In addition to supporting local, you can support indie. Plaid Friday is the day after Thanksgiving when you (and yours who are lounging around) can go browse and support an independent retail merchant.
Can you walk, bike, or take public transportation there? drive less than 10 miles there?
Do you know who the retail proprietor is? or do you know that if you needed to speak with them, they would be responsive to your request?
Is the merchant somewhat knowledgeable about what they offer you? either about the source of the item, how to best use it, or other resources? are they helpful?
I'm going to support places where there are faces, names, and intelligence behind the counter.
Showing posts with label Amy Klimt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amy Klimt. Show all posts
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Shop local
The perennial question of "so what do you want for Christmas?" has been asked, and I have the luxury of having so much to live with and from, that I get to think about a response that can engage others around me.
The adage "think global, act local" has always been meaningful to me. So I return to this, especially as the general economy is depressed, and the action is to "shop local". This idea is described simply in the 3/50 Project: pick 3 local independent "brick and mortar" stores you couldn’t live without and if you spend $50 each month amongst the 3 then basically you are strengthening your own community.
It’s important to remember the repercussions our purchases have. For every $100 spent on local independent stores, $68 goes back into the community through payroll, taxes, and other expenditures. If you spend $100 on a national chain store, only $48 comes back; and if you buy from an online source, NONE of it comes back.
I want my friends and community to do well and to be well. In turn, we will be better equipped to reach out and assist others - on a local AND global level.
The adage "think global, act local" has always been meaningful to me. So I return to this, especially as the general economy is depressed, and the action is to "shop local". This idea is described simply in the 3/50 Project: pick 3 local independent "brick and mortar" stores you couldn’t live without and if you spend $50 each month amongst the 3 then basically you are strengthening your own community.
It’s important to remember the repercussions our purchases have. For every $100 spent on local independent stores, $68 goes back into the community through payroll, taxes, and other expenditures. If you spend $100 on a national chain store, only $48 comes back; and if you buy from an online source, NONE of it comes back.
I want my friends and community to do well and to be well. In turn, we will be better equipped to reach out and assist others - on a local AND global level.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tour de Fleece goals
I have some simple goals, which I posted on Ravelry.com on July 3:
1. spin every day,
2. spin local
_drop spindle purchased from fiberfiend@ravelry.com,
_fiber dyed by Amy Klimt aka Out of Step Dyeworks, and
_fiber dyed by Lisa Souza and maybe another if I have time,
3. spin fibers with the “elements” theme (water/air and fire/earth), and
4. learn how to do some simple blog posts.
Weighed out some fluff tonight. Looking fwd to this with no pressure because I am the self-proclaimed lantern rouge aka caboose! :)
Here's a reminder of the Tour de Fleece guidelines:
Tour de Fleece: The annual Tour de Fleece spin-along during the Tour de France. The concept is simple, They spin, we spin. A real spinning themed spin-along. This year the Tour de Fleece starts Saturday July 3rd and runs until Sunday July 25th, 2010.
Guidelines (NOT RULES):
Spin every day the Tour rides, if possible. Saturday July 3rd through Sunday July 25th. Days of rest: Monday July 12th, Wednesday July 21st. (Just like the actual tour)
Spin something challenging Thursday July 22nd. (The Tour’s toughest mountain stage from Pau up the legendary Col du Tourmalet)
Wear yellow on Sunday July 25th to announce victory. Why not wear yellow on any day you feel particularly successful? (Yellow is the color of the race leader in the Tour - but here we are all ‘race leaders’)
Other colors if desired: Green (sprinter - think FAST), Polka-dot (climber - as in uphill), and white (rookie)
Teams: Join one, or many, or none.
Rookies (first years)
Sprinters (fast and/or high mileage like lace)
Climbers (conquer mountains, big personal challenges)
Breakaway (Art yarns)
Peloton (The main group. Everyone is in the peloton at some point)
Lantern rouge (You will participate as much as possible but you may skip days here and there. Cheerleaders welcome.)
Wildcards (This is for people who want to form their own team. This includes sponsored teams, like those affiliated with a specific fiber shop or people who live in the same town, etc.)
The teams are inspired by the actual Tour de France.
1. spin every day,
2. spin local
_drop spindle purchased from fiberfiend@ravelry.com,
_fiber dyed by Amy Klimt aka Out of Step Dyeworks, and
_fiber dyed by Lisa Souza and maybe another if I have time,
3. spin fibers with the “elements” theme (water/air and fire/earth), and
4. learn how to do some simple blog posts.
Weighed out some fluff tonight. Looking fwd to this with no pressure because I am the self-proclaimed lantern rouge aka caboose! :)
Here's a reminder of the Tour de Fleece guidelines:
Tour de Fleece: The annual Tour de Fleece spin-along during the Tour de France. The concept is simple, They spin, we spin. A real spinning themed spin-along. This year the Tour de Fleece starts Saturday July 3rd and runs until Sunday July 25th, 2010.
Guidelines (NOT RULES):
Spin every day the Tour rides, if possible. Saturday July 3rd through Sunday July 25th. Days of rest: Monday July 12th, Wednesday July 21st. (Just like the actual tour)
Spin something challenging Thursday July 22nd. (The Tour’s toughest mountain stage from Pau up the legendary Col du Tourmalet)
Wear yellow on Sunday July 25th to announce victory. Why not wear yellow on any day you feel particularly successful? (Yellow is the color of the race leader in the Tour - but here we are all ‘race leaders’)
Other colors if desired: Green (sprinter - think FAST), Polka-dot (climber - as in uphill), and white (rookie)
Teams: Join one, or many, or none.
Rookies (first years)
Sprinters (fast and/or high mileage like lace)
Climbers (conquer mountains, big personal challenges)
Breakaway (Art yarns)
Peloton (The main group. Everyone is in the peloton at some point)
Lantern rouge (You will participate as much as possible but you may skip days here and there. Cheerleaders welcome.)
Wildcards (This is for people who want to form their own team. This includes sponsored teams, like those affiliated with a specific fiber shop or people who live in the same town, etc.)
The teams are inspired by the actual Tour de France.
