Industrial Hemp: One Of The Most Eco-Friendly Fabrics In The World

 

With the popularity in and demand for Industrial Hemp on the rise, everyone from fabric manufacturers, sustainable textile advocates and designers, to artisans, young entrepreneurs, and DIY crafters are discovering creative ways to cash in on the cannabis crop. But what is all the buzz about? And what are the benefits of this strand of hemp?

Industrial Hemp comes from the same Cannabis Sativa family of plants as its more notable female cousin, CBD Hemp…aka Mary Jane. The main difference between Industrial Hemp and CBD Hemp is that Industrial Hemp contains only traces of the psychoactive THC that has made its cousin famous. What makes Industrial Hemp special however, is what’s hidden in its fibers.

Top 5 Mistakes DIY’ers Make When ReUpholstering

reupholstery

As an uncertain economy and a desire to be more self-sufficient leads the hands of  many consumers into the appealing yet often pre-mature world of DIY’ers, the need for a guided professional approach continues to grow. And while preserving one’s spending by doing-it-yourself certainly makes sense when on a budget, often times creatives wind up spending much more than planned in time and money. In the end, winding up frustrated, broke, and with an unfinished project still sitting there. From the results of improper measuring methods and careless evaluation of reupholstery needs, to poor fabric choices and underestimated project complexity, no matter what situation applies, learn to avoid the following do-it-yourself furniture reupholstery mistakes to increase your chances for a successful outcome.

D.I.Y Singing Bell Craft Project

 



Throughout various cultures around the world, bells have historically held a multitude of meaning and purpose. Bells symbolize beginnings and endings. They are rung at weddings, funerals, during meditation and to raise our vibrations. Bells warn us and call our attention. They commence fights and finish them, and alert us of livestock movement. Bells inform us of guests and signal the readiness of palate pleasing nourishment. Simple soundful metal craft for some, sacred singing bell for others, these handcrafted creations have served communities for thousands of years.

Fuse It! Fabric Fusing Basics

 

Over the years,  fusible web has become the time saving alternative to sewing. A type of interfacing, everyone from the beginning crafter to the most experienced designer can appreciate the ease and simplicity of this no-sew method. If you’re new to the notion of fusing, here are a few tips, tricks and fusing basics.

Who Will Save The Slow-Furnishing Industry?

With a fast-furnishing trend influencing consumer purchase of cheaply made and inexpensively priced home fittings, a demand for a more eco-sustainable, value-driven way of decorating our homes simmers on the back burner, awaiting its (re)turn to the forefront again. Enter the scrappers, grassroots DIY’ers, experienced artisans, seasoned wood-crafters, and novices of slow-furnishing in the making.

Like fast-fashion, fast-furnishing offers seemingly fashionable furniture that is quickly produced using cheap materials. Often times it is manufactured overseas where exploited workers from underprivileged countries are paid pennies to produce, and the price tags left hanging once stateside offer a great look at a great price, along with a guilt-free disposable mentality.  What more could a style conscious consumer on a budget want, right?

Sewing Superstitions From Around the World

 

 

superstition {noun}

su·​per·​sti·​tion | \ ˌsü-pər-ˈsti-shən \

Definition of superstition:
1: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
2: a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

 

DIY Cocktail Canopy from J&O Fabrics

J&O DIY Cocktail Canopy: Floral Deco

For the J&O/ Summerdale Mills family, summer just isn’t summer without backyard BBQ’s, picnics, taking in seemingly endless sunsets in an outdoor living space of our very own, or simply sitting pretty by the seashore.  But beyond the idea and aesthetics of it all, there is the nitty-gritty of uninvited guests to contend with that certainly can have a way of spoiling the fun. You know those party-crashers I’m speaking of. The eight-legged, winged and just plain annoying creepy crawlies seduced by the sights, sounds and scents of it all. We can’t blame them for wanting to get a taste of the good life I know, but we can make our presence in their domain more comfortable.

African-American Inventors In The Textile Industry

As our nation observes the Juneteenth holiday and the 1865 emancipation of the last remaining enslaved people of African descent in the US,  their many contributions to the textile and fashion industries are celebrated as well. To join in the commemoration, here are a few such African-American inventors who as a result of their creative visions and tenacious Spirits, have made our lives as dress makers and textile artisans just a little bit easier.

Inventor: Sarah Boone

Invention: Ironing Board

Patent Number: 473653

Patent Date: 4/26/1892

DIY Cabana With a Little Help from Summderdale


 

While Barry Manilow’s popular hit song from the 80’s warned couples not to fall in love at the CopaCabana , when it comes to taking in the outdoors in style, the wish for a cabana you can’t help but fall in love with is just what the doctor ordered as the lazy, hazy days of summer roll in.