The KInd Life Community Forum

I am half French, one quarter Sicilian, and a bit of Irish and German. But we were always closest to the French side of the family for some reason. My French Grandma is still living and I just love going to see her! Most of the French in me is Cajun, but there is some waaaaaay back from St. Malo, France and other parts too. What about you?

Hey Ragdolly, can't help you with the paper, but in terms of 'terms,' a dietary vegan is still doing a heck of a lot, even if they aren't full lifestyle vegan. I go out of my way to try and make sure everything I use is vegan as much as it can be. Some things we cannot avoid, such as all public things we use that have been made with or tested on or effected animals in some way. But I no longer buy any clothes made from animals, I obviously no longer buy animal food (though I can't control what the plants are grown in unless I grow my own) (and I am personally happy to give up any food I used to enjoy that has harmed animals, so I personally wouldn't drink non-vegan alcohol), I try and make sure cleaning and beauty products that are natural and cruelty free. Now, this works for me, but it is not without challenges like when you need new clothes and cute or professional stuff is often made of some animal material, or driving a car which is unavoidable in some instances, or when there are simply no other options. But it does work for me, and I don't feel it puts an extra burden on me, but that's because it's second nature, so I don't think about as being too hard or too much to think about, if that makes sense. It may not work for you, but that doesn't mean you haven't made huge strides in trying to be a conscientious being on this planet. Vegetarians are estimated to save 95 animal lives a year. Dietary vegans are saving even more than that because they are not contributing to the suffering of dairy cows or laying hens. Lifestyle vegans are saving even more by trying not to purchase any goods made from animal products. While there are different levels, they are all certainly making more of a difference than an omni who never thinks about it.

I wasn't meaning that in a bad way. I was attempting to answer your original question about 'dietary vegan' and attempting to say that there are different levels that work for different people, for different reasons, and each one makes a difference. There are plenty of people who think the term vegan means avoiding animal products in everything possible, and if you're still wearing old leather or whatever, they wouldn't consider you vegan. Others do use the term 'dietary vegan,' while some will just say plant-based diet. I believe that the man who coined the term 'vegan' and started the Vegan Society (I think that's what it's called) says vegans don't use honey or any other products made from insects, while other orgs like Vegan Outreach say that at that level they believe it's a personal choice. I was attempting to point out, apparently not very well, that there are different levels that people commit themselves to, but they are still making a difference, rather than an omni who just eats whatever they want. I wouldn't consider you anything, I don't know how you live, it was just an answer to your question about what people think about it.

I'm very pleased to say Fabriano works well (comparably so) to Arches.

^I bought the sample pack from Cheap Joes.com which includes 6 different varieties of Fabriano on 11" X 14" sheets. I got 140 lb Cold Press on white, 140 Soft Press on white, 300 lb Cold Press white, and 2 sheets of unbleached paper (off white) in Cold Press, one 140, the other 300.

I'm doing some pink roses (the photo in my avatar as a matter of fact) on 300 lb Soft Press.

My framer, an 82 yr old artist, was stuck on Arches but she examined the paper on the roses yesterday and even she agrees it is satisfactory. :)

She used to sell Fabriano years ago in her shop.

Here's the link to the sample pack for you french momma:

http://www.cheapjoes.com/search/?keywords=fabriano+sample&x=0&y=0

IDK if you'll do watercolor on it or not but it makes a very professional looking watercolor.

I use Yarka watercolors. I emailed them a few months ago and they told me they use no animal bi-products in them. HOwever I seen a Yarka catalogue at my framer's shop and they were selling refill blocks in the colors Carmine and Ivory Black. Thankfully they had another black to choose from; Neutral Black.