Women’s Fern Dragonfly Scoop Neck T-Shirt

Regular price $38.00 on sale for $30.00

 Women’s Sunburst Tank Top

Regular price $34.00 on sale for $26.00

 Men’s Organic Roots T-Shirt

Regular price $27.00 on sale for $20.50

 Visit our store SALE tab to see more Earth Creations summer sale items!

Who is Eye Pop Art and where are you located?

My name is Christine Claringbold and I live in Portland, OR, USA.

What inspired you to create art and jewelry from vinyl records?

I got started mostly out of necessity. I wanted to start painting but had no money to buy canvas, so I just started decorating the things that were already around – furniture, walls, and whatever was free.  I love using recycled and reclaimed materials and when a friend of my husband’s gave us a box of old records, I discovered my ability to create mandalas, which have become the basis of my work.  I have been painting mandalas on records and transforming them into functional home decor items since 1997.  I started making Roman Record Cuffs in 2006 when I was looking for a way to create a simple, low-priced, wearable item.  The cuffs are now my bread and butter.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I am inspired by the 1960s, you know, the psychedelic era. I have a huge collection of vintage psychedelic coffee cups and I am just crazy about the stylized flower motifs and groovy designs. I also love children’s art, and music.

Where do you source all the vinyl records to make your creative designs?
People just give them to me!  Friends and people who I don’t even know will contact me when they’re finally at the point of cleaning out their old LP collection (it seems to happen to everyone at some point).

I recently found that I was running low on records and put out a call on facebook, which led me to a used record store that was going out of business…I picked up a whole carload of records from them and now I think I am set for a good long time!

Do you have a favorite vinyl collection for creating your work? No, I really don’t.

I do sort all the records with my husband and we set aside the ones we think are worth keeping (and yes, we have a record player and enjoy listening to records at home).  I also sort the thicker, older ones from the thinner, more flexible, newer records.  The thick ones can only be used for clocks since they are not very easy to heat and shape.  The thin and more flexible ones are used for the bowls, pinwheels, and cuffs.

Other than that criteria, I’d say “anything goes.”  I paint on polka, disco, soul, country, classical, easy listening, ’70s folk, ’80s crap, and all kinds of weird stuff that I’ve never heard of.  We keep most of the good rock and roll records and classic country and anything that just looks too cool to be “destroyed,” but other than that I’ve painted on just about every type of record under the sun.

When you are not busy crafting up a new design or preparing orders what do you enjoy doing?
I love to read!  I also enjoy spending time with my family (husband Charles and two teenage kids, Tangereen and Julius).  I am a backup singer in a punk rock band called Dartgun and the Vignettes, and we practice twice a week and play a couple of shows each month at rock clubs around Portland.  I love doing promotional stuff for the band and that is kind of my hobby.  And, I love to decorate and enjoy thrift store shopping for groovy vintage stuff from the 1960s and 1970s, especially the psychedelic coffee cups.

I think it is important to know a little bit about the supplier and what drives their interests in the work they create.  So there it is folks, a little more info on my friend Christine Claringbold and Eye Pop Art.  Join me and become a fan of Eye Pop Art where you can also check out other great works of art on Etsy!

Off I go to see my stylist Linda Ha at Blunt Salon who is going to make me go from a seriously gross overdue haircut and give me the update I am looking for.

Linda I am counting on you!

This is me before we get started – as you can see I am in desperate need of help!

The long wait – color transformation.  It will be well worth it!

So what did the end product turn out to be?

An incredibly awesome bob shag cut with some fringy ends and a bit of a rock n’ roll attitude. Black/blue color with edgy blue/steel highlights for that retro look!

Thanks Linda for making me look and feel human again!  I love it!

Who is Maple XO and where are you located?

Maple XO is me, Lindsay Jo Holmes from Portland Oregon, and many other people who make it happen. ex: The Skateboarders for their boards and inspiration; My friends, family, and boyfriend for all their support; my wood shop mentors for all they’ve taught me about woodworking and taking pride in the things I create.

What sparked the interest to turn skateboards into jewelry?  Was this choice driven by environmental concerns?

I guess I could consider it driven by environmental concerns. I just hated throwing out my old boards. I wanted to recycle them somehow. After many failed attempts to turn them into abstract wall art, I started cutting them up and paying attention to the colors inside the skateboard. My first piece of skateboard jewelry, were these silly looking earrings that I made from the scraps of cutting up a skateboard to turn it into a clock. I wasn’t at all thinking that jewelry would be my main thing with recycling skateboards. Once a few people noticed my earrings and asked me to make them some, it started the wheels turning in my head. And after I started realizing just how many boards were ending up in the landfill, I knew I needed to really run with this idea.

