Obama acknowledges climate change

Hi friends!

! I have not been on in some time, with the move to the cold north, and I wanted to take a few minutes to blog about today’s Presidential Inauguration. It is the beginning of Obama’s second term, and his speech today felt so poignant. He mentioned that we must address climate change head on, among many other issues of the day.

It is quite refreshing to hear from the leader of our country to acknowledge that scientific facts point toward the warming of our planet. Most important is the fact that we, you and me, and everyone else we know, can do something about this! We can! The first step is the simple acknowledgement that there is a problem in the first place. Isn’t that what is said most, when there is a problem to be addressed: “The first step to finding a solution to a problem is the acknowledgement that there is a problem to be fixed.”

So many people today have a difficult time even admitting that there are serious problems in the balance of our eco-system, and refuse to change their padded lifestyles. I myself am occasionally guilty of finding it easier to overlook the problem than tailor my habits.

Thinking about the planet before ourselves is not the easiest thing to do. It requires a thoughtfulness and selflessness that takes time and effort. A sort of mindfulness that does not come naturally, but is the result of practice, and patience.

I truly hope that President Obama stays true to his words when he made the commitment toward a healthier planet for the generations that come after us. I know his heart is in it, and that he sincerely believes that he can make a difference. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have my doubts, but there is such a huge part of me, an incredibly optimistic girl who sees a world where people are able to drop the jaded-ness that comes with living in our tech-savvy world. Where people have the capacity to appreciate this Earth, the only planet we have, to care for it as if it were a member of their family, and do everything they can to care for her, nurture her, and give her the love she deserves. The love that she has given us.

That was my MLK “I have a dream” thought-stream. I promise that my next post won’t be quite as ideological… and will be design centered.

Wish me luck, I had two job interviews that went very well last week!  Tomorrow, I will be presenting my case for employment at one job, and on Wednesday, I will be shadowing a fellow designer to see if I am still interested/suitable for the position! I really do look forward to getting my hands dirty in the design world that Minnesota has to offer!

Honor Martin Luther King Junior by actively participating in a better world for everyone! And Stay Warm!!

 

Crunch Re-Visited: The Marys

It has been FAR too long since my last post. I have been working for almost a year now, and have sadly gotten away from immersing myself in the world of creativity which I love so dearly!

I have been working for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)'s Kentucky Chapter for almost two years now, and it has been a great ride! Last weekend, I was working the chapter's booth at the NuLu Fest on Market Street which celebrates the revival of Louisville's East Downtown district, read "new-Lou." There are a flurry of local craft and home goods gift stores, the Bluegrass Green Building Co., local eateries which feature locally sourced foods from nearby farms, and just a wonderful vibe happening lately.

So I was working the booth at the festival, enjoying talking to people who had plenty of ideas and input regarding the green building industry of late. When the sun went down, I ventured around and found a secret treasure of a booth! I came upon the Female Art Collective and Fly Away Fox, a combined creative shop with a ton of handmade and re-purposed goodies!

In addition to unique eye candy were two pleasant creators, Mary of the Female Art Collective I bought some gorgeous umbrella earrings from her!

Mary Margaret from Fly Away Fox found and sold the coolest journals I have ever seen in my 27 1/2 years of living on this Earth... RewareVintage.com used old record sleeves and created journals- spiral bound with blank lined paper. The special gem? The ACTUAL record installed in the back of the book!

My honey bought this Ray Charles book:

Repurpose = Awesome Design

    I have a new obsession with all things repurposed. While spell-check insists that "repurposed" is not a word... Mirriam-Webster Dictionary and several innovative designers and DIY-ers beg to differ! 

repurpose-

to give a new purpose or use to

Everyday items and products, as well as their packages, do not simply "go away" as the term "throw away" implies... these items are discarded into landfills and gutters and alleys around the world to rot into the ground. They are still present, no matter how useful they may continue to be, they do still exist. That being said, the best way to make a positive mark on the planet is to REUSE FIRST! Enter: the world of repurposing. 


Following environmentally responsible principles and guidelines that encourage the use of repurposed items means that everyone involved wins. Diverting items from being tossed aside into landfills encourages creative thought processes that are energizing and challenging! The end result is almost always more visually appealing, interesting, and original.

This coffee shop bar (Java Brewing Co., Louisville, KY) used coffee sacks to refurbish some chair seats. These chairs could have been falling apart, ready to head for the landfill when a new owner had a bright, and original idea. The end result could not be more beautiful or thoughtful design.

I encourage you to find useful secondhand productions for your "throw away" items, and repurpose something the next time you don't know what to do with that piece of fabric, plastic, or whatever scrap piece you have. You will find your designer juices flowing! If you can't think of anything useful yourself, you can always look to other blogs and websites  which are dedicated to repurposing for inspiration and ideas. 

Good luck, and happy repurposing! 

In a related article: What is the difference between Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle? from Evan Carmichael