My Paper

A Patchwork Life: Social Change Through the Alteration of Consumerism


Christina M. Fisher


Senior Seminar

Dr. Derek Stanovsky

Interdisciplinary Studies Program

Appalachian State University

May 2010



The process of moving towards a more sustainable culture in the United States is a problem requiring a transdisciplinary approach because there are many issues to be addressed from many angles. Our current environmental crisis has its root in our social consciousness, so in deciding how to address the total problem of living a more sustainable lifestyle, one must examine the different reasons for our current situation and the possible results of any major changes in policy or practice. The reason that many people are feeling the need for changes in lifestyle has to do with the fact that larger societies are relying on resources that are depleting quickly while living within an unstable economic situation. Many different organizations are set up to address many issues individually, but only in coming together can real changes arise. The understanding of this connection has been established in recent years and a growing movement has begun to find creative solutions to this complex situation.
Economists are currently trained to look at the most pressing issues of the world and decide which one is the most feasible to eradicate quickly for the least amount of money. Unfortunately, most of the problems are intrinsically linked to treating symptoms instead of the actual disease. Conflicts arise because there is only so much money to go around, which leads people to focus most closely on issues related to the generation of economic growth; powered by increasing our consumption. Human rights issues are all weighed on an economical scale, because many people believe that if we put money in the right direction towards the best technological and scientific solutions, we can create resources to solve all the world's problems, including world hunger, population density, crime, health and environmental concerns. Many technological innovations are geared towards the ideas of maximizing efficiency and creating synthetic replacements for currently diminishing and/or harmful resources so that we can maintain the world we live in.
The understanding that global warming and many illnesses are related to certain chemicals in our products makes people look for ways to change or remove those chemicals from the products instead of figuring out which products we should simply stop making.
The book, Cradle to Cradle, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart and is an in-depth examination of the issues associated with over-consumption, especially of non-biodegradable dangerous chemicals that our world is not equipped to house (McDonough, Braungart, 27). The premise of the book is to examine the idea of sustainability itself. The principles associated with sustainable development encompass a variety of methods to keep our economy thriving, while limiting our impact on the planet. The concept seems solid but is much trickier to realize. Even armed with good intentions, many of our current environmental recovery tactics are actually not quite as helpful as they appear. The underlying issue of keeping a thriving economy often interferes, even inadvertently with the other people and ecosystems around us.
The processes by which most goods are manufactured can be so harsh that it makes recycling them extremely difficult. For example, the recycling of plastic actually consumes more energy than its original production, only to make inferior end products that will not last long enough to keep the materials out of the landfills. Downcycling, as it is called, takes the place of recycling in most cases. Recycled paper is actually such a degree thinner than its original, that it is fairly fragile. Inks do not stick to it quite as well, and the chemicals used to bleach it are harmful. To break down a product chemically weakens its strength. Making products into something else without releasing more toxins into the air is challenging. The point that the authors are trying to make is that, “making something less bad, is no good”. What needs to happen is a basic reevaluation of our current lifestyle as well as the manufacturing process. Making better quality products that can be passed down through generations or biodegrade easily is a much better solution than constantly recycling the same sludge. As well, products that can be repaired and reused should be. They propose the idea of a “service economy”, by which larger products are leased instead of bought. “Manufacturers cease thinking of themselves as sellers of products and become instead, deliverers of services provided by long-lasting, upgradeable durables. Their goal is selling results rather than equipment, performance rather than motors, fans, plastics or condensers” (Hawken, p.16).
This bold assertion is hard to swallow in many ways because it begs the question- Well what now though? However, as this is the ultimate goal, the process will take time. First of all, there are many physical objects currently on this earth that cannot or are not being recycled. Not only is the consumption rate not yet changing, the expense is what appears to be the most daunting aspect of this way of thinking. That fear is technically warranted because essentially people are being asked to stop doing what they want to do. It can be overcome eventually because the actual costs of what we do now are not only infinitely higher, it is insidious in the way it affects our total well-being.
The perpetuation of the current cycle is run clearly on the consumptive consciousness of society at large. When analyzing the connections between environmental and social injustices we can begin by deconstructing our current consumption patterns to explore a variety of means to transcend our plight. As important as it is to examine the chemical make-up of material goods and decide how to make better products, it is equally important to analyze the needs and desires of communities which use these things. In doing so, one can see the needs that are being met by material goods in general, but also explore the possibility of generating a different pattern. The question at hand is really how our culturally structured sense of self can bend the stereotypes associated with that learning by integrating the senses once more and meeting our needs more healthfully. The answer to this question lies in the power that we all have within our reach to virtually disassemble our processes and patch them back together in a better order. The key to the puzzle is to use the endless human curiosity to encourage the awakening of our creative energies, desire for accomplishment, as well as our sense of community. If people care more about those they know, then getting more people together more often will definitely increase the investment of communities in their members.
Knowledge acquisition is an important tool in the creative process. Restructuring our collective consumerist nature is ultimately a creative process which requires learning new habits and behaviors. That being said, to understand what consumers need from material goods, one must dig deeper into how people currently experience the world around them. In the book, The Hidden Dimension, Edward T. Hall discusses how deeply people are affected by our relationship to the space around us and how space is shaped by one’s society in specific relation to how we use or do not use or senses.
“Man’s relationship to his environment is a function of his sensory apparatus plus how this apparatus is conditioned to respond-today, one’s unconscious picture of oneself –the life one leads- the minute to minute process of existence –is constructed from the bits and pieces of sensory feedback in a largely manufactured world”(p.62).


