Organic Cotton

What Does It Mean???

Is it Better?

 

           Aside from organic cotton feeling awesome against you skin, it is also great for the environment and the farmers producing it!    It takes 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizer to grow 1 pound of raw cotton in the U.S., and it takes approximately 1 pound of raw cotton to make 1 shirt.   Regular cotton crops cover 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land, yet it uses 16% of the world’s insecticides.    This is more than any other single major crop…..definitely not good for “Mother Earth”.

         Organic cotton is grown in subtropical climates around the world.   For any cotton to be labeled “organic” in the USA, it must meet the standards established by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990.  Organic cotton growers are required to use farming techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control.    Synthetic petrochemical fertilizers, pesticides, human sewage sludge, and plant growth hormones are prohibited.

           Since 1990 the yearly production of organic cotton has continued to increase rapidly, going from 3.2 million pounds in 2004 to over 9 trillion pounds in 2014.  The six largest organic retailers in North America in 2011 were: Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Super Target, Subway, and Whole Foods Markets.    Walmart is the largest grower of organic cotton in the world.

     Although the production of organic cotton has increased, it is unlikely that you’ll find organic fabric at your local fabric store.   I have searched many avenue and back streets to find organic cotton - to no avail.   Finally, on the internet I found the organic interlocking knit that I use for My-S-Cap’s 3-Seam turban caps.   It complies with GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification guidelines, and only uses low impact dyes.     It has a 40% stretch across grain which means it will move when you move, making it ultra-comfortable against any scalp.    For many chemo patients, this is extremely important.

        Lastly, not all “organic cotton” is the same.   The OTA (Organic Trade Association) standards have four levels of organic labeling ranging from 100% organic, with all components including sewing thread be organically certified, to less than 70%.    Whenever possible, look for terms such as: “low impact dyes”, no chemical finishes or fiber-reactive dye, & GOTS.  Finding organic cotton items is a challenge, but well worth the effort!

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 See other 3 Seam Organic Cotton Headwear at  www.myscap.etsy.com in 3Seam section.  The red organic snood on the right is in the Snood Section.                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NY City's Garment District

       Most people visit NY City for the big stores, awesome museums, the theatre etc.   Although these are wonderful, the real gem for me is the “Garment District” located from 34^th to 40^th street between 6^th and 8^th Avenue.

        My first brief glimpse of the garment district was in the late 80’s.   It has changed!    The days of seeing racks of manufactured garments moving quickly from showrooms and warehouses across the busy streets are gone.   It’s much quieter now, but still has the charm of days past.

      The stores are long, narrow, old, and stuffed full of every type of fabric you can image.   For the serious seamstress…it is a shopping paradise!   Think of the direct opposite of fabric chain stores like JoAnn’s.   It is a treasure hunt.  No signs directing you to neat displays.  No computers to ring up your sales, and mostly likely not even listed prices.  I was lucky enough to be escorted by a native New Yorker who had attended the fashion magnet high school nearby.    

       We began our outing at the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology fashionmuseum.fitnyc.edu/ ), located at 27 Street, which is one of the few “free” museums in the city.    The exhibits change often.  From there, we walked up grand 7^th Avenue.  During the brisk walk, my friend tried to give me a crash course on how to “bargain” in the garment district.    Her first words of advice were…… never accept the first price you’re quoted.

        The real excitement began when we left the wide busy 7^th Ave and turned on to 34^th street.  It was like walking through a Harry Potter’s “porthole”!    The little stores didn’t have flashing neon lights or beautiful window displays.   In fact, it was just the opposite.    It was almost as if they were hiding on purpose.  Sort of like……  “If you’re not smart enough to find us ………. Too bad”!

         There is so much fabric crammed into these little stores that you honestly can’t tell what color the walls are painted.    I am usually a very take charge person, but in the Garment District, I let my guide do the talking.  She was a pro!

       After visiting the little shops from 34^th to 38^th St, I decided that I found what I was looking for and the price I was willing to pay back on 35^th St. at MODE FABRICS.   When the nice man asked what I wanted, I smiled and said…”all of it, but I can only buy what will fit in my carry-on luggage”.    I ended up purchasing fabric for the snoods and jersey scarf-turbans that you see on MysCap.etsy.com.    I will definitely be back!

    

Just a sample of my New York City Garment District treasures!

 

Right Gift - Right Time

 

Every once in a while we receive the right “gift” at the right “time”.   This little book of quotes “i’m too young to be this d@*n old” was that gift for me this Christmas.   

Most of us have heard the saying “it’s just a number” or “you’re only as old as you feel”, but truth be known it is more than a number, especially when that number is 16, 21, 40, 50, 60, or the big 65!!!!!    In the past I really didn’t mind chalking up another year …… it was just a “number”, but for some reason 65 was becoming a little harder to swallow. 

