En fin de semaine prochaine, je vais m'acheter un vélo.
Mais pas n'importe lequel : je m'achete un vélo recyclé!
Le Vélo Vert est une entreprise d'insertion à l’emploi spécialisée en recyclage de vélos usagés.
C'est la seule entreprise dans le domaine du vélo à Québec à s’impliquer au niveau environnemental en recyclant les vieux vélos pour en faire de nouveaux vélos de qualité. Plus de 2000 vélos y sont recyclés à chaque année, ils sont par la suite mis en vente dans leur boutique.
C'est également des programmes d’insertion socioprofessionnelle à l’emploi. Cet organisme à but non-lucratif est voué à l'intégration sociale en employant des personnes rencontrant des difficultés d'ordre socioprofessionnel.
Ne manquez pas l'ouverture officielle de la boutique Rose Bouton!
Le 7 mai 2009 prochain se tiendra un 5 à 7 sucré pour célébrer l'ouverture officielle de la nouvelle boutique Rose Bouton et le lancement de la collection printemps-été de Marie-Noëlle Design, sous le thème des bonbons.
Colliers réglisse, jelly bean et autres sont au rendez-vous. Au programme: Cocktails ROSES, grignotines, des spéciaux, de la bonne musique et la chance de rencontrer les designers qui créent avec amour des pièces uniques qui auront vitrine chez Rose Bouton.
Bien sûr, .tomate d'épingles. ne peux passer à côté de cet événement!
Bijoux et bonbons? Mais, oui! On y sera!
Venez découvrir nos nouveautés pour la collection printemps-été 2009!
Earth Hour is an international event organised by the World Wildlife Fund which asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.
Earth Hour will next take place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm, local time.
This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.
Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.
In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.
We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.
VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.
If you think dressing "eco" means Birkenstocks and tie-dye, you need to see what a whole whack of VERY cool Montreal designers are doing. By the way, I mean no disrespect to the Birkenstock brigade-- I love you, peace out, etc. But let's face it, not all of us could or would want to pull off the whole hippie look. So how to dress eco in a climate of tight spending?
Simple: Head over to La Gaillarde. It's a non-profit institution that's committed to helping folks discover the potential of used clothing. They've been doing eco long before it became chic. The name comes from the French for "strong woman; a woman who stands by her convictions". Back in the day (this was in '99), La Gaillarde was a place to help female convicts reintegrate into society. Over the years, its focus has shifted to helping folks in the fashion biz be green. Oh, and that includes you.
What does La Gaillarde do? Basically, it helps you see used clothing in a whole new light.
The folks at La Gaillarde provide three basic services:
Friperie: They have a friperie or thrift store that sells used clothing as is (i.e. no modifications). They have a fabulous vintage section that feature clothes from the '50s all the way to the '80s. Fabulous used furs (which is the only humane and moral way to wear fur, in my humble opinion), evening gowns, flirty little boleros and satin chemises.... all for between $10 and $50 (although I did see some pieces for $6-$8!).
By the way, there's two levels of thrift store at La Gaillarde-- the vintage, classy stuff upstairs and the cheaper, more everyday stuff in the basement. All the stuff in the basement is $5 or less. Clio Forsyth-Morrissette tells me that stylish Montrealers often buy those clothes to use as raw materials in higher fashion projects. The basement is also where you'll find tons of materials (lace, cotton, satin, etc) that's been donated by designers and clothing mills. This is also up for grabs at (literally) bargain basement prices.
Support for designers: Designers like Supayana (who is featured in the video transforming the sleeves from a pair of mens' shirts into a sexy little summer miniskirt). Basically if you're a Montreal clothing or accessory designer working with recycled materials, La Gaillarde is your best friend. They'll help you source raw materials, put together a line, design a business card and organize a fashion show! If you have vision and the ability to put together funky outfits, you need to call these people!
This is Yana herself (see the video) And this is my new favourite look! Yana cut the sleeves off a man's shirt, used the bottom curvy bits to make cap sleeves, added a hint of elastic for an empire waist and used the sleeves for that funky-ass cowl. This woman is my hero! You'll be amazed at what she can do with a pair of scissors, a sewing machine and 10 minutes!
Classes for folks with vision but no skills Designers like Yana give workshops at La Gaillarde to help folks like you and me recycle our wardrobes. No prior experience necessary. In fact, since you're such a loyal follower of Be Green, you get to win a free workshop (for details, keep reading). Depending on the workshop you take, you'll learn everything from the most basic skills (sewing a button on a shirt) to crafting funky stuff like Yana makes. Tips on cutting, seaming and choosing fabrics. And all at very reasonable prices AND ON THE WEEKEND! Sorry, I need to take a m0ment... I'm so used to these fun classes being outside my reach because of scheduling that I feel an insane urge tap dance about. Okay, I'm done. Moving on...
For the class schedule (written in French), click here.
Vancouver’s urban landscape has become the target of a worldwide craze that is taking knitting and crocheting out of granny’s kitchen and onto the street in the stitching version of graffiti.
