Your Daily Breeze

Up-coming Photo Shoot, 2008

The most recent photo shoot was a grand success!
Showcasing vintage, thrift, recycled, and earth-friendly items, this photo shoot is one worth seeing! The results of this and the one planned for July 3rd-5th, will be released on July 10th, 2008; be sure to check back often to see any updates!

Are you earth-friendly in some way and interested in modeling?  Or, are you the maker of an eco-conscious item and want publicity for it?

Model or maker, YourDailyBreeze is currently accepting both!

Models: In the New England area during the dates of June 14th and 15th, 2008.
Makers: Submission deadline for items is June 10th, 2008.

Email: emily@yourdailybreeze.com for more information.

Skirt of the Ages

Oh, I love squishy things! So when I received the soft, pillowy priority mail envelope in the mail, I guess you could say it was love at first sight.

But that's nothing compared to what came out of the envelope. This ribbon-wrapped tangible textile piece of heaven. It's best described as "organized chaos"; and I love it.

I unwrapped the thick ribbon and held the top hem as the new/old skirt dropped comforting-ly down. Weighty, soft, and pleasing to the touch, this skirt is unbelievable. It is made by KTJean, who uses vintage and reused fabrics in the making of these pleasurable pieces of rustic femininity.

Her service is fast, her product is comfortable and unique; YourDailyBreeze feels honored to write about such a creative designer. Please support KTJean and other independent designers that consider the earth so thoughtfully.

Keep a look out for this wonderful skirt (shown in full) and other earth-friendly items in the up-coming photo shoot premiering June 18th, 2008.

Her website: www.ktjean.com

Thanks to my Dad, for taking the picture I couldn't:) Thanks Dad!

Honest Labeling

Now that so many are jumping on the eco-friendly band wagon, here's a way you can find out who's real and who's just fakin' it.

GreenerChoices.org (put out by Consumer Reports) allows you to find out if the label is verified, or if it's just placed on the product by the manufacturer, among other important considerations to keep in mind when buying anything. The "Hot Topics and Trends" section has many great articles.

If it all seems so confusing, start small...and always remember there are great local items, food, and materials right in your town or city, and any reused item doesn't need a label!
 

Unusually Bold Photography

This is one of the largest and most visually stunning books I own. Photographed by Steve Bloom, this book, titled Untamed, presents a unique outlook on the natural world. Almost every page is worthy of being hung in a museum, or at least your own wall, where you can look at it everyday...chock full of unbelievable eye contact, depth of field, and perfect focus.

Even on the first (three) pages the book announces its presence. Three amazing images right in a row; motion blurred horses, a Macaw that you can almost see his eyes dialate, and a dolphin looking right smack at you. But then, after the title page, there is one of my all time favoritest photos...The colors, the movement, the lighting, all work perfectly around a leaping Sifaka mother and her baby who clings to her shoulders, peering around her head. The best part? The young one is looking straight at us. Imagine photographing that moment!?!

Untamed

Some personal favorite images in Untamed include:

#5 (Sifaka))
#26 (Zebras; on a Masai Mara plain in Kenya, with a blue downpour drenching them)
#53 (Springboks running in Etosha National Park),
#59 (a snow filled view of the ocean in the Antarctic)
#77 (a great overhead shot of a penguin who has just burst through the water, New Zealand)
#83 (a Wandering Albatross using a wave)
#130 (a flapping duck in water, Australia)

And in the back of Untamed, the photos are labeled, with a story, and best of all (and good for educational purposes too) is the fact they are listed by location. Mmmm. Geography. Mmm.

Perhaps some of the photos are altered with photo editing software. But, the images are too incredible to loose their endearing qualities due to a few touch-ups or enhancements. Photography is a form of art; and I have accepted that artists can do whatever they want to their own work to make it memorable to their viewer.

Check out Steve Blooms' slideshow of some incredible photos!

Untamed

Spirit of the wild

Elephant!

Books: Purchasing the book through this site allows us to bring you more great treats and finds. Tell your friends! Thank you:)

Untamed
Spirit of the Wild

Alaskan Apron

Look at that beautiful Alaskan sky and the complimentary handmade, super-sweet apron!

