BIG decision!!!

Okay guys, first I have a confession to make. I spent up BIG last month, as I blew my tax return on my latest obsession, mechanical watches (they are the ones that don't need batteries, they operate either by manual winding or by the movement in your wrist) - after not buying a watch for over 20 years, I brought a german and a russian watch. Still waiting for them to come - I'm a bit worried about the russian one getting held up at customs, but I'm crossing fingers...
ANYWAY, after I did this (ie spent all my excess money) I got my manuscript back from the manuscript assessment peoples (I've been writing a novel in my spare time). They recommended a re-write of half the novel, pitching it to a younger audience (pre-teen) and ditching most of the sub-plots while expanding another. Anyway, a big lightbulb went off in my head and I can totally see how the novel can be framed and the assessment people's thought it had potential and should be re-written which was nice. The problem with this was that I had intended to go back to work in October (which is why I blew the tax return) and the re-write will take at least six months, maybe a year. SO, thanks to you guys and my new consumption awareness, I have taken the plunge and decided not to return to work after all. DH's wage will cover the mortgage and bills (just) and it means that I will have zip to live on - hopefully just enough to buy Xmas pressies and all that stuff, but nothing for me unless I sell something to fund it.
This is a HUGE step forward for me. A year ago, I wouldn't have thought twice. I would have binned the novel and gone back to work, knowing that I couldn't survive without my spending fix. But thanks to you guys and the consumption challenge, I'm going to give it a shot. And the excellent thing is, even if my novel never gets published, at least I will know that I have taken it as far as I could, and there will never be that 'what-if' type of regret. Its also a great lifestyle choice - DD2 is only 2 years old and DD1 is at school and it is so nice knowing that I'll be home with them instead of them being in daycare or after school care while I'm at work. So... here goes! I don't reckon I'll be posting a monthly spend from now on, as there won't be one (!!) but I'll drop in and update every so often.

So thanks dudes. This is really a life-changing decision for me, and you guys have helped me on my way. Hats off to you all!

PS I guess I should explain that the mechanical watch obsession arose out of research I was doing for the book, so its all kind of connected...in case you were wondering....

Still spending, but learning

Hi y'all,

Well I bought more than one thing this month - here's the shake-down

LAST EVER quilt fabric (bargain from the USA) $35
DH's 40th birthday pressie (limited edition print of ship 1815) $170
AC adaptor for stone radio $40
Bubba J fleece nappy cover $10
Clothes for DD1 on sale at department store - jacket, long sleeved top and jumper $60
Birthday pressie and Xmas pressie for nephew (AFL merchandise) $55

Total $360

The made in China items are creeping back in (the clothes for DD1 which she loves and has just about worn out already! and the AFL merchandise and the adaptor - sigh) but I've decided just to live with it. At least I'm aware more now of the stuff made in China that I buy - but to get clothes that are not made in China that my fussy 7 year old will wear is just too tricky. Same with electronic equipment...

Anyway, I'm quite pleased as this month I've really noticed that I'm thinking more about whether I really need to buy stuff. As an example, my faithful moccasin slippers lost all their inside fluff and usually I would buy new ones without thinking twice, but instead I lined them with an old wool sock and will try to see if I can get them last until the end of winter...I know it only sounds like a little thing, but I think I'm slowly changing my consumption mindset - woohoo!!!

Keep warm everyone!

OMG I only bought one thing this month

Okay so it was something I didn't really NEED, but it got ticks in lots of other boxes - its Aust made (okay so some of its components are imported, but the actual unit is made here) its funky, it will last a couple of lifetimes and I LURVE it. Its a stone radio - made by a dude living in the Blue Mountains - I could never have afforded to pay the full price for one of these babies but I picked up a demo model from Graysonline for $112. The only issue is that it didn't come with an AC adaptor. I thought it would be easy to source an adaptor but it has proven more difficult than I suspected. Nevermind, I shall persist and one day will be able to listen to my radio.