From doorknob cosies to knitted tree wraps, the yarn graffiti is showing up in all sorts of public spaces — and in a soon-to-be-released book by Vancouver yarn bombers Leanne Prain and Mandy Moore.
While the term might carry some negative connotations and ‘guerrilla knitters’ may sound like a contradiction in terms, these stitch wizards mostly aim to bring smiles to the faces of passersby or to offer a gentle social or political statement. “There are quite a few people who do this who consider themselves craftivists,” said Prain, a graduate student at Simon Fraser University and a graphic artist whose day job is at the University of B.C. “They show themselves as activists through something that is handmade.
“I think a lot of people are doing these things to show that handmade crafts can make a statement and have a meaning behind them.”
But when it comes to subversive activity, it’s difficult to put the image of a little pom-pommed knitted hat on a fence post or even a full-sized knitted coat covering a shed in the same league as hard-core graffiti.
Instead, its practitioners like to see it as “improving the urban landscape one stitch at a time.”
In Vancouver, there is a tree clothing project underway, where knitted objects are being affixed to trees along Granville Street. (see article here) Yarn bombers leave tags, just as their spray-painting counterparts do, but they are far easier to remove. And the tags are captured in photos and postings online.
“I think it caught the imagination of a lot of knitters and crocheters to see graffiti done with textiles,” said Prain, who is co-authoring the book Yarn Bombing: the Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti and blogs about her pastime at www.yarnbombing.com.
Prain spoke at last weekend’s Northern Voice personal blogging and social media conference at UBC.
In the book, the authors interview yarn bombers around the world, from the Netherlands to Texas, home of Knitta, a group that launched the practice back in 2005 with a knitted doorknob cosy. It describes itself as “guerrilla knitters.”
It began, according to Knitta’s website, when a group of knitters were “discussing their frustration over unfinished knitting projects: half-knitted sweaters and balls of yarn gathering dust.
“… a tag crew of knitters, bombing the inner city with vibrant, stitched works of art, wrapped around everything from beer bottles on easy nights to public monuments and utility poles on more ambitious outings.
“With a mix of clandestine moves and gangsta rap — Knitta was born!”
Prain is a knitter, her choice simple knitting while Moore, who crochets and knits and works for an online knitting magazine Knitty, is the more technical of the two.
“Most of my tags have been on poles,” said Prain. The book will include patterns for yarn bombing, included knitted monster feet to put on sandwich boards and knitted runners for the yarn version of sneaker graffiti to go over wires.
There are also knitted tulips and a knitted mushroom to sneak into someone’s flower bed or lawn.
The yarn bombers even have their own Inspector Clouseau-like outfits for their clandestine work, from pink balaclavas to sweaters with changeable collars and sleeves that come off.
“If they are knitters they want to know what kind of wool we are using,” said Prain. “Some people just stop and stare quizzically.”
The book, published by Arsenal Pulp Press, is scheduled for release in September.
.tomate d'épingles. participera a un défilé de mode en avril!
Récup ta Mode est un défilé de mode visant à attirer l'attention sur le phénomène de surconsommation et qui met en valeur le recyclage de vêtements, le réemploi de textiles ainsi que les vêtements équitables. Danse, mode éthique et humour seront au rendez-vous, avec 5 écoles de danses participantes ainsi que Myco Anna, Harricana, .tomate d'épingles., la friperie Lobo Lavida, Séraphin, Respecterre, et plusieurs autres écos créateurs de Québec.
Quand? dimanche, 19 avril 2009 à 19 h 00 Où? Théâtre du Capitole de Québec Combien? 20$
Si vous êtes intéressés à assister à cet événement et par le fait même à encourager le FEMSI, les billets sont en vente au coût de 20$ sur le réseau billetech du Capitole de Québec ou en contactant par e-mail mlle Sarah Lapointe à l'adresse suivante: sarah_lapointe@hotmail.com
1000 places sont disponibles, plus de la moitié sont déjà vendues! Faites vite!
Un peu plus sur Récup Ta Mode et le FEMSI :
Récup Ta Mode est un événement chapeauté par le FEMSI c’est-à-dire le Fonds des Étudiants de la faculté de Médecine pour la Santé Internationale. Cela signifie que le projet a pour second but d’amasser des fonds pour permettre des stages internationaux aux étudiants de notre Faculté.
De tels stages de formation à l’étranger sont importants pour le bagage du futur médecin, physiothérapeute et ergothérapeute. En plus de contribuer à la formation d’une nouvelle génération de professionnels de la santé centrée sur les valeurs de coopération, de tolérance et de débrouillardise, le FEMSI permettra également l’installation d’une aide substantielle aux populations, par exemple, du Mali, de l’Inde, du Costa Rica et du Burkina Faso.
En effet, nous investissons dans ces pays en émergence par des dons de matériaux permettant d’améliorer les conditions de vie des populations y vivant. En somme, notre souhait est de partager notre vision qu’un jeune peut être à la mode tout en encourageant le développement durable et la coopération internationale.
Nous avons visité Du quilt au corps taillé, Exposition de céramique et de textile , mettant en vedette les oeuvres de Jacinthe Baribeau et de Karen Grenier. La première travaille la céramique; la seconde, le textile.
