Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Introducing.....WindyHillFibers!

Shop Name: WindyHillFibers

A Little About You: My name is Christine Vivian, and I live on six acres in Iowa farm country with my husband and a number of (formerly) stray cats who adopted us. I was diagnosed with lupus in late 2000, and my business evolved from the process of learning to live with the subsequent changes in my life.. Since I had always been interested in the fiber arts, my business naturally developed from what had previously been a hobby. Having my own business allows me to work when I want, and to rest when I need to, which is important when living with a chronic illness.

A Little About Your Products:
I create clothing and accessories from natural materials,
including organic fabrics, natural fibers, and all-natural colorants. I love historical and vintage clothing, so my clothes are inspired by the clothing of previous eras, but I try to make the styles appropriate for a modern woman. I want my customers to feel good in my clothes, so I always keep design and comfort in mind. Because many of my pieces are one-of-a-kind, women have a chance to purchase something that is truly unique.

What about the organic mission inspires you? Having grown up in a home with a huge backyard, I have a well-developed affection for nature. I believe we must respect our ecosystem and all the creatures that share it with us. My husband and I try to live a green life by eating organic food, growing our own organic fruit and produce, and trying to be energy-conscious.. Every time I am out in the yard, I see something in nature that amazes me, even if it’s something as simple as the way a pea plant curls around the trellis, and this reminds me of how important it is to preserve all the diversity of life on our planet. My business reflects this commitment to the planet, which is why I use organic fabrics and natural dyes. I want to bring my customers clothing and accessories that are eco-friendly in multiple ways, that are as "green" as possible, and that are good for them and the planet.

I recently wrote a post for my blog detailing all my efforts to make my business as eco-friendly as possible, and you can read it at: http://windyhillfibers.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-does-eco-friendly-mean.html

What’s your current project? I am currently working on transitioning to an all-organic product line, while working more with natural colorants, such as plant dyes and earth extracts. While I do enjoy some aspects of summer, my favorite season is autumn, so I am already planning my fall line, which will be all organic.

Where Can Your Products Be Found? My clothing and accessories are available through my Etsy
store


Blog: http://windyhillfibers.blogspot.com and
Twitter :http://www.twitter.com/windyhill