Relax... it's December

Putting the Joy in Recycling

Bag of Joy News – December 2016

                  

Shopping, eating, entertaining and other social gatherings fill this month. It’s also a time when distractions and too much of everything can make a person give up – if only temporarily – on their good intentions. Things like keeping “green”; reducing consumption (and not just of food and drink); and being mindful of all around us. I hope you have your plans made for the holiday season and if you haven’t, well… don’t stress. World AIDs Day, Hanukkah, Human Rights Day, the first day of Winter, Christmas and Kwanzaa are going to happen whether your house is clean, the pupu are made or the gifts are wrapped. Give in. Have fun.

Nonprofit Partner of the Month

                  

Each year, Makawao Union Church (I’m a member) distributes benevolence funds to several local nonprofits serving the Maui community. On Sunday, December 11, I will be holding a sale of the entire Bag of Joy inventory during Aloha Hour from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the Community Hall next to the church. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to the church to help in this mission. I hope you’ll stop by and pick up some last-minute gifts. Prices range from $10 to $90.

New from Bag of Joy

                  This is a great season to use your Hostess Helper – a padded casserole carrier with a built-in cutting board. I have them in several sizes and designs but they’re going fast so don't wait. Contact me for more information. Price range is $30-35.

Bag of the Month

Ain’t she sweet? “Deer” is perfect for Christmas. Rustic wooden handles and a sturdy bottom gusset make this a handy shopping tote. Plenty of needlepoint, fully lined and an inside pocket. Available in my Shopify store for $45 plus shipping.

Bags in Books – a monthly contest for readers

Can you identify the book this passage was taken from? “She’s carrying her woven wicker bag like the ones the Umpqua tribe sells out along the hot August highway, a bag shape of a tool box with a hemp handle.”

The first person to correctly name the book title will win a gift from the Bag of Joy collection. Just make a comment below or send me an answer through any of the contacts listed.

No winner in our November Contest! No one identified the quote from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

Don’t miss our 3^rd Annual Boxing Day/Month Giveaway

Starting today, Maui SCRAP (Supplies for Creative Recycled Art Projects on Maui) will give away boxes and bags of excess stuff, everything from fabric samples to paints to fused plastic sheets and more. You must ‘like’ the MauiSCRAP page on Facebook to ensure you receive the daily updates. And, because of some really bizarre comments and demands during last year’s giveaway, there are new rules for claiming the goodies. Obviously, these supplies are available only to people who are on Maui and can pick them up from my house in Makawao. But here are the rest of the rules:

1.     Only three items may be claimed by an individual recipient during the month.

2.     If you are confirmed as the recipient you have 48 hours to pick up the item.

3.     No, I won’t notify anyone of particular items.

4.     No, I won’t make “a wish list” of your particular wants.

5.     No, I won’t deliver.

6.     Yes, I will hold items if you’re nice and ask me to. Otherwise, when 48 hours is up, the item will be re-listed and available to other people.

So, starting today be sure to check the MauiSCRAP Facebook page and join in the free giveaway.

                   

Welcome to the Recycling Department! Can I help you?

Compost

Don’t be fooled by the new lines of “earth-friendly/green” plastic cups and utensils. It may say that these things can be composted, but read the fine print. On a plastic cup I was served in a local restaurant, it says "EarthChoice, industrially compostable". Then in very tiny print: “This cup is not suitable for home composting. Appropriate composting facilities may not be available in your area.” Well I can tell you right now that Maui doesn’t have that kind of facility so those cups are going in the landfill along with Styrofoam and regular plastic cups. Be careful when choosing “green” products. Not all of them are as earth-friendly as they want you to believe.

From Resource Recycling:

Good news from the world of recycling.

United Arab Emirates: A 9-year-old boy in Dubai not only created and distributed a flier encouraging recycling – he also collected 1,160 pounds of paper for recycling. The Khaleej Times reports on how Yug Shah's long-standing commitment to recycling led him to go above and beyond while participating in the Neighborhood Recycling Project, an effort of the Emirates Environmental Group.