Ainsi, l’exposition rassemble deux propositions bien distinctes, mais dont le propos se rejoint puisqu’il soulève différents aspects associés à la thématique de la féminité. Elles mettent en valeur des œuvres se rapportant à l’iconographie de la femme par une approche à la fois historique, sociale et intime.
Madame Reine Bohbot, responsable de la région de la capitale-nationale pour le Conseil du statut de la femme, agit à titre de présidente d’honneur de l’événement.
Nous avons aussi visité (et dévalisé haha) la Boutique, qui offrait des oeuvres de Méversible (le chapeau réversible), Noujica (le foulard) et Set Carré.
Our lovely friend K at the rikrak studio posted a thread a while back that got us thinking...
K says:
i'm feeling a wee bit shy today. i've been working on a few secret little projects ... do you have some secret little projects in the works? how are you feelin' about them? feel shy about crafting sometimes?
The answer is YES!
Yes, we do have some secret projects in the works...
Some of them are less secret, for example, we will be featured in an eco-fashion-show this April! We are happy to share we will be part of that project! (see more info here)
But we are also quite shy about it at the same time, since its our very first fashion show ever, and we also want to try to make biger and bolder pieces for the occasion! So, until we are actualy done with the project, and that they are on the runway, I dont think i'll be able to post pictures of them online...
some of the materials we are using for that project
We are definately shy about this project! but also excited! and inspired... so all in all, it's all good :o)
I've been sharpening pencils like a mad woman! But it's for a good cause : here is our latest batch of recycled pencils earrings!
We've found all sorts of different pencils: your typical yellow student pencils, aquarelle artsy pencils (dip them in water and they become watercolour!), drawing pencils of all sorts of shapes and sizes, and colouring pencils that you can ERASE! I would of loved those as a kid! Imagine being able to erase all the colour you drew outside the lines :o)
When they get too short to be sharpened or too short to be cut, i use them to doodle and take notes, you know, what they where meant to do ;o)... until i find another way to use them !
I was wondering if i can compost the shavings... and if i do, will my garden be even more colourful next summer?
In a nutshell: Konane is my middle name meaning "bright as moonlight" in Hawaiian, my mother is Hawaiian. There are many other beautiful names and concepts to call oneself, but I thought I'd stick with the one given to me by my mother. pronounced: Co-Non-E Tell me a little about yourself ... I love to play and I love color above all. I am interested in sound currents, gongs, healing, mantras and the power of Kundalini yoga as a human technology. I love to dance! What are your favourite materials? Materials that are made while the creator does not know or does not think they know what the materials end use will be. Materials with a kind of everyday mystery where you make things and don't know what they are for until you do and realize you knew all along and are constantly knowing. Energy, people, movement, light, sound, neon, bulky yarns, antique and vintage textiles, sunshine. What inspired you to do this? Needing to be me, getting real deep into knowing me and not allowing myself to feel any personal history or boundaries, to be fearless, a pioneer, an explorer, a teacher/master.
Do you remember the first thing you made? What was it? Physically, it was a painting when I was 4 or 5 in arizona in a pre-k, I made paintings and a sculture of my tiny hand. I think the first thing I ever truly made was happiness. What's new and exciting in your store? PLAYSUITS, anything with RELECTIVE, and GOOD HORSE my custom blend of essential oils for hair and body.
What is your favourite item? And why? I have been wearing Good Horse for 4 years now and cant get enough. Otherwise, both hand crochet circle coat and psychedelic poncho. People really love the bustle though.
Why should people buy handmade? Anything you buy from a store has so much unseen excess baggage that you are supporting with your purchase. Be conscious of your Carbon foot print and who you are supporting. BUY LOCAL. BUY HANDMADE. Anything else? I will be moving into the organic realm ASAP. There is no other way to live.
Design: Handmade is an independent blogazine conceived, designed and produced by artists and entrepreneurs who share a vision of a handmade world.
D:H is dedicated to inform you of the best do-it-yourself tutorials, tips and advice from a small business perspective, design ideas, trends, and designers with products that are made by hand, unique, and Canada’s own. They have a contest, and it's all about buttons! Fashion them in any way possible. Think ‘new uses for old things.’ They’re easy to find, easy to use, generally inexpensive, and the options are endless!
Sometimes i like to make myself some jewelry. It's actually quite rare that i sit down and make something just for me.
I had fallen in love with our "wings" necklace, so I decided i wanted one all for myself! Here it is! Its vintage raw brass chain, a twisty vintage clasp, vintage plastic turquoise beads and a vintage cloisonne heart charm.
The bright red recycled leather wings where handmade / hand fashioned by me with boiling water and a lot of «ouch!» I had no tools, really... i just ended up using my fingers and my palm, and BOILING water It turned out to be easier, and more complicated at the same time, than i expected!
And this is my new favourite look! Yana cut the sleeves off a man's shirt, used the bottom curvy bits to make cap sleeves, added a hint of elastic for an empire waist and used the sleeves for that funky-ass cowl. This woman is my hero! You'll be amazed at what she can do with a pair of scissors, a sewing machine and 10 minutes!