 

Being only 5’3”, in good health, and still being able to buy clothes in the junior department, I guess inside I still felt like I was “young”.    Teaching middle school of 30+ years probably was also a contributing factor.    Like Peter Pan, I think my mind just got stuck in thinking I was young, or at least that I wasn’t “old”!

Having a birthday on Christmas Day usually meant that my birthday never took center stage.   I was usually fine with that as long as I got a gift wrapped in non-Christmas paper and a birthday card.   I really didn’t even need a cake.  But when I turned 65, the government and every insurance company started reminding me in July that the 65 was quickly approaching!  I just didn’t want to deal with the hassle of “Medicare”!    I liked that status quo, and just wanted to quietly step into my next year of life.

My 18 year old grandson told me that while he was Christmas shopping, he saw it.   It just called out to him to get it for me.  He told his friends…this is perfect for my grandmother!    I am so blessed to have grandkids that keep me young.      We travel, play games, work, tease, talk, and laugh!    If you’ve read my “about” page on etsy, you’ll know how much they help to make My-S-Cap a success.  

The quotes in this little book have made me think, smile, and LOL!    I hope you enjoy them as I share them throughout the year with you on myscap facebook posts.

First of many quotes….

“Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise” – Margaret Atwood.

"Henna- an Ancient Art for Modern Women"

My first exposure to “henna” was at a traditional Indian wedding – minus the elephants.    I did not know at the time what the beautiful design sketched on the bride was called, how it was applied, or why it was there.     The only thing that I knew was that the bride was beautiful!

 Today, almost 5 years later, while chatting with a lady going through chemo, she mentioned that she was having a “Henna Crown” sketched on her head.   I politely asked, “What is a henna crown?”.    She proceeded to tell me that it was a dye made from the henna plant that temporarily stains the skin.   The more she talked, the more I thought…this would make an interesting blog.

Little history: For thousands of years, women in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East have used the leaves from the henna plant to dye their hair and ornate their bodies.   In India, the darker the henna is on her hands the more intensely will her husband’s love be for her.   In Saudi Arabia, only a relative who has been happily married can paint the bride’s hands or else she will bring bad luck to the bride.   Jewish women sometimes have a henna party about a week before the wedding.     The henna art has always been an outward sign of inner peace and beauty.  

Today this art is sometimes referred to as a “henna tattoo”, but it is not a tattoo.  No needles are involved.   The henna leaf is ground into a powder, mixed with liquids, and painted onto the skin.    It takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes depending on the extent of the design.    The paste dries ASAP, but needs to remain on the skin for at least 4-6 hours.    The paste will then flake off leaving a terracotta stain that will last for approximately 2 weeks.

“Henna Heals  www.hennaheals.ca/  is a Canadian based nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower people experiencing complete hair loss by offering safe, temporary and customary henna crowns both in Canada and abroad.”   I would suggest anyone interested in finding out more to definitely check out their website.

The above photo was sent to me by my new friend that is under going chemo.   She wanted to try it first on her hands to make sure her skin didn't have a reaction to the dye.  I was so impressed that I asked if I could include the photo in my post!

Alopecia and Chemotherapy



                                                 

Front Knot Turban

 

 

When a person hears the word “cancer”, one of the first things she thinks of is “good-bye beautiful hair”!    When a person is told she have “alopecia”, her reaction is “what?”.      Although unlike cancer, alopecia is not life threatening, it is just- if not more - traumatizing.      

     With My-S-Cap I have the privilege of talking with beautiful women who were informed that they have been diagnosed with cancer, and will be going through chemo.    After the initial shock, they contact me for turbans that are both pretty and comfortable.   They are positive women of all ages who are determined to beat the cancer.    As I tell them; it is a journey and they will get through it.   A year later they again have a head of hair and a totally different outlook on life.

      This week two beautiful women living on opposite ends of the USA (CA & NY) contacted me for headwear.   What made this unique was that they both had alopecia.    CA gal (alopecia areata univeralis – total loss of all body hair, and NY gal ( alopecia areata).    My first reaction was “what is it ???”.    After listening to their stories, I decided that I needed to not only educate myself, but to write a blog entry.

   

      Alopecia in simple terms means baldness, but not just the TV ad type baldness.  It is an autoimmune disease that thinks the body’s hair follicles will hurt the body.   There isn’t a cure.  It may go away but can come back.   Alopecia areata is most common in children under 20, but anyone can get it.  About 10% will never grow hair again; which means 90% will grow their hair back in a few months.  Locks of Love  Website: http://www.locksoflove.org  provides custom hairpieces to financially  disadvantaged children under the age of 21 with long-term medical hair loss.

Bandana with Liner

       Aside from the loss of body hair, there are no physical side effects.  It won’t kill you, but it will definitely change your self-esteem and body image.    I remember my grandson coming home in tears where the hair dresser confused him with another boy, and ended up shaving his head!!!!   Luckily his hair grew back.  People with alopecia aren’t that lucky.    The only treatment I can think of is to pamper yourself.    Purchase that expensive make-up or pretty outfit.   I found this helpline link:   http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/alopecia-areata-helpline.  There may be others out there.

