tweal: upcycling fashion & giveaway!

You probably thought I'd blog about chocolate today, right?  Nope, this year, Valentine's Day is a giveaway... for something a little more inspired than chocolate, just as sweet, but with a lot less sugar. ;)

Today you have a chance to win a gift certificate at tweal!  Not familiar with tweal?  Time to get to know Judy and her beautiful, handmade, upcycled clothing (including shirts, lingerie and dresses) and quilts.  So, read a little from Judy, and also check out her blog.

For many people, living a sustainable life may include buying organic, eating vegan food, growing a garden, or using the car less. Most of us don’t consider the impact that our clothing choices have on the planet.  The truth is that most of the clothing we wear comes from very far away places, for very little money, and is made by people who are not treated well in places which are not safe to work in. It’s a hard reality to face.

I had always dreamed of being a fashion designer, but felt it was beyond my capabilities as I am terrible with math and numbers. I grew up sewing and have always loved it, but for many years I ignored my urge to sew and create because it didn’t seem important. Last spring I was dealing with the loss of someone very close, and I needed to do something to take my mind off things. So I started sewing, and I haven’t stopped since. Tweal had emerged!

From clothing to lingerie to quilts, I love to experiment with fabric and design to see what I can come up with. I like to challenge my brain to make something different every single time! What’s the fun in repeating if I can explore instead?

I use only repurposed, upcycled, and recycled fabrics for my tweal creations. This is very important to me - why create new fabric, even if it is organically produced, when we have an excess of existing fabric? Not only is it more ecologically sound to re-use fabric, it’s cheaper too. There are thrift stores all over the country, all over the continent, full of fabric and clothing just waiting to be reinterpreted.

Buying handmade builds community and contributes to self-sufficiency, two things that are almost non-existent at the mall or the outlet store. This philosophy inspired me to start tweal.  All of my designs are one of a kind and handcrafted with love and imagination. I have a freehand design style that uses no patterns, numbers or standard measurements. Instead I use my eyes and my hands to create beautiful and interesting pieces. No two creations are the same - each piece is unique and beautiful in its own way. Just like you and me.

Whether you pick up a needle and thread, you can support the handmade movement.  Encourage independent business growth in your area, and empower people to provide for themselves and their families. We can do our part.  And, we can still look adorably hip and fashionable too! 

Here's YOUR chance to shop for some cute and original fashions at tweal!  This is an exclusive offer for readers of this blog.  For your chance to win a $20 gift certificate from tweal, leave a comment on this post, telling us which two (2) tweal items suit your fancy!  (Gift certificate is redeemable at tweal.etsy.com or tweal.artfire.com)

Go browse, then comment, and when I come back I'll tell you one or two of my fave tweal pieces!