Painting Green

The EPA has estimated that architectural coatings account for almost 9% of the voc emissions from all consumer and commercial products. VOC is the amount of material coming from the paint as it dries. New technology brings low and no voc (volatile organic compounds) formulas to latex paint. However, synthetic dyes add voc’s back into the paint. Latex paint also peels and bubbles in heat and over time. Clay paints are natural, non-toxic, dry quickly, resist dust, and sand to a soft, smooth finish.

A wonderful local NJ green paint supplier is Smart Little House in Roseland. They carry paints, plasters and sealers that are clay based and tinted w/ mineral pigments. When choosing a paint product keep these basic standards in mind: healthful paints and plasters should be derived from healthy, natural materials like clay or soy; make sure that the ingredients are listed and the additives are simple—synthesized molecules tend not to break down easily in the environment; use mineral or earth pigments whenever possible—they are colorfast and do not add voc’s to your paint or plaster.

For homemade paints, wonderful techniques and products can be found in ancient art. Distemper paints made from water, vegetable glue/or eggs, and ground pigments, have been applied in decorative artwork for thousands of years. Lime-based paints and plasters have covered large surfaces for centuries, and have made a comeback due to their rich texture and durability. Casein paints are a combination of milk and ground pigments, providing durability and excellent color for furniture and wood floors.

Whether you use homemade or readymade paints please choose environmentally friendly products. They are better for your health and for the environment. The health benefits are long-term—from application to a healthier interior atmosphere.  Clay paints are made in indoor and outdoor varieties. They are durable and long-lasting which will reduce the cycle of repainting over many years. This will save you money, time and effort. I hope you enjoy using the green faux finish recipe that is included below.

All the best in your green decorating endeavors!
Tobi Indyke www.periwinkleskies.net

Faux Limewash

Creating a beautiful faux limewash simply requires careful peripheral vision and a proper colorwash technique. Four colors are employed to produce this lightly textured Mediterranean finish. Prepare the walls with 2 coats of soy or clay based paint with an eggshell finish in a creamy hue. After the basecoat is cured, apply glaze mixture as a colorwash in a wedgewood blue hue covering 95% of the wall. After the first coat of glaze is dry, colorwash the second coat of glaze mixture in a raw sienna hue covering 70% of the wall. The 3^rd color is a mixture of venetian red, glaze and water which is fly-specked to 5% of the wall with an old toothbrush—touch up any drips with a dampened cheesecloth. The final coat of the glaze mixture is applied as an overall colorwash in a burnt umber hue. This finish dries quickly and is quite durable.

Limewash Glaze recipe:
Mix 1 quart water-based glaze, 3 cups water-based wallpaper paste, 1 cup finely textured natural sand, and 2 teaspoons of dry pigment. Mix thoroughly and re-stir often.

‘Green’ paint and plaster resources:
milkpaint.com, greenerbuilding.org, bioshieldpaint.com, afmsafecoat.com, earthpaint.net, smartlittlehouse.com

How to Repurpose your Furniture

Repurposing is a fantastic way to conserve! Reduce waste. Save money. Use environmentally-friendly materials to further your repurposing efforts.

This mirror has been repurposed with new decorative molding, appliqués, and painted finish.

Here are some tips to resuscitate a second-hand piece of furniture from Periwinkle Skies, LLC (www.periwinkleskies.net)

Work with a piece that you already own or purchase a second-hand piece from Habitat Restore, Goodwill, second-hand store or consignment shop. You can save money and perhaps support a worthy cause.

It is important to begin with a well-designed piece of furniture or one that has good design potential. Is it in good condition? Make sure that there are no signs of rot or decay by checking for disintegrating wood fibers. Can the piece be easily tightened and repaired?

Does the piece need physical enhancing? Is it necessary to add an appliqué, crown molding, legs, feet, or columns? All of these items are available online and in local lumber stores. Reclaimed items can also be found online.

When updating hardware, measure center-to-center of holes for changing handles. Hinges generally peel when painted from the constant open-close motion. If the doors are at least ¾ inch thick, hidden hinges can be used. This allows enough depth for routing on the inside. If the piece is older in style, a butterfly style hinge looks well.

If the item needs reupholstering, make sure that it fits your budget. Consider the cost of labor and fabric. Earth-friendly fabrics and filler are available online and in some local fabric stores.

Be conservative when choosing your color and finish. The color should reflect items in your design space and adjoining rooms. The finish should also connect with elements in your design space. Remember that contrast makes the piece of furniture stand out, while a subtle color will blend it in. Decide carefully what your space needs visually.

