Spotlighting : BindlePDX : Online Small business Shopping

Good Morning Sunday Folks!

Today I am spotlighting BINDLEpdx! They are an amazing new online shopping platform where you can find small businesses in Portland, Oregon all in one place. So you don’t have to do your shopping in person or online at millions of different places. They also have this awesome multiple pick-up location option. Where you can pick-up your orders within a certain time frame at your choice of 3 locations around Portland.

I am just getting to know the owner of BINDLEpdx. Her name is Yoonjung Lee and she is a very kind, organized and respectful owner. I have enjoyed working with her in this new relationship! She has created this amazing platform during some very hard times for everyone and these are the kinds of projects/business platforms we all need in order to better our economy. Helping to bring our local, small business brands to people who wouldn’t normally find us when big brands like Amazon are taking over and especially since Covid hit. Along with that, a lot of small businesses haven’t been able to work their normal in person markets and shows. So this is a great way to find us!

BINDLEpdx is showcasing a variety of one-of-kind art wares, decor, local yummy food products, products for your dog, jewelry, bath and body care products for everyone, leather goods, etc.

Portlanders, please take a look at this platform. It will make your holiday shopping easier and will help support all types of local, small, women-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses in the Portland area.

Link to BINDLEpdx

Enjoy your Sunday!

“Welcome to BINDLE where we connect communities to local artisans and small businesses.”

Handcrafted Glassblown Holiday Ornaments

How to Care For Your Glass Art In The Home

Keeping your glass artwork shiny and sparkly in your home will help brighten any dull day! Whether the glasswork is in your sweet sweet garden or sitting on your coffee table. Here are some tips for keeping them squeaky clean.

• Dusting with a simple duster is the best first step.

• If dirt or grime has accumulated on your glass art, I would carefully wash it under luke warm water (not too hot or too cold as to not shock the glass.) Then use a soft sponge or towel with some dish soap and air dry.

• Whether washing is needed or not, I would simply clean your glass artwork carefully with paper towels and the key ingredient, Windex! (You can use a towel for sustainability, but sometimes the hairs from the towel sometimes stick to the glass.)

  Thank you for joining me. Stay safe and healthy out there folks.

  To shop Rachel Escoe Glass click HERE

Nate Watsons statement on how to best support social justice during these current times

I had a wake up call last week. I read an amazing and impactful statement from Nate Watson, the executive director of Public Glass SF, which is San Fransisco’s “only glass-focused youth education program.” At the end of my spiel will be a link to the statement he wrote. Please read it!

Nate explains how our glass community has not fully stepped up to the plate until now and how unfortunate it is that it took a BLM movement (and a death) to start supporting black and brown glass neighbors and friends. What I got out of it is that it is great that people are supporting the BLM movement but please don’t use black and brown friends as a way to profit from your business. In order to really show your support and take action, donating and physically helping people is the best course to take.

I’m trying very carefully to put together a plan of action to further help with social justice and the inclusion of everyone in the glass community. After reading Nate Watson’s statement, many questions came up in my head. What is the best way to go about showing my support for social justice? What projects can I bring to my business that can create a lasting support system for everyone?

From where I’m standing, the glass community really isn’t that big. It’s getting bigger every day and all over the world, but what I have always loved about our community is how tight-knit we are, no matter how big the community gets. Or so I thought.

I have been following Public Glass SF and other non-profit glass communities for the last couple of years now. Public Glass SF is a pretty amazing non-profit that offers free workshops for underserved youths, upon applying and getting accepted. Glassblowing can offer several things for youths:

• It can cultivate an understanding of how to control your emotions with discipline of the medium

• Concentration and teamwork is huge in learning how to blow glass, and it can simply help with getting through hard times in life.

• It can provide self-motivation and inspiration, qualities that everyone should know how to use throughout their lives.

There’s no denying - it’s an expensive medium which makes what these companies do even more heroic. Check out a list of these non-profit glass studios at the bottom of this blog post as well as where you can donate to help with social justice and the inclusion of everyone in the glass community.

One of the main reasons I have stuck with glassblowing as a medium for so long is because of the teamwork aspect. I have always loved how breathing life into a complicated piece required extraordinary amounts of personal bonding, patience and group concentration with fellow glassblowers. Having cooperation and camaraderie as the backbone of our industry gives me hope that we can get to the place we need to be as a community, together.

For me, I am going to be brainstorming new ways to support social justice. My next couple of blogs will be a more clear and concrete plan of action that I at Rachel Escoe Glass will be taking to help support non-profits like these and local non-profits here in the Portland area. Stay tuned and in the meantime take a look at Nate’s statement and please please consider donating to the links below.

Stay safe and healthy out there friends.

Rachel Escoe Glass

Nate Watson’s Statement

Donation Links for Underserved Youths

Give To Glass

Crafting The Future

Non-Profits in Glass

Public Glass SF

Ignition Community Glass

GlassRoots

Its The Final Countdown to Shop Mothers Day SALE

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Use Promo Code at Check Out : Art4Mom

Shop Unique Collections for something special for mama and get 20% OFF.

Today is the last day for it to ship out on time. Unless your mom doesn’t mind surprise belated gifts!!!! And it doesn’t have to be for your mom. It can be for yourself (Treat Yourself!) OR to celebrate springtime OR for someones birthday. There are endless possibilities.

Sending love and warmth out to all of you. I hope when you shop my artwork you feel a sense of calm from these mountains I depict from the cascade mountain range here in the Pacific Northwest. Emotional connection is my ultimate achievement when people view my work.

With Love,

Rachel Escoe Glass

@rachelescoeglass