8.  Not familiar with the I Ching?  It's an ancient Chinese text that is full of wisdom and advice on how to face life's challenges and changes.  I am personally a fan of Brian Browne Walker's interpretation.  (Like the Bible it has many different translations.)  I have been a user of the I Ching for the last oh... 12 years or so.  I hold the I Ching personally responsible for keeping me sane through several challenging times. 

In other exciting news... TODAY is Harmony Grace's (my namesake's) 1st birthday.  Wish I could beam to New York to join in the children's musical jam session happening tonight.  sigh.