When preparing your piece of furniture, sand with the grain using 220 grit sandpaper to lightly score the surface. Wear gloves, mask and eye protection. Do not wear contact lenses when sanding. If the cabinet interiors are in good shape it is not necessary to refinish them.

Casein (milk-based) paint is excellent for furniture. It dries quickly, sands beautifully, and has a natural, matte finish. One can also use a good quality clay, soy or acrylic paint for a water clean-up. Latex paint is not recommended for furniture as it rolls up when sanded. When using casein, the first coat needs to contain bonding medium. For clay, soy or acrylic, begin with a good quality primer.

Allow for dry time between coats. Remember to sand between each coat with 400 grit sandpaper, sanding with the grain. For an antiqued look, sand the edges and corners bare and use a thin antiquing glaze especially in the crevices. Finish with beeswax to seal the finish and add a patina. Buff w/ a soft rag or chamois cloth. It is not necessary to seal a casein paint finish. Enjoy your beautifully repurposed furniture!

Connecting Your Biz to Your Community

Enliven your professional profile. Motivate your staff! Increase camaraderie. Address local concerns. Share your volunteer success stories. Feel great!

All this is possible when you reach out to your community by donating your time and energy to a local build. Sign your biz up to volunteer at a local Habitat for Humanity or Homes for Our Troops project. Let the chapter office know how many employees will be volunteering and what their skills are. Try to work in groups to increase the camaraderie. It’s a great time! It feels good to be a part of a build for someone who really needs and deserves a decent place to live. Some of the best times I’ve ever had have been at builds.

One of my favorite build experiences was putting in 2 tile floors with a family member of a Habitat house recipient. We were so proud to have planned, cut, and laid the tiles so well! The whole family worked together with volunteers to put in their required hours. I had the privilege of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony when the family received the key and deed to their new home. It was an amazing experience to witness the joy that the family felt in having a decent home of their own that they had helped to build.

Carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills are an asset…but not a requirement. For those without specialized skills, there is always a need for rolling paint and primer, spackling nail holes, onsite clean-up, and nailing in subfloors. Project managers are always willing to teach volunteers new skills. Through builds I’ve learned to cut tiles on a wet saw, plan and lay tile floors. I’ve learned to trowel and mesh exterior walls, install insulation, reinforce stairs, and prepare a foundation.

For those who are able to help in a different capacity, there are committees for architectural planning, land acquisition, marketing and publicity, accounting, fundraising development, family nurturing, and human resources. You and your staff’s special talents can be put to great use! Volunteering can be long term or short term. Just a warning…’habititus’ can keep everyone wanting to come back and help again!

At the end of the day, you and your employees will reap the rewards of sharing in a great experience and learning to work together in a whole new way. It’s great for building communication within your business. It’s a fantastic way to become more connected with your community. The good feelings that you and your staff share with your community will be reflected positively in your business.

For more information on chapters in your vicinity visit www.habitatforhumanity.org and www.homesforourtroops.org Remember to share your build experiences on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for example).

Wishing you all the best in your business success from www.periwinkleskies.net

Life In Darfur

Civilians continue to be brutally treated, oppressed, displaced, starved and murdered in Darfur, Sudan. After 6 years genocide continues to rage as the GOS (Government of Sudan), Janjaweed militia, and rebel groups continue to clash. The reality is that thousands of innocent civilians are victimized daily as these clashes continue all around them. An estimated 80% of the villages in Darfur have been aerial bombed by the Sudanese military. Water supplies have also been poisoned purposely during these raids to keep the people from returning. As communities flee, the Janjaweed militia surround and the villages on horseback, camelback, and in jeeps. Whether man, woman, or child, every person caught is cut down from infant through the elderly. UNICEF estimates 400,000 Darfuri’s have been murdered or starved to death since April of 2003 when the conflict began. Four million Darfuri’s are currently displaced.

On April 4th, 2009, the ICC (International Criminal Court–of the UN) presented President al-Bashir of Sudan with an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity. Within days of the arrest warrant, the president of Sudan expelled 13 international and 3 national humanitarian aid organizations from Sudan. The result has exacerbated an already horrific situation in Sudan. The president of Sudan continues to be a stumbling block towards progress for a comprehensive peace agreement, fair elections, and much needed humanitarian relief.

