Just walking my talk...

The main point I make about sustainable living is that it starts at home and radiates outward into a larger society. The more harmoniously I choose to meet my own needs, the more balanced and positive my life becomes! The reason my business is named Baisebeige Studios is because there are often times in my life when I branch out into other areas of creativity other than textiles and clothing. I believe this is part of sustainable living which involves using and developing many skills and using all of the resources available.

I, however, believe that I must keep editing those resources and have an annual yard sale with my neighborhood at the WOODRUFF PLACE FLEA MARKET which is unquestionably the best community FUNdraiser ever! Each year, on the first full weekend of June, 20,000 people come to our historic neighborhood to buy our junk and everyone who sells junk tithes 10% back to the neighborhood.

Junk is a form of potential energy and the opportunity to convert it to kinetic energy in the form of money is awesome. Keeping congruent with the idea of releasing things we don't need to get things we do want is inspiring! The neighborhood spends their portion on restoring the historic prettiness of the common areas. That's how we raise money for costly repairs to our beloved fountains such as the one you see here. Our picturesque town hall in the background has also benefited from past sales. There is always something needing attention in an old neighborhood and we are willing to do the work to make it work!

I notice that as my life stays in motion, I am constantly making junk. As I grow, things fall out of usefulness. As I think and act, things become needful! My junk sale this year helped fund my new project, the BathroomFarm. Ever since my neighborhood grocery store closed a few years ago, my life has been difficult. Since I choose to walk and ride the bus everywhere, it is difficult to obtain those five-a-day-the-color-way fresh fruits and vegetables for better health. So, I have decided to grow my own

in a year 'round vertical garden. In My. Bathroom.

So, here's the blank canvas in the form of an altered painted wall that is now becoming my BathroomFarm. This exercise in personal sustainability will reinforce my values and enhance all areas of my life. I am applying textile knowledge in this project by constructing fiber trellises and making some wall pockets for plants from upcycled materials such as canopies from discarded umbrellas.

I am completely optimistic that I'll be energized in my textile work as a result of doing this project by virtue of the increase in the general harmony in BEing. After all, this is completely about my view of personal sustainability. I am using my skills and resources to provide what I need!