Earth Day Organic Fabric Giveaway Extraordinaire
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 8:49PMThe giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!
;)
Last week, I was approached by Jan DiCintio, the fantastic bundle of energy and talent behind Daisy Janie, to participate in a giveaway to promote Earth Day and organic fabrics. It took me all of 1 second to sign on, and, luckily for you, 11 other designers (in whose company I am humbled to be included) did, too!
Now, before you get to the goodies, how's about a few useful factoids?
Even people who carefully seek out and are willing to pay a premium for organic milk or produce for their families may not see the value of organic cotton—it's not as though we are eating it, right? But when you stop to consider that, when grown conventionlly, this non-nutritional crop uses 25% of the world's insecticides, it's clear that the way cotton is grown has a profound impact on the health of our water supplies, our soil, and our farmers.
Although there are several different certification bodies for organic cotton, the central premise is the same: organic cotton should be grown free of chemical pesticides or fertilizers and from naturally occuring, non-genetically-modified seeds. Although organic cotton production is on the rise, it still represents less than 1% of annual worldwide cotton production. We have a long way to go, but there is momentum building.
As demand for organic cotton grows, so will its carbon footprint shrink—the bulk of world organic cotton production is in India, which means organic cotton still has to travel a pretty far piece to end up in most people's homes around the world. But as farmers see demand for the product rise in their own countries, they will plant more acres and serve their local and regional markets more effectively.
The Goods
The giveaway works like this: each us is giving away our organic fabric designs to a lucky commenter on each of our respective blogs. The giveaways open April 21, 2010 at 6PM EST and close on April 26 at 10AM EST. Visit each of the links below to hop to each giveaway:
Betz White • Birch Fabrics • Cloud9 Fabrics • Daisy Janie • Harmony Art • Homesweet • ink & spindle • loop • Monaluna • Swanky Swell • Umbrella Prints
The winner of my giveaway will receive 4 organic cotton fat quarters or 2 full yards of organic cotton sateen in the patterns of your choice from my Spoonflower Shop. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post—what would you do with free fabric? Please be sure to leave a way for me to track you down if you win—if you share your email address, only I will be able to see it, so that'll do the trick!
Here are just a few of the designs you could choose from if you won:
(Although my fabric designs are available through Spoonflower on conventional cotton and linen, I am so pleased that Spoonflower, which prints its fabrics using low-environmental-impact water-based inks, has made it possible for me to present my work on organic cotton. The more we as consumers support businesses who offer these environmentally friendly options, the more the businesses will work to offer them and the better able they will be to make them broadly affordable.)
Reader Comments (594)
Thanks! Earth Day has become more special to me as I grow older and realize what harm we do as we pass thru. I recycle more, use less and use organic whenever I can!
I'm going to follow your blog as well!
I would make baby bibs, burp cloths, little bags or pouches, coasters. The possibilities are endless. Thanks for the giveaway!
I'm thinking of a layered skirt for my 11 year old. Unless of course there's enough to make a skirt for me, in which case she's totally on her own. ;)
I would make something for my 8 yr old daughter and for my grandchildren, be it bibs, an outfit, etc... I love the feel of organic cotton, and the fact that it is good for the environment too.
Wow, your fabric is BEAUTIFUL, I would love to win, thanks for the chance! I'm a quilt designer so I can see 2 yards of one of these becoming the most beautiful pieced border.....
Just found you via Betz White. This is such a fun giveaway, I would make some stuff (bibs, blankets, loveys) for my new baby (due any moment) and for my several friends who have just given birth. Thanks for the chance.
I love fabric! And the only thing better could be FREE fabric!!! :) After affectionately stroking it, folding it over and over and looking at how lovely it was on my cutting table, I'd surely make something for one of my sweet girls with it. ;)
Thank you for celebrating earth day with such beauty~ I would use the fabric for a bag and an apron.
Thanks for the chance~Theresa
Thank you for doing the giveaway. So nice for you to participate ;). I'm thinking in creating some animal shape pillows. I have 2 lovely dachshunds (Odie and Picasso) and they are the inspiration of what I would like to create ;)
Have a fantastic day!
Julia
Thanks for the chance to win, what a great way to celebrate Earth Day!