Hey one thing I spent a lot of time thinking about this month was what would I take if the house was burning down. Our house backs onto a bush reserve and its not out of the question that one day we will be threatened by bushfire and will have to make a decision whether to stay or go. If we decide to go, I don't want to be spending precious minutes racing around wondering what to pack into the car. I want to know already what is important to me and what can be left behind. I thought this would also be a good exercise re my consumption challenge - to find out what material possessions are really important to me and what I really could do without.

For the purpose of this exercise I assumed that DH was working overseas (which he does a lot) and so it was up to me and the 2 kids to load up my small hatchback and scidaddle out of here. Here (in order of importance) is what I decided to take:

1. Myself, DD1, DD2 and the cat. Pretty easy, this one.
2. My watch, handbag, ipod, filofax (which includes all my contacts, addresses, financial and insurance details etc), 2 memory sticks (one which stores our favourite family photos and videos and the other one has drafts for my novel/s) and DD1's asthma medication (she doesn't need it much anymore, but would need to take just in case). Also, our marriage cert and birth certs. All these would fit in my handbag.
3. My quilts, handmade tapestry cushions, and knitted blankets. Totally irreplacable and heaps of memories. Handy too!
4. Overnight bagx3 containing change of clothes for 3 days for myself, DD1 and DD2 and some essential personal items such as DD1's blankie which she has had since she was a baby and can't sleep without
5. My handwritten recipe books - I have 2 with heaps of family recipes and other ones I have collected over the years. I have a terrible memory for recipes and would be struggling to put a meal together without these. I don't think I could restruct them if I left them behind
6. Other sentimental items - a painting I was given for my 21st, a mantelclock I got on ebay which has seen me though some tough times (long story) and our bedside lamps (another long story).

that's pretty much it!! I was quite shocked at what I would be happy to leave. I'm not a clothes or jewelry person and it wouldn't worry me to leave those behind. Same for my book and DVD collections. It was a good exercise in finding out what was really important to me. If it wasn't impossible, I'd also take my piano (I inherited it from my grandmother - her parents gave it to her for her 9th birthday, she learnt to play on it, I played on it as a child as did my Dad, and DD1 is learning to play it now). Priceless! But it is old and extremely heavy. It took a crane to get it inside and we couldn't get it any further than the hallway, so that's where it lives and where it will stay. Also a rug I got with my first paycheck - I love it to bits but there is no way it would fit in the car.

So there you have it! Hopefully I'll never need to use it, but it was an interesting exercise. Hope you all have a great month!

May wrap-up

Ouch! Not so good this month, but I have an excuse. We are just about to start building some extensions on our tiny house and I'm expecting we will run out of money whilst doing so. So I've decided to buy all the birthday pressies coming up in the next few months before the money runs out. So here tis:

$36 soft soled shoes made in Canada for DD2 - she grew out of her last pair and they are the only ones that stay on her feet

$25 knickers for DD1 from ebay. This was a bit of a disaster. I convinced DD1 (aged 7) to try some organic cotton knickers from Blessed Earth online store a few months ago. I love them, but DD1 reckons they give her wedgies. So I found some other australian made organic cotton panties online but she gave them the thumbs down. I eventually caved in to the inevitable and bought some Calvin Klein ones from ebay. Made in China. She loves them and won't wear anything else. Sigh.

$30 hairbands from Ribbonista online store as birthday pressies for DD1's friends. These are such a hit with the kids - made by a WAHM - absolutely love them!

$80 flannette backing for Q4. Yes I know. Someone hit me. At least it wasn't made in China.

$39 CD from Oxfam online - French cafe music. SOOOOO COOOOL. For myself for Xmas from DD1 and DD2 - getting in early, I know.

$93.50 Handmade stool with her name carved into it, for my nieces 2nd birthday. Handmade in Australia by Sams Handcrafts. Nice!

$139.75 Dollshouse for DD2's birthday from Bentsticks (handmade in Aust). I'm knocked out by how cute this dolls house is. All made from wood, no plastic in sight. Excellent!

$37 remote controlled helicopter for my nephew's birthday from ebay. Yes, its made in China. Doh!

