Alabama Chanin

Nice video about Alabama Chanin from the people at Etsy. Teresa

Email/photo from Russia…

Dear Mother Earth…

Good time of day. One day while walking through the woods, I found an amazing thing, of course, I made a picture and decided to send you. Thank you for what you are doing with respect Svetlana!

Wind!

A friend send me THIS GREAT LINK. Live wind currents in the USA. Yes!

From the site:
An invisible, ancient source of energy surrounds us—energy that powered the first explorations of the world, and that may be a key to the future. 

This map shows you the delicate tracery of wind flowing over the US right now. 

Read more about wind and about wind power. 

A nice poem…

…by Bagette Joanne

My Green Scene

Napkin, Toilet, Towel, Computer
I buy recycled paper goods

Cardboard, Plastics, Glassware, Newspaper
I sort recycling as I should

Clothing, Cookware, Linens, Furniture
I donate excess from the home

Engine, Lighting, Gadgets, Thermostat
I power down when left alone

Dairy, Cereals, Berries, Vegetables
I try to develop my organic taste

Light bulbs, Water, Mailings, Packaging
I look for ways to reduce waste

Visit her poetry blog HERE. Teresa

Labeling GMOs…

Click to enlarge. Read more about this HERE. Read about what GMOs are HERE. I want to know what is in my food. I hope you do too. Teresa

New life for old umbrellas!

Hello, Teresa!
I am Oksana. I am also trying to do something useful for our Mother - Earth. My hooby is sewing too. I make my ecobags from old umbrellas.  One umbrella - two bags.
With the best wishes, Oksana Franchuk
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wonderful Oksana, I love this AND they are waterproof! Brilliant! Teresa

Colorful Freebie - WINNERS!

We had a lot of international entries this time, and Random.org seemed to pick them out. Congratulations to the following lucky folks…

WINNERS of a Colorful bag + 2 produce bags are:

Alana B, N. IRELAND
Pam B, MN
Kelly R, PA
Korney S, RUSSIA
Yuliya D, RUSSIA
Tatiana Z, RUSSIA
Olga H, UKRAINE
Natalia Y, UKRAINE
Amy C, ENGLAND
Helen S, AUSTRALIA
Diane W, TX
Kim R, IL

Please look for an email from Bagette Dad. He will be asking for your mailing address so we can send you your prize. PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER. We have issues with emails going to spam. Thanks and enjoy!

The emails will look like this:
Green Bag Lady, ColorfulFreebie_3_2012

Colorful Freebie!

Remember this fabric donation? Lots of fun 1/2 yard pieces and fat quarters. Yes! I whipped up some fun bags from several of them and here they are. Who wants in for some color this spring? These are all nice and lightweight, perfect for your purse, backpack or pocket.

 But, that's not all, if you win a colorful bag, you will also win TWO produce bags to go with it…

Are you in? To enter:

•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.

•DEADLINE FOR THE FREEBIE IS 10pm(CST) Monday, March 26, 2012. (winners will be posted here and notified by email no later than March 127)

12 lucky people will be chosen randomly from the comments to win a colorful shopping and + 2 produce bags. Don't forget to leave us your email! 

I'm in San Francisco at a conference, don't worry though, I'm eating some Ghiradelli Chocolate just for you! Teresa

International entries are welcome.

New to Green Bag Lady? Click HERE.
If you like, Like Green Bag Lady on Facebook HERE.

Polarn O. Pyret

Have you heard of Polarn O. Pyret? It is a swedish clothing company that I have fallen hard for in the past year. I can't remember when I first heard about them but Little Man needed jeans, Little Girl needed underwear and I was in the market for some pajama pants that didn't ride up my legs while I was sleeping. Enter Polarn O. Pyret, AND, get this, they have a GREAT selection of items in ORGANIC COTTON, even better! The quality is amazing. I'm sold. Here are some things I have gotten in the past year…

…these leggings for Little Girl. She LOVES them and wore them constantly this winter. The best thing, well 2 things, NO BAGGY KNEES and ORGANIC cotton. YAY! Right now, they are on sale. Scoop some up.

I also ordered Little Girl these panties. No more riding up. No more undie dances to get them back in place and ORGANIC cotton! Also on sale right now! I wish they made women's panties, I would so order them.

These babies I ordered for myself. Hubby calls them my Dr. Suess pants but I don't care. I love them. They are incredibly comfy and the legs don't ride up while I'm sleeping. YES! Oh, organic too!

I don't have this shirt yet, but would love to wear it this summer. It's on my wish list. I hope they have it in other colors too.

That's it, just thought I would let you know about this great company that offers organic cotton choices. Do you have any favorite companies that have gone organic? Please share. Teresa

Russia Bag!

Good afternoon!
I am very glad to receive your bag! It will helps me in my work as a social worker.
Thank you very much! Photographs of a bag are attached.

Sincerelly yours,
lena Kuvshinova from Russia

Skirts…

A couple of years ago I bought this book. Little Girl loves to look through it and mark all the projects she would like to do.