Where do you find inspiration for your design and your style of jewelry?

A lot of times, I get inspired by the color combos or designs on the skateboard. Like the g-metric necklace for an example, the random angles of the grind marks on the bottom of the boards totally inspired the random shapes of those necklaces. Besides that, I get inspired by people I meet every day. I love designing jewelry that feels empowering to wear, but not over bearing. I try to create jewelry that, when I wear it, it makes me feel the way I feel when I paint my nails bright red. Can I say red nail polish inspires me? haha.

Where do your boards come from to make jewelry?

I get my boards from all over. Some are mine, or my friends’, but most of them come from rad skate shops all over the US that save their old boards for me and I bake them cookies in exchange. Skateboard companies also send me mismanufactured skateboards that make great jewelry as well.

What are some of your favorite boards that make the best jewelry?

Favorite boards…. hmmm…. Deluxe boards make rad jewelry (Anti-Hero, Real, Krooked) and they’re also a super rad company that I’m proud to say we’re supported by. But, Girl, Chocolate, Toy Machine, Almost, Consolidated, and Black Label… they all make rad skateboard jewelry.

What recycled pieces of the skateboards are used to make your jewelry?

Every inch! I mean, sometimes there’s pressure cracks or weird glue voids that would make it not ideal for jewelry making but… I can turn an entire board into jewelry with nothing but saw dust and wood chips left over as long as the defects in the board didn’t cause too much over all damage.

Local or pro boarders that wear Maple XO?

That wear it? Amelia Brodka… she kills it. And Kerri Reichard from Portland. Most of the support I have from Pro skateboarders is that they donate their boards to me! I have a stack of about 20 boards from different Professional Skateboarders that I plan to turn into jewelry. They’re the actual boards they skated and gave to me.

My plan is to auction off the jewelry pieces from those boards to raise money for Skateistan. (it’s a non-profit that is teaching kids how to skate in Afghanistan… They’re amazing!)

Well there is…a little tid bit on my friend Lindsay Jo Holmes and Maple XO.  Thanks Lindsay for a little inside scoop on Maple XO!  MVA has put a shout out to local schools for individuals that are willing to donate old or broken boards so we too can ship to Maple and have some wicked jewelry made right from our very own local supporters!  Let’s keep those boards out of the landfills!

One task turned into a complete re-design of the site and a brand new e-commerce site.  I think I asked every question under the sun and always received a honest answer in a timely manner.  I can honestly say that the bros of Groovy Web Design truly out did themselves and always went the extra mile – for me an extra 100 I think!  These guys come highly recommended in my opinion, always going above and beyond any given expectations.  I would like to thank Jim for all his creativeness and somehow muddling though all the images I shot over to put the final design together – I really don’t know how you do it.  I also need to thank Steve, the man that can magically piece all of this information together and make it come to life, you are amazing!  To the bros at Groovy, you rock.  Thank you for letting me be a part of the whole design process and your patience with me and my continuous list of questions.  Thank you so much for everything!

New Arrivals for Valentine’s Day

Are you thinking about the perfect piece of lingerie for Valentine’s Day? Try some vintage intimate apparel that was designed to flatter any body. Modern Vintage Attic is proud to feature intimate apparel from eco designer Clare Bare.

Candy Cane Limited Edition is a perfect piece for the holiday season and Valentine’s Day with the red striping and pink stitching. This set was made from a vintage duvet cover, and the trim is made from organic cotton. All edges are serged and stitched with light pink thread.

The top features princess seams, adjustable organic cotton twill tape ties at the shoulders, eyelet and organic cotton cording corset style lace up in the back. The bottoms has a wide band of elastic for a bit of stretch. The three red buttons down the front are vintage, therefore they will vary, but will be similar to the ones in the picture.

The bottoms are lined with organic cotton, cinched down the center back, and feature wings on the hips. This set would make a great gift for Valentine’s Day! Limited quantities in stock and available to ship immediately.

Organic Cotton Sherpa Heart Bloomers

Organic cotton bloomers with an added bonus, fuzzy organic sherpa hearts! Made from the softest 100% organic cotton and light pink thread. The serged edges are left raw for color accent. The bottoms are double lined with organic cotton in the crotch, and the back is cinched for a flattering look. All organic fabric is purchased from a small, sustainable farm in Texas.

A blue moon’s definition is a second full moon that occurs within a single month. This past year a full moon appeared on December 2, 2008 and again December 31, 2008. We normally only see 12 full moons during a year since it cycles 29.5 days; therefore, a blue moon will only occur every 2.5 years. You can mark your calendars for 2028, in 19 years time when the next New Year’s Eve ‘blue moon will occur.

