Cashmere for Grasslands

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Heather

We all want to wear nice things, and we all want to be able to afford what we want.  Although I have an allergy to animal fibres, I can understand the draw of a lovely, soft cashmere or qiviut sweater.  Changes in manufacturing, consumer demand and such have made once expensive items very affordable.  Orchids now cost about $20, and a cashmere sweater can be had for under $100.  But what sort of effect is this having?  In the case of cashmere, surely there has to be more goats out there now to provide all the fibre required.

The Seattle Times ran in article back in December 2006 about just such a thing: That low-priced cashmere sweater has a hidden cost.  The U.S. imports 15 times as many sweaters today as it did a decade ago, and the goats needed to provide the fibre are destroying China’s grasslands.  This is allowing the Gobi Desert to expand at an alarming rate, and leads to masive dust storms that have an effect on air pollution as far away as North American.  All this because we want some cheap sweaters.

I don’t see this as a problem with China, or a problem with the U.S.  I think it is more something that has grown out of our current culture of entitlement.  We think cashmere sweaters are nice, we deserve nice things because we work hard/had a rough day/had a crappy childhood/whatever your excuse is.  So, we go to the store and demand that the items we want, things that were once luxury items, are sold at a price we can (just) afford.  There is no thought about how the increased demand is effecting the world, we just want our reward for being us.  And you know what, I’m totally guilty of this.  I know I do it.  I have a $15 orchid sitting on the dinning room table that I bought because I was feeling a little down one day when the Baby Man was acting up.  Goodness only knows what is happening in the world to allow the prices of orchids to drop so much over the past several years.  I sure didn’t think about it when I bought it.

Here’s another surprise for you: I don’t have a solution.  I’m not sure I even have any suggestions.  Maybe, though, I will think a bit more about what I buy, in terms of what I really need.  Do I need 15 pairs of socks?  Does the baby need yet another toy?  Will the world fall apart if we all shop a little less?  Maybe we will have a bit less, and maybe we will need to learn to live with less, but is it worth it if it keeps the planet running a little longer?  Jobs and goats vs. grasslands and clean air.  Today, that is a very difficult decision to make.

Here’s a bit of a related story about expensive suits, earrings and other things we don’t really need but exist anyway: The $43,000 Recession Suit.

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The 50+ Challenge

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Heather

So, the 50 Project Challenge isn’t off to a particularly good start. I have yet to finish anything, and I’ve already bought some stash.

First, a finish from before I started the challenge: Take Time to Stitch by Jeanette Douglas.

Take Time to Stitch by Jeanette Douglas Designs
Fabric: Unknown 32ct. linen in natural
Threads: Thread pack for design

And a picture of my last, pre-Challenge stash buy: Filatura Di Crosa Millefili Fine in shade 282 (a variegated blue that was apparently discounted in Spring 2008) that I will used to crochet this shawl. (I’ll be starting crochet classes in February.)  The yarn is nice and was on sale very cheap.

So, now the bad news. Since I started the challenge, I have bought:

  • Mother’s Tree by Lavender and Lace – doesn’t count as this will be a long term project, and ties in with genealogy research my dad and I have been working on off and on for a while
  • three balls of Bernat Sox yarn – cheapish and discontinued, but it counts too

What to do? Well, I’m not calling the challenge off. Instead, I will add one project to it for each… stumble. So, it is now the 50+3 Project Challenge.

And a picture of my first sock! I’m just about to get to my toes, which is where I will stop. We are going to learn how to do the toe at next week’s class. (I have the second sock down just to where I’ve turned the heel, in an attempt to avoid the Second Sock Syndrome, and maybe get my first challenge finish.) Oh, please ignore the fact that I obviously need a pedicure. 🙂


As for cross stitch, Birds of a Feather is getting close to being finished. I’m on the fourth and final page. A few more rows and I will have a finish! But first I need to spend some time charting out my name and the date for one of the rows. So, maybe with some luck, it will be done this weekend.

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So, Did You Get the Email?

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Heather

Being a stay-at-home mom/working from home, I do most of my communication with the outside world through email.  And while I may not respond to all my email right away (I have dirty diapers to change, you know), I sort of feel ignored if I have to wait a long time for someone to reply to me.

Yeah, it is a bit of a double standard.  And, I’m sure you would think that I could be better at replying to my emails since I’m at home, always around at least three (or five, if you count the Wii and my phone) devices that give me access to email.  And you’d think I would be more forgiving of all those people out there in the world, surrounded by distractions (like other adults to talk to! OMG!), sometimes even cut off from Internet access.  The horror of it all!  Well, no. 😛

It’s funny, I think, how we often expect more of other people than of ourselves, especially when it comes to what they should be doing for us.

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Happy Birthday, Baby Man!

Posted on January 24, 2009 by Heather

babyman1stbirthdayAt 10:05 pm on January 24, 2008, Baby Man made his enterance into the world after over 24 hours of labour.  He was nine days late, and clearly was a bit shy about making his grand appearance.  But, the world has been made a happier, more loving place because of him.