Tanna, of Juneau, Alaska makes many of her apron fashions out of recycled and reused fabrics. Look at those mountains, the clean water, pristine wilderness...and then support this designer and her Adorable Bubble Apron!

Slide Bag!

Could this be any cooler? Check it out, this bag (and soooooo many others) can be found at our newest affiliate, EcoHandbags!

Some additional bags on this site include:

• The Buriti Palm Clutch Purse (made of Buriti Palm and Banana Tree Straw).
• The Beach Bag and the Cooler (both made from juice boxes)
• Jute Beach Tote Bag (made from Jute)

When you order something from them, they'll give us a percentage and "voila!" more blog posts, more artists who deserve to be recognized, and more eco-conscious style! Click on the image link below to go directly to your new favorite bag! Thank you for your help:)

 

For all the Little Guys

What can you do if you're a tiny little person trying to make a huge impact with your work? You toil day in and day out pursuing your passion, but that passion may not provide the financial support you and your passion need to survive. That's where this site, called Ecopreneurist, comes in. Check it out; you may just get the funding and advice you need. Good luck!

Tee Shirt Rug!

After searching for what seems like forever, here's one of the first (of many) indie finds by YourDailyBreeze.

This person makes floor rugs from tee shirts. Her "fondness of vintage fabrics" makes for a very interesting combo when paired with the inspired modern designs found in her work. The rugs come in four different sizes, many colors (the brown is dyed using coffee!), and she does custom work for you as well upon request.

This rug can be found here, on etsy.com.

Stay tuned to YourDailyBreeze.com for the up-coming photo shoot (To be released May 30th) and the wonderful products featured in it! (Find out more about the photo shoot by checking out "Model Search" on this blog).

Recycled Rings

These unbelievably unique rings (and other lovely accessories), are unlike anything I've seen! They're made from antique broaches, necklaces, and rings and are adoringly hand-sewn for your pleasure.

Check them out at RecycledRings.com or on Etsy.com

Favorite Nature Books

National Geographic: The Wildlife Photographs: This book contains stunning and very artistic photographs. Its large format makes it a perfect book to plop on your lap and enjoy. The incredible composition, color, and style in each individual photograph affect the presentation of these photos immensely. And the best part? The feeling you get at each page turn. It's almost like you can smell the mist and feel the waves breaking and spraying bits of salt water on your face.

My favorite pages are: 40-41 (a loon flapping its wings on water), 59 (a Coyote running through green undergrowth), 84 (Ostriches running, two page spread), 86 (Giraffe in the midst of fog and trees), 144-145 (Stingrays), and 289 (Moose calling).

My absolute favorite photo in the whole book is found on page 210; a chameleon reaches across both pages with his or her tongue. It really is almost as if you're there.

Cotton Bird Designs

These oh-so-adorable tiny birds are hand sewn and made from vintage and recycled materials. I love the unique idea, as well as the detail-oriented construction of the birds. The map bird, found at CottonBirdDesigns, is another favorite, probably because of my map envelope affinity too.

Beautiful Nature Photography

Photo by: Louis-Marie Preau

One of my favorite 'jobs' is image searching. I could google image search until my head popped off.

Along my online travels I have found some pretty astounding sites, enclosed below:

The Natural History Museum  has a great collection of photos compiled from the Shell* Wildlife of the Year. Check out their online gallery, especially "previous years".

Photo by: Rohini Kamath

 

TrekNature is also good and it allows you to search for specific thing

One of my favorite site has been "TrekEarth". It's so fun to search for a landscape or for animal images taken by photographers around the world. Try it and take a deep breath of fresh air.

Brief article on Shell's sponsorship of the contest

*YourDailyBreeze.com does not endorse Shell Oil, and we realize their creation of "Photographer of the Year" contest may be an attempt to conceal underlying missions, but the photos are so good!

Microwaved You

Check out this experiment done using plants, water, and microwaved water. This Grandmother thought we all should know about this stunning experiment done by her Granddaughter for a science fair project. I would try it myself, but I don't want to subject the plants to unnecessary torture. I believe her!

