Editor’s Note: Thanks to you, we are feeling the love. To show our gratitude, we are profiling some of our most cherished readers who often stop by to see what we have cooking on the site. Please make them feel welcome by saying hello!
Name: Elizabeth Jones
Location: Baltimore, MD
Website: icouldsewdothat
1. When did you first starting reading EcoSalon?
I can’t remember exactly when I started reading EcoSalon, but I think it was the summer of 2009. I was preparing to open my refashioned clothing store on Etsy and did a lot of searching on the web for sustainable fashion ideas, concepts and general marketing strategies. I continued to read EcoSalon because it had the answers to so many questions and interesting articles focused on environmental consciousness.
2. What topics do you enjoy reading the most about on EcoSalon?
I really enjoy reading about fashion, design and culture, but it’s just such a fun site to browse. You never know what kind of fun article you could stumble onto and really, who doesn’t love the giveaways?!
3. Would you consider yourself a very conscious individual? What about in relation to being kind to the planet?
Oh yes, I would definitely consider myself green. My friends and family admire me with a mixture of confusion, concern and mild neglect when I launch into my new ideas. My mother was most surprised and amused by the fact that I created my own reusable cotton pads (for removing eye makeup and applying astringent) from old wash cloths. My teenage daughter was not thrilled by my replacing her face wash with olive oil and her toner with apple cider. I’ve gotten a lot of good-natured ribbing about my need to push the thermostat below 60 at night and my refusal to purchase new clothing. In the end though, I know I’m doing the right thing and it makes me feel good, so I keep pushing for new ways to lighten my environmental load.
4. What’s your all time favorite products?
I love my Burt’s Bees Acne products. They use salicylic acid from willow bark instead of witch hazel. My overly sensitive skin had a terrible reaction to witch hazel and the Burt’s products have worked some miracles on my skin.
5. Tell us a bit about your blog and other websites you enjoy visiting.
Well, I have a few. First, I have a blog called icouldsewdothat that I started a few years ago when I began my own personal green revolution. I cover everything from tutorials for the latest sewing project that I’ve worked out to my commentary on politics and the environment. Mostly it’s how I share my wacky adventures and my best recipes with my friends and family. Second, I have my own Etsy Shop where I feature refashioned clothing and recycled accessories. I can make anything from a t-shirt! Finally, I started a group of global Etsy sellers all focused on refashioning clothing. They are all a lot of work, but they really give me joy. I hope that through them I can encourage a few new souls to get on the sustainable bandwagon.
6. You are the happiest when . . .
Oh, this is the toughest question yet! I have so many hobbies and interests that I’m happy and entertained quite a bit. To be honest though, I’m happiest when my daughter or my husband give me a high-five or tell me that they really like something that I’m working on. I made a totally goofy recycled t-shirt hat and my daughter liked it so much that she named it “the happy hat” and wears it to school. Considering that she’s a teenage girl in high school I feel like that was quite an accomplishment. I can’t even look at her wearing that hat without cracking a big grin.