This first year has sometimes been rough–feeding problems, skin issues, sleeping problems, temper tantrums, etc.  But I wouldn’t trade away any of it for anything at all… mostly. 🙂

Thank you to all of the family and friends who stopped by today to help us celebrate.  And thank you to those who weren’t able to make it but still passed on your birthday wishes.  Each one of you will undoubtedly have a role to playing in helping Baby Man grow into a loving, responsible, respectful adult.

Your Mommy and Daddy love you very much, Baby Man.  And while you are likely to have 80 or 100 more birthdays, none will be filled with more love or happiness than this one.

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A New Challenge!

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Heather

Well, it is time for some serious stash reduction. And, as much as I hate to admit it, this cold Canadian was influenced by the new American President’s speech. It is time to make some difficult choices, which means I don’t need to buy every pattern out there that catches my eye.

So, it is a 50 project challenge for me this time, since the 25 project challenge went by pretty quickly. My exceptions, which are similar to those from before, are:

  1. I reserve the right to buy the patterns and materials for any new Teresa Wentzler design, especially the miniature seasonal samplers and Illuminata.
  2. I may also buy the 100th Dragon Dreams design when it comes out.
  3. I will be going to the Fall CreativFestival and taking all the courses I can afford. I will likely do no shopping, due to the fact that less needlework vendors will be there. Any new Enchanting Lair designs that catch my eye, and that I don’t take the class for, are an exception.
  4. I reserve the right to buy patterns and required materials if someone close to me suddenly decides to get married or have a baby. (Not likely, but you never know.)
  5. No knitting patterns either, as there are piles of really good free ones available.
  6. Even though it is not part of the original rules, I also plan to limit my materials spending, especially of yarn. Exceptions are anything I need to finish a currently started project or a gift, the yarn I need for that pattern I just bought, or materials required for any knitting class I may sign up for.
  7. Knitting projects will count too. But to count, it needs to be both socks, or sewing up completely, or whatever it takes to completely finish the item.

If you are interested in finding out about the Project Challenges, check out this thread over at The Wagon.

Tomorrow, if the Baby Man cooperates, I’ll post some pictures of a finish (not part of the challenge), two WIPs, my rapidly growing knitted sock, and my last stash purchase before the great wallet freeze.  I’m also working on a post about the Anubis Oracle.  I just need to find time to actually do a reading with it.  And, I’ve been thinking about doing another Adopt-a-Deity post, since it has probably been almost two years since my last one.  Wow!

Oh, and I know I will fall off the wagon in April, when I go see the Victoria Sampler trunk show at Golden Threads. Well, yes and no. See, the husband will be buying me Heirloom Stitching Sampler as an early birthday gift. Yeah, that’s it.

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I Knit a Hat!

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Heather

My knitting odyssey continues: I’ve knit a hat. I know, it isn’t a big deal for all you ladies who have been knitting for years. But I’ve been knitting less than six months, and I’ve knit a hat. One that looks nice enough for me to actually wear outside, where people will see me. I’m so happy! The picture is below, and it is Column of Leaves Hat by Brooke Nelson knit with Rowan Handknit Cotton on 4.5mm needles.


I’ve also finally put the buttons on Dear Mother Nature from A Kitty Kats Originals. I used a super cheap frame, which I plan to replace very soon. The fabric is a Silkweaver Solo. Interestingly, I finished this up yesterday afternoon, just before we got 10cm of snow.

My current project is Birds of a Feather by Victoria Sampler. It was featured in the October 2008 issue of The Gift of Stitching. It is working up quickly, but I just don’t have a lot of time to spend on it right now, what with Baby Man not sleeping through the night and with all the work I need to get done. But, with luck, it may be done before the end of the month. It is stitched with the directed silks, etc. on 28ct. cream Quaker, I think. (The fabric was a small piece I picked up at my not-so-LNS, so I’m not 100% sure what it is. The colours in the picture are way off.)

On Tuesday, I start my first class in a three class series on sock knitting. I’m very excited, but I wish there was more non-wool, non-acrylic sock yarns available. Honestly, I can’t be the only person out there who knits and is allergic to animal fibres.

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Entry in Which the Year is Not Off to a Good Start

Posted on January 14, 2009 by Heather

You may have noticed my last entry or two were maybe a bit more snarky than usual.  The reason: I’m bone tired and feel like I’ve been beaten with a bat.  You see, Baby Man has decided that he no longer wants to sleep through the night.  My nearly-one-year-old sweetie, who has slept through the night since he was about 3 1/2 months old, now wants to wake up in the middle of the night and play for an hour before going back to bed.  And, Momma must be there to witness it!  So, I’ve spent far too many nights lately sleeping on the floor of his room, trying to keep him quiet so that quanta can get some sleep before heading off to work.

So, this lack of sleep, coupled with my aching back from sleeping on the floor, has made me very unhappy.  Work isn’t getting done, ironing isn’t getting done, and worst of all, hardly any knitting or cross stitching is getting done.  On the upside, my cold is finally gone, and… uh, well, that’s about it.

Anyone have any suggestions for getting Baby Man to sleep?  He isn’t hungry or wet, and while he may be teething, that doesn’t seem to be the problem either.  Honestly, he needs to sleep through the night soon or I’m going to collapse from exhaustion and lack of crafting.

2 Comments | Posted in Baby, My Life |