e2, The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious - a Show on PBS -- California Laws Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread


Television is not my favorite thing -- especially the regular networks.

So, last night, avoiding all the typical shows around Halloween, I ended up watching PBS on KCET from Los Angeles.

I just sort of stumbled on this show - it came on after something else I had watched.

I was so glad to hear what was said -- it was one of a series of programs on PBS, "e2 is an ongoing PBS series about the economies of being environmentally conscious with a combination of policy, technology and ingenuity, from energy consumption to building efficiency. It chronicles global efforts to solve pressing ecological challenges." http://www.pbs.org/e2/

This particular show was about California's bills that have passed the legislature and been signed which set standards for greenhouse gas emissions -- both with some vehicles and in industry -- by certain dates.

According to one of the experts on the show, the standards set should put California's level of greenhouse gas emissions down to the levels of 1990 - 18 years ago.

Of course, this means enforcing the standards.

What I also liked hearing was that per the legislation on industry standards, industries cannot import dirty energy -- such as that from burning coal -- from other states.

I felt like jumping for joy!!

Maybe we can do something on a massive level to keep this planet living!!

California is apparently leading the way in the USA in climate change laws -- with some states following our example.

Of course, I would like to see it at the Federal level, but I am glad to be living in a state that is doing something about how human impact causes climate change/global warming!

Something keeps running through my mind -- many of the larger buses in Los Angeles run on Natural Gas because it is considered Clean Energy -- I was in a cab in Los Angeles last Monday that was "Natural Gas Only". The taxi cab driver told me that in many asian/eastern countries, a large percentage of the cars run on Natural Gas.

In the United States, can you buy commercial cars that run on Natural Gas and are there places where you can buy Natural Gas for private vehicles?

I don't drive a car now for medical reasons, but I think this would be something to look into. Many of the Hybrids that you can buy commercially have really good mileage, but still use gas from oil which causes greenhouse emissions.

Car manufacturers who make cars for gas from oil keep pushing on needing oil and are warning that some standards are going to make it difficult to have the popluar SUV's meet the standards. But, logically, I can't help but wonder because if large buses can run on Natural Gas, why can't a SUV??????

We are going to need to change the way we think -- and the manufacturers are going to have to re-think some things. I am aware that changing how you manufacture a vehicle will mean possibly difficult changes in the factories that will cost money, but we need to weigh the "costs" -- the negative impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and a way to have clean energy running our vehicles!!

And, oh, I checked out the sponsor of the PBS show -- http://www.autodesk.com/green -- "Autodesk supports sustainable design awareness and adoption through leadership, design solutions, and sponsorship programs."

Autodesk's Sustainability Initiative:
1. Conduct Our Business Responsibly
2. Optimize the Environmental Impact of Our Operations
3. Make Our Products the Best Available for doing Sustainable Design
4. Amplify Our Impact by Partnering with Leading Innovators

Sustainable Design - including for manufacturers.

At least they are trying to do something!! They are contributing to a green economy!!

It gives me hope!!

Support sustainable living at all levels!!


Ruth

ECOETSY AUCTION FOR A CAUSE - About 10 hours left to bid!!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread

Well, folks, this is the last day -- about 10 hours left on our auction for a donation to The Nature Conservancy!!

Check out the EcoEtsy blog: http://ecoetsy.blogspot.com/

Check out the auction page: http://www.ecoetsy.com/auction-oct2008.html

Check out the photo album of what's being auctioned off: http://ecoetsyauction.myphotoalbum.com/

What we are doing is part of a green economy.

What The Nature Conservancy does is part of a a green economy and a live planet!!

Be part of it!!

Ruth

UPDATE! EcoEtsy AUCTION FOR A CAUSE - 1 Day Left To Bid!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread

October 30th is tomorrow!! 1 day left from the time I am writing this to bid on our basket of eco-friendly goodies with the proceeds going to The Nature Conservancy!!

Read our EcoEtsy blog, http://ecoetsy.blogspot.com for news and pictures of the donated items -- and the update! See some detailed photos and info about the people who made them and how!!

Bid and get the auction information at: http://www.ecoetsy.com/auction-oct2008.html

Photo Album of the items donated: http://ecoetsyauction.myphotoalbum.com/

The Nature Conservancy, with all the land and ecosystems they have protected over the years, is very deserving of the donation!! And, actually, what a fun bunch of goodies to win!!

