8 The Canadian Statesman, Bowman ville, Wednesday, June 8,1994 Section Two Old Blue Jeans Become Recycled Clothing by Laura J. Richards Carol Taylor will freely admit she has about 200 pairs of jeans in her basement She stockpiles them as a squirrel hoards nuts for a long winter. She has a number of different sizes sizes and different styles. There are stone-washed, acid-washed, blotchy and stripes. Colors include light blues, dark blues and lots of in-betwéen blues. There are patches, holes and jeans in perfect condition, too. "You would be amazed at what people throw out, " she says. She collects the jeans from her friends, the Salvation Army, and her husband's co-workers. She has been able to pick up al- most-new jeans that people toss out because they have gained weight, or for whatever reason. No matter what shape the jeans are in, Taylor finds a use for them. From purses, to clothing for ba bies and adults, Taylor zips the jeans through her sewing machine to make reclaimed denim clothing. She has also made tiny vests for babies, along with the denim western-style booties too. She says she can sew up a baby's jumper in about three to four hours. For her, it's an afternoon project. While it may sound like an easy thing to do, she admits it's not as simple as it sounds. "There is twice as much work involved involved using old jeans," she said in an interview at her home recently. "I have to gather the jeans, wash and dry them, and then take them apart." She tries to use every available piece, including the designer labels. Taylor has made two denim shirts which had designer labels sewn on them as decorations. One is hers and another she gave as a present to a relative. An example of her frugality is the fact that she makes purses from the top part of the pants that includes includes the zipper and pockets. A fair question to ask, is "why old denim jeans?" Taylor says she chooses jeans because because of the texture of the material. "It is so soft. You just can't buy denim like this in a store," she noted as she smoothed out one of the baby jumpers she was showing. And it's the softness of the material material that continues her motivation to sew with the old jeans. She tries to use every available piece, including the designer labels. Having three amazing sewing machines on hand also helps. She noted that one computerized machine machine -- a Husqvama -- does everything from delicate embroidery to sewing sideways. "It makes sewing fun. It's fun to see what you can create," Taylor stated. A serger sews the material together, together, then trims it Her third machine, which has a low gear, was recently acquired to sew the heavier fabrics, like denim. Carol noted: "I worry about the newer machine. It's pretty heavy work and hard on the machine." Taylor has had some interesting experiences in her efforts to reclaim fabric. She recalled a time when she had hung out a number of jeans to dry on her clothesline. When she looked out a little later, the jeans were on the ground and her line had done a major sag. What started out as a sewing project project to create a shirt for her husband took off to be more. For about a year, she and a friend in Bethany worked on reclaiming denim. She creates her own patterns for some of her denim projects. One in particular is a patchwork-type jumper jumper for young children. Using different colored pieces of denim, she works them into the clothing so the different grains complement complement the next piece, and the filler material she uses adds even more color. She loves sewing and it shows. For one thing, her work is impeccable. impeccable. And there are other signs...like her sewing room. Thé light-filled room is crammed in an orderly fashion with all the tools a sewer could want. She has a pattern/cutting table, an ironing board with an iron positioned positioned ready for business, a steam board which really puts the creases in and her sewing machines. The room also includes a television television set and a radio/tape machine. There is twice as much work involved in using old jeans. At her finger tips are huge spools of thread, flosses, ironing hams, scissors, rulers, and a multitude of sewing helper materials. One can see that Taylor means business! In May, she took samples of her work to the Environment Fair held in Oshawa at the Jubilee Pavilion. While a number of people showed interest in her work, she was disappointed disappointed with the general outcome. However, she is persevering; with her idea of reclaimed denim , clothing. clothing. If you are interested in seeing what she has to offer, give her a call at 983-6415. She would be glad to hear from you and happy to show you her work. Everyday is a special day You probably know that Father's Day and Flag Day fall during June, but did you know that June is also the month of Donut Day and National Yo-Yo Day? Below is a list of some lesser-known June holidays. Some may really surprise you! FH' •> # X* Orono resident Carol Taylor has a love for soft, old denim. Last year she found a creative way to use old jeans so the material would not be wasted. In this photo she shows off one of the baby jumpers she has created. Next to her, on the left, is a swing skirt for a girl. During the spring and early sum- ner, many baby birds will be leaving leaving their nests for their first trial flight. Many of them, especially young starlings, robins, blue jays ind grackles, are