I recently read an article in my local paper written by a businessman and inventor. He writes about the eight step process and importance of invention. He continues to write about the volume of invention ideas he receives from readers and concludes that American people's desire to invent and innovate is alive and can lead to manufacturing jobs. He continues to write about how our nation tragically killed manufacturing in the past 50 years. And what remain is a remnant of the glory days of the '60's, when the United States was on top of the World in manufacturing. Back then, the middle class was a large, prosperous and very happy sector of the American Population. Today, since Manufacturing has been largely shipped overseas we have increased our national debt to $16 trillion and continues to increase every day. This averages out to $52,000 of debt for each living man, woman and child. This huge debt will be left to our children if we don't do something. Although Jack and Mary Designs is a small company that manufactures Women's Accessories made from recycled wool sweaters - mittens, hats and scarves right here in the USA - Maine I feel proud to be making a difference. American Made Matters - Manufacture in the USA. www.JackandMaryDesigns.com
]]>My business takes old thrift store sweaters, brings new live to them by creating new products. I guess you could call it recycling. I just do not feel like recycling is the right word for my products. The word recycling reminds me of a bin of plastic and glass bottles or a stack of old newspapers waiting to go to the redemption center. The new catch word for recycling is repurposed - as in; I take old sweaters and repurpose them into hats, mittens and headbands. Repurposed doesn't sit well with me either. So, I decided to throw it out there to Facebook to see what my friends thought. I received some great responses - reinvented, reincarnated and re-loved. I think all of the responses are great and look forward to working them into my media until the right one sticks. So thanks Margaux, Liz and Mary for helping me think outside the box. My new tag line might read - Jack and Mary Accessories, artfully created from re-loved wool sweaters!
]]>Most of your body heat escapes through your head. True or False? I believe that this statement is true. I am a hat wearer and love the cozy warmth and protection from the elements a repurposed wool hat provides. I recently read an article that partially disproves my theory. The article states that an experiment was done in the 1950's in which soldiers were sent into subzero temps wearing survival suits - and no hats. Shockingly, they lost a lot of heat through their heads! A hypothermia expert states that you'd lose just as much heat or more if you put on a hat and left, say, your left leg bare. So, my theory is to cover up everything including your head. There are a lot of great Hats to wear! www.JackandMaryDesigns.com
]]>I am still not sure why I inherited the Disco Ball when my mom was relocating from London back to the states.
I am actually not sure why my mom had a Disco Ball, a spinning one no less at her flat in London. And for some reason I have never asked. So, the disco ball has been floating around my house for a few years, homeless. It is a big decision where to hang a disco ball and so far the right spot has not come to me. I thought about giving it away but felt like there is a deeper message to why my mom gave me the Disco Ball and one day that will come to me too. I mentioned in a previous post that I recently relocated my studio and have this great new organized space. I have a rather nondescript center light fixture over head. I was looking at it the other day and had my ah hah moment. Somehow, I have to incorporate the Disco Ball into my studio and attach it to the overhead light. I utilized the resources of my handy husband and we were able to hang the Disco Ball from the finial of the light fixture. I think the disco ball will help me create some really groovy mittens made from recycled wool sweaters. At night if you dim the light and spin the ball you get full on Disco Fever. The lights sparkle and bounce off the wall and make everything spin. I love to listen to loud music and often bust out a dance while I am working and maybe the Disco Ball will help me remember to have fun and dance. Thanks Mom!
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