If you haven't already -- check it out!! If you have - or have bidded, see where the bidding is at now!

Ruth

EcoEtsy AUCTION FOR A CAUSE Ongoing!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread

Our EcoEtsy AUCTION FOR A CAUSE is still ongoing with some bids already put in -- yes, we have some bids and if you are interested in it and haven't bid yet, you'll need to bid yourself by the Thursday evening (Oct. 30th)!

Check here! http://www.ecoetsy.com/auction-oct2008.html

After today (Sunday), there are 4 days left to bid on the collection of about 60 handmade, eco-minded items!!

Take a look at the pictures of what has been donated and is being auctioned off:

http://ecoetsyauction.myphotoalbum.com/

Remember -- the proceeds go to The Nature Conservancy!!

I have a picture here of the bag I crocheted for the Auction. It is a small bag - about 3 1/2 inches in diameter and 5 inches high. It is green, ecru and glittering sienna.

Us like-minded folks in EcoEtsy really have the welfare of our environment and the people who live in it on our minds (you should see our emailing sometimes!). We really make an effort to live our lives and conduct our businesses in such a way as not to harm our environment and maybe even help it!!

Below I will quote my favorite philosopher on the environment, Aldo Leopold, in that there is a value to protecting our environment even if there doesn't seem to be a commercial profit in it. Protecting elements in our environment that are essential to its healthy functioning, even if that protection doesn't have a commercial value, is important for our lives. Of course, if you find new ways to use things that would otherwise be thrown out, you can reduce waste (good for the environment) and save money you would otherwise have spent on something new (good for your pocketbook), but some economists would tell you that consumer spending is a good sign of the economy - I would say to find other things to spend your money on while Reducing, Reusing and Recycling.

Aldo Leopold from "Substitutes For a Land Ethic", which is part of "The Land Ethic", which is part of "The Upshot" in the book, A Sand County Alamanc, copyright 1966 by Oxford University Press:

"To sum up: a system of conservation based solely on economic self-interest is hopelessly lopsided. It tends to ignore, and thus eventually eliminate, many elements in the land community that lack commercial value, but are (as far as we know) essential to its healthy functioning. It assumes, falsely, I think, that the economic parts of the biotic clock will function without the uneconomic parts. It tends to relegate to government many functions too large, too complex, or too widely dispersed to be performed by government.

"An ethical obligation on the part of the private owner is the only visible rememdy for these situations."

We, in EcoEtsy, who are putting on our AUCTION FOR A CAUSE, are private owners.

The Nature Conservancy is an organization who's funding is based on donations from private owners and who works to protect those uneconomic parts that are so essential to the healthy functioning of the land community we live in -- to our "web of life".

We, at EcoEtsy, are trying to be ethical in our lives and businesses - and our AUCTION FOR A CAUSE is part of that.

From me, Thanks to everyone who has participated - our EcoEtsy Co-Leaders, the donators, the bidders and all who helped promoting!!

Ruth

P.S. - You can find the book, A Sand County Almanac, online - and through the Aldo Leopold Foundation, http://www.aldoleopold.org/.

MORE OF MY FAVORITES FROM DESIGN STYLE GUIDE!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items



I have some more favorites from the Design Style Guide (search for tag: interiordesignteam) on www.etsy.com.

I am truly amazed at some of the beautiful, artistic work I see for sale on Etsy!!

I look through some of the Treasuries on Etsy -- and some of the items just pop out at me -- they appeal to me artistically and some of them are very practical -- of course some are purely decorative!

But I am of the opinion that it is important to have some beauty in your home to enjoy -- whatever you admire and whatever you can afford. There is an amazing selection on Etsy -- at all dollar levels!!

So here are a few people on etsy who I think are worth checking out!!

1. Very Earthy Pottery by Rob Drexel from New Mexico -- I just love it!!
http://www.robdrexel.etsy.com

2. Absolutely beautiful handmade quilts by Betty Grafton!! I like them all - but at this moment, I am partial to the Unicorn!! http://www.bettsquilts.etsy.com

3. I so admire the paintings of Slavko!! He has original paintings, some prints, some really detailed artistic pendants and some sculptures in his shop!! http://www.slavko.etsy.com

4. I like stained glass - I have had a stained glass suncatcher of a harp hanging in my home since the 1980's!! I discovered a suncatcher of a Cardinal by Dianas Stained Glass on Etsy and was pleasantly surprised - I also like her lamp with "Paddy the Pinto" in stained glass (I am a bit partial to horses in art!). http://www.DianasStainedGlass.etsy.com

So that's a few more talented people on Etsy!!