Physical aspects of the world, such as space, light, texture, form, line, and color, directly relate to human emotions intrinsically but factors such as the spoken language we use to describe our world makes the relationship to the space around us completely cultural. As noted in the book, The Sensuous Scholarship, by Paul Stoller, the act of ‘observing’ the world has superseded the ‘sensuous’ experience of it. “In the seventeenth century, the rationalists believed the sensuous body an object to be distrusted, if not reviled, lest its subjectivities steer us away from objective perceptions”(p.xii). The social situations created by the need to further ourselves from sensuous experiences are reflected in the language used to describe the elements of design and ultimately, our participation in the environment around us. Integration of the senses increase overall cognitive functions and is necessary to the development of our primary sense: vision. Sight is the most important tool we have to navigate our world but it is inhibited if the other senses are not fully developed or activated.
The development and use of other senses is currently met by our experiences with our material world. Where these senses can be experienced through better quality products, activities, and human interaction, there is opportunity for increase in our economic and ecological health. Much of the reason that senses are not used in as integrated a way as they could be, is the divide between male and female senses. As higher learning was reserved for and rationality was attributed to men, the sensual experiences of home life were completely in the domain of women. People in a society typically all have the same senses and emotions, regardless of gender. However, the visible responses to the emotions and senses are interpreted according to social context. This has a major impact on our history, political and education policies, and home life. The built environment is not only responding to the social cues, but guides them as well, by furthering the stereotypes of our symbols. Eminent art, architecture, and artifact are what people say ‘stands the test of time’. As this is the foundation of our everyday existence, transcendence of the stereotypes is one necessary task.
Good health is achieved through a myriad of complex social and physical processes, but the built environment around us is definitely one aspect. We have distanced ourselves from one another, increasingly since the advent of the automobile. Humans and the natural environment are further apart due to car travel, because such independence deprives people of kinesthetic experience and actually adds to the idea or feeling of being cramped. The more senses are involved during the exploration of the day-to-day world, the more firmly a person can grasp all the information they take in. When rushed and isolated from the range of experiences associated with our visual contexts, people have shorter attention spans, less memory retention, and are left feeling a bit like they are missing out on something; even subconsciously, which makes daily tasks less enjoyable. Man learns while he sees, but what he learns influences what he sees. People are more disoriented and unfocused in our age of speed and non-interaction.
The American desire for individual freedom and right to personal ownership of things are precious because of the fact that because of these, life can be explored to the fullest. The ease of transportation coupled with the freedom to advance technologically and scientifically has allowed for innovations that we could not be here without, such as for the distribution of life saving medical supplies, food, and clothing. However, as stated above, our cars and highways have increased our individual isolation which separates us not only from each other, but from the outside world.
Put more simply, if our experiences shape who we are and those experiences are limited to what we can do alone from our cars and furthermore from our personal home computers, independence grows into loneliness which we are filling evermore with man-made objects. Our easy access to all things so quickly has led to, frankly, a national state of impatience. The assembly line systems of product development have created more things for more people, but also increased our personal waste and diminished our capacity to define ourselves and be personally creative. The more automated that production has become, the more competitive the market has become. The desire to live a good life has been replaced by the desire to ‘be a productive member of society’.
Discord arises from the fact that in a society with a free market and choices to make,
we do not all make the same choices nor do we have the same resources. Creativity as a personal endeavor has become relegated to a fine art that only the very select members of society can afford. In the book, The Blackwinged Night, David Peat theorizes about why it is that people are or are not acting out their creative impulses more frequently. He asserts that people who ‘feel’ less creative are actually just those who are for some reason unable to fulfill the type of creative potential that they possess. When their challenges are eliminated, their energy can flow best. Physical structures and products can increase or decrease one’s challenges in the creative process. The fact that people want to lead a ‘productive’ life suggests ultimately that they want to create(Peat, 1-30).
The language that has become associated with emotions and sensorial memories permeate every aspect of society and are thus integrated into our material culture. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was mentioned in the article, “Understanding Creativity”, by Joanne Brunn, as having said that the environment has more of an impact on creative outcomes than an individual intent on creativity.” How we set ourselves up in the cultural environment does seem important specifically to the creative process. In his book, Creativity, Csikszentmihalyi, stated that a person can increase personal creativity by arranging their environments in ways that make them feel most organized and also calm (Csikszentmihalyi, p.127-132). To quote Edward Hall again, “Man’s sense of space is closely related to man’s sense of self. Man can be viewed as having visual, kinesthetic, tactile, and thermal aspects of his self which may be either inhibited or encouraged to develop by his environment”(Hall, p.150). If the outside environment is set up in a way that makes a person feel cramped or intruded upon, they will be more stressed out. That stress then translates to having less energy at home.
As consumers, people seek to fill those gaps by buying all the products that are supposed to make them the most comfortable and inevitably happiest. However, the price of this lifestyle has not only increased the output of waste and pollution, it has further limited the time that people spend together. Those cars may provide easy access to goods and services to many people, but with such tight schedules, their travel may be limited to work and drive-thru windows. Personal computers have become as vital as medication and food because they provide access to the outside world that so many people experience so much less.
Our current sentiments regarding nearly endless consumption are reflected by our treatment and education of children. This is important to understand because of the fact that these patterns are affecting the physical and social growth of young children. It is also affecting their future. Despite living in a world with more companies creating more products than ever before, the article, “Address the Pain, Reap the Gain”, from 2008 reported, “Today's young adults are very likely to be the first generation to not surpass the living standards of their parents. Evidence of their declining economic opportunity and security abound, from widespread debt to lower earnings in today's labor market for all but those with advanced degrees”(Draut). Over-consumption has led society to drive to succeed merely to sustain what we have left. Leisure and family time have been sacrificed so that we can make ends meet. Creativity is now reserved even less for fine artists. The economic, social, and natural scientists are working less to explore our world but more to handle the hardships of our way of life. If more decisions were made less out of sheer desperation and more from a long term standpoint, there are certain very clear problems that could be rectified over time.
This is not the story of how badly people may behave in this world. It is instead to raise awareness in the hopefulness that accompanies the journeymen beginning to see through our circumstances who are working more collectively, not just to sustain us, but to raise the quality of life for all on this planet. With the exploration of our cultural perceptions we can begin to reshape the models to more effectively enhance the lives of children and their learning experiences, allowing room to grow and foster more interactive experiences that connect them to one another as well as to the built and natural environments so that the intrinsic sense memories of those bonds can lead them to live fuller adult lives.
The fact that people associate happiness with a productive life is conducive to the idea of creation of spaces by creative people for creative people. In our current state, this is met as a need to move forward in one very specific direction very quickly, to the exclusion of others. However, a ‘fruitful’ or ‘productive’ life can be lived without the need for constant innovation of technology for its own sake. According to David Peat, it is not just the generation of brand new ideas and innovations that count as creative feats. Creativity is also the process of getting back to something old to make it new again, and as itself, a part of the healing process (Peat 1-30). If an activity or material good can do any of those three things, it is a creative work. Good quality products that require less total energy and generate less waste, while responding to the people at the right time, in the right place have the potential to become the eminent pattern.
In addressing the general concern for better education of children, we must address the desire to be a competing nation in industrial production and monetary wealth. States that have children with lower CAT or SAT test scores than others are encouraged to buy more advanced learning tools that equip them with what is needed to pass those tests to be able to later compete for jobs requiring certain skills. The common consensus is that if we have better television programs and more equipment, children will be more satisfied and have better morals so that they can function optimally within our current system. An article from Child Development Online had this to say about the actual goals that parents should pursue in raising their youngest children,
“Child development covers the growth of a child all the way up until adolescence and this development is very important to society because of the cognitive, educational, and emotional development a child undergoes in order to be a productive member of society. Studying how a child develops is especially important since it results in the creation of developmentally appropriate programs within school systems. Even toy companies must know at what point children are developmentally at certain ages so that they can make their toys appropriate for the certain age groups. One can't expect a two year old to play video games with numbers and letters, but they can expect a 5 to 6 year old to successfully play the game”(child development online).