Yesterday she came to this page and decided we (meaning she picks out the fabric and I make it) needed to make a skirt for her doll.

Then she turned the page and decided that we (meaning she picks out the fabric and I make it) needed to make a matching skirt for her.

This is how it came out. With the fabric she picked out and the sewing that I did. That's how we roll on Saturday.

How about you? Teresa

From Argentina…

Hi !

Just to show you my "Amazing Aunt Frances" bag in use. I love this, I use for carry my camera when I go for a walk. Please, don´t think I want to be the "star" of your followers, just to give you a smile of hope.

Hugs,

Adry

Buenos Aires, Argentina

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Great use of your bag Adry, thanks for the photo. I'm happy you are a "star" follower! :) Teresa

Getting there…

…on the quilt. I have the top done and now I need to figure out the whole quilting aspect. I don't know if I will try to do it myself or get it done professionally. Hmmmmm. Teresa

Drink Tap Water. Period.

I'm a big fan of info graphics. From the TapIt blog. Yes. Teresa

Another Russia Bag!

Hello, dear Teresa! I promised you to send photos of how I use the original bag 18777 in my country, Russia. send photos. Teresa, I beg you to forgive me for what I did this for a long time. Thank you again! Good luck to you!

Goodbye, until we meet again!

Kira Tsvetyukha, RUSSIA

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Another hat to love! I need to go to Russia and do some hat shopping! Teresa

Russia Bag!

Hello. We got a bag from you. Bags We are very pleased. Thank you very much from Russia.


Elena Pahomova--Tihoretsk, KRASNODAR, RUSSIA
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Love the hat Elena! Teresa

Dear Mother Earth…

Dear Mother Earth--

The hail storm here in Nashville several days ago was incredible. Not scary, just suprising! Chunks of ice falling from the sky…oh my.

I feel lucky to inhabit such an amazing place.

Your BFF--Teresa

Coffee Filters!

Who wouldn't like an etsy shop entirely dedicated to upcycling used coffee filters?

So nice, so useful and so not wasteful! See all the creations at Lampada HERE. Teresa

via Recyclart

My kids and husband are on vacation…

without me. Guess where they are?

This is an iPhone snap of Little Girl's breakfast. How come our spring break weeks are never the same? Teresa

Happy Green Freebie - WINNERS!

Congratulations to the following lucky folks…

WINNER of the Shamrock Bunting is:

Samantha B, MA

WINNERS of the Happy Green shopping bags are:

Carla S, ARGENTINA
Emily S, MA
Matthew J, VA
Suzan W, NJ
Pat V, WA
Stefanie F, GERMANY
Colleen B, MI
Andrea C, FL
Bethany P, TN
Carla G, CANADA

Please look for an email from Bagette Dad. He will be asking for your mailing address so we can send you your prize. PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER. We have issues with emails going to spam. Thanks and enjoy!

The emails will look like this:
Green Bag Lady, HappyGreenFreebie_3_2012

Happy Green Freebie!

So here we are in March, a very green + lucky time. Not just because it is spring and everything is popping out of hiding, but it is also the month of St. Patrick's Day. Yipee! I heart this holiday, I am 25% Irish and my mother used to share stories of her Irish heritage when I was little. SO, how about a freebie to celebrate the green in all of us?

Bags-o-course, 10 to be exact, one is on the small size so let us know if you have a wee one in your life and we will send you that one…

And, what is St. Patty's Day without decor? A great shamrock bunting seems to be in order made by yours truly of ribbon, wool felt and shamrocks (from Joann's)…

 I made one for myself (below) and one to give to you (above)…

There will be 11 winners total, 10 for bags and 1 for the bunting. To enter the freebie:

•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.

•DEADLINE FOR THE FREEBIE IS 10pm(CST) Monday, March 12, 2012. (winners will be posted here and notified by email no later than March 13)

In your comment tell us what you are looking forward to this spring.

11 lucky people will be chosen randomly from the comments to win. Don't forget to leave us your email! 

The luck-o-the-Irish be with you! Teresa

International entries are welcome.

New to Green Bag Lady? Click HERE.
If you like, Like Green Bag Lady on Facebook HERE.

Today I am…

…working more on the quilt I mentioned in this post.

…staring at a pile of dish towels that need to be hemmed, hmmmm.

…hearing the call of several bags that need handles sewn on their sad little buckets.

…enjoying my last day of spring break from the University.

…thinking about the fun freebie I'm going to post later today that has to do with GREEN (ha!).

What are you doing? Teresa

On the Green Bag Lady Facebook Page…

Thank you so much for this bag that I won in your contest! (Bag no. 18,593). Raggedy Ann is patiently waiting for me to take her shopping for some clothes for her made with recycled fabric.


Pat Miles Doucette

This is SO sweet…

Dear Teresa! Here in Ukraine, March 8 is Women's Day. This holiday is very loved and respected all girls and women (and men - because they love us - women). I want to congratulate you and this wonderful spring holiday! 


