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 As 2009 rolls in, we are met with the opportunity to make yet another attempt to start and, yes, actually follow through, with our new year’s resolutions. Whether it is starting a new diet, beginning an exercise program, or embarking on a new career path, these commitments made to us, by us, are reflections of our desire to better ourselves and our lives in some small or big way. And what better time to do it than at the start of a new year? It’s almost as if by putting our goals and dreams into motion at the same time Mother Earth is moving into another celebrated year of existence, we are somehow given a boost of hope and encouragement to achieve what we set out to do.
Speaking of Mother Earth and New Year’s resolutions, for 2009 why not make a commitment to a goal that will benefit both you and her. With increasing pollution, decreasing natural habitats and global warming on the rise, both man and Earth are suffering and must work together to preserve life for ALL living creatures, including the ones not born yet.
With such worldwide issues at hand, one can feel overwhelmed at the thought of solving the problems, but have no fear; the power of one is truly powerful indeed, and it doesn’t take millions of dollars or some complete transformation in our lifestyles to make a change. All it takes is one step, one commitment, one change; and J&O Fabrics can help.
At J&O, we carry a selection of environmentally friendly organic fabrics created without the use of artificial dyes, synthetic materials or hazardous chemicals. From our seaweed and cotton based Sea-Tiva, to our naturally anti-bacterial and odor-free Bamboo and Kona Cottons, our eco-sensitive collection not only looks good, but is good for you. Instead of spending your hard earned money on fads created from synthetic materials like rayon, spandex or lycra that suffocate your body and are not biodegradable once thrown away, try replacing one or two pieces in your wardrobe or linen closet with breathable, natural fibered cottons, wools or even organic hemp. A shirt for you here, bedding linen for your children there, just one step can make all the difference. Plus, who knows what kind of trend you will set in your circle of family and friends for 09’. Just one step.
Worried about the cost? Relax, with a prices at our online store starting as low as $7.98/yd, isn’t it worth the investment towards your health and that of our future generation? Make that change for the New Year. Go Green! Do it now! It’s just one step. What are you waiting for?
Labels: bamboo, conservation, earth, eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, fashions, frugal, kona, Natural, new year, new year resolution, Organic, organic fabric, organic material, seacell
 While most of our shirts have been, and continue to be made from cotton, bamboo fiber shirts are slowly becoming the popular ‘go-green’ alternative. Both are natural plant fibers, absorb moisture well, and are strong and durable. The benefit of the bamboo fiber is that it is naturally anti-bacterial and is known for its breath-ability as well. Much like cotton, it is not only comfortable, but carries an extremely soft hand too. One more thing they have in common, China. Both cotton and bamboo are grown and harvested in abundance there not only to support their building needs, but their wildlife as well. As we move into a consciousness that has us ever more aware of our connection with Mother Nature and the effects that human action has on her, the more we are propelled to purchase and support organic and go-green products. Many natural forming goods that we have taken for granted over the centuries are slowly fading away and the need for sustainable resources is in even more demand now. Bamboo is known as one of the fasted growing and spreading plants on the Earth, making it not only naturally highly renewable, but also a great source in improving soil quality in eroded areas of land. This, in turn, makes the soil more fertile for other plants to grow. In less than 5 years it is ready for harvest and a new batch is ready to follow right behind. With minimal chemical additives required to convert the bamboo plant fiber into textile fiber, bamboo is soon to becoming the next blessing from nature to hit the fashion runways of our own clothing closets and home dwelling spaces. From shirts to sheets, go-green. Mother Earth thanks you! 
Check out our eco-friendly bamboo fabric here!
Check out our organic cotton here! Check out our selection of sea-Tiva cotton here!
Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: bamboo-fabric, cotton fabric, eco friendly fabric, go green gina, Natural, natural fabric, Organic, organic fabric
 All Natural Baking SodaI remember as a child, my mother pouring that white powdered mineral into the palm of my hand and showing me how to scoop up a little onto my toothbrush to clean my teeth. Her reason, children don't need all that extra coloring and flavoring that commercial tooth pastes often had in them. It was grainy and abrasive, but it was all natural and boy did it leave me teeth and mouth feeling sparkling clean afterwards! When I would open the refrigerator later in the day for an afternoon snack, there it was again. My mother would say she used it to keep the foods free from odor causing bacteria. Funny how this little yellow box of baking soda did so much. There are literally hundreds of uses for baking soda (sodium bicarbonate ). In it's natural form it is called nahcolite. It is an inexpensive, non-toxic, fragrance-free, environmentally friendly, and safe substance to use not only for cleaning your teeth and keeping perishables fresh, but for laundering nearly all washable fabrics as well. It cleans, deodorizes, removes stains and softens fabrics. It is as gentle as it is effective because it leaves no harsh chemical residue behind, and will not irritate sensitive skin. Make a good stain removal solution by mixing it with water and allowing it to sit an hour or so before washing. To soften your laundry, add ¼ cup to the wash cycle. Keep clothes smelling clean by adding a quarter cup to your washer for additional freshness. Even strong odors such as pet urine can be eradicated with natural baking soda. Start by soaking up as much of the urine as possible with a rag, then sprinkle the area generously. Let it sit overnight and vacuum in the morning. Finish up by mixing two cups of white vinegar with a gallon of water and wash the area down. The vinegar will remove the urine smell. Natural Organic Vinegar
When taken internally, natural organic vinegar acts as an excellent antacid. Mixed in hot water with a little organic honey, it works wonders to relieve bronchitis and excess mucous in the chest. House and home become clean as a whistle when vinegar is applied to greasy countertops and toothpaste stained mirrors. And while its initial sharp odor brings unpleasant memories of natrual feminine care remedies to the minds of many men the rest of their lives, generations of women attest to the beneficial relief vinegar has brought to an overly acidic tract. Not only does natural organic vinegar act as a medicinal aid, it is also a very inexpensive, eco-friendly solution that cuts grease, removes stains and acts as an excellent fabric softener. Remove ketchup, blood, grass, fruit juice, and sweat stains by rubbing distilled white vinegar right onto the stain. Let it sit a few minutes before washing. For moldy towels, linens or garments, soak in distilled white vinegar diluted with water for 10-20 minutes. Machine wash in hot water and line dry. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften your laundry as well. Fermented from rice, fruit, apple cidar and or maize grain to name a few, this inexpensive and highly useful solution is also a great odor eliminator. Hydrogen PeroxideWhen I lost my voice or lost my tooth, my father handed me a cup of hydrogen peroxide and told me to gargle. When I would come in from a busy day of stunts at the playground, my mom would dab this bubbly solution on my war scars. And when I had a mild case of athletes foot one winter, my local herbal doctor prescribed it to kill the irritating fungus. Hydrogen peroxide is probably one of the least expensive, yet most valuable natural solutions one could have on their medicine or laundry shelf. It is not only a disinfectant, anti-bacterial and an anti-fungal agent, it is also a powerful bleaching agent. For cleaning stains, a watered down mixture of 50% peroxide / 50% h2o can be used. Pour the clear liquid solution over blood stains as you would a bloody wound and watch it do its thing. Rub it around, then rinse with cold water to pull the stain out. This will work on colored or white fabrics just the same. If you have an old stain on new fabric, or a new stain on old fabric, just soak the material or garment in the 50/50 solution for about 30 minutes for great results. For the inevitable grass stains, presoak the garment in hydrogen peroxide then wash as usual.  Organic LemonsIf an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then a lemon a day is sure to not only keep your internal acid/alkaline juices balanced, but it will also keep your house smelling fresh, your dishes looking clean, your skin carrying a healthy glow and your laundered fabrics bright and white. Natural organic lemon juice contains citric acid; its naturally bleaching action works especially well on white fabrics, making it a great eco-friendly and gentle bleach alternative. To brighten white linens, just add ¼ of lemon juice to the wash cycle and launder as usual in warm water. For best results, hang your laundered goods to dry naturally outside, as the beautiful warm sun will increase the whitening effect. Organic lemon juice cuts through grease and removes sweat stains as well. Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda and leave it on the stain for ½ hour before washing. For mold and mildew, presoak your fabric or garment in a mixture of lemon juice and salt, then place out in the sun. Wash in your regular laundering cycle, separate from other garments. Use the same concoction for rust stains as well.  Natural Unrefined Sea Salt