Gaza: With restrictions on importing polyethylene, a Gaza plastics company has begun recycling plastics recovered from a landfill, according to Fox News. Omar Ramlawi's decision to recycle plastics into about 1.5 to 2 tons per day of pipes, hoses and garbage bags has allowed him to preserve 50 jobs at his factory.

The Netherlands: Some officials in the Netherlands are floating the idea of placing a deposit on jeans as a way to encourage their return for recycling or reuse, according to Recycling International.

Recycle this thought: 

If all the table scraps from all the households in the US were thrown into compost bins instead of into landfills for a year, the reduction in greenhouse gases would be the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road.

Click on the links below to get in touch with me.

Facebook

Shopify

Email: joyofrecycling@gmail.com

Phone: 808-572-6303

Boo! Gobble! and Shop!

Can it really be November already?

                  The month of October seemed to slide by quickly and quietly here on Maui. The weather is changing from hot summer to chilly winter, especially in the Upcountry area where I live. With the extra chill in the air it was a perfect time to get working on my Christmas gift lines: the Hostess Helpers, ReTies and a new lap rug (see below). I will be donating these ‘busy blankets’ to Alzheimer’s patients at local seniors residences. If you know of someone who could use one, please get in touch with me. And check out my Shopify store for one-of-a-kind green gift ideas.

3-piece apron set to bid on

Nonprofit Partner of the Month

Nov. 19, the Kula Elementary School will hold its 29^th Annual Harvest Festival. A 3-piece apron set was donated for the silent auction, so don’t miss it.

New from Bag of Joy

The Love’n’Joy lap rug came about because of a post on Facebook describing a ‘busy blanket’ made for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s. It provides a variety of interactive features – zipper, snap, pocket, flap, button, Velcro – and each blanket is different and all are washable. Thank you Facebook!

The Shopify Story

Yes, my Shopify store on Facebook is working! I’ve had lots and lots of looks, likes and click-throughs and a few sales to make it worthwhile. If you haven’t browsed the shop take a look now. And if you’re thinking of setting up your own Shopify store, I assure you it’s simple and quick to list new items and remove sold items.

Bag of the Month

Ain’t she sweet? Scoogie Fringe is a large shoulder bag with drawstring closure, fully padded and line, using all recycled and upcycled fabrics and embellishments. You can find Scoogie Fringe in my Shopify store.

Scoogie Fringe

Bags in Books – a monthly contest for readers

We have a winner in our October Bags in Books contest. Christy Vail correctly identified the source of our quote: Love in the Time of Cholera. Christy won a $50 gift certificate from Bag of Joy.

                  Can you identify the book this passage was taken from? The first person to correctly name the book title will win a gift from the Bag of Joy collection. Just make a comment below or send me an answer through any of the contacts listed.

                  “…..and being willing to have the bag for some other use (I think it was to put powder in, when I divided it for fear of the lightning, or some such use), I shook the husks of corn out of it on one side of my fortification under the rock.”

Welcome to the Recycling Department. Can I help you?

So you think there are only 3 R’s in the Recycle mantra? Hah! I can count at least 13 R’s being used these days and I’m sure there are more.  One that has just been added is Refuse as in, “No, I don’t want it, take it away.”

Refuse

The most basic type of action in this area is to Refuse product bags of any kind at the store by providing your own, right? You’re refusing to add to the growing consumption of one-use products. Here’s a handy way to remember your market bag: Place your wallet inside it when you get in the car; no bag, no wallet, no purchase, right?

Reduce

Many people think of excess packaging when they try to come up with ways to Reduce their waste stream.

Recycle

Even the most well intentioned residents don't always recycle. According to a recent set of studies, the reason why may be more complicated than just laziness or a lack of access.

In tests recapped recently in the Harvard Business Review, researchers found two biases that affect disposal habits. The first is called distortion bias. People are more likely to throw an item away if it has been altered in some way. Read more here: Resource Recycling. 

Reuse/Repurpose

Do you sew? Did you know that plastic water bottle caps are the same size as a sewing machine bobbin? Collect those caps and turn them into a bobbin organizer. Here’s one I put together quickly but you can paint, decorate and double-up the design in many ways.

