“When we recognize the virtues, the talent, the beauty of Mother Earth, something is born in us, some kind of connection. Love is born.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
Being out in nature invites me to pause and feel that I am part of the magic of this earth. It invites me to feel the breath in my lungs and know that it connects me to everyone and everything.
When we see ourselves as part of nature, we make caring for it a priority.
My work is a small and humble way to honor the beauty and generosity of planet Earth; it is a reminder of her generous gifts.
Here are a few ways I incorporate sustainable practices into my business:
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Quilts are made 100% cotton or linen fabric and have been naturally dyed from plants that I have grown or gathered. This ensures that no harmful chemicals are used in the dye process.
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Quilts are lovingly packaged with materials that are plastic free and recyclable. I order most packaging materials from EcoEnclose, a company committed to environmental sustainability.
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My little family lives car-free (yes, even with a toddler!). All packages are delivered to the post office by bicycle. I even travel to markets by bike, loading up my entire booth on a flatbed trailer! Good for the planet and our health.
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I try to minimize waste by repurposing fabric scraps for things like ribbon, cushion filling, and improv scrap projects. Water used during the dye process is recycled back into the garden, and all of the pigment from the dye baths is extracted and made into ink and paint.
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5% of all sales are donated to organizations that support environmental conservation and/or climate justice (see below for more information).
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The process of commercially dying fabrics involves the use of chemicals that takes a toll on the environment. So far in 2024, I have not purchased a single yard of commercially dyed fabric. All of the fabric I have used has been from my stash of previously purchased fabric or has been naturally dyed with plants.
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where all can thrive. Their primary mission is to conserve the land and water on which all life depends. All donations support conservation efforts in your local community based on your zip code. 5% of all quilt sales (aside from the Wanderer Collection, see below) are donated to support conservation efforts in Oregon. Visit their website for more information.
“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.”
Save the Boundary Waters
The Wanderer Collection, my first collection of landscape wall quilts, was largely inspired by the natural wilderness and connection to home the Boundary Waters holds for me. 5% of all sales from this collection are donated to Save the Boundary Waters, a campaign committed to the protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and greater Quetico-Superior Ecosystem, which includes the Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and Canada’s Quetico Provincial park. This precious natural wilderness is under threat of proposed sulfide-ore copper mining. This organization honors the sovereignty of this land’s indigenous people, the Anishinabe.