Science Fair Project

If that doesn't make you want to recycle your microwave, maybe this will?   
Health Freedom Resources - The Proven Dangers of Microwaves

If microwaved water does this to a plant, what does it do to other living things? Ever since I found this experiment I have not used the wave-machine, and I hope I never will again. Buuuut, when you decide to throw yours out, recycle it at your nearest recycle station (it has chemicals that leech into the land surrounding a landfill). Look up a recycle station near you! Thank you.

Mother's Day for Whales

Photo by: Eric H. Cheng

 Last night, a documentary about Humpback Whales took my breath away. The film, called "Ocean Voyages" was aired on Animal Planet, and I thought I just had to tell you about it so you can watch it too.

   Full of astounding imagery, amazing facts, and a great story. The documentary follows a Mom and calf Humpback Whale as they migrate from one pole to another.

  Some shots within this film are unlike any other I have seen before. A seemingly still image from behind the Mothers' tail, as her baby comes into the scene was one of the best I've ever seen...not only that, but as your mouth is gaping open in amazement, the whales themselves are singing to each other in an ever-changing song. Apparently, all Humpbacks sing a similar song (unlike many other whales), but their song changes year by year, morphing and adapting to new abilities within the whales techniques.

   Another great scene is shot from above the whales as they swim. As the whales are drifting through the water, they seem tiny in the vast ocean, then...a pod of dolphins joins them, swimming slightly ahead of them. It's incredibly peaceful, and all of them seem happy with the company they're in.

   Schools of fish, flocks of birds, and breaching Humpbacks makes this documentary one of my top ten. Check it out! "Ocean Voyages"

   "Ocean Voyagers is a co-production of Feodor Pitcairn Productions and Off the Fence, filmed entirely in HD on location in French Polynesia, Hawaii, Alaska, The Gulf of Maine, Newfoundland and the Bay of Fundy; the resulting footage of these elusive animals is as evocatively beautiful as it is luminously detailed."

   Find out more about the Documentary here: Off TheFence (You can also view it if you become a member).

 

Welcome to Your Daily Breeze!

 

YourDailyBreeze is a new, artistically-minded and environmentally-inspired blog that encompasses as much eco-information as possible to help you live consciously and in harmony with our Mother Earth. This blog is here to help you help the environment in fun and stylish ways, while at the same time you save money, spend money (on good things), and learn some insightful and/or helpful stuff. Written by Emily Dodge of SustainabiliTee.com (the Green Tee), this blog highlights the issues that have inspired designs and concepts that drive this small company.

   Every day, there will be new information, new eco-finds, updates, articles, artists, and more! YourDailyBreeze' intent is to bring you a needed break, as well as to provide you with some tools and entertainment you need to live compassionately and happily. We'd really appreciate you adding us to your favorites list, or your bookmarks list, or even using our link as your home page -- we hope you'll agree that we're a pretty good starting point for a plethora of earth-friendly information.

   Please enjoy often, and take a nice deep breath of YourDailyBreeze!

Welcome, and see you tomorrow:)

   Today marks the grand-opening release of 13 new SustainabiliTee designs! The list includes
new Thrift Prints, new colors, fabrics, layout, and more, all at your beck and call.

Custom Orders

    There are many unique things that separate  SustainabiliTee from the normal tee shirt printing companies. One of the most prominent distinctions (besides environmental commitment, incredible designs, superior customer service, and one-of-a-kind nature of every tee) is the fact each tee is made just for you. When an order is placed, it is not just "filled"; it is hand-printed that day by Emily.

   Isn't it cool to know the name of the person who printed your tee?! Imagine being able to ask "Emily, can you print it so it looks like a vintage tee shirt?" Well, now you can...

Now offering specialized options!

   For a few extra dollars, you can now get your print done the way you've always wanted!

    Vintage print (thin, worn through, washed): $2.00

    Location (specify location you'd like your design to be printed): $3.00

And more! Check it out here.

Upcoming Model Shoot

Model Shoot Coming Up - Eco Goods Requested!

Submit your homemade, recycled goods to SustainabiliTee and they may be included in an up-coming shoot!