In amongst all the celebrating and resolution planning take some time just to enjoy some of the natural beauty around us. It does not take long before the hectic lifestyles take over and soon another year has gone by before you even know it.

Vinegar: A natural cleaning product, disinfectant and deodorizer that is safe to use on almost all surfaces. However, it is always best to test in an inconspicuous area. Vinegar is an excellent antibacterial ingredient that can kill 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold and 80 percent of germs.

* Deodorize – Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar and let sit several hours or overnight, scrub well with toilet brush and flush.
* Disinfectant – Spray bathroom with full strength vinegar and wipe clean with damp cloth.
* Shower Door Tracks – Add full strength white distilled vinegar to track and let sit for a few hours. Flush with hot water and scrub with toothbrush.
* Soap Scum – Mix a paste of 1 cup salt, 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar and scrub tile / tub surround to remove soap scum. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
* Hard water or Rust Stains – Rub a mixture of 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ cup of white vinegar vigorously.
* Grease – Clean areas where grease gathers with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar. IE: kitchen fans, inside oven, top of cabinets.
* Linoleum – Clean floor with 1 cup white distilled vinegar per gallon of water. Apply full strength vinegar to tough stain and leave on 10-15 minutes. A tougher stain may require a vinegar application with a sprinkle of baking soda.
* Fabric Softener – Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of conventional fabric softener.
* Polish Stainless Steel – Sprinkle with small amount of vinegar and wipe with dry cloth.

Lemons: The juice of a fresh squeezed lemon or lemon juice concentrate can be mixed with vinegar or baking soda to make natural cleaning pastes with a splash of citrus fragrance.

* Laminate/Tile Counter tops – Squeeze the juice from a ½ lemon onto the counter and use the lemon as the scrubber. You may have to leave juice on stains until you see them disappear, rinse surface with water and wipe clean. Lemons are not recommended for marble, granite or quartz surfaces.
* Garbage Disposal – Grind a lemon or orange peel in the disposal to add freshness.
* Dishes and Glassware – Add lemon juice to dishwater to brighten your dishes.
* Wood Cleaner – Add 1 part olive oil to 1 part lemon juice and rub wood with soft rag.
* Fabric Stains (Blood, Grass & Rust) – Dab a mixture of salt and lemon juice onto the stain, leave sit for a while, rinse and wash.
* Microwave – Place a ½ of lemon in a bowl of cold water into the microwave and hook n high for 3 minutes. The condensation will remove cooking odors and loosen baked foods for easy cleaning.
* Bleach – Mix ½ cup lemon juice with one gallon hot water. Soak clothes 1 hour to overnight depending on requirements and then wash as usual.
* Tupperware – Clean stains with lemon juice and baking soda. You may have to let sit overnight for tough stains.
* Tiles/Plumbing Fixtures – Wet sponge with lemon juice and wipe tiles to create a shine. The citrus is a natural deodorizer and discourages mildew.
* Rust Removal – Soaking rusty tools, hardware in lemon juice to break down rust formation. Add baking soda if extra scouring is required.

Baking Soda: Bicarbonate of soda is an excellent deodorant and can be used to scrub surfaces similar to commercial abrasive cleaners.

* Surface Stains – Apply the mixture of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water to surface and leave sit, scrub or wipe clean. This mixture works well on Formica, marble and plastic surfaces.
* Tupperware – Rise with water and baking soda or soak to remove unwanted odors.
* Clean and Freshen Drains – Pour 1 cup of lemon juice and 1 cup of baking soda down drain and immediately follow with large pot of boiling water.
* Unclog Drains – Add baking soda to drain and pour lemon juice over. The bubbling action will break up clogs. Flush with hot running water.
* Mildew – Eliminate black mildew and mold spots by mixing 1 part lemon juice to 1 part baking soda. Apply, leave on for 2 hours and rinse off.
* Footwear Deodorizer – Sprinkle baking soda in shoes to eliminate odor.
* Carpets – Sprinkle carpet with baking soda and let stand for 15 minutes then vacuum to remove unwanted scents.
* Litter Box – Add baking soda to litter box to prevent odor.
* Outdoor Furniture – Add a ½ cup baking soda to 1 quart of warm water and wash furniture.
* BBQ Grills – Sprinkle grills with baking soda, let sit and rinse off.
* Greasy Garage Floor – Sprinkle baking soda to greasy area, let stand, scrub and rinse off.
* Mops – Soak floor mops in 1 gallon of water with 4 tbsp of baking soda to eliminate odour.
* Crayon Marks – Remove crayon marks off walls with a paste of baking soda and water.

1. Shop smart and buy items of necessity or buy used items from garage sales or thrift stores.

2. Save energy by replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, seal air leaks in your home, or using aerators on faucets and shower heads.

