Alabama Chanin + Organic '11 FREEBIE!

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The very lovely Natalie Chanin is with us this week for a fabulous Organic '11 Freebie! I first met Natalie here in Nashville at a workshop hosted by my local fabric store. It was wonderful…she was wonderful. The day after the workshop, I got a nice email from her thanking me for the bag (of course I gave out bags) and how much she liked the Green Bag Lady project. I was (and still am) honored.

Natalie's work in the fashion industry in amazing. If you don't know much about her, please read this interview about her commitment to sustainable clothing. All of the clothing is MADE BY HAND. Yes, you read that correctly, not with machines, by hand, in Alabama.

This is a quote from Natalie from the interview, "Our company is really unusual. The entire process is linked from start to finish. Every piece is cut by hand, painted by hand, embellished by hand and constructed by hand. We only work with a certified organic cotton jersey grown by farmers in Texas. The cotton fiber is sent to North Carolina for spinning into thread, then to South Carolina for knitting into the fabric before being sent back to North Carolina to be dyed and lastly sent here to the studio to cut, paint and preparing for our artisans here in Florence. Every garment is numbered and signed by the artisan who constructs it."


We have 2 prizes for this freebie, one is a book. You can pick either of Natalie's books shown in the photo below. (this way if you already have one, you can get the other)
Both books are beautiful and contain a variety of hand sewing projects. Below is the shirt I completed from the workshop I attended. It was really fun to make!
The second prize that Natalie is offering is so generous, I'm jealous of the person that wins. It is a spot in their upcoming Saturday workshop on May 5, 2012 (valued at $149) in Florence, Alabama! WOW!*


To enter this freebie do the following:
•LEAVE A COMMENT, IN THE COMMENT LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THIS FORMAT: name(at)something(dot)com it is important to spell out dot and at so you don't get spam, if you DO NOT leave an email address, you will not be entered in the freebie.

•In your comment, tell us something you learned about Alabama Chanin from the interview.

•DEADLINE FOR THE FREEBIE IS 10 PM (CST) Thursday, September 8, 2011. (winners announced Sept 9)

•TWO LUCKY WINNERS WILL BE RANDOMLY CHOSEN FROM THE COMMENTS TO WIN! (If you would not be able to attend the workshop, it's ok, you can still enter to win the book, just let us know in the comments)

Good Luck + a huge thank you to Natalie and everyone at Alabama Chanin for their spirit and generosity! Teresa

Natalie also has a lovely blog I encourage you to bookmark. Hmmm…so nice…


*winner is responsible for travel to and from the workshop, prize includes only the workshop fee

Entries limited to US residents, thank you.

Not familiar with Green Bag Lady? Click HERE.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi i love this book and would love to win. the interview was great, i learned about the use of recycling products, and in the book i love how she finds things to repurpose. than kYO!U
imisswaylon@Hotmail.com
ange

js said...

Awe Teresa, what a wonderful giveaway! Loved the description of completely "handmade" goods in the interview and even better is the sense of community that it has created by all those "hands" that are part of the process, all right up my alley! I would love an opportunity to win a book. silver5125 at gmail dot com. XOX Janet

Anonymous said...

AMAZING! Inspiring. Lovely.
sus(at)harmonyart(dot)com

April Parker said...

I thought all the work was done in AL, and I didn't know that she sent the fabric and thread to the Carolinas!

Amorette said...

i am so excited for a third book, i am not sure how they can top the other two. and i had no idea every garment was signed and all of the process accounted for. what a responsible group, very impressive. wish i could make the workshop, it would be a great learning experience i am sure, but i would settle for a book!

asdrexler at gmail dot com

Lee said...

How lovely! the shirt you made is wonderful! I would love to be put into the draw for the books. Sorry to say I would not be able to make the workshop - but wow - very generous of her! thanks!
butler83ataoldotcom

Sunflower Skies said...

What a fantastic book! I love that the company does everything completely by hand. Thanks for the giveaway.
chrismiss10(at)aol(dot)com

Brenda Turner said...