There are over thirty verses which reference salt in the English translation of the King James Bible, from the story of Lot’s wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobediently looked back at the wicked cities of Sodom , to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus referred to his followers as the ‘ salt of the earth’. From ancient times until now, salt has served as a symbolic reference, a preserver, a cleanser, and a healing agent. Our bodies make and require a certain percentage of naturally occuring salt called iodine required for normal metabolic funtioning. Salt is an essential dietary mineral necessary for the survival of all living creatures. As one of nature’s most valuable and purposeful resources, salt offers its services as a stain remedy as well. Natural Unrefined Sea-Salt is a great absorbent granule. If you have a liquid based stain like juice, wine, coffee, tomato-based sauces or soft drinks, then just blot the stain with cold water. Sprinkle with salt, then wipe clean with club soda and throw the fabric or garment I the wash cycle. If the stain is on carpeting, cover the areas of the carpet with a generous amount of the salt and leave it on for a couple of hours. The salt will draw the moisture out of the carpet. Afterwards, just vacuum up the residue. This remedy offers a safe and effective means of cleaining your fabric and home goods without use of harsh and hazardous chemical based cleaning agents. Unrefined sea salt works great on any kind of carpet stain. Natural Corn starchIt’s funny how many of our common food ingredients can also serve as simple cleaning tools for our fabrics too. The naturally occuring starch from the maize corn is one such example. Used primarily as a binding agent for many of our grandparents’ homemade puddings, cornstarch absorbs oil, soaks up grease and starches fabrics as well. Simply remove a stain by mixing the cornstarch with cold water into a pasty consistency. Cover the spot completely with the cornstarch paste and rub it gently into the fabric. Lay the material in the sun and let its warm rays dry it. Once dry, brush off the remaining residue. Repeat if necessary. No abrasive chemicals, no flammable sprays, no hazardous materials in the air to poison your family. Just nature friendly corn starch.  Raw BoraxWhen my family went out to our family cabin in the Poconos each summer, a can of Borax was the first thing on our packing list. Father’s hand built log cabin seemed to constantly be mistaken as a fallout shelter for all of nature’s bountiful insect life; and this natural insecticide seemed to be just the remedy to rid these creepy crawlies from our domain. It’s amazing how something that could destroy life so easily, can also bring it back again. Borax (sodium borate) occurs naturally in evaporite deposits produced by the repeated evaporation on seasonal lakes. It is also a natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria. Much like lemons, raw borax also acts as a bleach alternative. It deodorizes, removes stains and odors, and boosts the cleaning power of laundry soap, bringing life back to old, dingy fabrics and garments. Although a natural substance, borax can be highly toxic, so discretion in use is strongly recommended. Dish Detergent
Remember the commercials for Dawn liquid dish detergent? One drop in a sink full of greasy dishes seemed to miraculously make the oil smothered water just disappear. Well, it seems the advertisers of that blue solution weren’t lying. Dawn dish detergent is an excellent option for cleaning oil, grease, and ketchup stains from fabric and garments. Just rub on the dishwashing liquid and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before washing. Rinse off and clean in your regular wash cycle for a good as new look. While Dawn is not considered natural or organic, it is a much safer solution for cleaning your fabric goods than many commercial cleaners with harsh chemicals and harmful ingredients. Organic Herbs & Essential Oils
Why use artificially scented products and laboratory made fragrances to sweeten your fabric goods and upholstered furnishings when mother nature has provided an unlimited abundance of different aromas to please our senses....natrually? Beautifully scented organic herbs and healing essential oils are Earth's gift to our minds, bodies and souls. They are not only therapuetic, but are a great substitute for many of our commercial cleaning products as well. As disinfectants, they can diffuse those less than desirable odors; as fragrance enhancers, they can create a mood, and elevate your senses. A whiff of that particular scent can take us back to a specific time and place, bring clarity to a cluttered mind, and offer a calm to our inner storms. We burn sage incense in our family rooms to cleanse from the day, lavender diffusers in our childrens’ rooms to coax them into a restful sleep, and home-made apple pie scented candles in our kitchens to warm the hearts of our families on cold autumn nights. So why not sweeten our fabrics the same way.