Although this statement appears to be the fundamental goal of child development, it is in subtle in its subjectivity on the matter. How people interpret the timetable of appropriate behavior is widely varied. One should not ‘expect’ that by 5 to 6 years old, a child can play a video game successfully. Every child is unique, some infants crawl, some do not. There are certain physical and neurological expectations to have, but in general, children learn abstract concepts at their own rate. Even if it is a bit slower than others, it does not mean that the child has any sort of disability, nor does all childhood behavior determine someone’s adult personality. It is widely accepted that we as a society study children in a way that will allow professionals to optimize their growth throughout life. However, if one person or school district determines a rigid set of equal expectations for all children, there will be an almost guaranteed failure rate. The statement made also clearly reflects the importance of ‘things’ in our culture. There is a need to expose children to all appropriate ranges of activity to support motor and emotional development that will be reflected as an adult. Trust and self confidence are qualities that a computer cannot provide, so the concentration on that aspect as a goal can and does send many mixed messages, countrywide.
The pressure to perform certain tasks, to complete certain tests, to maintain higher status and increase income level is the root of the problem. People can be better prepared for the jobs they do perform and guided toward an ethic that allows them to feel good enough about themselves that they will be freed of much of the stress that leads to many of our social concerns such as abject poverty, street crime, illness, and malice towards others. The emphasis in the above article on toy marketing and video game readiness can isolate entire segments of people. Children, who are equally bright, may fail a test because they were not exposed to certain extraneous technology which is an increasing problem.
Although toys and computers are not a formal foe, education for the race to the corporate top has started in many households and schools at a very young age; sometimes even before birth. The concept is that because children are little sponges, the earlier they are given written and visual instruction, via flashcards, television, and other media, the smarter they will become. Unfortunately the trend has moved from adult supported interactions to letting the materials speak for themselves, as infants are parked in front of educational programming. Infants and toddlers learn role modeling primarily from one on one human interaction. It is how little humans are designed to take in information, through the physical responses to their actions. A television cannot react back, so there is no reinforcement of their behaviors. A Center on Media and Child Health report illustrates that, “Not only do babies who watch infant videos not show any evidence of improved cognitive development or learning, but one study shows language delays among 8-16 month olds of six to eight words per hour of infant videos watched”. This study was a result of the campaigns from such companies as Disney; the owner of the Baby Einstein videos which promised to accelerate the education of infants and toddlers.
As a result of this study, Disney has announced that it will refund any parent who returns a video that was purchase within the past five years. The need for activities that parents and children can positively experience together has become more apparent in recent years.
The above example is one more reason why the American way of life needs to be tweaked. However, compounding global concerns with the domestic ones is overwhelming to say the least. Therefore even strong advocates of more radical shifts in our business ideology, such as by William McDonough and Michael Braungart who have come up with many ideas that for now can reduce consumer waste while still allowing for human needs to be met. Many of which have taken shape in recent years. One idea they had was to create biodegradable water bottles with a seed inside them. When they are tossed on the ground, not only would they produce a nice fertilizer for the earth but would sprout plants (McDonough, Braungart, 92-115). A radical notion? Absolutely. Is it possible? Absolutely. The company that makes Sunchips just announced that its new bags are not only biodegradable but they are embedded with wildflower seeds ("Frito Lay: Good Fun").This does prove that there are creative opportunities that large corporations can benefit from by thinking about both their customers and the natural environment at once. As well, there are innovative ideas bounding from individuals that have created both ecological and social changes.
Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a non-profit 501c3 event series which emphasizes the power of reuse through a community building exercise. Started by Wendy Tremayne in New York City, this organization has now held events in over thirty cities in the United States.
The philosophy:
“Swap-O-Rama-Rama utilizes the existing surplus of clothing to create new-recycled goods, without consuming raw materials. In do-it-yourself spirit, through workshops and the collectivizing of ideas, it helps each individual break down the barrier between consumer and creator while inviting all to reclaim the creativity that has been lost to industry. Through hands-on experience, Swap-O-Rama-Rama invites the discovery that the making of things is not an activity to be avoided in order to attain leisure, but rather a playful and leisurely endeavor unto itself. At Swap-O-Rama-Rama objects are imbued with meaning as would-be trash is revivified with authentic, communal creativity and spirit. Repurposed garments are far less likely to be kicked to the curb as garbage and so ultimately Swap-O-Rama-Rama not only reuses would be trash but sets in motion a way of living that reduces textile waste. Finally, by re-branding clothing with self-celebratory labels, Swap-O-Rama-Rama invites us to see each other through shared creativity rather than through socio-economic status” (Tremayne).
