Conscious Shopping

The Old Becomes New

Posted on April 7, 2019January 28, 2022 by Jean Campbell

One weekend last March my friend and I visited Studio by the Tracks – Homewood, a satellite of the Irondale studio, where artists display and sell their wares. This organization sponsors artists with autism spectrum disorders, providing socialization and materials, as well as a means to earn income. Artists receive 60% of the sale of their work. The shop is a lovely little house-turned boutique that has just recently opened, and we'd learned that a three-woman pop-up show was going... Continue reading

Half-full Is the New Empty

Posted on March 15, 2014January 28, 2022 by Jean Campbell

No. I'm not joining the ranks of the ever-pessimistic set. It's a brand-new preparation philosophy the past few days has inspired in me. Here in the middle of Alabama, we don't take our snow warnings lightly. If even an inch of snow is predicted, you can bet your bottom dollar the grocery stores will be run amok with shoppers preparing for all contingencies: batteries, candles, the proverbial milk and bread. And if you are like me, a bottle or two of good wine plus supplies for plenty of... Continue reading

From Broken to Brilliant – Mozaics by TLC

Posted on February 14, 2014January 28, 2022 by Jean Campbell

Repurposing used materials is a popular trend in art. Old, beat-up signs, weathered barn wood, magazine clippings, and repurposed jewelry are among the plethora of items to be found in the art of contemporary galleries and on trendy home walls. You can see it in gardens with soup cans becoming flower pots and wooden palettes becoming compost bins and in dumpster bound clothing and scarves turned into new, fashionable accessories. Up-cycling in art is a lovely thing. It is fun, it is an... Continue reading

Urban Farming, the Productive Way

Posted on April 12, 2013April 15, 2020 by Jean Campbell

"If you plant it, it will grow," turns out to not necessarily be the case. I'm approaching my third summer of attempting to supply our little two-person family with wholesome, organic, homegrown vegetables. My original idea was to use only the composts I created from my kitchen scraps and fall leaves. Fail. :( Things grew. They did not flourish. Reality hit me square across the face about a month after I purchased my EarthBox. The kit comes with a cool little rectangular planter, complete... Continue reading