found by well- meaning people (particularly chilien) chilien) who think the birds are in trouble and need to be rescued. This is just not so! Whenever a baby bird is found on the ground, :hances are he is there only because he has left the nest but can't quite fly yet. It is perfectly normal for the baby birds to leave the nest without having fully developed their powers of flight. It is virtually guaranteed that the parents will still come and feed their babies, even while they are on the ground and that within several days, the baby will begin to fly properly. The easiest way to tell a baby bird from an adult bird is that the baby will have short tail feathers. If brought home by children, a bird should be returned to where it was found and the facts should be . explained. If the bird is in imminent danger of being run over by a car or similar accidental death, try to put it out of harm's way in a place where its parents can readily locate it. (ie. in a nearby bush). Do not worry that handling the bird will leave a human smell which will make the parents reject it. This is a myth. If you find an adult bird with longer tail feathers on the ground, and if it api>ears ill or injured, catch it gently with a towel, put it in a cardboard box with a towel in thé bottom and call our local bird reha- bililators at AVICARE at (905) 723- 9611. They have trained volunteers to assist you. JOIN THE DOTS FfNO THE ACT/ON SCENE. 10 • 19 9. H 10 10 _ , • • %% xS 16 • • e • . • 17 %\ • • %% iv- 3 ¥• -) '* iS lb • • • » ■ • • • • 8 11 • v 56 W iS •13 eU * 1 % -71 . .69- - çg • 55 17 * ti' • o' *57 «ru.* •16/2° 66 59. N n. . .(A é».- 3 / 52 h * •* i ! i*. 1/9 1 •lO* IS 1. * V * .f/v'V9 19 e ,<îa <?*■ , 89 ; ... 13 107 I" Si* * • «*7 ... 106 l in ns 116 29 ;.28 97 .*8 ' IM . U» \ 31 ?o 'if 96 » 89- 57 0 98 0 99 /03 lOS I0H-, W- -7-3 • 35 39 38» ,36 37' K6940005 •June 1: The people of Samoa celebrate their independence independence today. •June 2: This day, Career Nurse Assistants Day, is set aside to commend healthcare healthcare professionals for all their hard work. , •June 3: Founded in 1938 by the Salvation Army for fundraising during the Great Depression, Donut Day is now an annual tradition. •June 4: On this day in 1784, Marie Thible became the first woman in history to fly in a free balloon. •June 5: Having your ups and downs? . Maybe it's because because this day is National Yo-Yo day! •June 6: Koreans celebrate celebrate Memorial Day today. •June 7: This is the day Daniel Boone reportedly first sighted Kentucky. •June 8: On this day in 1967, the USS Liberty was attacked by an Israeli jet. •June 9: Today is Donald Duck's 60th birthday! •June 10: No, it's not January, but for the Muslims, this is New Year's Day! •June 11: This is the three- year anniversary of Mount Pinatubo's violent eruption. •June 12: The people of Massachusetts celebrate Children's Day today. •June 13: Nobel prizewinning prizewinning Irish poet William Yeates Butler was bom this day in 1865. •June 14: Be sure to wear red, white and blue today, after all, it's Flag Day! Iyd Yoii ■'Know,' TOYS ARE NOT JUST FOR KIDS! NO MATTER MATTER WHAT HIS OR HER AOE, A 000 Will OET10APS OF ENJOYMENT OUT OF PLAYING "PEOPLE CAMES." NOT ONLY IS EXERCISE FUN, BUT IT STRENGTHENS YOUR PETS HEART, LUNGS AND MUSCLES. ANO DON'T BELIEVE THE PHRASE "YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD 000 NEW TRICKS." 000S, JUST LINE HUMANS, ARE CAPABLE OF LEARNING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. 61 *1 •June 15: The 12th amendment amendment to the constitution was ratified this day in 1804. •June 16: In 1883 the first Ladies' Day was initiated by the New York Giants. •June 17: The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on this day in 1775. •June 18: Juggling isn't easy, and that's why today is National Juggling Day! •June 19: Don't forget dad! Today is Father's Day. •June 20: West Virginia became the 35th state on this day in 1863. •June 21: This first day of summer is certainly a reason to have a celebration! •June 22: The U.S. Department Department of Justice was formed today in 1870. •June 23: Luxembourg's independence is celebrated on this day. •June 24: Jack Dempsey, former heavyweight boxing champion, was bom on this day in 1895. •June 25: This day is National Forgiveness Day, so stop holding that grudge! •June 26: Madagascar celebrates its independence on this day. •June 27: The inspirational inspirational Helen Keller was bom today in 1880. •June 28: Columnist's Day is celebrated today. •June 29: George Goethals, American engineer, was bom today in 1858. •June 30: For the people of Zaire, today is Independence Independence Day. K6940006 •Wash: Always wash your hands before eating meals. Even if they don't look dirty, there are always germs lurking about. Vv * A* •• • ... . * . •Weight: Watch your weight. Never get too thin or too heavy. You may ask a doctor what the appropriate appropriate weight range is for your height. •Water: Never drink water that looks unpure. If dirty water comes out of your tap, consult an authority. •Warp: When the top of food cans warp, it's a good sign that something went wrong. Play it safe, and throw the contents in the garbage. •Waves: Heading to the beach this summer? If so, make sure a lifeguard is on duty before you charge into a giant wave! •Weak: If you feel weak for an extended period, consult consult a physician; 15 K6940007 K6940008