 

Restore/Refurbish/Renew/Reclaim/Repair/Restyle/Revive/Refinish

“Take an old song and make it better…” When you find a lovely old bench but it needs a new cushion or refinishing or some kind of elbow grease to make it right again – just do it! In this throwaway culture, a missing hinge can turn a perfectly good door into landfill fodder. Don’t buy into the idea that broken is bad, grungy is garbage, or out-of-date is out-of-here. And if you don’t have the time or skill to do it yourself, pass it along to someone who will apply one of the 8R’s and love it.

Coming up in December: 

Our 3rd Annual Boxing Day/Month Giveaway!

Maui SCRAP (Supplies for Creative Recycled Art Projects on Maui) will give away boxes and bags of excess stuff, everything from fabric samples to paints to fused plastic sheets and more. You must ‘like’ the MauiSCRAP page on Facebook to ensure you receive the daily updates. And, because of some really bizarre comments and demands during last year’s giveaway, there are new rules for claiming the goodies. Obviously, these supplies are available only to people who are on Maui and can pick them up from my house in Makawao. But here are the rest of the rules:

1.     Only three items may be claimed by an individual recipient during the month.

2.     If you are confirmed as the recipient you have 48 hours to pick up the item.

3.     No, I won’t notify anyone of particular items.

4.     No, I won’t make “a wish list” of your particular wants.

5.     No, I won’t deliver.

6.     Yes, I will hold items if you’re nice and ask me to. Otherwise, when 48 hours is up, the item will be re-listed and available to other people.

So, starting December 1 be sure to check the MauiSCRAP Facebook page and join in the free giveaway.

Recycle this thought: If you have an aversion to thrift shops, remember some people depend on them. Many people shop for clothing and household items at second-hand stores because of money restraints. So if you’re getting rid of still-usable stuff, consider donating them where other folks can find them.

Contact information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Joy-of-Recycling

Shopify: https://www.facebook.com/JoyofRecycling/shop

Twitter: @SJoyWebster

Email: joyofrecycling@gmail.com

Phone: 808-572-6303

Aloha friends of all things creatively recycled!

Bag of Joy News - October 2016

                  What did you do this summer? When I wasn’t road-tripping or fishing, I had my sewing machine going, turning out a dozen bags made of upcycled clothing, drapes, vintage linens, lace and recycled findings. My daily routine was no hardship as the machine sits at a window with a view of the East Ridge, cows and calves munching peacefully in the meadow, and an occasional bear in the clearing high up on the hillside. 

My ReTies line increased as well, with several new ideas incorporated into the reuse of old men’s ties (the ties are old, not necessarily the men) found at thrift shops on my journeys. Some of the ties found their way into bag designs as well, such as the saucy little “Reader” bag in the photo, the perfect size for a Kindle or other digital reader. It's my Bag of the Month for October.

Nonprofit Partner(s) of the Month

Two Maui nonprofits are holding their fundraising events this month:

Stars

New Nadine - 2pc evening bag set

MAPA (Maui Academy of Preforming Arts) 28th Annual Garden Party on Oct. 2. Don't miss the Bag of Joy donation on the silent auction table - New Nadine, an evening bag with matching wrist wrap.

October 7 Friends of the Children's Justice Center of Maui annual fundraiser. The Bag of Joy donation to the silent auction is Stars - a zipper-topped fully padded portfolio.

When your Maui nonprofit is planning a fundraising event don't hesitate to contact me for a silent auction donation. Please, no political, environmental or religious organizations.

To purchase Bag of Joy products, contact me directly or go to my Shopify, Etsy or eBay stores; contact information below.

 Bags in Books – a monthly contest for readers

                  Can you identify the book this passage was taken from? The first person to correctly name the book title will win a gift from the Bag of Joy collection. Just make a comment below or send me an answer through any of the contacts listed.

                  “As soon as he thought of her, Florentino Ariza returned to the Street of the Windows, put two bottles of port and a jar of pickles in a shopping bag, and went to visit her, not even knowing if she was still in her old house, if she was alone, or if she was alive.”