For pictures, look to the right and down here on my blog -- I have a display of MY FAVORITES on Etsy -- you can click on the pictures to see the listing and get to their shop!!

Enjoy!!


Ruth

EcoEtsy AUCTION FOR A CAUSE is ON!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread

OUR AUCTION IS ON!

The auction information: http://www.ecoetsy.com/auction-oct2008.html

THE PHOTOS ARE UP!!

The photos of what is in the basket being auctioned for the donation:
http://ecoetsyauction.myphotoalbum.com/.

A VARIETY OF THINGS FROM JEWELRY TO BAGS TO CARDS TO SILVER -- TAKE A LOOK -- ALL HANDMADE, ALL ECO-FRIENDLY, SOME THINGS MADE FROM RECYLCED, RE-PURPOSED OR "RESCUED" MATERIALS!

FINAL PROCEEDS TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY!!

Ruth

ECOETSY AUCTION FOR A CAUSE - Starts tomorrow Monday, October 20, 2008!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread





STARTING MONDAY OCTOBER 20TH --

YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE ECOETSY WEBSITE:

ALL AUCTION DETAILS INCLUDING HOW TO BID AND WHERE TO FIND THE PHOTOS OF OUR ECO-FRIENDLY GOODIES ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH.

As more than 60 eco-friendly items are in this basket being auctioned off, you can find some things for yourself -- and some gifts for Birthdays and Holidays (Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, New Years).

And make a donation to a very worthy environmental organization: The Nature Conservancy!!

REALLY SHOW YOU CARE ENOUGH ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT TO BUY AND/OR GIVE "ECO"!! BIDDING WILL BE GOING ON THROUGH OCTOBER 30TH!

Though not all of our EcoEtsy members have donated to this auction basket, we all sell on http://www.etsy.com/ and are really dedicated to Reducing, Reusing and Recycling in our businesses.

You can find the shops of the EcoEtsy members on our Profile page on etsy: http://team.etsy.com/profilest/eco.shtml.

Ruth

SOME NEW ARTISTS I FOUND ON ETSY THROUGH THE "INTERIORDESIGNTEAM" (DESIGN STYLE GUIDE)!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread


I joined the Interior Design Team (aka Design Style Guide) on http://www.etsy.com/ and found some amazing artists doing projects for home decor.

There are quite a few of us on http://www.etsy.com/, so I thought I would list a few of the shops I have really admired -- here on my blog!!

Here are some shops that have PAINTINGS and related items (such as Prints, Photos, Pillows) in them:

http://www.foust.etsy.com/
http://www.kauaiartist.etsy.com/
http://www.luvs2paint.etsy.com/
http://www.mysticsilks.etsy.com/


Here are some shops with POTTERY in them:

http://www.patspottery.etsy.com/
http://www.glyntpottery.etsy.com/


Here is a shop that has some nice WOODWORK in it:

http://www.jneale3.etsy.com/


And here are some shops that have some "different" things in them that I really like:

http://www.catnipstudiotoo.etsy.com/ - mosaic items, batik, decoupage
http://www.kristinalaw.etsy.com/ - artistic pillows
http://www.midnightcoiler.etsy.com/ - painted and carved gourds


These shops are just a few of the many on http://www.etsy.com/ that have a huge variety of handmade goods to buy for yourself or as gifts!! These happened to catch my eye!!


Even if you are not buying right now, you might want to take a look and just see some of this ART -- some of it may just be decorative, but you can find useful also!! And many of these people do custom special orders by request!!

Search for the tag "interiordesignteam" on www.etsy.com to find more items and shops by these talented people!!


Ruth

FOR HANDMADE BABY AND KIDS CLOTHING - CHECK THESE SECTIONS IN MY ETSY SHOP

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread


I just thought I would make it easy for someone who was reading here about my handmade clothing for babies and kids to find the sections for them in my wearables shop on etsy.com:

I have a special section for Baby Hats:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5996088&section_id=5505444


And I have a special section for Kid's Clothing:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5996088&section_id=5505448

Since the cooler days are coming on, I will be making and adding some warmer things on a regular basis over the next few months.

