Dear, Deer

Our new neighbors

Elk in back yard

young buck Mule Deer in backyard

an Elk herd meandering through our little downtown. thx, 99.9 KEKB

Who's Ecologically Illiterate?

Oh my friends!  This article in The Guardian hits right square on the head of the nail for us here at Jag & Nevie.  It is a personal pet peeve (pun intended) that animal rights are often the only Eco concern the fashion industry has and only because PETA makes such a fuss. While we uphold vegan values of course, it is the health of the entire globe that drives our machine, so I'm happy to see someone highlight the issue so succinctly.  It's short article, please take a gander.
KEY SNIPPETS -

"It's simply amazing how far we are from being a seriously ecologically literate culture." (Rebecca Burgess, author, textile artist and founder of The Fibershed Project in San Geronimo, California)

"In order to get mainstream society to react faster and stronger we have to show victims (people and animals) of planet abuse." (Sarina Saturn, assistant professor at the School of Psychological Science at Oregon State University)

River pollution from fabric dyeing

Love those bunnies and mink and beaver and cows and pigs, but love the trees and water and mountains and PEOPLE too.

Denim causes major eco problems

PASS IT ON!

The California Mission Ride to Boot

 For most of you it's here - finally - BOOT WEATHER!  Can I get an "amen"?  Alas, here in swampy, southern Houston the long-awaited season is still far off, but a girl can pine...

And, on the subject of all things boot, cowboy boot to be precise  - - -

Have you followed the exciting adventure currently en route touring California's storied Missions, The California Mission Ride?  CMR is in it's second year, about to visit the last of 21 missions covering 600 miles - on horseback.  BRAVO!

CMR is led by Hollywood director, Gwyneth Horder-Payton (think Sons of Anarchy, The Shield, Grey's Anatomy, The Doors movie), writer Leslie Dunton-Downer  (The English is Coming), and Rod Rondeaux Crow/Cheyenne Hollywood Actor/Stunt Rider/horseman extraordinaire (Meek's Cutoff, The Lone Ranger, Into the West - below). 


 

Fierce barbed wire shorts and all, Rod Rondeaux is a force to be reckoned with.  It's impossible to gossip about him without mentioning his many bighearted causes both humanitarian and mammalian.  Rod and his wife, Equine Fine Art Photographer, Rachel Waller Rondeaux , operate a horse rescue/stunt ranch in far west Texas called Firelight South Ranch and he's behind The Indian Stunt Ranch.  Mr. Rondeaux also trains underprivileged Indian youth in the art of equine stunt riding with the goal of giving them a marketable as well as culturally significant skill. Last but not least, the Rondeauxs run the non-profit American Indian People for Wild Horses (major hand on heart) dedicated to the preservation of this beleaguered species so special to American history and ecology.

Happy Trails, CMR!  In lieu of riding shotgun, we excitedly await release of the documentary.

Rod Rondeaux - Roman Nose in Into the West (available on Netflix)

Credit Where It's Due - Octopus Me

Of all the magnificent creatures in the world, the octopus has to be one of the most fascinating.  Octopus Me on Etsy is devoted to making gorgeous baubles celebrating nothing but octopi.  You can even find cufflinks to enrich your nine-to-five experience.

bracelet

stackables

 And my favorite - the black diamond baby octopus ring:

black diamond baby

A little rough but still tough

 I adore Iggy, always have.  He's just the epitome of one-of-a-kind, isn't he?  'Happened upon these two PETA posters and wanted to share because these guys are so... craggy.  In a fabulous way.  Mickey and his chihuahuas.  Amazing.
















(this is not exactly a PETA endorsement, btw:-)

What is Man Without the Beasts?

Guide to Humane Clothing Choices

Here at Jag & Nevie we have been Vegan-izing our business over the last year.  First, I went Vegan in a dietary fashion and then I've been working on weening 'self of a leather and cashmere habit.  I'm not there completely because I have an issue with non-leather shoes always falling apart too quickly, and we all know how important shoes are to one's well-being:-)  Plus, I LOVE crazy fashion shoes, not boring, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, dullsville, comfort shoes.  There I said it.

Being an environmentalist to the core I still believe recycling (up-cycling, salvaging, what-have-you) is better for the planet in the long run than simply NOT making any more cashmere sweaters, but I'm open to persuasion on this subject.  At this point I don't plan to make more upcycled cashmere sweaters....

With that in mind - here's a great article on what goes into making angora, cashmere, alpaca etc.  All of those being animal products, of course.  Read it and be educated, lovelies!

an Angora bunny - not a sweater

ALSO - a comprehensive list, courtesy of PETA (by way Healthy Bitch Daily) of of vegan clothing & shoe companies here.  I'm going to give it my best shot and try some of the shoes:-)

The HELPING PAWS & CLAWS Giveaway Contest! Enter to win a Tote Bag!!!!

ANNOUNCING ... The "HELPING PAWS & CLAWS" GIVEAWAY CONTEST!!

Today is our first ever Giveaway Contest!  Inspired by the antics of our beloved KittyPuss, the rescue kitty we can't live without, Jag and Nevie is giving away the Rescue themed REcycled

 TBag shown here.

 One of our super sturdy, double layer REcycled Tshirt TBags, it features a bright purple exterior, orange and red interior with red fringe, REcycled denim strap and interior phone pocket. Handy dandy!  Use it for the farmer's market, library books, kid paraphernalia, whatever...

notice the shut-eye happening mid-seam

Other than tuna, KittyPuss loves nothing better than to commandeer my fresh stacks of fabric, pattern pieces being drafted and, as you can see - sewing on the trusty old Singer.  Every cat I've ever owned has assisted my design projects. They can't resist!  I have to physically move her paws out of the way of the needle sometimes.  Crazy feline. 

 So - send us photos of your favorite animal kingdom helper in the act!  Jag and Nevie themselves will pick the winner on April 21st.  The winner will be announced here, on the blog, Sunday, April 22nd.
  
 SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY HERE!! (google docs)

Good luck everyone!  Thanks for playing:-)