 

      3-Seam     

        My CA friend contacted me because she said that her beautiful human hair wig  http://peggyknight.com/  that she can swim in was just too HOT.   The My-S-Cap style that she fell in love with was the “Bandana with liner”  http://etsy.me/1qrZbzv .    She liked that it allowed the air to get to her neck.   Wigs are great for dealing  with chemo and alopecia, but for around the house and every day -   soft comfortable headwear is the way to go      My NY friend likes the “3-seams turban”  http://etsy.me/1qKkBqe .   She had just recently been diagnosed with alopecia.    In both situations the ladies are trying to make the best of a not so pleasant situation.     From what I hear from ladies dealing with cancer and alopecia, they just want to blend in.    My CA friend told her husband that she would like to have a t-shirt with “Just Smile” written across the front.    She was so tired of people feeling sorry for or asking her questions.    I don’t think that is too much to ask.

    Every piece of headwear that I make is designed for individuals dealing with a sensitive scalp.  The first test is softness, then easy care.  Every piece of fabric purchased has to withstand a trip through the washing machine and dryer.  I hat "hand washed or dry clean items".  No matter what the tags reads.... they go in my washing machine too!

       If you or someone you know is dealing with hair loss or is in need of headwear, please direct them to www.myscap.etsy.com .   Eleven different headwear styles are available with over 350 listings.  If you can't find something you want ........ just ask.  Life is too short not to help make a difference in someone's life.  It doesn't take much to brighten one's day.
 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



    

    

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reversible Bandana Scrub Caps

   Patriotic Flags       

 

  Playful Daisies              

 

 

 

Have you ever got in the cleaning mode and found some hidden treasure?   I did that this week and discovered a box of reversible caps neatly tucked away.  

In 2010 when I first started My-S-Cap, the reversible scrub cap was my only item.    The only variation was the fabric! ….. not much variation.     It soon turned out that not only was it requested as a scrub cap to wear in the OR,  but also requested by ladies dealing with chemo.    With it being light weight and having no visible seams, it was ideal for their tender sensitive scalps.    Being reversible also added a little variety.   The band can be folded to fit just about any head size.

 

 As I started getting other requests, the reversible headwear got buried under the other projects,  that is until last week, when I cleaned the front closet.    Like a child that had found a forgotten toy, I was eager to see them again.   They were still as beautiful as the day I first made them.    It was then that I decided to leave my sewing machine and tackle the task of listing the “Reversible Caps”!    Listing is not my favorite part of My-S-Cap, but I know it is necessary.     Sewing is much more fun!  LOL

 

I am happy to report that after 2 days I have them all listed.     You can find them at www.myscap.etsy.com  or http://esty.me/WuyM2b .    They are listed at $17.00 which includes FREE SHIPPING.    They originally sold for $22.00.       As An extra bonus…….. if you want more than 1 reversible cap write : BLOG $2.00OFF  in the “note to buyer block” and I will refund you when you place the order.

 

I  just created a Smilebox of some of the Reversible Bandana Scrub Caps.

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4445784f444d304d44513d0d0a&blogview=true

I'm hoping you can open it.

Hope life is being kind to you!

 

 

 

 

Zig Zag Chevron (Little Unknown Facts)

                                    Zig Zag - Chevron

                        

                                    I must admit that I am not the first to recognize a fashion trend, unless it is really out of the ordinary.  That is probably why I did not recognize “chevron madness”, until my granddaughter asked me about helping her embroider initialed chevron fabric on to t-shirts.  She wanted to sell them to girls at school as a way to provide some much needed gas money for her car.   

 

After doing a little research I discovered that the “V” shape chevron design has been around on pottery and rock carvings since 1800BC.    During the middle ages it was a popular design for shields and flags.  The military still uses it today to distinguish rank.

Some of you may remember the Chevron Oil Company’s logo.  The company adapted the chevron design as a tribute to Albert Einstein because of his habit of scribbling chevrons in the margin of his math notes.  Guess the oil company  thought……. “If it’s good enough for Einstein, then…..”. 

 

     

 Designer Missoni from Italy introduced chevron to the fashion world in 1953.   I can remember wearing the zig zag pattern in the 60s.  If memory serves me correctly, the chevron designs then were mostly multi-colored.   In 2011, Missoni launched a low cost chevron clothing line for Target.  The line sold out within 24 hours crashing Target’s website, and emptying their shelves.

Mono-colored chevron designs of white and another color seem to be what are now popular.   Today’s chevron is a familiar design with a refreshing bold clean look.  It is used in interior design, clothing, jewelry, and even packaging.   At My-S-Cap it is used in our crutch pads, scarf-turbans and snoods.  Check out other chevron items at: https://bitly.com/# or www.myscap.etsy.com