To sweeten your laundry, add a few drops of selected essential oils like rosewood, peppermint or patchouli to the rinse cycle. To sweeten stored fabrics or bedding linens, make a homemade cheesecloth sachet filled with crushed and dried jasmine, cinnamon or ylang-ylang. Custom made quilts for friends and loved ones are just a little more special when hinted with a tranquil chamomile or custom selected scent of choice. The benefits of using organic herbs and healing essential oils over synthetic commercial fabric softeners are endless if you have sensitive skin and allergies as these natural options are less likely to cause unwanted reactions.
Save time, money and the planet by making your home and the fabricated materials in it, a harmonious and eco-friendly sanctuary with the implementation of these natural care alternatives. Mother Earth will reap the benefits, your wallet will have less wear and tear, garments and bedding will nurture your body and soul better, and your fabric will thank you…over and over again. Labels: eco-friendly stain removals, Fabric, fabric care, fabric stains, fabrics, home remedys, Natural, stain removal
The Benefits of Natural Fabrics: Clothing made from natural fabrics are not only good for our environment, but the body as well. The fibers have a natural give that lets the cloth drape in a way that synthetics just cant do. Plus, natural fabrics just feel good when you wear them. Natural fabrics, created from organically grown cotton and flax, hemp and ramie, or harvested from sheep, silkworms and other animals, are renewable, sustainable resourcesas well. Unlike synthetics, which are largely produced from petroleum and mineral sources, cotton and wool and silk do not deplete the earth of its natural resources either. Every natural fabric has its own unique advantages and qualities. Wool, for instance, is a natural insulator. It's naturally water resistant and fire resistant. It also absorbs up to 30% of its own weight in moisture before it even begins to feel damp. There are dozens of varieties of wool, from lightweight challis to thick warm tweed. Natural cotton breathes with your body. Their fibers are responsible for wicking away perspiration and drying quickly. It's the single most used fabric in today's world both for clothing and for furnishings and accessories. Cotton takes dyes very well, and is very easy to care for. It is also an excellent material for plus sized clothes, with the natural fiber creating a smooth outline and the organic texture helping the skin to breath. Silk is one of the oldest fabric fibers known to man, and throughout its history, it has been synonymous with luxury. Silk is naturally absorbent, which makes it warm in winter and cool in summer. It has stronger fibers than steel, but its smooth, soft drape makes it a most sensual fabric to wear. Linen, like silk, has been used for thousands of years. Dating back to Ancient Egypt, it is made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is strong and durable, yet lightweight and breathable depending on the weight. Linen goods can last generations, becoming softer and more lustrous as use after use. Hemp and ramie are made from the stalks of plants, much like linen is. They are strong and durable, and have the same natural sheen as linen. Both fabrics absorb heat and release moisture, making them cool and comfortable to wear. Please checkout website as we will be carrying a whole line of Organic and Natural Fabrics!!! GO GREEN!!! Posts by J&O Fabrics StoreLabels: cotton, Fabric, fabrics, Hemp, Linen, Natural, Organic, silk
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