These events offer the community a way to reuse clothing to limit textile waste, but are also an opportunity to build community. Each event is unique in the fact that they are themed as appropriate for their location. This type of event is representative of the fact that the ‘average’ consumer, who chooses to lead the event, has an opportunity to create social change and increase community unity in their own hometowns.
In the book, Resilience Thinking, by Brian Walker and David Salt, the concept of thinking about the sustainability includes an emphasis on the fact that people are all a part of the system. No changes, ecological, social, or economic can occur in complete separation from people. Sustaining the well-being of a community and its members can be good for the environment if people learn to consider themselves as active participants. “scientists, be they social, economic, or biophysical, tend to study the system from a perspective of being on the outside whereas in fact they, too, are part of the system”.
In the spirit of that statement, I, the writer, am an active participant in this cycle. As such, I chose to hold a Swap-O-Rama-Rama event in Boone, NC. As a constant observer and student of the concept of truer sustainability, it became evident to me that I, myself, cannot create change in any substantial form without acting. The focus of this Boone event was to physically perform an environmentally conscious act that specifically included the community. Because of my background study and work in child development, I decided to sponsor a local Montessori School. The idea of pairing alternative educational ideas with alternative community building experiences typified the concept that there are ways to be a part of the community without perpetuating unhealthy practices. There can be integrative solutions to many problems, which should be taught to our children. With this theme of teaching our children well, this day was a family oriented event which incorporated small but manageable and fun seminars to introduce people to the idea of how to be creative and proactive.
Getting young kids involved in the design and creation of bracelets and puppets may seem like a glorified babysitters trick, but what is happening is that the kids are being allowed to make small decisions in colors and the look of things they will own. Giving them a purposeful creative opportunity increases their sense of pride and self-expression and will hold their attention not only for the afternoon, but will help them begin to see their world as a place to be manipulated by them too, with an eco-friendly mindset. As children inevitably take pride in what they do and own, they keep things longer, focusing more attention on what they have and it’s tangible worth. They will also see and participate in the exchange of things no longer needed, for something new. To see another child light up and the prospect of picking up their old clothes emphasizes in a very visible way that things do not just disappear, they move on to some place new. Trading them with friends is a great way to move something along, as opposed to letting it sit in a landfill.
Because all people in attendance can see the positive effects of these exchanges and revitalizations, it is not even entirely necessary to emphasize where the clothes are not going. The point is for this exercise to seem natural in its process. The more people enjoy it, the more they will continue to walk within the spirit of it. Allowing people to create bags or purses on a sewing machine, basically allows them to quickly see something unnecessary, just turn into something useful by the touch of their own hand. It emphasizes the idea that sewing in itself is not just for women, but something anyone can do. As well, at the Boone event, a male role model who made bracelets with the children reinforced the concept of crossing the gender boundary with the illustration of his own crafting skill, which was picked up by both boys and girls that morning.
The concept of this paper is to express the problems that we are currently facing and recognize their connections to one another. However it also is to recognize that as these issues are connected to each other, and we as Americans are connected solidly to them as well, we do have what it takes to bring about change if we so desire. The process of reshaping a culture is not easy by any means, but as people begin to act and experience their culture more actively, the awareness for the need and desire to change will become more and more visible. As these issues are addressed on a smaller scale through creative means, people can feel more responsible for helping the world as well. The need for things then becomes filled by people and activity and eventually the needed changes can occur.
Knowing that radical innovations can be made by large companies, such as in the case of the redesigned SunChips packaging, is encouraging but smaller movements which allow individuals to utilize their own assets is also extremely valuable. It is not just about the extraordinary events or things that we can give each other in one day, but is about the ordinary things in our lives that can be seen in an extraordinary light. Creation of something from nothing is amazing, but is technically miraculous. However, the creation of a new skill which allows one to constantly shift ideas into action is not in itself miraculous; it is a longer lasting party trick though. The idea of both adults and children having fun while engaged actively in a clearly environmentally friendly activity is whole-heartedly a physical manifestation of the fact that doing what is good for the earth is connected to doing what is good for ourselves and the environment we have built for one another. These activities are steps forward in the movement from seeing creativity as a tool for constant generation of products to as a personal experience that helps to satisfy the needs that extra material objects once filled.