In response to the necessity for dialect and action to pursue peace, the NJ Coalition for Darfur is hosting a 4-panel discussion at Kean University in Elizabeth, NJ, on October 16th, 2009, from 9am to 3:30pm. (A NJ Coalition meeting will follow–all are invited.) The 4-panel discussion will cover the history of the conflict, the current situation, national and international actions and advocacy. Each of the 4 panels will consist of 4 guest speakers, totaling 16 speakers. These will include college professors, activists from Darfur and the international community, representatives from the UN, Senator Menendez, and General Scott Gration (U.S. special envoy to Sudan appointed by President Obama in April of 2009).

Please visit our youtube video for more information on the panel event and how you can actively help–by calling, emailing and texting our elected officials to urge them to lead the way towards peace. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si263uL8DmA

Fair Trade or Free Trade?

Fair Trade is much more effective than Free Trade in eliminating poverty. According to GlobalExchange.com ”Free trade isn’t fair for farmers and artisans, their families, communities, or the environment. Fair Trade is. For example, a drastic fall in world coffee prices has pushed millions of coffee farmers and workers into malnutrition and starvation; and losing their jobs and even their farms. Some have even turned to drug cultivation to survive. Most cocoa farmers are so poor they have been using child labor, sometimes even child slaves. Most farmers get only about half of the world price because they are forced to sell their next crop in advance to exploitative middlemen who pay far below the value. Some farmers have also cut down the rainforest to sell the trees for extra money, or to make room for more profitable crops. Artisans face poverty and the loss of culture as they find the need to work in sweatshops. Fair Trade ensures better lives by helping workers afford health care, to keep their kids in school, and by supporting sustainable production. Fair Trade producers also set aside funds for community projects like schools and clinics; and for training in quality improvement and sustainable production.”

Transparency is necessary in the trading system to remove corruption by governments, private corporations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Workers need the protection offered by Fair Trade regulations and agreements. The importance of a fair trade policy is stated by Bread For All www.bfa-ppp.ch “Global trade must not undermine development in poor countries; instead human rights must be respected and poverty must consistently be reduced.”

Fair trade wages are on average 20% higher than free trade wages. Free trade workers often work for wages below the legal minimum and under dangerous working conditions. With fair trade wages, co-op communities can provide interest free microloans for empowering women to create their own small businesses to help provide for their families, loans for emergencies, water pumps for clean water, improved sanitation, and fair wages to improve lives. Families can afford school fees so that their children can receive education. Education is vital to ending the cycle of poverty. Workers don’t have to travel to big cities for work…far away from their families in order to provide for them. In this way, families can stay together, reducing living costs, improving the family structure, and reducing the likelihood of getting and transmitting AIDS/HIV.

The Allies at the WSF (World Social Forum) stated “The most important point of convergence was on the need to make trade fair. Fair trade works towards human development and social responsibility. To have a long lasting relationship between the consumer and the producer, a relation of trust should be developed. There is also the need to find new ways to reach the concept of fair trade to the common people. In the context of the crisis arising from the WTO-brokered trade pacts, there must be special focus on promoting policies that support and encourage fair trade. This would not only help fair trade organizations, but also the cause of local development, food sovereignty, diversification of production, etc.”

Fair trade wages are based on improving the standard of living for workers, farmers and artisans. To calculate if an artisan is being paid fairly visit www.fairtradecalculator.com Look for Fair Trade Certified and Fair Trade Federation labels.

7 Reasons to Use Natural Paint

 

 

 

Color-wash with casein paint

 

 

Paints consist of a color pigment + a binder + a vehicle (such as oil or water). The binder can be synthetic (alkyd resin or acrylic) or natural (plant oil or resin, natural latex, animal glue, casein, milk, egg, or cellulose). Most paints emit VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) which contaminate the indoor air long after the paint cures. Natural paints usually dry faster and contain fewer VOC’s. Generally, a low VOC paint contains less than 50 grams  per liter, while a no VOC paint has fewer than 5 grams per liter. Lower VOC amounts are found in natural paints and in flatter sheens (more binder = more gloss = more VOC’s). Lower VOC content equals a naturally, healthier paint. Here are some important reasoning points:

1. Synthetic paints trap moisture and may bubble or crack over time.
2. Natural paints remain flexible, moving with the natural expansion and contraction of wood and metal.
3. Synthetic paints are statically charged and so attract dust.
4. Natural paints ‘breathe’ negative ions which purify the indoor air and resist dust.
5. Synthetic paints contribute to ‘sick building syndrome’ causing headaches, eye irritation, and lethargy.
6. Most synthetic paints contain VOC’s. Short-term exposure may cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and blurred vision. Long-term exposure (i.e. all you painters out there) may cause asthma, emphysema, dermatitis, memory loss, and bladder and lung cancer.
7. The average indoor environment is 10 times more polluted than the external environment. So why not use paints that keep your indoor environment healthy?!