Featuring vintage clothing, thrift finds, unique, tasteful tees, and recycled jewelry, this photo shoot will be one for the books. Artistic yet concise, it's taking place May 25th thru May 31, but all submissions are due by the 23rd, 2008. If you think it's too late for this photo shoot, don't hesitate to send it anyway, because photo shoots will be taking place all summer and fall!

Products Needed: (must be mostly earth-friendly: reused, recycled, organic, etc.)
pants
jeans
shorts
skirts
jewelry
shirts
coats
glasses
accessories
hair clips, fasteners, etc.

Also submittable: (and would be used in preparation for the shoot)
makeup
skin beautifiers
hair products/hair dye (hair dye must be submitted by May 20th, 2008)
curlers

Benefit to you:

If your product is chosen, you will be included in a gorgeous assemblance of stylish eco-chic fashion and living.

The photographs gracefully and/or subtly display your product, while the content gives your information and short description to visitors and targeted, happy customers.

All items will be photographed singly, and posted on the blog as well, siting your contact information, and other info. (up to 200 words). Note: content may be edited to fit blogs style.

Submit Today!

If you think your independently made, artistically created, or reused goods meet our high standards, please submit your work today. All accepted work will be photographed on vegetarian or earth-friendly models, and  published on our site in a gallery format, and will include a link from the photo as well as text will go to your site/profile.

Please include a brief synopsis of your product and how it's earth-friendly. You can also just point me to a link where you may already have all that information written.

Email me to find out more details...or email image and description and get a running start!
emily@sustainabilitee.com

Thank you and I hope to review and photograph your product soon!

Emily Dodge

Recycled Map Envelopes Now Used by SustainabiliTee!

    The much-loved and hard-to-find recycled map envelopes are now the official package of the single SustainabiliTee. These tasteful, elegant, and durable envelopes are not only great to use, but sealing them and writing on them is actually pleasurable!

   The best part is their 100% post-consumer nature, as they're made from misprinted or refused European maps and produced by DirektRecycling. You can purchase them in the U.S. currently in the gift shop at StartMotions.com.

   Even when you order 20 shirts, I still pack them in as much post-consumer material as possible. Boxes and all packing material are gathered by friends and family before the inevitable trip to the trash, or sometimes the recycle center...but directly recycling it saves even more energy than recycling it!

   So, when you get your package, please be sure to reuse it yet again. Who knows, the box and its material could be used 100 more times before having to be recycled or thrown out (or better yet, reused in an inventive way). This alone will save 100 boxes and countless non-recycled or recyclable material.

   Thank you for visiting, and for shopping with us!

Interesting Eco-Products...

Here are some recent finds that involve art, ingenuity, and environmental compassion. Check them out, these two were found on Etsy.com . (keyword search: recycled).

Eco-friendly Dog Bed

Have some old pillows or comforters lying around? Stuff them in this Dog Bed made from recycled plastic! "If it's your pillow, your dog will love it because it smells like you..." says Annie, of Annies' sweatshop. She makes earth-friendly dog adornments and comforts for the eco-consicous pup and human. Customizable, interchangeable and detachable, the dog bed wins my heart because of the unique snap button top that the pup can stick its' snout in and burrow under. Mmmm, burrowing. Uma would love it.

Dog Bed 
Leash
SustainabiliTees' Dog Fan TeeShirt.
 

Sprouting Greeting Cards

Ever wonder what to do with the old cards you've saved? What about plant them! These cards, found on Etsy.com, at "Recycled Ideas" are not only handmade, earth-friendly, and tasteful, but they sprout! Check it out at http://www.recycledideas.etsy.com

Repel Wasps Naturally

Here's the easiest possible way to get rid of wasps, without endangering yourself or them. Since they are territorial by nature, they won't impose on another wasps territory. Simply put a fake wasp's nest near where they hang out! You can buy one here ($17.95 each) and here (12.95, more decorative, for a set of two).

Or you can even make your own out of a small paper bag and a grey or even yellow marker. 1. Stuff the bag with a sheet of newspaper. 2. Round the square edges. 3. Make markings similar to the image of this real wasp nest. 4. Tie it with a string. 5. Hang it near where you see the wasps most often.

Photo by: TheRagens.com

Other home remedies:
Natural Insect Pest Control