This is all I ask . . .

Nat King Cole, prevalent in my father's repertoire of music choices . . . and then you find yourself telling someone about a song of his and you are right back there hearing it . .  and it's skip. Yes yes yes, the vinyl skipped at the same place e v e r y single time it played . . . making it a memory that each sibling knows to the bone!!    Really, the song was written no other way! I tell you!

"Wandering rainbows, leave a bit of color for my heart to own
Stars in the sky, make my wish come true before the night has flown
And let the music playyyyyy as longggg as there's a song to sing
to sing
to sing
to sing

Then I will stay younger than Spring."

(I guess it was a Sinatra song, but in our home, Nat King Cole sang it day in and day out).
 

. . .and the Band Played On . . .

(photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BandPlayedOn1895Cover.jpg)

SO what is it about when songs just pop out of nowhere and permeate your thoughts... this one arrived today and had me thinking about my Mom playing it and I had to track down what I could on it... and there wasn't much either!!  . . . I was thinking about the upcoming New Year....

Casey would waltz with a strawberry blonde

And the band played on;

He'd glide 'cross the floor with the girl he adored

And the band played on;

But his brain was so loaded it nearly exploded

The poor girl would shake with alarm;

He'd ne'er leave the girl with the strawberry curls

And the band played on.
 

 

Voted - Insert Sticker Here

This is the time of year when upcycling takes on a life of its own. All that means is... busy busy! Thank you ahead of time for planning gift giving and personal shopping early!  Makes for an easier season all the way around the block ... errr world!  Come see what's new and always popular at my online shop over here at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/zJayne  - Thanks!  Jane of zJayne

 Upcycling by zJayne on Facebook 

Peace and Vote, because you can!

Jack or Prince - What's your pleasure!

Jack in the Pulpit, Prince in the Pulpit, Priest in a Pulpit, King in a Pulpit . . .

This little cluster is growing right outside my door . . . and when the chipmunks leave them alone, I enjoy them every single day! I recently had the pleasure of sharing this plant with a boy scout who had not had it on their list of plants to find and learn about. It's pretty cool to introduce a favorite plant to another. In the process I learned more about my prince too. It's quite an evolved plant and according to my daughter "they only have berries if they decide to be female that year, they have to store up a lot of nutrients in their corms to have the energy to make seeds and stick around all summer." 


Everything evolves. . . sometimes in ways that we don't even see coming! Now that reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw out in California near my sista's abode . . . "Oh, evolve".


Enjoy! Learn something new everyday and tell someone about it too.

Custom Me This

Custom drawstring pouches are uniquely made from tShirt fonts, pieces and parts. Every morsel of material is creatively incorporated into a soft and cozy pouch, sizes can vary. Great uses for storage, Easter baskets, gift giving, credit cards, cell phones, iPads, techie tablets and labtops. . . it's endless their uses.

Color preferences are welcomed as well. Here are just some designs that are already in use.

What are you using in your laundry dryer?

I ask this question over and over again. Go Green, Start Here! Really, start with an eco friendly product like mine that you can find in my Etsy shop, at Green Depot (New York, San Francisco or Online),
The GreenBee in Kent, Ohio and other locations, just ask me.

Important details: Reusable, Long Lasting, no chemicals. Male, Female and Child & Baby friendly.
handmade with recycled t-shirt sleeves, pieces and parts!
Upcycled, no new tShirts were harmed to make this item.
*Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

More Info:
Þ fragrant organic lavender buds inside
Þ double secured (see last pic, separate sewn pouch inside)
– no buds sneaking their way out, no way, no how!
Þ Pillows are "reusable" not "refillable"
Þ Keep in a covered container to last 4-6-9 mos.
- Renew them with scrunch/crunch of pillow
Þ eco-friendly
Þ pose as a quick sachet for camping, closets, car freshener, drawers and more. . .
Þ made with 100% upcycled tshirt material
Þ Size Approx. 4” x 4” each

New Year to You and You and You~ You know who you are!

It happens... the year goes by and you're wondering where it went. Not me! I know where it went and what I was doing - just don't ask me to prove it! Whatever am I talking about. Well, for me, this was my first year truly, madly, deeply making every effort available to be ever present and aware of my environment, what I'm drawing into my life and where my thoughts head when I'm not staying present. Should that make no sense to the reader... that's okay... it's all about me this time! Oh wait, it's always about me. hahahha... truth be told, it's about us a l l .... we are one... connected in ways we don't even begin to realize. I applaud you for nodding right now.

