The reds and pinks come from the crushed bodies of dried insects. If you are looking for an ultimate gift or want to add something very special to your home that will last for years, Swans Island blankets are the bomb.
Swans Island blankets are hand-dyed and hand-woven by a small group of craftspeople up near where the rare sheep roam in Maine. Started by one family who fled the city for a simpler life 12 years ago, it was handed over to another family (Waldorf folks!) who wanted the same thing in 2004.
Now Bill Laurita and Jody Spanglet continue to keep the tradition alive weaving with all natural materials, using organic dyes and finishing all edges in silk thread.
This post has to come with a disclaimer up front that these blankets are not only very beautiful, they are also pricey. Don't be put off, however, just save up. The collection ranges from baby blankets to throws to summer and winter weight blankets, and prices run from $190 up over $1000. We recommend them all.
(ReEdited from 2006-12-15 - MGR)
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Comments (7)
Pay the rent-buy a blanket? Yikes! For those prices I'll stay with Area.
Not posting this to pursue semantics in the thread...but...
....everything is a "chemical." The air we breathe is a chemical substance. Water is a chemical substance. Just because something is "chemical" does not make it bad for us.
Cloth colored with the crushed bodies of the dead (insects)? That is so f'ing METAL!
I wonder if they'll weave a special one for me with the Emperor logo. After singing those anthems to the Welkin at dusk I like to snuggle up in my Insect Death blanket on top of my bed built from the skulls and femurs of my enemies.
I for one am okay with the dead bug thing. I don't happen to like bugs, especially parasites, and if it's better for the environment than anniline dyes, great.
Make mine a double scoop of strawberry ice cream! And those are gorgeous blankets. Too bad you can't ask for wedding presents retroactively.
Thank you Dorianne I was trying to repress that.
Also, I have seen "chemical-free beer" being marketed, and finally decided that the bottle would have to contain a vacuum (no air, nothing).
Chemicals are everywhere! Well, working in a lab that should probably be obvious to me but it's true! And I wish the blankets were cheaper, too.
About the food and what you eat. As I said before, I work in a prison. A "Food Waste" truck (slop truck- prison term) comes daily to pick up the 'slop" - food waste, uneaten food from the inmates or left over food, you know that bit of food that you leave on your plate -- and gives it to his pigs. Pigs get slaughtered for bacon, ham, etc, sold to food stores, you buy this - thus you may be eating inmate food waste. The Circle of Life...
Anne, I love your take on the chemical-free beer!
I hope it didn't seem like I was jumping on anyone over the chemical definition thing, though. I re-read my last post and it seemed kind of....well. Anyway, my apologies to anyone if I came off as snotty or anything.
I too wish the blankets were cheaper.