Tips: Each coat of plaster, primer and paint must cure fully before the subsequent coat is applied—otherwise your finish may remain odorous and tacky. Also, good ventilation is key—it speeds drying time and is healthier for the painter and the occupants. Use fans and open windows to allow for ‘offgassing’ (from VOC’s). Make sure that each coat (plaster, primer, paint) is completely dry before applying the next coat. Visit www.greenseal.org for specific product information.

Recipe for a homemade casein color-wash
Combine juice of 1 lemon with 1 liter of skim milk and set aside overnight in a warm place to curdle.
Strain mixture with cheesecloth and set aside curds.
Mix with color paste (make a color paste by mixing 4 tbsp dry mineral pigment with a bit of water)
Stir often and apply within a day onto walls prepared with a flat base coat.
Apply with 4-6 inch course brush in cross-hatch fashion.
Suitable for rooms with low moisture—not recommended for bathrooms and basements).
Soap and water cleanup for brushes.

All the best for creating your healthy environment!—Tobi Indyke, Periwinkle Skies, LLC

National Call-In Day for Darfur

On Wednesday July 22, Darfur advocates and communities around the country have organized a National Call-In Day to the White House.  Please spread the word, urge your organizations to participate, and take action.

Ask President Obama to help the people of Darfur by:

• Supporting the International Criminal Court and the arrest warrant against Omar al-Bashir
• Ensuring the IMMEDIATE deployment of the 26,000 UNAMID Peace Forces to Darfur with a full mandate, helicopters, logistics and necessary supplies needed.
• Pressuring the Government of Sudan to allow all expelled humanitarian organizations back into Darfur without any delays or conditions.

Contact the White House in any of the following ways:

• Call 202-456-1111
• Fax 202-456-2461
• Email the White House
• Become a Fan and Post to the White House’s official Facebook page
• If you have a Twitter account, post: “@WhiteHouse Support Bashir’s arrest warrant and the immediate deployment of UNAMID Peace Forces to Darfur #obama #darfur”

IF YOU ARE IN THE D.C. AREA ON JULY 22, join in a rally by the Sudanese and Darfuri communities to call for international cooperation with the International Criminal Court and the protection of civilians living in refugee camps. The rally is coordinated by the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Starts from the Lafayette square in front of the White House.

WHAT: Rally at the White House. Then walk to the State Department at 2:35 p.m. and arrive at 2:50 p.m.

List of online actions for Darfur:

• www.darfurscores.org/darfur-legislation for a list of bills and legislation on Darfur
• www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact/iact8/twitter to tweet on twitter about the I-ACT team’s latest interviews from refugee camps
• www.twitter.com/genocideprevent to tweet on twitter about preventing genocide
• www.savedarfur.org click on take action, scroll down to send a postcard to Pres. Obama
• www.addyourvoice.org sign an online postcard to Pres. Obama
• www.savedarfur.org/pages/passed_legislation/ for a list of passed legislation on Darfur
• www.investorsagainstgenocide.org
  (TIAA-CREF and Vanguard are finally taking steps towards offering only genocide-free investing. Help ‘Get Out the Vote’ )
• www.Facebook.com/pages/SaveDarfurCoalition to facebook about Darfur
• www.youtube.com/group/ActNowForDarfur to upload your YouTube video
• www.savedarfur.org/pages/actnowfordarfurvideoinstructions for instructions to upload your video onto YouTube
• www.unitedhumanrights.org info about pressuring oil co.’s and for UNAMID deployment
• www.rocktosavedarfur.org for battle of the band concerts
• www.darfurrehab.org for the statewide teaching program about the genocide in Darfur
• www.preventorprotect.org
• www.genocidepreventionmonth.org watch “The Last Survivor”, a new film about survivors from genocides by Righteous Pictures
• www.savedarfur.org
• www.ecc4darfur.org or www.njcoalition4darfur
  for information about the solar oven cooker campaign
• www.state.nj.gov.us/governor/ to email Governor Corzine
• www.lautenberg.senate.gov to email Senator Lautenberg
• www.menendez.senate.gov to email Senator Menendez
• www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov to email Ambassador Susan Rice (to the U.N.)
• www.state.gov to email Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
  or text 90822 and type in ‘What about Darfur?’
• www.house.gov/payne/contact.shtml to email Representative Payne
• www.whitehouse.gov to email President Obama
• www.pascrell.house.gov to email Representative Pascrell
• www.frelinghuysen.house.gov to email Representative Frelinghuysen
• www.codey.senate.gov to email Senator Codey

Dirt Cookies

Recently, I watched a PBS report about the poverty in Haiti. Children in many regions of Haiti are undernourished and often have nothing to eat other than cookies made from dried mud. The U.N. estimates that 840 million people on this planet are undernourished. Worldwide, hundreds of millions of people are fighting a decline in food resources.