Bibliography



Csikszentmihaly, Mihalyi. Creativity. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996. 128-132.Print.

"Disney to Give Back Money Parents Spent on Baby Einstein Videos." Thrive: Children's Hospital Boston's Health and Science Blog. Children's Hospital Boston Staff, 23 oct. 2009. Web. 22 Apr 2010.

Draut, Tamara. "Address the Pain, Reap the Gain." American Prospect 18 mar. 2008: n. pag. Web. 22 Apr 2010.

"Our Planet." Frito Lay: Good Fun. Frito-Lay North America, Inc., 2010. Web. 22 Apr 2010.

Hall, Edward T. The Hidden Dimension. Garden City, NY: Random House, Inc, 1990. 150.Print.

Hawken, Paul. Natural Capitalism. 1st ed. U.S.A.: Little Brown and Company, 1999. 16. Print.

McDonough, William, and Michael Braungart. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. 1st ed. New York, NY: North Point Press, 2002. 92-115. Print.

McManus, Kathy. "Blog: Coming Home Again." The Responsibility Project. Liberty Mutual, 08 may 2009. Web. 22 Apr 2010.

Peat, F. David. The Blackwinged Night. Cambridge, Mass.: Helix Press, 2000.1-30.Print.

Rocha, Jose'. "Child Development." Child Development Online. childdevelopmentonline.info, 2010. Web. 22 Apr 2010.

Stoller, Paul. Sensuous Scholarship. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997.xii.Print.

Tremayne, Wendy. "Swap-O-Rama-Rama." Swap-O-Rama-Rama. Wendy Tremayne, n.d. Web. 22 Apr 2010.

Walker, Brian, and David Salt. Resilience Thinking. 1st ed. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2006. 32.Print.











Appendix

Swap-O-Rama-Rama Support Material



Swap-O-Rama-Rama - Artist Open Call
DATE:April 10th, 2010
TIME: 10a-4p
LOCATION:Grandfather Mt.Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union, ASU
CONTACT: Christina Fisher -fishercm@appstate.edu

"There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness." Gandhi

Join in the communal process of reuse and celebrate our collective creativity! You are invited to participate in Swap-O-Rama-Rama as staff. Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a giant clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which a community explores reuse and creativity through the recycling of used clothing. At Swap-O-Rama-Rama consumers are taught to be creators and this transformation takes place through the local talent in the community. Swap-O-Rama-Rama is seeking artists of all calibers, recyclers and creatives of all kinds for the following roles: artist taught DIY workshops, designer run sewing stations, silk screening, reuse designers for a recycled fashion show, sorters (get first dibs on clothes) and general help.

DIY Workshops: If you have a unique skill that transforms would be trash into a wearable item (clothing/jewelry/handbag etc.) please consider bringing this to Swap-O-Rama-Rama in the form of a DIY workshop.

Sewing Station/Fashion Show: If your a whiz behind a sewing machine and work with reuse, consider being a Swap-O-Rama-Rama designer helping people learn how to mod the used clothing they find at the swap. And join the Swap-O-Rama-Rama fashion show and show off your creations.

Silk Screen Crew: If your a silk screener and would like to join the silk screening crew, offering your fresh designs to bring used clothes back to life, please get in touch!

About Swap-O-Rama-Rama: http://swaporamarama.org
Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a Creative Commons Project: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
"Swap-O-Rama-Rama by Wendy Tremayne, is an international network protected under a Creative Commons License."
Swap-O-Rama-Rama is proud to be sponsored by yudu
http://whatdoyudu.com





HIGH COUNTRY PRESS(article)
APRIL 1, 2010 ISSUE
Got Clothes? Join the Fun at ASU’s Swap-O-Rama-Rama April 10
Story by Nicole Armstrong
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, April 10
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Grandfather Mountain Ballroom, ASU Plemmons Student Union
Cost: $5 donation
Looking to get rid of old clothing while creating new works of wearable art? Then head to the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union at ASU on Saturday, April 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the Swap-O-Rama-Rama. This event is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which members of the community and college are invited to explore creative reuse through the recycling of used clothing.