Antoniuk Rai--Kyiv, KYIV, UKRAINE--18363


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Thank you so much for such a kind email and pretty photo Antoniuk and for remembering me on Women's Day. I hope you are enjoying and using your bag! Teresa

10 Simple Steps…

Source

…to being green!

10. Plant a tree.

9. Walk or ride a bike.

8. Reuse stuff.

7. Think before you buy. Are you buying landfill?

6. Turn down your heat, put on a fleece to stay warm instead!

5. Compost. It's super easy. Promise!

4. Get a rain barrel and use it to water your plants. Again, super easy.

3. Refuse bottled water. EVERY time. Bring your own bottle and fill it up!

2. Recycle. Duh.

1. Use reusable bags! Ha, does that surprise you that it would be #1?

I hope you and already do everything on this list. If not, add them to your spring priorities and check them off one by one! Teresa

Organic '12 + Bongo Java FREEBIE! WINNERS!

Congratulations to the following lucky folks…

Winners of a bag of ORGANIC FAIR TRADE award winning Mystic Brew blend of coffee are:

Kelly R, PA
Linda T, Nashville
Tracy M, AZ
Pat V, WA
Kris P, MO
Pam B, MN
Christine W, IL
Laurie M, MA       plus an upcycled burlap bag
Melody J, PA
Joe K, Nashville
cvk5891 (NO RESPONSE)
Jesse L, Nashville
Emily W, Nashville
tommysalam1 (NO RESPONSE)
Ashlee G, Nashville
Sherri I, OK
Harmony S, CA
Brian C, Nashville  plus an upcycled burlap bag
Meghan M, OR
Francine P, MA
Vera D, IL
Beth C, TN
Karen L, TN
Dawn E, WA       plus an upcycled burlap bag
Michael B, Nashville  plus an upcycled burlap bag
Misty W, Nashville
Chelsea F, Nashville
Suzonne S, LA
Sephen S, Nashville
Morgan C, NY

Please look for an email from Bagette Dad. He will be asking for your mailing address so we can send you your prize. PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER. We have issues with emails going to spam. Thanks and enjoy!

The emails will look like this:
Green Bag Lady, BongoJava_3_2012

Argentina Bag!

Hi, Teresa!

This is one of  the bags you give me when you were in Buenos Aires, it was for my daughter Rocio (n° 14935).  A bit late ... but you can see your bag very happy  :)

Hugs, have a nice week!

Adry

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Thanks for the photo Adry, I would LOVE to be where that bag is right now! Teresa

Kazakhstan Bag!

Thank you very much!
photo Green Bag Lady

Best regards
Shagieva Elmira
Uralsk, KAZAKHSTAN

Organic '12 + Bongo Java FREEBIE! 30 winners!

I'm so excited to announce this Organic '12 Freebie! THERE WILL BE 30 WINNERS! Yes! Bongo Java, a wonderful local Nashville coffee shop chain is GENEROUSLY donating THIRTY bags of their  ORGANIC FAIR TRADE award winning Mystic Brew blend for you to win!

 Look at these lovely beans…

And, that's not all. You would think 30 bags of coffee would be enough, but, we also have FIVE Green Bag Lady shopping bags up for grabs. These are not our usual bags, they are made from upcycled Bongo Java coffee bags. We love us some upcycled bags around here…

 And you can see the great printing on the burlap, some of them even say organic, free trade, YAY!

This is how it will go down:

10 winners will be from Nashville
10 winners will be from Tennessee outside Nashville
10 winners will be from anywhere else in the USA

The 5 bag winners will be randomly chosen from the 30 coffee winners above. So you may get BOTH!

Confused yet? Hope not.

Here is what you need to do to enter this awesome freebie:

•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 PLEASE tell us your location (city, state) even if you already have a bag from us, please still tell us your city and state! Thanks!

•DEADLINE FOR THE FREEBIE IS 10pm(CST) Tuesday, March 6, 2012. (winners will be posted here and notified by email no later than March 7) 

THIRTY people will be chosen randomly from the comments to win. Don't forget to leave us your email! Also, please note that your email address may be shared with Bongo Java if you enter this freebie.

Thank you Bongo Java! Good Luck! Teresa

Sorry, no international winners for this freebie.

New to Green Bag Lady? Click HERE.
If you like, Like Green Bag Lady on Facebook HERE.

A few things…

…the above photo of my kiddos was taken 4 years ago about the time I started this blog and Green Bag Lady. Where has the time gone? How is it that in that time we have made and give away almost 20,000 bags? Really?

…on Big Girl's urging, I recently finished all the Harry Potter books. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them. Have you read them?

…have you ever wanted to be a guest blogger on Green Bag Lady? I am currently taking submissions. I am open to any kind of environmental/green topics. Please email greenbagladyinfo(@)gmail(dot)com I cannot guarantee the posting of all submissions. However, if your submission is posted, you will get full credit with links to you/your blog. Thanks!

…come back tomorrow for a HUGE Organic '12 freebie involving caffeine. Yes, really.

Over and out--Teresa