What are the root causes of food insecurity? According to UNICEF the root causes are poverty, war and civil conflict, corruption, national policies that do not promote equal access to food for all, environmental degradation, barriers to trade, insufficient agricultural development, population growth, low levels of education, social and gender inequality, poor health status, cultural insensitivity, and natural disasters.

On June 15, 2009, the Human Rights Council held a panel discussion on the relationship between climate change and human rights. Panelist Atiq Rhaman stated that global climate change had emerged as the greatest threat facing humankind today. Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the human impact of climate change was not only related to environmental factors but also to poverty, discrimination and inequalities.

Obviously this is a global problem that is in immediate need of a global solution! What can we do as citizens and as sisters and brothers of this human race? We can email and call our elected leaders asking for a change in policies on agribusiness, pollution, and free trade. We can ask our senators and congressional representatives to hold hearings on agricultural practices that make sense for everyone (currently the farm bill causes many farmers to lose their farms while a few wealthy farm owners are paid to not produce food). We also desperately need to minimize our carbon footprints. This summer, buy a share of seasonal fruits and vegetables from a local farmer and ride your bike or walk whenever possible. How about buying sustainable fair trade products–benefitting you, the producer and the environment?

World Trade policies must be changed. Food should be distributed fairly and farming policies should promote sustainable growth practices. The U.N. policy on human rights states that everyone has the right to life, food, safe water and health, home, land, properties, livelihoods, employment and development. It is unjust that the people suffering from food insecurity are also those who are least responsible for the causes of global warming. The most vulnerable societies suffer terribly from climate change–frequent and prolonged floods, cyclone, tidal surges, salinity intrusion, sea level rise and drought.

Say ‘no’ to dirt cookies! Say ‘yes’ to fair trade policies, sustainable farming practices and environmentally-friendly resources!

Encausto Redefined

The art of encausto is more than 2000 years old. Pigmented beeswax adorned ships’ hulls, wood panels on mummies, and icons throughout the ages. This ancient art was in wide use during the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine empires. Encaustic paintings were found at the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii in the 18th Century and sparked a revival of encaustic painting.

In the mid 1950’s, artist Jasper Johns took encausto to a new level bridging texture and mixed medium to this ancient art. Considering that previous uses of encaustic painting had been for portraiture, well defined and patinated, this new direction opened uses of encausto to new possibilities.

The beauty of encausto is that it is so very versatile! It can be used sculpturally in impasto paintings or smoothed and defined. In the 1990’s, artists such as Sylvia Netzer and Heather Hutchinson applied encausto to ceramic and plexi-glass surfaces.

During the past several years, encausto has been redefined in cold applications using acrylic waxes for wall finishes. The possible uses–whether with hot beeswax or cold acrylic wax applications–with fresco, decorative plasters, painted walls, and art are endless. Encausto is a beautiful medium which offers character, durability and a subtle patina.

Please visit www.PeriwinkleSkies.net to view encausto applications on wall finishes, fresco, and decorative plaster enhancers.

Is There Room For Peace In Your Life?

A peaceful room can have a ripple effect on your life. Imagine a quiet place for thinking, exercising, reading, meditating, painting and praying…a place that will renew your mind, body and spirit. You can have a more soulful connection with yourself and the world around you.

All that is needed is a room that is set aside for tranquility. Begin with a clean, empty space. Choose a calming color. A water-based color glaze made with low or no voc (volatile organic compounds) will help to make the room healthy and breathable. Glaze the walls with a soft parchment, color-wash, or lime-wash finish. This will add to the soothing mood of the room.

Natural fibers for chair covers, such as organic cotton or linen will enhance the breathability of your room. Simple window treatments such as bamboo blinds will add just the right touch—and bamboo is a renewable resource, so you can feel good about the choices you are making for the environment and for yourself. Choosing an environmentally responsible product for your floor may take a little research, but it will add to the overall peace that you will breath in and out of your room. Keeping the floor of your peaceful room clean is easiest and most healthy with a terracotta tile, cork, bamboo or wood (from responsibly managed forests). If a floor cover is necessary, might I suggest a painted floor cloth, or a sisal area rug.

May your peaceful room bring you calmness in every aspect of your life and have a ripple effect on all those who are near you.