It's the New Year - You know what to do!  be amazing

A simple inspirational quote that speaks for itself. Find it right here from lyricbrock

Pop Up - Collective Upcycle "Brilliant Mix of Energy"

Seriously, it happens, people step out of their comfort zones and make things happen. Then they take on a life of their own and the next thing you know . . . a creative energy emerges! Okay, this is my take on a group of local talented artists.  I have had the pleasure of participating in Collective Upcycle Pop Ups! 

You'll want to check out the links provided in this brief post to really get a feel for what a Pop Up is. . . when they come about . . . and how they evolve from a vacant store front to a shoppers delight!

Beginning Thursday, November 17th with an Artists Open House (6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m) (kind of a meet & greet with wine & tasty treats) - Collective Upcycle  -  holiday pop-up will be open  12pm - 8 pm, Thursdays through Sundays from November 17th to December 24th. 13226 Shaker Square,Cleveland 44120, (between Yours Truly and Fire Food & Drink).

It takes a Village (so its been said) - but I tell you that Nicole, Renee, Megan and Lauren - make things happen!  Introduce yourself (ask to meet when you stop and shop) and shake their hand to draw in some of that amazing energy!

How can you help you say?

* to upcycle is to creatively alter or repurpose leftover materials in a way that changes their use & adds value to them.

News Flash - zJayne Product Featured in BH & G Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Excited as can be to share that my zJayne Lavender Sachets for the laundry dryer, closets, travel and more have been featured in the FABulous Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Gift Guide under Uniquely Handmade.  You'll see an array of gorgeous suggestions along with "my" "Pillow Sachet Gift" (just scroll a little - click on buy now to see the listing !) and Whallah... a gorgeous introduction to a perfect handmade gift for anyone on your holiday list! Anyone! Men, Women, Children, Babies - Eco Friendly, Chemical Free - a must to kick the disposable habit!  Go Green, Start Here!
Thank you BH & G!  You rock!

Keep It Simple -  Get your Sachets right here! Choose any listing!

Enjoy,
Jane Pierce

The Dog Days are Over . . .

I know, what does that even mean? The dog days are over! Well, that's the song playing while posting these NEW designs for the fabulous organic lavender dryer sachets.

It's a great tune I came across by Florence and the Machine. Goes something like. . .

Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her still no turning back
 . . .
Leave all your love and your longing behind
You can't carry it with you if you want to survive
 . . .

And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had and what was left after that too
 . . .

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horse?
So you better run

zJayne Cover of Green Craft Magazine - Thank You!

Eco Friendly Holiday Gift Giving - Place Custom Orders by November 24th for Holiday Delivery.

Numeric Treasuries 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ...

Have you had the pleasure of being included in one of Susan's NumericDesign Treasuries? Take a look at how talented this shop "NumericDesign" also found as "photohale" and "snu2", has been for some time now! You want to make it in her treasuries, consider adding the number of items in your listing as a tag. Lucky me today on front page with Baby drawstrings totes viewed through the above NumericDesign Front Page grouping.

More of her amazing mixes can be viewed here. Notice the theme and creative arrangement of numerical listings. They are FABulous!

GREEN SMART GIFTS - Thank You~

Excited as can be to THANK the editors of GREEN CRAFT Magazine for including my zJayne Custom Red Cross bags and What's Your Word CUSTOM multiple sized pouches in their Autumn 2010 Issue.  More pictures of three page article can be seen here. Thank you too for customer early holiday ordering. Look for FREE SHIPPING on ten bags or more.

Special shout out Thank You to all new and repeat customers. You SO rock! 

Dryer Sheet Pillow Sachets Featured

Dryer Sheet Pillow Sachets Featured, originally uploaded by zJayne.

As seen in:
Pregnancy & Newborn (May issue)
PREMIER ISSUE of GREEN CRAFT Magazine.
Everyday with Rachel Ray Magazine and
Whole Living (Martha Stewart Body & Soul Magazine)

Upcycled, no new tShirts were harmed to make this item.
Made with recycled t-shirt sleeves, pieces and parts!