3. Transportation reduction by walking, cycling, car pooling or using public transportation.

4. Select food from local food markets, farmers markets or purchase organic foods that are in season.

5. Launder full loads of clothes and hang to air dry.

6. Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats to regulate heating and cooling during the summers and winter seasons.

7. Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible.

8. Use less water by taking shorter showers and turning off the taps while brushing teeth.

9. Select natural, non-toxic cleaning products or use ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda and water to make an all natural cleaner.

10. Reuse and recycle items. Dispose harmful or toxic products at an environmental or hazardous waste depot.

This is the day to encourage change to support a healthier environment. These actions can be incorporated to help reduce the impact on the environment everyday. Live responsibly and make it a way of life.

Deceptive marketing, don’t be fooled. I was astounded to recently find out that in almost half of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) tested product samples contain mercury. High Fructose is being consumed quite frequently in North America though a number of products on the market today and can also commonly be labeled as Fructose-Glucose or Glucose-Fructose in Canada. Brands such as Coca Cola, 7-Up, A & W Root Beer, Minute Maid Berry Punch, Yoplait Yogurt, Quaker Oatmeal, Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars, Heinz Tomato Ketchup are only a few of many products containing HFCS. High Fructose sweeteners are also labeled as inulin, iso-glucose, dahlia syrup, tapioca syrup, glucose syrup, corn syrup, crystalline fructose, agave syrup, and fruit fructose. High Fructose Corn Syrup has become an increasingly common ingredient; which now amounts to 40% of added sweeteners found in the North American diet.

What is High Fructose Corn Syrup?

Sugar commonly known as white sugar or cane sugar is made from pure sucrose. The sucrose is made from the carbohydrates glucose and fructose, which attach to each other by forming a weak bond. Therefore, when we consume white sugar our bodies are able to break down the bond relatively easy becoming a molecule of glucose and a molecule of fructose. The process to produce High Fructose Corn Syrup on the other hand is made using two different enzymes. The process starts by using either membrane-grade or mercury–grade caustic soda to help separate the corn starch from the corn kernel. The cornstarch is then converted into corn syrup through the hydrolysis process. A weak hydrochloric acid is mixed with the wet starch where it is heated and pressurized to break down the starch molecules. A genetically modified enzyme is added, breaking the starch into shorter chains of sugar. The starch is then treated with another genetically modified enzyme, which converts a portion of the glucose into fructose, resulting in HFCS. This complex process must take place in chemical processing plants in order to produce the end result.

What started as natural healthy kernels of corn has been manipulated into a very thick, sweet substance composed of 55% fructose and 45% glucose. Although white sugar consists of 50% fructose and 50% glucose, it is the high fructose percentage that is related to other corn syrups and not other sugars.

How does mercury come into play?

The process to separate the corn starch from the corn kernel involves the use of caustic soda otherwise known as lye, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), and hydrochloric acid. Caustic soda has been produced in mercury cell chlor-alkali industrial plants for many years and becoming tainted with mercury residues. Mercury is highly volatile, resulting in contamination throughout the process.

There has been a constant rise in cancer and an increase in autism – is mercury a possible link? Over the past couple decade’s mercury levels elevated from the fish we eat, vaccines, dental fillings, and now in a large percent of foods consumed by many individuals today.

What are some health effects of mercury?

Mercury is toxic in all forms; there is no safe amount. Mercury can result in damage to many organ systems such as heart, immune and nervous system. The exposure of elevated methylmercury to the development of babies in the womb can cause abnormal brain development resulting in learning disabilities and reduced IQ. Mercury contamination in food can be transferred to the fetus through the placenta or to the infant from breast milk. High-fructose sweeteners can also contribute to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Higher calorie consumption can also result in a rise of obesity. Fructose can also interfere with minerals the body uses such as copper, magnesium, iron, calcium and chromium and can lead to osteoporosis, insulin resistance, anemia and unhealthy connective tissue and arteries.

What can we do?

Mercury-free HFCS ingredients exist; food companies just need to discontinue using mercury-grade ingredients. Although most chlorine plants have switched to newer and cleaner technologies, there are still many plants that rely on the use of mercury cells. These chlor-alkali plants are being forced to phase out mercury cell technology by 2012. Consumers should be aware of the products we are consuming and avoid foods and beverages containing HFCS. This enforces my drive towards organic products and to support the organic farming industry. With our support, it will bring awareness to the manufacturing processes that unhealthy toxic ingredients are not acceptable. Don’t be fooled by product package marketing, read the ingredient list! This cookbook is great for kids and the whole family -Picky? Not Me, Mom!

Resources – Press Release from Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Much High Fructose Corn Syrup Contaminated With Mercury, New Study Finds

Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and HFCS