I love the sense of community and local artisan work. I am all for local sustained work.
brenda dot turner at mchsi.com

Katrina said...

It seems like there is a lot of love put into the t-shirts they make. I like the idea that all ages and both sexes participate in making the shirts, that it's more of a community endeavor.

katrina_hertzer2000 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Carol said...

Oh my GOSH!! So much done by hand!!! and cotton from Texas!!! WOW!!! wonderful!!

Thanks for the give away!!

maplecreekracing(at)comcast(dot)net

Laura said...

I appreciate the jaunt across the south the cotton takes before it reaches Alabama-so many steps. First time visitor to your site, what a cool project!
laura(dot)poulette(at)gmail(dot)com

Country Girl said...

Lovin' the trail of the cotton...what an inspiration!

amycruce(at)aol(dot)com

Jen said...

I love that eveeything is done by hand, the time and artistry is amazing!
Jred_88 at yahoo dot com

Shoalscreek said...

I am from Florence and did not know that Project Alabama started as a documentary about the making of the 200 shirts. I would love to see the documentary??? I would really love to take the workshop next spring!
susanbeckett at comcast dot net

Deb Warnat said...

The diversity in artisan ages is amazing and at the same time unites them all with a shared purpose. Way cool! Gonna look for "Stitch" too.
Deb
dohbaer(at)gmail(dot)com.

tracyp said...

I have check out her website out ,any times and get inspired and love her! I really love the diverse group of folks she has working with her, the 20-80 age range, the hand painted fabrics, etc.

tracemclee at yahoo dot com

lucysinspired said...

darn it (pun intended) I forgot my email address! lucyfarmer (at) me (dot) com thanks again!

Red Dirt Word said...

I love Alabama Chanin's entire approach to the business of creativity. I did not know she has an upcoming workshop in Florence! Thanks for the giveaway and hope the comments help your blog!

Martha said...

I have both of Natalie's books and have pre-purchased the third, but I would LOVE to attend the May workshop. I learn from Natalie all the time, but most recently I am learning from her detox program.

jarrod said...

There are few people in this world who inspire me as much as Natalie does. I love everything that she stands for and everything that she creates. As a fellow "designer" (architecture student) I find inspiration in everything that I encounter and it is no different with the work of Alabama Chanin. So proud to be a fellow Alabamian!! Love you Natalie and hope to see your studio one day!

winsljt(at)auburn(dot)edu

Linda said...

The Green Bag Lady & Natalie Chanin -- what a great combo! Thanks for all you do! j_selby(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I've love how you both repurposed things. What I find fascinating about Alabama Chanin and Natalie is the cradle to grave process she has for producing her product. The cotton is grown in the US, sheared here, processed and milled here, spun and made into cloth in the US. Love it!!! Geveretts(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sheila said...

I am amazed that everything is made by hand ,this looks like a wonderful book and I truly wish I was close enough to attend a workshop but alas I am not , thanks for the chance to win.
hduceg04(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Linda said...

What a generous giveaway!

Anonymous said...

We had the pleasure of meeting Natalie at the Alabama Book FEstival this year and have followed her work for years. I am very impressed with the vision she and her people have for their design work and the planet.And now, I know about you and can become a follower!
Carole
C.king@oldalabamatown.com

Andrea said...

I would love to see the documentary on old-time quilting circles that she did (the start of the project!) Quilting circles have always fascinated me. The idea, the process, the community, the bond.
I am now hooked on her site and would love to purchase everyone of her DIY kits!...all in due time

campbell4158 AT me DOT com

Crafty Newbie said...

I completely love your blog! What a lovely giveaway!

Excellent interview and so inspiring!

Thank you for the opportunity!

Liz said...

I love Natalie and her handmade philosophy and aesthetic. I've always wanted to go to one of her workshops, too!
I also love that high fashion is embracing the south (hello, Natalie and Billy Reid).

ejatack at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

i love when people care enough for the world and give things free thanks :)njuarez80@hotmail.com

EverythingIveGot said...

What an exciting giveaway! I can't believe a company that makes original t's has been going for TEN years! Awesome!! sewsane at verizon dot net