Many retailers beyond traditional thrift and vintage stores now offer upcycled products. These products are often labeled pre-loved or second hand.

“One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!”

Some people have a strong reaction to buying what they consider “used” items and worry that they are not as good of quality as new. When considering an item, get a sense of how it was produced. For example, all fabric used in goodlines décor is thoroughly laundered and, when dyed, is cooked in hot water for several hours.

Consider the item’s uniqueness. Upcycled items are often one of a kind because of the materials used. A particular pre-loved sheet will go into making only a few new items. At goodlines each item is truly unique!

Recognize that it’s a non-traditional aesthetic. In the case of goodlines fabrics they present a more natural look and are very soft to boot!

Be proud of your purchase. Purchasing upcycled items keeps those fabrics out of the landfill and helps to reduce your ecological footprint on the world.

When you are finished with your item consider donating it to a local thrift store. In the event it becomes damaged, ask your local used store if they will accept it. Selected stores, such as Goodwill Industries, will accept these items and re-sell them to the rag or textile recycling industries.

To view our latest items and see how beautiful upcycled can be please visit the goodlines Etsy store or come visit us at the One of a Kind show in Toronto, November 22nd to December 2nd. Enter our Facebook contest today for a chance to win tickets to the show and a shopping spree at our booth!

Some natural dyes that are used for goodlines items include logwood, indigo, brazil wood, cochineal, madder, cutch, turmeric, black walnut hulls and tea.

Why use natural dyes? Although commercially available dyes can provide intense, immediate results there are significant consequences for the environment. Dyeing requires large quantities of water and the excess dye in the water is eventually dumped making its way into lakes and streams. Since most commercial dyes are drived from petrochemicals and are poisonous, this process creates a very negative environmental impact. For this reason we focus on natural dyeing.

To start the process, I upcycle natural fibre fabric such as cotton sheets and wool blankets. Some people are hesitant about re-used fabric, but through the dyeing process the fabric has spent almost 2 days in dye pots, sometimes at high heat for long periods of time, so you could say the fabrics are re-born!

The dyeing process does take quite a bit of time and involves many steps – a practice in patience. The first step involves wetting the fabric so that all of the fibres have liquid around them, allowing the dye to be absorbed into all of the micro crevices. In the case of cotton, you need to use a mordant which is a substance that will allow the dye to chemically bind to the fibres.  Tea, alum and the protein in milk are examples of natural, non-toxic mordants. In a separate pot, heat water for about 30-60 minutes, add the dye and then the fabric.  The length of time you leave the fabric in the dye depends on the type of dye.  After these steps, there is a cooling period and the material is gently rinsed with an eco friendly detergent.  To ensure the dye sets, the material is rinsed with vinegar.

The results of natural dyeing are terrific!  The wide range of colours produced are soft but rich.  With added creativity, each piece of material becomes a work of art with unique markings and stylings.

This fall, goodlines will also be experimenting with another, simpler, process called “eco dyeing” devised by India Flint. I’ll be placing fabric in a plastic bag with autumn leaves and mordant which will then be buried in my compost bin. With the heat of the compost bin, the leaves will dye the fabric. Although this doesn’t involve as many steps it does takes longer, from 4 to 6 weeks.

Keep an eye on our website for updated product photos over the coming weeks. Also mark November 22nd to December 2nd on your calendar.  We’ll be offering our fullest range of items yet at this year’s One of a Kind show in Toronto. Enter our Facebook  contest and you could win $100 towards goodlines products and you three of your friends could join us at the OOAK show!

Some of the reasons that is important to re-use fabric include: 

1. It takes a huge amount of resources to create fabric and subsequent items such as clothing, bedding and decor. 
2. Chemicals used to bleach and dye fabrics damage the environment. Large amounts of water are needed during these processes, releasing contaminants into the water supply.
3. The manufacturing process can be problematic – working conditions can be poor and the use of child labour often an issue.
4. Large amounts of energy are required for manufacturing and shipping of items.
5. Even natural and organic textiles have a significant environmental impact. Cotton, for example, is a heavily sprayed crop and, when grown organically, still requires huge amounts of water and chemicals when dyed.

I see second-hand textiles as a HUGE resource - not something that should be used once and dumped into a landfill.  I discovered that one year of textile waste in Canada is enough to pack the Sky Dome twice!

By re-using fabric to create unique and beautiful items goodlines has extended the life of the fabric and postponed its entry into the landfill. Ultimately, if enough individuals purchased upcycled items, it will reduce the demand for brand new items, lower environmental impacts and create a new industry!

To view our current items please visit our Etsy page. We hope you agree that these gorgeous eco-pillows have a lot more life to live!

Enter goodlines Facebook sweepstakes now and you could win 4 passes to the One of a Kind Show in Toronto and $100 to spend in our booth on our unique upcycled home decor!

Why buckwheat?

It’s eco-friendly! Buckwheat pillows are made of buckwheat hulls – these are the cellulose fibres leftover when the wheat berries are removed for food. The hulls are washed and dried before being added to the pillow form. The buckwheat used in goodlines pillows is grown in Quebec, organically without pesticides.

It’s hypoallergenic! Buckwheat can be a healthier choice because it does not contain irritating dust, does not attract dust mites, and few people have allergies to it making for a more restful sleeping experience.