More Info:
Þ fragrant home grown organic lavender buds inside
Þ double secured (see last pic, separate sewn pouch inside)
– no buds sneaking their way out, no way, no how!
Þ Pillows are "reusable" not "refillable
Þ Keep in a covered container to last 4-6-12 mos.
- Renew them by scrunch/crunch
Þ eco-friendly
Þ pose as a quick sachet for camping, closets, car freshener, drawers and more. . .
Þ made with 100% upcycled tshirt material
Þ Size Approx. 4” x 4” each

Crunchy Clean Meets zJayne - Ecofriendly Coupon

Here's a match that is helping to make a difference one load at a time. Just before the Holidays last year I ordered from Crunchy Clean a BOX LOAD of eco friendly detergent. Yep, some for myself, some for gift giving, some to sample scents, I tried it all. Ashley, from Crunchy Clean, also has small gift size, adorable 3-4 loads packaged in the zip lock brown bag (we love it)! Oh oh ...and the ~scoop...it's a perfect tablespoon.  AND, I have hard water and I had the option of ordering hard water detergent (and did).

I must tell you that I wasn't expecting any noticeable difference, just expecting to hopefully like the product and take a step in a better direction for my laundry products.  Here's what happened . . . yes, I know you want to know the scents I recommend, but here's what happened first.

I gave my daughter a large brown Crunchy Clean bag in her favorite essential oil scent of Vanilla. Love that girl and she has this fondness for all things vanilla.  I make her a special batch of vanilla dryer sheets from a hoarded stash of handmade filler for her very own. (Yes, I'm working on a second dryer pillow sheet filler scent to be available later this year).  Anyway, so daughter calls me that she's really liking the detergent and I had so far done two loads myself and I'm telling her, "yes, me too". Then we are both quiet...and I say, actually, I think the clothes "feel" different. And she says, "so do I" ...and we go on and on about "can that really be possible" is it just that we want to like this product?  They feel and look cleaner.

Crunchy Clean includes with each order an informative sheet of tips/eco knowledge and it does explain your clothes won't have any residue like commercial detergent. I'm telling you, I do think that is what happens. It's noticeable enough, they're clean, and frankly, we are sold on this positive change.

Now, for the scents. Me, I'm so enjoying the Lemongrass-Orange EO (essential oil)
Daughter is liking the Vanilla EO
We are both thinking the Clothespins, Four Leaf Clover and essential oils (EO) are more favorites to be reordered.

It's like you want to do the laundry! I'll bet it has something to do with aromatherapy!

SO - We've COLLABORATED on a CODED COUPON for customers!
You don't need the coupon, but you do need the CODE cc2010zJ to receive:

10% Off Order from Crunchy Clean's website 

FREE SHIPPING on zJayne DRYER PILLOW SHEET SACHETS from my website 
(post code in comment section at checkout and shipping will be refunded for dryer sheets only)

Use this code, share the code, order from either of our sites and enjoy our eco-friendly products!

Tag This ~

I have been meaning to send out a blog shout out - THANK YOU - to shop owner RobertoSand! I had the pleasure of working with him last year to design these wooden button tags that have many uses.  Take a look through his shop and you will come across some unique ideas and if you have time to view his sold area, you'll get to see some amazing products that I'm sure will give you ideas for your own gift giving through his talented designs.


I especially like his ability to make custom wine carriers (and beer), like this fun Mums and Dads one that I saw a buyer designed when I was ordering my own zJayne tags.

Have a look around, you'll be inspired for sure!

My Review of ARTIST MAGNETIC NECKLACE

Originally submitted at UncommonGoods

Wear a different piece of art everyday with magnetic necklaces that each come with an artist-illustrated series of five interchangeable faces. Pendant made of a recycled steel auto-mobile part. Handmade by Cat Ivins in New Jersey. Adjustable nickel-plated brass chain. Choose from: Unusual by Chri...

ARTIST MAGNETIC NECKLACE

Oh yeah, make a wish and keep it Locked

By zJayne from Northern Ohio on 1/22/2010

 

5out of 5

Gift: No

Pros: Durable, Attractive Design, Eye Appealing, Easy To Assemble

Best Uses: Conversaton Starter, Gifts

Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper

I Am A: Single Female

I keep a wish inside my locket(s). Often something I want to draw into my life I scratch on a paper and fold it up and slip it inside the necklace. Forget about it, then notice it has come to pass! I tell you, these really rock!

(legalese)