Welcome to the 3R+C (Compost) Department

Recycle

                  If you read my summer blog <mauisjoy.blogspot.com> you already know we travelled 3000 miles from our home base at the Webster Ranch in Alberta to Churchill Manitoba – a destination of lifelong dreams. Yes, we saw a polar bear, beluga whales and the Northern Lights. But almost (well, maybe not quite) as exciting was the display of creative recycling in their community garden.

                  During polar bear season visitors get up-close to the bears in the safety of ‘tundra buggies’ – huge buses with viewing platforms, a window for every amazed face, and tires that don’t quit. It’s those tires that I focused on when we first saw a buggy. After all, everything in Churchill comes in by train, air or sea (and not much ocean freight now that the port has been shut down by the US company that owns it). Well, not to worry. Used tires are converted to huge planters, large enough to grow a summer’s worth of fresh produce.

                  The top edges are cut into a sawtooth pattern and the treads are painted bright colors. The pot is filled with a mixture of compost, bagged soil and tundra peat. As you can see in the photo, the garden prospers under long summer sunlight and a rich mixture of planting medium.

Reduce

                  We found more communities living the plastic-bag-free life. In fact, in Manitoba’s visitor guides travelers are reminded to “take your own bag” when shopping in Thompson. For more information on all aspects of recycling those bags, visit:

http://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-plastic-bags/

Reuse

                  The definition of ‘reuse’ in the 3R universe is to use something in its original form but not for its original purpose, preferably something that has outlived its function. A good example is an old door that becomes a desktop. Or, as mentioned above, an old tire that works as a raised garden.

                  In Regina’s downtown park I found an old piano converted into an artsy planter.

 Restore/Refurbish/Renew

While digging through old family treasures I found a hand mirror that had been my grandmother’s many years ago. The silver handle and mirror were in fine condition but whatever had decorated the back was long-gone, leaving a withered round of cardboard. 

I used the cardboard as a template to make a smooth base, selected a vintage fabric from my stash, glued it to the base and carefully wrapped the edge of the fabric to the back. I then gently worked the whole thing under the metal edge of the mirror until it was held securely. It turned out well, don’t you think? 

Compost

Yes, I have worms and I’m proud of it! 

I set up a worm compost bin in our ranch house several years ago and no longer worry about them surviving the cold blast of winter in Alberta. They thrive. True, I leave the bin next to the gas heater set at a chilly-but-not-freezing 10 degrees Celsius for 8 months. The trick is to empty about one-third of the bin during the summer, allow the critters to settle down, feed them table scraps while we’re there and then pack the bin with shredded paper. By the time we return in June they have devoured the paper and completely cleared the bin of edibles. Because the atmosphere is so dry, I don’t have to worry about worm juice overrun in the bottom bin; in fact, it’s rare to find enough liquid to bother with. So, if you hesitate to set up a vermicomposting bin because you’re not always around – take it from me: Eight months of peace and quiet does them no harm.

Recycle this thought: 

When you find yourself waiting – maybe in a parking lot, a mall, on a bench next to a fountain – pick up some litter. It gives you something to do, helps the environment, provides some exercise, and could be lucrative. I’ve picked up everything from a loonie (Canadian one-dollar coin) to a folded 20-dollar bill.

Contact information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Joy-of-Recycling

Shopify: https://www.facebook.com/JoyofRecycling/shop

eBay: http://my.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MyEbay&gbh=1&CurrentPage=MyeBayAllSelling

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JoyofRecycling

Twitter: @SJoyWebster

Tumblr: http://joyofrecycling.tumblr.com/

Email: joyofrecycling@gmail.com

Phone: 808-572-6303

February is for furry critters

Welcome to February - the month of football and furry critters. But I repeat myself. Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, after all.

Q&A of the month:
Now that the Bag of Joy website is history, the question I'm often asked: How can I see and purchase your creations? 
Answer: It's simple! Go online to the Bag of Joy page on Facebook https://www.fb.com/JoyofRecycling/ where I have an expanding album of photos. See something you're interested in? Email or message me for description and price. Payments maybe made through PayPal, by check or cash. 
You can also visit my Maui studio if you're on-island (phone 572-6303 for an appointment); stop by my booth at community craft fairs; or check out the following social media sites: 
@SJoyWebster on Twitter • Joy of Recycling on Tumblr • joyofrecycling on Pinterest • Joy Webster on LinkedIn

Walker Bags tie securely to a walker or wheelchair;
drawstring closure gives easy access to the inside.

