new-ness

new-ness at greenie bean ::

email address :: greenie bean recycle [!at] gmail dot com

posted totes ::

REMINDER ::

Saturday and Sunday (29th and 30th)

11-5

BUCKTOWN BAZAAR

Western and North Ave.

A Handmade Business :: The Boss of You

jimmy and i are heading to cuba, illinois at 6am to spend the weekend with my lovely family.

it's nearly 11pm and i haven't packed.

i'm going to read more of The Boss of You and go to bed. It has given me so many great ideas and has gotten my mind working toward more long term goals for greenie bean recycle.

greenie bean is on the move.

so greenie bean recycle is officially on facebook. the account started yesterday and was created for avid supporters to stay up-to-date on greenie bean happenings. i would love for this blog traffic to increase and am hoping that through daily updates on facebook, it will.

i am trying to commit to more regular postings on etsy, but it is so difficult due to working during the day and other commitments at night. i have so many totes ready to be photographed, but need to find the time to do that. this is one of my goals for greenie bean in the coming months (unless i can outsource this work to a photographer).

i am gearing up for another craft show next saturday and sunday :: the Bucktown Holiday Bazaar. Also!!! Starting during the first week of January, greenie bean totes will be sold at a new boutique called Lightspeed located at Broadway and Irving. How exciting?!

Many new opportunities are opening for greenie bean. stay tuned!

New Totes!

New Totes are up at Greenie Bean!

1st Annual Indian Orphanage Fundraiser

Last night, my sister-in-law, Kristen and (future) brother-in-law, Jamie threw the 1st Annual Indian Orphanage Fundraiser at 3 Brothers Auto Repair to raise money to sponsor Indian orphans. Jamie's band provided the entertainment and were A-mazing. Four local artisits, Big City Fuzz, Greenie Bean Recycle (me!), Something Beautiful, and Sparkly Soft, set up shop and donated 20% of our proceeds to the cause. Altogether, they raised over $2,100 and can sponsor nearly six children!!!

As I was working, I didn't get any pictures of the event, but here is my practice display in my dining room. I sold the Hendrix tote and the Cubs tote!

women

feminism ::

five years ago today, i became a feminist; although at the time, i didn't know the word for it. today, there are many elaborate things i could say; but mostly, i am thankful.

there are many individuals and figures in my life that continue to inspire and amaze me . . . that have taught me self-worth, the beautiful, unique, imperative role of myself and other women in society. who have lent me their voice until i found my own. they continue to love and fight for the rights of women across the world. through their every day actions and interactions, they blur definitions and help expand society's knowledge, minds, and hearts.

Chicago Pride

i was feeling pretty "Chicago" this week!

Holiday Craft Fairs

Greenie Bean's Upcoming Craft Shows

Indian Orphanage Fundraiser
Saturday, November 15 5pm-10pm
3 Brothers Auto Repair -- 3722 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL

Bucktown Bazaar
Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30 11am-5pm
Pulaski Park Field House -- 2200 N Oakley, Chicago, IL

WilPower's Holiday Bazaar
Sunday, December 7 1pm-3pm
Northfield Senior Center -- 161 Northfield Rd, Northfield, IL

ArtWalks Holiday Fair
Sunday, December 14 10am-5pm
Architetural Artifacts -- 4325 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL

Hope to see you there!

political-ness

i have been mulling the events of last week over in my mind, each day, in between emails and meals. in conversations with friends and sitting at my work desk. from within, i have a desire to share the experience of mine as personal and public as it could be with 239,999 other people. it was loud and crazy, tumultuous, and humbling. but the words won't entirely formulate.

so in regards to grant park on election night, on barack obama becoming our president, on feeling empowered and hopeful for our country for the first time in my life :: i was there.

my thoughts exactly

"Religion is about heaven and hell, but that’s not the whole story.
Religion is about strength of will and faith and fear and guilt.
Religion is about knowing a secret that you simultaneously want to tell everyone about and feel arrogant when you meet someone who doesn’t know your secret.
Religion is about amazing grace and wayward sinners and great heroic tales where the good guys always win.

Religion is also about oppression.
And in my religion, it was about female suppression.
It was about not being good enough to preach or be the head of anything or make decisions alone.
It was about submission and obedience and conformity.

Religion made me feel safe, but it also made me feel like I couldn’t breathe.
It made me feel lonely, insecure, and sad.
It also gave me great purpose and the eternal security of my soul."

--excerpt from Witness, a short story.

Visit Gwen's blog. She's great. I like her and you will too.

be the change you wish to see in the world.

today at 5:30 am i walked 1.5 blocks to my polling place, a firestation on green leaf. at 5:30 am, i was the third person in line and by 6:00 am, there were 75 people lined up down the block.

i thought that i would cry as i cast my vote, but i did not. i felt so empowered as i connected the two arrows. as i walked out of the booth, turned in my ballot, and descended out of the firehouse, i couldn't stop smiling.

tonight we are going to grant park. i hope, with every ounce of myself, that his speech will be that of accepting the presidency.