Swap-O-Rama-Rama welcomes boys, girls, men and women to join the fun by bringing at least one bag of clothing and donating $5. This donation will support the Mountain Pathways Montessori School to promote its annual Mountain Valley Fest, held on May 15. Once inside, guests are able to hunt for new fashion finds, and participate in an assortment of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Workshops.

The DIY Workshops are intended to teach guests how to modify or transform their finds. Workshop stations available are: hemming and re-buttoning, a screen-printing station, a silkscreen station and easy and unique distressing techniques 101. The materials needed to sew, embroider, bead, fix, repair and knit will be provided. Each DIY Workshop Station will have a qualified designer ready to teach guests how to make modifications to chosen clothing.

There will also be an option to add new labeling to the improved used clothing. Remove brand labels and attach one that shows off your own creativity. Labels provided are 100 percent recycled or will bear the name: Modified by Me.

Once the final touches have been made to a garment, guests are encouraged to participate in a fashion show, modeling their new and improved items. The runway will also feature the stylings of the local designers who staffed the event.

Is creating wearable works of art your passion? Offer to volunteer at the Swap-O-Rama-Rama. Volunteers can attend the event for free by offering to sort clothes, by teaching others their craft or by donating items such as zippers, ribbon, cloth, buttons, etc. If guests have created unique clothing designs before this event, they are welcome to volunteer to walk the runway and show off their creations to inspire new designers.

ASU student Christina Fisher is responsible for bringing this event to Boone.

“The idea was for this event to be my senior project. I first heard about the Swap-O-Rama-Rama from a television program. I had been involved in clothing swaps before and became jealous because people were participating in these swaps on a larger scale; I wished I lived in an area where I could join in something like this. So, I did some research and stumbled upon the website. It mentioned that if anyone was interested in producing an event, they could contact Wendy Tremayne, creator and head of Swap-O-Rama-Rama. I emailed her and she approved, so I started moving forward with the project. The school has been very helpful in giving me the space to create this event,” said Fisher.

Not only is the event a fun and creative way to look at fashion, it’s also a way to help the environment by saving money and keeping pollutants out of the air. Fisher said, “Most people don’t realize that we can do the things we enjoy for fun, and help the environment at the same time.

“The more people that attend the Swap-O-Rama-Roma, the bigger the event will be. People make this event. I’m really interested in seeing how it turns out because there are so many creative people in Boone,” said Fisher.

For more information, contact Christina Fisher at fishercm@appstate.edu or click to www.swaporamarama.org. To follow this event on Facebook, click to www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=362135516379.





APRIL 8, 2010 ISSUE
News Watch

News Watch
A Quick Look at News Across the Region
Compiled by Sam Calhoun
Correction
In last week’s issue, High Country Press reported misinformation about the Swap-O-Rama-Rama of Boone 2010, which will take place this Saturday, April 10, at ASU. The correct information is as follows:

The Swap-O-Rama-Rama of Boone 2010 will take place in the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union at ASU this Saturday, April 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which members of the community and college are invited to explore creative reuse through the recycling of used clothing.

Cost for entrance is one any-size bag full of clean, unwanted clothing and a $5 door fee. Proceeds from the Swap-O-Rama-Rama will benefit the Mountain Pathways Montessori School Scholarship Fund and will promote its upcoming Mountain ValleyFest, which is scheduled for May 15.

Do-it-yourself workshops will be offered to teach guests how to modify or transform their clothing finds and will include, but are not limited to, a hemming and re-buttoning station, easy and unique distressing techniques 101, quilted wall hanging demonstrations, bracelet making, modeling activities and a children's craft corner. Screen-printing will also be offered and sponsored by YUDU Screen Printing. In attendance will be qualified staff to assist guests with any modifications.

For more info, email Christina Fisher at fishercm@appstate.edu or click to http://christabel55.yolasite.com.

my project---

okay-- so for tomorrow -i will be sharing with you guys about my actual event---

the website is listed on the side of my blog---but i linked this title to it as well--

My D-Day calendar is at 2 1/2 days approx.

--so what I am writing now is the itinerary as I have it

--Featured Demonstrations--
---
"easy and unique distressing techniques 101"
"hemming/embellishment station"
"learn to use a sewing machine- by making a drawstring carry-all bag or purses from scraps/ old table linens etc"
"bracelet making"- included (pony bead extravaganza, introductory hemp bracelet macrame, and assorted glass beads for easy stringing)
"crafts from recycled/repurposed felted wool"
"wall hangings made from fabric samples"
"silk-screening" (PLEASE DEAR GOD)
"budding designer corner- for kids 3-12"- to include- fabric stamping, bracelet making, and multi-ethnic puppets"
"


------also not to be missed-- a powerpoint :/ presentation from the head of Mountain Pathways. about the school- Mountain Valleyfest- and god knows what else.