Bag of the month:

Walker Bags come in many colors and sizes.

Walker/Wheelchair bags are made to class-up any mobility device. Attach one of these designer bags and you'll be ready to go shopping, partying, out to dinner or to church. They're easy-on-easy off, with secure ties and drawstring closure allowing you to open and close the bag without removing it. Big inside padded pocket holds just about everything; outside pockets for glasses, keys, you name-it. Every bag is one-of-a-kind and vary in size. $50 each plus shipping.

Did you know?
All Bag of Joy products are guaranteed. If you find a defect in workmanship or materials, I will refund your purchase price or fix the defect. Your choice. 

Marylou Melinger (left) accepts 52
drawstring backpacks, made especially
for A Cup of Cold Water neighbors. 

We get happy mail!

Cousin Shane loves her Bag of Joy bags! In the photo at left she is enjoying her visit to Lahaina and her custom-designed tropical bag.

Nonprofit Partner of the month

A Cup of Cold Water serves Maui's homeless community, distributing essential needs: bottled water, toiletries, clothing, cleaning supplies and more. During February a percentage of all Bag of Joy sales will be donated to this worthwhile nonprofit. For more information go to http://www.episcopalhawaii.org/a-cup-of-cold-water.html

Your recycling tip of the month

The artists and crafters in your area wold love to get their hands on what you might think is trash. Each year I hold a Boxing Day Giveaway lasting a whole month. In January I passed along boxes of used but useable gift wrap and tissue paper, more than 100 bottles of acrylic paints, 80 old art magazines, 12 craft books I no long need, 100s of fabric samples and wallpaper samples, pressed leaves, excess sewing tools and findings, old office files and binders, plastic lids from bottles,  yarn and a couple of suitcases. Much of this stuff came from other people who know I just can't put good stuff in the landfill. Think twice before throwing out "trash" - someone at a local school, senior center or after school organization might jump at the chance to take it off your hands and keep it out of the landfill. For more information go to the Maui SCRAP (Supplies for Creative Recycled Art Projects) page on Facebook. https://www.fb.com/MauiSCRAP/

Coming up this month
February 2 - Groundhog Day (Celebrate by using something twice before discarding it.)
February 7 - Super Bowl Sunday
February 8- Chinese New Year ( Year of the Monkey)
February 9 - Mardi Gras 
February 10 - Ash Wednesday
February 12 - Lincoln's Birthday
February 14 - Valentine's Day (Brazen promotion: a Bag of Joy would be a fabulous gift for your Valentine!)
February 15 - President's Day
February 22 - Washington's Birthday
February 29 - Leap Day

So long for now. Hope to see you again next month. If you'd like to NOT receive these monthly blogs just send me an email at 

sjoy@flex.com and tell me to cut it out!

Joy

Welcome to the new Bag of Joy blog! 

Why a blog? Why now? A family crisis during the last 6 weeks of 2015 had me in Southern Alberta, unable to handle my Maui-based Bag of Joy business and especially the time-consuming work of maintaining my website. Add to that the four months every summer I spend in Canada… you can see something had to give. Right?

The solution seems to be a combination of monthly blogs and regular Facebook posts, Twitter tweets, Tumblr photos, Pinterest picks and a smattering of LinkedIn updates.


This blog will keep you abreast of new products, new lines, new sales, new discounts and new news at Bag of Joy and is not to be confused with my summer blog called "Ranch Life and Road Trips" at mauisjoy.blogspot.com. I do hope you'll bookmark both blogs, respond with comments and questions and stay in touch. You can expect notice of my updated blogs to appear in your email inbox around the 15th of each month.

And please delete my old website <bagofjoy.com> and the associated email address <joy@bagofjoy.com> from your bookmarks.

Bag of Joy on Facebook • @SJoyWebster on Twitter • Joy of Recycling on Tumblr

joyofrecycling on Pinterest • Joy Webster on LinkedIn