Obviously I've gotten bit by the crochet bug. Dang, like I need another craft interest. My only salvation from this rabbit hole is that I don't have that much yarn in my stash. Now, I wonder if I can find some crocheted Easter egg patterns. HELP ME!! I'm falling....

Ok, so it's not actually a completed project. Don't hate me. I suppose I should do a post on my blog on how I arrived at struggling to remember how to crochet granny squares this morning. Long story short: One craft fail begets another craft fail. Ah, the fun of it though. I am determined to conquer this basic little exercise (don't grade school kids learn this? Ackk! I do feel silly!). Stay tuned for one perfect little granny square down the road.

I joined the Thing A Day challenge and they're using Posterous. I guess this gives me an excuse to clean this page up and start using Posterous again.

A lofty goal perhaps, but something to think about...

Found this cute cartoon on YouTube from  oxfam.org.uk

I'm beginning to think the UK is farther along with this ethical consciousness/consumption than the US.  This is purely from my Google results.  Have an opinion on this?  Is the UK doing more for ethical consumer awareness than the US?  What might be the reasons?  Would love to hear from you.

Here's what Oxfam has to say:

Our crazy consumption is getting out of hand and proving to be just a little bit devastating. Every day in the UK, we throw out enough stuff to fill the Royal Albert Hall every two hours. It's consumption gone crazy, and the more we carry on like this the bigger the strain we're putting on our planet. There are plenty more perfect ways to consume and together we can make a beautiful difference. We can change the way we consume to reduce the strain we're putting on our planet. Watch our video and let Mr Whistle inspire you to find your ethical rhythm...

Just one of the promotional sample pieces I got from Chelsea House Designer Source in Grandview Heights, OH.  Think I'm going to make a Market Bag.  Begging hubby to take pics of some of the other pieces.  Truly stunning fabrics.  You get to stuff an entire shopping bag full of samples (generally 18" square or more, some really large) for only $5.  Yes, $5.00!!!!  Bolts of fabric go for $2.50/yard!  This is a crafter's paradise. [gallery link="file"]

When looking for inspired creatives who epitomize the ethical eco-friendly movement, I didn't have to go far.  Call it serendipity, synchronicity or the Universe conspiring to lend me a hand starting this blog.  I stumbled upon Tara Swiger of Blonde Chicken Boutique while reading Gary Vaynerchuk's new book, Crush It! I didn't rush to the computer to look up every featured blogger highlighted in Gary's book, but when you come across a name like Blonde Chicken Boutique doesn't that compel you to find out what on earth they might be up to? Wel,l Tara is up to her eyeballs in yarn.  And she does a lot more than just sell the most beautiful, mouth watering skeins of puffiness I've ever had the pleasure of drooling over - and that's just the pictures on her site.  I haven't had a chance yet to order any, but with names like Chocolate-Covered Cherries, Candy Apple, Thin Mint, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip what is a mere mortal to do but start scrounging for more discretionary income.  Universe, are You listening?? Tara does all the yarn dyeing, spinning, photographing  and writing while her husband, Jay serves as the shipping and design department.

Tara started Blonde Chicken Boutique in 2006 when she discovered a lack of beautiful, colorful, eco-friendly yarns.  Tara's passion is to

provide all fiber artists with yarn that will make them feel good, knowing their creative endeavors are sustaining a healthier, gentler world.

Over at Blonde Chicken Boutique you can learn so much more about how Tara works with local farmers in the Tennessee area, getting to  know the characteristics of each individual sheep (or is that lamb) and carrying those characteristics through the spinning process for the fiber artists to be connected to.  Tara explains it much better:

I want to connect with farmers, share their passion for their animals with fiber artists who are equally passionate about their yarn. Building a community of fiber growers and fiber users is my main goal in everything I do here at Blonde Chicken Boutique. I’m ever-reaching towards that goal by offering the LocalSpun Club, talking about the farmers on the blog and selling their fiber in the Boutique.

Tara makes all her yarn at home, in Johnson City, TN.  As she describes:

in the very tippy tip of TN, where it pokes between VA and NC.

She dyes in big pots in her kitchen while listening to NPR and crafty  podcasts like Stash & Burn, Cast-On, CraftyPod, CraftSanity.  She spins in the living room, usually snuggled in with Beau the pup.  Tara playfully cautions

Spinning requires long hours of sitting and while it’s great for quiet meditation, a girl (and her patient husband) can only take so much quiet. For that reason, we watch copious amounts of TV and movies, most recently Buffy (yeah, we’re late to the game), Battlestar Gallactica, How I Met Your Mother, The Office & Lost.

So take a peak at Blonde Chicken Boutique for a sensory-overloaded journey of home spun yarn from farm to fiber, and learn how an ethical eco-friendly business should and can be run.  Enjoy!