I have been admiring your designs for a while - I'd love to use them to make some cute bags!
jennifereladd at yahoo dot com
Happy Earth Day and thanks for celebrating it with all of us with this great giveaway! I'd love to have some lovely organic fabrics to make some new pillow cases for our bed.
Celebrating Earth Day with you! I think I would make an apron for my daughter.
Peggy
Your fabric is beautiful, and I would use it in a quilt.
a bag, a nice tote bag!
I'd probably make something for my daughter, maybe a skirt or a top!
I think I'd make napkins from the fat quarters.
I would love some fat quarters! I would make some bags, probably. Or some baby things.
pillows, pillows, pillows! i heart them and your fabric!
Awesome, who doesn't like the wonderful fabric you make!?!
I'd probably use it to make some brooches or tea wallets or loyalty card wallets - the options are endless. :)
I just love this give away and I would make a fabulous summer purse with the fabric if I win. Thanks :)
Oooh, I would make a summer top, maybe even a dress if I can get the pattern right!
I think I would make my daughters a skirt each - your fabrics are gorgeous!!
I would make a new set of placemats and napkins for Spring!
I'd recover a stool, perhaps (and have been hoping to take up quilting this summer). I love your fabrics!
I've been wanting to make a baby quilt using organic cotton :0)
a bag and some napkins!
My mom used to make me reversible wraparound skirts when I was a kid...I have roller skating birthday party pics (elementary school age) in one of them...loved them...that's what I'm thinking of...but on my own sewing machine this time.
OH I love give aways and discovering lovely new blogs!
I would be making a baby quilt or some dresses for my new grand daughter due in May.
I'd make a quilt with your absolutely stunning fabric! Hope I win!
An opportunity to support people doing good things for a good cause ... it doesn't get any better than that. What would I make? I'm not as clever as all of you. A table runner? Pillows? Something that EVERYONE will see when they come in my house.
Teresa
How wonderful of all of you to do such a great give away. The fabrics look fantastic and i am sure they feel even better than they look. I would love to make a nice little gown for lounging out.
I would definitely add them to one of my quilts.
I would love to make a Mother's Day handbag! Of course, that's cutting it a little close, but Christmas would give me plenty of time. ;)
Oh my gosh, I really do not know right now. I am afraid it would take me a while to cut into such great fabric. Thank you for the chance!
Happy Earth Day! I would make a baby quilt if I win. I have a grandson due in July.....I'm so excited.
I love to make goodies for my daughter, niece, and nephew with organic fabrics!
Oh, well that is easy as I am a little turqoiuse crazy right now, thinking about dipping into the pacific ocean. I would take that red bandana fabric (great red and turqoiuse combo) and add dome more turqoiuse in a contrasting fabric, and make myself a fun sun dress.
I would totally make something to wear or something for my house depending on the fabric - but I love the designs you have :)
pillows
a quilt
a seat for my new bench?
I'd use the fabrics for my quilting! I do all hand-sewing, so it's especially nice to have fabrics that feel nice!
Walking to the beach to shell forage today and a beautiful warm autumn day in Pt. Lincoln, South Australia. What a better way to spend Earth Day. Pam x
Choosing just four or two would be the tough part ... so pretty! Someone above said she could see some of your fabrics as the border for a quilt and I agree -- a big wide border to show off the pretty prints.
Thank you for having the giveaway -- hopefully it'll get more people thinking about organic cotton as what they normally reach for when sewing.
I would use it in a quilt or embellished kitchen towels. Thanks!
I'm really excited about the Earth Day organic fabric giveaway (that has a beat to it). I just got my very own sewing maching last year (thanks to Mom). Before that, I sewed with my mother's machine as a child. I'm excited to use my new sewing machine and the fabric I win to make table runners and other decorative elements for my Earth-friendly wedding, which will be at the Headlands Center for the Arts next year. Please, please pick me!
This one is easy - I would put them together to make a nice cool cotton sundress for my sweet little granddaughter :)
I would use the fabrics for skirts, totes and possibly an apron. :D Thanks for the opportunity! Happy Earth Day(:
blog hopping wohoo!!
wow, such an amazing giveaway!
Hm... with these fat quarters, I could easily make 10 different plushies... or maybe 7 and some clothes...
or maybe 5, clothes, a pincushion... so many options to choose from!
I would probably make a purse or maybe even an apron. I'd have to see the fabric and let it tell me what it wants to be! Thanks for the possibilties!