---and the opportunity to "walk at will"-- down the runway to show off new creations


---------so I am waiting anxiously for the screenprinters to arrive-- hopefully they will-- if not it will be me buying a billion iron things
---------powerpoint -argh---got worked in somehow, but we'll just let it go--(its for the school, its for the school, its for the school)...



----so the whole, no such thing as bad press-not so true
--I was misquoted a ton in a glorified yardsale ad that offered a whole lot I had not intended nor have the capacity to-- Including -but not limited to.. stating that the money was going somewhere it is not, telling people they can get in for free by donating buttons, and what else- um about everything-- retraction is due tomorrow-BUT

--the idea for the seminars I am offering are in fact purposeful

-These events offer the community a way to reuse clothing to limit textile waste, but are also an opportunity to build community- So I went from my theme of this being a family oriented day by incorporating small but manageable and fun seminars to introduce people to the idea of how to be creative and proactive. The fact is, it would be great to make this a flashy event with designer help and produce amazing and odd creations, but as far as I am concerned, those things are technically limited in helping people truly take something away from the experience. Getting young kids involved in the 'design' and creation of bracelets and puppets, may seem like a glorified babysitters trick, but what is happening is that the kids are being allowed to make small decisions in colors and the look of things they will own. Giving them a purposeful creative opportunity increases their sense of pride and self-expression and will hold their attention not only for the afternoon, but will help them begin to see their world as a place to be manipulated- or 'changed' by them too. Their sense of ownership is heightened.As children invitably take pride in what they do and own, they keep things longer, focusing more attention on what they have and its tangible worth. They will also see and participate in the exchange of things no longer needed, for something new. To see another child light up and the prospect of picking up 'their old clothes'- emphasizes in a very visible way that things do not just disappear, they move on to some place new. Trading them with friends is a great way to move something along, as opposed to it sitting in a landfill.
But because all people in attendance will be seeing the positive effects of these exchanges and revitalizations, it is not even entirely necessary to emphasize where the clothes are not going.The point is for this exercise to seem natural in its process. The more people enjoy it, the more they will continue to walk within the spirit of it. Allowing people to create bags/purses on a sewing machine, basically allows them to quickly see something unnecessary, just turn into something useful- by the touch of their own hand. It emphasizes the idea that sewing in itself is not just for certain people, but something anyone can do. If I can do it- Anyone can. It is not just about the extraordinary events or things that we can give each other in one day, but is about the ordinary things in our lives that can be seen in an extraordinary light. Creation of something from nothing is amazing, but is technically miraculous. However, the creation of a new skill which allows one to constantly shift ideas into actions, is not in itself miraculous. It is however a longer lasting party trick. The idea of both adults and children having fun while engaged actively in a clearly environmentally friendly activity, is whole-heartedly a physical manifestation of the fact that doing what is good for the earth is connected to doing what is good for ourselves and the environment we have built for one another.

so-- i got in the newspaper..ahh

alright man--so this started off sorted small--and got bigger--- and then weirder--- one thing- i have been 'in-mind' framing this event in the wider contexts of the basic point that smaller movements seem to be making bigger impacts on how we do things nowadays --

-but the text part of that context keeps getting the brush off because i literally have been non-stop with the event part of my event----- so i had the sewing machine people back out-- my main like showcase people back out--- but as that is happening-- i am getting more attention--
--the montessori school loved the idea--so they have come together to help--and i have some more volunteers-plus more people coming--
--

i have sewing machines-- and definitely got kids projects down--but my 'support staff'--flaked out so im doing this fairly solo style

-as we all know--i am not a great public speaker--and part of my trouble had been articulating things right before i got materials to--and well- apparently i said somethin that made sense

cuz---- i just did an article for the High Country Press--- it will be on shelves Thursday---
i have no clue what i sound like so - im a little freaked out--but they were cool-- the girl is a freelancer and she was super nice --and publicity is great---

--but i swear --on this thing-- i totally had stuff locked in-early---other than press--but now i got some press-- is when stuff is kinda up in the air--

--- Now ---i can say- it will be good in many--probably most aspects-- but i really wish people would come through on the commitment portion---
---cuz i had someone who was going to help with advertising and everything- but yeah -not so much-

--i am proud of myself in the sense i've been keepin on keepin on-- but God almighty- i did not entirely realize that the one thing i was going to be doing the most--is the one thing i am most terrified of--- -- PR--and Media mess--- i have no desire to be the centre of anything-- but i mean really it is good--

--originally my only goal was to have at least a representation of what this experience is supposed to do --and explain how other projects like it have worked in the past---well now---theres just a bit more pressure for it to be cool

-- and for the article thing-- in anticipation of what they would ask--- all i could think of was--so people say--
"when life gives you lemons, make lemonade- well-- it has still been yet to be said that life ever threw anyone --the sugar or a freakin' juicer--- so sometimes-- it may be good and well that we are a society with a ***t-ton of lemons (clothes/industrial waste)--- but if we dont know what to do with them or lack tools to do what we wish we could---well --you cant do alot except maybe bleach stuff:/...