It’s comfortable! In addition to being hypoallergenic, buckwheat pillows allow air circulation around all of the individual particles. This means heat is not captured – keeping your head at just the right temperature. Forming a cradle for your head, the pillows fit your head perfectly and reduce tossing and turning.

Perfect fit for you
Our pillows feature a zipper to allow you to adjust the ‘fluffiness’ of your pillow for your individual comfort and to let you easily wash the cover as needed. The basic pillow includes a neutral cover with zipper. Additional styles also appear throughout the seasons. Match this with your favourite goodlines pillow cover for that finishing touch of personal style.

Goodlines buckwheat pillows are now available. Visit us at upcoming shows including the Matthew Halls Holly & Ivy event November 2nd and 3rd and  the Toronto One Of A Kind Show November 22nd to December 2nd to see and feel these comforting and comfortable buckwheat pillows!

Or, visit The Organics Oscars on Dundas St. in London which carries our elephant print buckwheat pillows!

The Central London Public Library is a great place to go for a game of chess, a presentation about the handmade revolution, or to borrow a book! Just around the corner at 211 King Street is Novack’s, which declares itself to be “London’s most interesting store”, especially for outdoorsy types. It has a close contender with Attic Books at 240 Dundas which is a marvel of tempting tomes, all lovingly and funkily displayed.

Just two doors west is The Downtown Yoga Holistic Centre featuring Yoga, Pilates, Nia and meditation sessions in an eco-friendly building with three magnificent state of the art bamboo-floored studios. On the main floor is The Organic Oscars, an eco-friendly boutique offering clothing made from bamboo, hemp, organic cotton and recycled fabrics.

And guess what? They carry goodlines’ hand-printed buckwheat pillows. These pillows promote a good night’s sleep, keeping you at the right temperature while cradling your tired gourd.

And they are great support for the sustained Hatha yoga poses.

Lucky Elephant Buckwheat Pillows

goodlines decor pillows at The Relique Studio

Along with the Farmers’ Market, on Dickson Street you can find several art galleries and distinctive shops as well as the Cambridge Centre for the Arts which presents “Street Views: Street Art Appreciation Night “ on July 20th.

Suitcase chair by The Relique Studio

The Relique Studio, 71 Dickson St., offers upcycled furniture and original art by its two owners, as well as a unique selection of handmade and locally created home decor and gifts including bags, blankets, jewellry, dishware and pillows by goodlines decor. Visit the Relique Studio to find that one-of-a-kind piece for your home!

Love is a Verb pillow cases at The Relique Studio

One of Hamilton’s unique and glorious treasures though is the Art Gallery. Founded in 1914, the AGH is the third largest public art gallery in Canada. Located downtown at 123 King Street West, the AGH is home to many exhibits and currently is showing Nature and Spirit: Emily Carr’s Coastal Landscapes.

Design Annex Assistant Manager Dionysus Passarelli

New to the AGH is the Design Annex at 118 James Street. The Design Annex is a unique space that will host exhibitions, performances and events and will also be home to the Art and Design Store where you can find goodlines decor.

Blessing eco-pillow by goodlines decor on a fishtnk: design factory chair

The GRAND OPENING of the Design Annex is happening this weekend, July 7th and 8th! Drop by between 10 am and 5 pm for a look at this great new art venue!

goodlines decor duvet

Port Dover is a small fishing community located in Norfolk County along Lake Erie. While life may have been hectic back during the war of 1812 for residents of Port Dover, things are much more calm now and the community is filled with charming shops and heritage hotels. The Port Dover Museum contains collections on shipbuilding, rum running, and Lake Erie shipwrecks among other stories of interest about lakeside life. Port Dover’s pier is a popular destination for folks out for a romantic stroll or those just interested in watching the ships come in. After a trip to the Harbour museum and the pier, why not take in a show at the Lighthouse Theatre?

Port Dover hosts a number of eclectic stores and one not to be missed is Cottage North Soapworks located at 359 Main Street. Cottage North Soapworks is more than just soap! Open year round, Cottage North Soapworks encourages visitors to “feel the harmony of your senses” and offers bath and personal care products, baby items including organic cotton baby wear, jewellry by several Ontario designers, and items from goodlines decor! This summer, take a trip to Lake Erie’s shore and explore Port Dover and all of its unique attractions!

First, get the primary decision makers in your house into the room to be painted. Look together at what furniture and art will be staying in the room after it is painted. Out of those things choose a smaller item, something one person can easily carry and that you both like.

Take that item to the paint store. Ask the paint expert to show you a selection of colours that would look good with your item. You can make your choice a contrasting colour: your item is bright so you choose a dark colour, or it’s earthy so you go with a splashy jewel colour. Or if it’s multi-coloured try getting a close match to one of those colours: your item is sky blue with streaks of creamy white in it, get a match to the creamy white.

This is the process I used when my husband and I bought our house. We had no idea where to begin. So we took the drawer from a small birds-eye maple cabinet and went and matched the gorgeous purple-brown grain in it. We painted one wall of our bedroom with that colour, and then we painted the rest of the room in an earthy gold which made the rosy brown of our antique dresser stand out.

Now go out and have some fun!