Look for some things in particular holiday colors:

-- reds and greens
-- blues
-- blue and white.


I also like to make some things in colors that are particular for babies:

-- white
-- pastel variegateds
-- pink
-- light blue.


I also like to make things in brighter colors that the kids like:

-- plum and plum/purple variegated
-- greens and green variegated
-- maroon or wine with various shades of rose and pink
-- some of the more "artistic" variegated ones like one called "Monet" (impressionistic watercolors)
-- some of the other variegateds like "Bay Print"


There are so many yarns out there and I love to use the variegated ones for sweaters because they come out so nice and fun when you crochet and knit with them!!

WATCH FOR SOME NEW THINGS IN SOME COLORS I PICK OUT!!

Again, I do custom orders, so people can contact me by email or directly on www.etsy.com in etsy conversations about making things in the colors they want!!


Ruth

MAKING BABY AND CHILDREN'S CLOTHES - A REAL JOY

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread



It was sometime in my early teens that I learned to crochet and sew. It was later on in life when I learned to knit.


I always enjoyed doing handmade -- and I still do!!


In fact, that was one of the reasons that I set up my 3rd shop on http://www.etsy.com/, http://www.rssdesignswearables.etsy.com/ -- to have a special shop for my crochet and knitting designs that are wearable -- especially the ones for babies and kids.


Here are a few of those designs in my shop.


I read on the Internet how hats for newborns and babies help to keep them healthy because they keep their heads warm. So, I make a few baby hats and here are a couple of them:


This first one is 100% white cotton -- it is knitted in a rib pattern, which makes it stretchy, but snuggly -- that means it will stretch to fit different sizes, but then once it is on, it fits snug. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15724345

This one I made with acrylic yarn in different colors -- acrylic is totally and easily washable - and WARM - I think it would be good for a baby in the winter. It is also in a rib pattern and stretches, but fits snug. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15686453

I actually love making children's clothes, especially sweaters for the winter. Over the years, I have made a variety of them -- mostly to give away. Here is one I made for my shop. It is knitted BULKY and WARM, double strand 100% cotton! Personally, I like cotton and I know from experience that this Peaches and Creme worsted cotton knitted or crocheted double strand is WARM. Peaches and Creme yarn is also washable (lukewarm water on delicate and tumble dry on low heat), which is important for kid's clothing!! This is a size 6 crewneck pullover in Shaded Denim - which is great with jeans!! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16152420

This next one is last, but not least!!

The design is from a magazine from about 1980 with Granny Square Designs. All I know is that the designer of this Granny Square pattern that is on this Girl's Jumper won an award. I loved doing it - thanks to the designer! It is made with acrylic yarn for warmth and washing convenience (totally washable). It is a size 8. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12918822

I've enjoyed making all of these items -- I hope some child will enjoy wearing them someday!!

I also do custom orders -- so if anyone knows someone who would want some warm children's cothing handmade for the winter or some cool children's clothing for the summer, they can email me (see above).

By the way, keep in mind that all handmade is "eco" or good for the environment in that it is "low carbon" - though I buy my yarn, the making of the clothing is done without using any electricity except the lights I have on anyway -- and I use energy saving bulbs!!

Ruth

THE ECOETSY STREET TEAM FROM www.etsy.com IS DOING ..... AN AUCTION FOR A CAUSE OCT. 20TH THRU OCT. 30TH 2008

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber.etsy.com - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable.etsy.com - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus.etsy.com - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread

The EcoEtsy Street Team from http://www.etsy.com/ and http://www.ecoetsy.com/ and http://www.ecoetsy.blogspot.com/ has come together to donate a basket of Eco-minded goodies to be auctioned off for the benefit of the Nature Conservancy. This auction is entirely a non-profit event, created by the members of EcoEtsy (http://www.ecoetsy.com/) in order to promote handmade,eco-friendly goods and to support a worthy organization.

About the Auction

The benefit auction started preparations in the spring of 2008, and each participant that donated to the auction basket were required to follow a set of rules for their items:

● Every item is Eco-related in some way. These include repurposed, recycled, up-cycled,and eco-friendly products.
● Every item is handmade.
● Every item includes a small card that describes the item and how it relates to ecopractices.
More than 60 individual items are contained in this beautiful, eco-friendly auction handcrafted by people who care about nature and our environment. The total of all donations is valued at more than $300 retail.