--or what if the problem is life wont throw ya the lemons-- and youre the one person who'd take them gladly-- cuz you are great at lemonade--and you can make a ton to share---but as great as youd be at it-- its just a no go

---the point being--- that someone needs to match those people up--- preferrably the stupid jerk who made that statement--- i mean its good and well to try to 'throw ideas out there od what we all should do---but the fact is-- someone has to take the initiative to show them how to do that---so this event is like that----- instead of just of just fanticizing about what people could or would do --if--------
--like save money but not go to walmart
--combat consumerism for its own sake and keep down the waste it creates
--or spend more time with their family--and maybe one day actually meeting their neighbors
--be creative

-----this is the opportunity to do all that-- help the world---share and have fun with people-
----
(so i did not say any of that--about the lemons)-- i do think i spit out something about that book stone soup, randomly though...

--but my writing this is to make the point that -- we al have different things to bring to the table--its just lots of people dont know what they really have is worth anything--- and if events like this-- can show people-- how cool it is to do more than just recycle cans--because there is more than one way ---and that they really do matter----well that's a good thing--

---so far though--- people love the idea --but keep backing freakin out-- they hope it goes well though...

-- honestly-- i think it will -- i mean i'm running the 'Hey --its me'--make a multicultural hand puppet booth--oh yeah--


and im following kelly's advice--and getting the 'runner/sorter' volunteers from the school court thing--- cuz i bet a ton of people have to do hours still.

--and i will be postering the crap out of everything this week-

some updates and rambling about making a webpage finally

k so-- i am still moving forward-- its been a bit hard to publicize my event- cuz i havent been really sure how i am supposed to do it- with the cc license thing--- because the head person- wendy tremayne-- well travels alot- which is totally understandable that she is busy -but --its left me hanging at times----well so i finally got the full okay to sponsor the montessori school-- and i threw the idea to their principal-- and he is really excited to be involved

i couldnt wait any longer to start really getting info to people-- so i made a facebook invitation- and am working on the website--- okay---so yes it is the crappy free template kind---i cannot figure out my contribute stuff--- its picky--and well as much as i would like to hand-make a site for this-- it was just taking too much time--

--So- to have something for people to look at -refer to-whatever--- i am making one-quick like-
---oh and I talked to Wendy--she is putting me on the calendar on her site finally-and also sending me all the stuff that would be making it much easier to publicize- and everything

--so by next week i can reformat what i am doing now in the cheesy generic way-into something a bit sleeker-
-
-cuz even though i did the invite thing first--and its really clumsy--people are responding-- and so far-- i am slowly gaining my volunteer base--( i am recovering from some 'definite yes people-backing out)--but its cool though- i am waiting on the word from a 'master seamstress' --who is a friend of a friend
---but
there's her as a possibly--but also i am realizing that connections really are helping me--because i actually went to something that she hosted-- and i bought stuff- which sounds dumb to say---but the point is that- well i helped get her a commission and the whole thing has made it easier for her to remember me--and be willing to possibly help me out---
-
-so anyways-- it seems that it feels like fits and starts -and slowly going-- BUT when it picks up --it really picks up---- So i'm making this site thing now

but as i said--i will be getting more input officially next week-- and with the school so excited-- i know that there is more of a base for support too---

--and it really is a ways a way in terms of when the event actually is for what it is- so i am confident it is going to go well( these kinda things always come together better late in the game than other kinds of events--cuz ya get the yardsale type crowd---and they only need a week -and a picket sign with an arrow---so since i am ahead on those terms--and confirming actual volunteers now- its still in the timeframe

--------------also ---ive been thinking alot about that--like how to frame this in a paper really-the whole---will people really come?-thing--and if not--did I fail?--------but its the world of nonprofit--and its my first event---so i am less 'banking on' it being specifically the biggest thing in town per se-since i am not an organization--im doing all the parts myself basically--so its going to be different than big city ones -but

-am concentrating on what good has come about so far-----but also the idea of how difficult it is to be successful at these things right away------so i was thinking about sort of chronicling -the process in the sense of--- what many organizations go through--
what the challenges/hurdles are---and what to learn from the experience to make the next thing better---
not seeing 'failure' but the learning process -especially for the sector i am kinda in---and what needs to be done to 'actually get a job' in a position that i truly want-
---like through this event stuff----i have found more programs that focus specifically on 'teaching kids through the arts-how to live more sustainably-and people who are really doing -- kid centered- eco-home/ school design --- and other similar things--and its exciting to know i have some place to go with all this- even if it isnt perfect--- i am learning alot -

so i am finding out more things--and also figuring out how to be more assertive ---and asking the right types of questions-- to move forward-- career-wise-- but also with this project---
--like i was surprised but it actually is not like a failure so far at all--- and people are responding to the effort--so i'm keeping on keeping on-- and now that i have the big hurdles cleared-- i am working out how to phrase things-- and be 'catchy' to get even more people to respond--
which will come in time--
since im finally getting my packet of stuff
-- i also have ideas for how to work it well for the school---and they like it--so far-----so yeah- um- i guess its getting easier-- even though it is intimidating as hell-- i think it could totally work out---
and i am putting up the link to my 'new web thing'---but its only just the start-- and
i do have a substantive plan -so as long as i keep on everything-and people get back to me in time- it'll be good-

--

i got the bigggggg room

yay-- little update--- I got my confirmation for April 10th 10-4---- and well they gave me Grandfather Ballroom--all of it-- so the attic room--is for sorting and will have little changing rooms--- and the other two rooms will combine to make a big one--so now it is on to advertising...