We're catching on!

Organic cotton is becoming more mainstream. That's good news for you and your pocketbook. As predicted, the more the demand, the more production and lower prices.

According to The Organic Cotton Market Report, retail sales of organic apparel and home textile products climbed 63% in 2008. The 2008 Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report states organic farming worldwide for the 2007/2008 year increased 152%. Wow!

India, where our onesies originated, has overtaken Turkey as the leader in production worldwide. Their production, according to The Organic Trade Association, increased 292%. The United States increased its production in 2008 by 9%.

I have noticed in my web wanderings we in the States are behind in sustainable living than with our friends beyond the pond. I wonder if it because we are such a big country and have so much space. But, times are changing and so are lifestyles.


So; what does this mean to you? As my prices go down; so will yours. Rubi J has reduce the price on all of our onesies products. Check out the website. http://www.rubij.com/

That's little Katherine in one of our custom screen printing onesies.

Leopards, Wild Dogs, Seahorses and Bears, Oh My!!!

I know.  The title doesn't flow. It's just we've added more to our wonderful "Animal Tails" line and I thought this would caught your attention.
We already had the Polar Bear, Seahorse and Snow Leopard in the Rompers Line; but now we added them to the children's tees, along with the African Wild Dog.

I love, love, love Animal Tails. The organic cotton in soft jersy knit is such a winner. The kids love them because they are so cool. The mothers love them because they wear so well.

One of the many, many nice things about being a girl is we can also wear the boys' tees. The girls' tees are too small for my 12 year old granddaughter, but she can wear the 9-10 year size in the boy's because of the bigger cut.

Also, check out our website. We have two new features. "Clearance Sale" on one of a kind; and our new "Special of the Day".

We have been out of the Polar Bear Rompers. They are just too cute. We now have them back in stock. They make the perfect baby gift.

It's been fun restocking and adding new. Now; if the sun would only shine here in Iowa for just a few hours......

First book

Do you know why I love books? Why they are my passion? Why First Book is the the charity Rubi J supports?

Empathy.

Most of us can feel sympathy. It hurts to see a young one cry. It hurts to see war on the television news.   But how do we feel the same hurt as our fellow human being? We have to be that person; and through books, this is possible.

I'm reading a book right that I don't wholly understand, but it is so powerful in its narrative that I cry from the pain of the life the author was given.

I read all books; fiction and non fiction. I always come away more fulfill as a citizen of the world. I want this for all children.

Technology has made our world smaller. But, we need more for our internal growth than text messaging. We need to connect. We need to learn. We need to empathize.

Let's give the children of the world the tools. Teach your children to  read. Help other children to read.

As Martha Stewart says: "It's a good thing".


http://www.firstbook.org/

Another "Animal Tail"

I've been reading about dermochelys coriacea. That's right, dermochelys coriacea. I'm talking about the Leatherback Sea Turtle, and, of course, I didn't know it either. I can't even pronounce it.

I've been on a personal mission to learn more about the endangered species on our "Animal Tails" t-shirts. It has been equally enlivening and heartbreaking.

According to the National Geographic, the leatherbacks are the only remaining representatives of turtles that traces back more than 100 million years. So how can it be possible, after all this time, they are now designated as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act? Here's their story from the hang tag attached to each tee:

"I am the largest reptile in the world. I'm about 2m (7ft) long and weigh almost 2000lbs. I have huge flippers which propel me around the world. My favourite place though is the Caribbean, that's where I nest. I always return to the same beach to bury my eggs in the sand. The problem is each time I go back there are more and more humans. The amount of times my eggs have got squashed by some kid playing volley ball or parking their deck chair on top of them! But my family have nested there for centuries so I don't see why I should move.

My favourite food is jellyfish, but I mistake plastic bags in the sea for them and that is the main reason for us being endangered. If I eat one it will know kill  me. Please ensure that none of your plastic ends up floating in the sea, it will be the death of me."

So, we are the problem. There is an organization dedicated to saving the leatherback turtle. Larry McKenna's book Almost Gone details their plight. To learn more, go to http://www.saveourleatherbacks.org/.

We can become part of the solution.

That's my grandneice,Julianna, at the zoo.

CALLING ALL DOG LOVERS!!!!!

Don't we love our four legged companions and confidants? We lucky people that have looked into the eyes of this other species and felt a connection are privileged and graced.

Having said that; I want to tell you about one woman making a difference. My new friend, Cea, (one, like me, believe dogs have souls) told me about her friend, Starline Nunley. Starline's son was serving in Iraq and, of course, like all mothers ask what she could do to help him in his mission. He told her the government supplied him with everything to assure his safety, but apparently had forgotten about their most faithful soldiers. The temperatures are so hot in Iraq and the dogs have no protection from the heat. These wonderful dogs are the first line of defense in searching for IED (Improvised Explosive Devices).

Being a dog lover, Starline got to work. She started the http://www.supportmilitaryworkingdogs.org/.  This charity provides cooling vests, pads for their feet, water bowls and one toy for their "down time". Learn more about this organization at their website.

My dogs Clifford and Lucy.

This Miracle and Flash. Flash is the little one. She's my sister-in-law, Angie's dog. Miracle is Angie's partner, Mary's dog. They are the best of buddies.

Mommyhood: On Hamsters

Mommyhood: On Hamsters

What's in a name?

In the early 90’s, my husband and I traveled to Israel, where I met a lovely lady name Lira. We were exchanging information about our family when she asked “and what does your daughter’s name mean?” I told I really didn’t know, I had never really thought about it. She was aghast. In her culture, great care is given to name a new baby. The name’s meaning is most important as it will become part of who this person will become.

Huh, I just thought “Stefanie” was cute.

Since then, however, I have been interested in the meanings of names. One of ideas for screen printing at Rubi J’s has been suggesting instead of just the name printed on an onesie or t-shirt; also put the origin and the meaning. That’s now our most popular screen printing we do for baby gifts.

I’ve had more common names like:
MICHAEL
Origin: Hebrew
“Who is like God”

Or an unusual name like:
SHAYNAH
Origin: Yiddish
“Beautiful”

I’ve had one grandmother order 8 t-shirts in different colors with the same name/meaning on it for her first grandchild. (We grandparents are like that.)

I do my research and then have it preapproved before making the print. There has only been one time it wasn’t accepted. My friend wanted this done for her little grandnephew’s first birthday. The only meaning I could find for Brock was “Badger”. The aunt didn’t want the mother to think she thought little Brock looked like a badger; and since the parents didn’t attend the University of Wisconsin, we drop the name/meaning thing and went with the look of a football jersey.

One of the prettiest ones I did was:
MARISA
Origin: Latin
“Of the sea”
Doesn’t the name Marisa flow like water? Perfect.

By the way, the name Stefanie means “crowned one”. Very appropriate.