Auction Details

Donation photographs will be available beginning October 20, the first day of the auction.These photographs can be accessed by viewing the album at http://ecoetsyauction.myphotoalbum.com/

Auction Start Date: October 20th, 2008

Auction End Date: October 30th, 2008

This auction is open to US residents only. This is to prevent any legal issues as well as preventshipping issues that may arise due to regulations that other countries have.

Bidding: Bids may be placed on the auction basket by emailing promo@ecoetsy.com. Updates will be announced regularly on the EcoEtsy blog (http://ecoetsy.blogspot.com/) with the highest bidding amount.

Please note that the monies raised will also be used to ship the donation basket to the winner.

The highest bid placed by 9 PM MST (-7 GMT) will be awarded. The auction basket will be shipped within one week of bid payment receipt – payment details will be sent to the winnerafter the auction via email.

About EcoEtsy

Eco Etsy is a group of like-minded people who are coming together to spread the word about reducing, reusing, and recycling. We concentrate on educating other Etsyians to be more aware of the waste we create when packaging our items, and therefore offer tips and tricks to help other members create a greener way of life in their shops and in their personal lives. EcoEtsy is open to all Etsy sellers who want to waste less in the process of creating, selling, packaging and shipping and to encourage buyers to do their part as well. Please feel free to learn more about EcoEtsy and the products we create, the tips we produce, and the efforts we are involved in byvisiting the following websites:

Eco Etsy Website: http://www.ecoetsy.com/

Eco Etsy Blog: http://www.ecoetsy.blogspot.com/

Street Team Page: http://team.etsy.com/profilest/eco.shtml

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy, please visit http://www.nature.org/

Since their founding in 1951:
● They've protected more than 117 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of riversworldwide – operating more than 100 marine conservation projects globally.
● They work in all 50 states and more than 30 countries – protecting habitats fromgrasslands to coral reefs, from Australia to Alaska to Zambia.
● They address threats to conservation involving climate change, fire, fresh water, forests,invasive species, and marine ecosystems.

I HAVE DONATED A REUSABLE BAG I CROCHETED WITH "RESCUED" OR "RECLAIMED" CROCHET THREAD FOR THIS AUCTION FOR A CAUSE -- I ALSO VOTED FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN THE POLL TO DETERMINE WHO THE DONATION WOULD GO TO. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IS SO AMAZING IN THE PROJECTS THEY SUPPORT, ORGANIZE, FUND AND INSPIRE -- ALL OVER OUR PLANET!!

CHECK HERE OR ON ONE OF ECOETSY'S ONLINE LOCATIONS FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR AUCTION!!

Ruth

DESIGN STYLE GUIDE - INTERIOR DESIGN TEAM ON ETSY - I'VE JOINED!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread


www.etsy.com is a great website for people who do handmade and sell it -- and for those who are looking for unique handmade items to buy.

As a seller at www.etsy.com, one of the things that are offered is teams to join to network with other sellers that have common interests, live in a certain area or sell items in a certain category or classification.

Well, I was recently invited by Klaire of MysticSilks on www.etsy.com to join the Interior Design Team there - DESIGN STYLE GUIDE. (I love what is in MysticSilks shop and will be posting about it in the near future!)

Well, I am now a member and I am really excited about it!!

The DESIGN STYLE GUIDE is a very talented group of artists who sell hand-made Interior Design items.

I have just been an active member since this morning and have several new friends there who do some beautiful work -- photographs, paintings, woodwork!

You can check out the items being sold by the members of this team by searching for this tag on www.etsy.com: interiordesignteam.

You can also check out their blogs to get more information on what DESIGN STYLE GUIDE is doing:

http://designstyleguide.blogspot.com
http://interiordesignteam.blogspot.com

If you look down on the right side of my blog, you will see my badge (widget) for my page for Design Style Guide on ning.com.

If you are looking for some items to decorate your home -- or for some very useful functions around your home, check out what this team is making and selling!!

And if you are looking for eco-friendly items to purchase, they have a category ECO/UPCYCLED and they have members who are selling items made from recycled, rescued, repurposed and reused materials -- including me!!

Go take a look - gosh there are just some beautiful items there!!


Ruth