Recommended Inspiration: Mottainai: The Fabric of Life- Lessons in Frugality from Traditional Japan

rope and textiles made form kudzu

yarn from cast-off cotton scraps

sashiko  stitching, used to re-inforce older fabrics for continued use

We woke up early this morning to view the fall colors at the Portland Japanese Garden and had the good fortune of happening upon the  Mottainai Installation -- if you are a textile junkie like me, it's not to be missed!
A display of intricate, gorgeous textiles created in Japan over a century ago with found, natural elements like linden bark, wisteria vines, and kudzu, woven with cast-off cotton scraps in an effort to use everything and waste nothing.. "All of the textiles and garments on view were made from bast fibers foraged from the forest, or patched and quilted together from second-hand scraps of cotton garments of city-dwellers who traded their hand-me-downs with the farmers for rice and vegetables."
On view now at the Portland Japanese Garden

I know you're feeling Blue

fading Parthenocissus quinquefolia greets you at the door

Organic lotions from Mirasol Farms: Rosemary-Mint, Cedarwood-Cypress, Gardeners' (floral/woodsy), Lemon-Chamomile, Mother Earth (earthy/green) $18 each

Slate blue printed cotton carry-alls from Zanna Textiles: $18-22 each

Hand woven placemats by artists at Project Grow, $48/set of 4

One of a kind S+F fringey long necklace with antique dusty blue ceramic beads

Grey-blue pillows by Appetite Home, $35

Men's +Women's hand-painted t-shirts by Jessalin Beutler, $30

S+F recycled glass pyramids necklace

Blue Sailor's knot bracelets

small sword earrings in sky blue, $48

'Cyanosis'  blue lipstick from Portland Black Lipstick Co., $9

Vintage blue hankie

old postcards, $1

Printed tea towels, feathers+kelp, by Zanna textiles, $12 each

Vintage Afghan blue glass +brass ring, size 9, $35

Blue flourite octahedrons & blue Kyanite, I can put them on a necklace for you. Blue Kyanite carries the property of tranquility, it has a calming effect on the whole being & it encourages psychic abilities and communication on all levels. It cuts through fears and blockages, helping to speak one’s truth. It drives away anger, frustration, confusion and stress and helps to provide a capacity for linear and logical thought. Blue fluorite has the quality of protecting the emotions and restoring emotional balance.

Mini-mesh deep navy waxed canvas bag by PlainMADE, $86

Stay warm while you protest! Denim blue handknitted mobius cowl scarf, $48

Vintage deer&sailboat cups, $22/set of 4

Sad old matchbooks, with logos from our sad, old industrial world. If that's not Helplessness Blues, I don't know what is.

A lonely grey porcelain pony. All alone on the horizon of nothingness.Handmade by Song & Branch, $14

At the end of the world, we'll all look like this. S+F bronze hoops with turquoise skulls, $38

Long robin's egg blue + silver/brown leather S+F necklace

A broken wing on a chain. Nothing could be sadder.

new for october

raincoat from reif by lindsey reif

beautiful handmade ceramics by shoshona snow
plus a ton of new vintage jewelry, new silkscreened recycled leather wallets from erin albin, and fall jams to come from heather treadway.

fall comfort is coming

Savile Bomber Jacket from Reif- in store September 30