$18 Clock for DD1 from ebay. I truly loathe this clock. DD1 was desperate for it (its a digital clock with different coloured backlights) and I caved in and bought it for her, for participating in an esteddfod. Its made in China, as already gone through a set of batteries and has started to fall apart. Grrrr. It sums up everything I can't stand about made in China items. Dodgy, fleeting items that break easily and then you throw it away and get another one. What a waste. Grrrrr.

$76 flannette sheet set. We needed a fitted QS sheet as ours developed a massive rip and the girls needed a pillowcase each. I really wanted to put my money where my mouth is and get organic cotton ones but they were SO out of my budget. In the end I got 2 sets of fitted sheets, 2 flat sheets and 4 pillow cases for $76 from ebay. Made in China. Gulp. But thick and they look like they will last. Crossing fingers.

Total $574.25. Ouch. But at least all the main birthday pressies from now til Xmas are accounted for.

Anyway, May was a mixed month and I can't for the life of me think of a mini-challenge for June. Last months mini-challenge was finally completed - I managed to fill a bag for vinnies of clothes I will never wear again, and also put away a few baby toys that I couldn't part with and will donate the rest to the school fair, so yay!!! The clothes cull didn't result in the huge amount of free wardrobe space I was hoping for, but nevermind. Onwards and upwards.

April wrap-up and May mini-challenge

Hmm, not so bad this month, my lowest spending total so far this year. Here's the breakdown:
Freeplay lantern (to replace my freeplay torch which DD2 broke) - I love this company, its very ethical and supplies its products to poor communities etc etc so I'm happy to pay a bit more to support them. We had a stack of power outages last year and really need a non-battery torch or lantern for when it inevitably happens again. $93.50

Lunch bag $15. DD1 needed a lunch box and it was hellishly difficult trying to find one that wasn't made in China. I thought I'd done well when I ordered a homemade insulated and embroidered lunch bag from ebay, but it arrived with a big made in china tag on it - the bag was made in China with the embroidery done in Aust, so I made it halfway I guess.

Three helebores (flowering plants which I hope stay alive over the next couple of weeks) as mothers day presents $45

Winder pyjamas for DH $45. These were very cool ones from Peter Alexander. Unfortunately I didn't realise til after I got them, that they are made in China. Sigh.

Book called Beers & Cheers (locally printed, about the history of Hobart pubs) $40

Backing for Q3 from an online WAHM shop (made of bamboo, wild nettle and cotton) $53.30

Two headbands and one bow from new WAHM online shop Ribbonista $31. I found out about these from a Nappycino thread. I'm going to try them out on my girls and I'm hoping they will be great birthday presents for 7/8 year old girls, in which case I'll be buying them regularly!

TOTAL ; $322.80

Woohoo!! I think I'm gradually improving. Certainly, the urge to go into town and cruise the shops and buy stuff I don't need has disappeared which is a huge step for me! I've been into town heaps recently and only bought what I originally went in for. Most of my shopping now is done online after lots of research and consideration for what I'm buying so I'm well happy about that.

But a big OOPS for the mini-challenge. I was meant to cull my clothes but it just didn't happen. Time ran away with me - will try it as my May challenge instead....

March wrap-up and April mini-challenge

Well, I didn't go TOO badly this month. Here's the damage:
- pyrex dish (made in USA) $12
- tupperware snack cups $20.50
- $11.15 quilt fabrics from ebay
- cardigan and jacket from The Hempest (made in Peru) $240
- quilt fabric from Craftcon (USA) $80
- queen size merino blanket off-cut; single wool blanket and jumper for DH from Waverley Woollen Mill seconds sale (all made in Tassie - woohoo!) $99

TOTAL = $451.50

My big splurges this month were on the cardigan and jacket from The Hempest and on quilting stuff- again. I'm REALLY happy with the cardy and jacket - I needed another cardy for winter as the one I've had for years is beyond repairing and has gone all faded and threadbare. The cardigan is made of organic cotton and silk and the jacket is alpaca, wool and tencel, all made in Peru by an indigenous womens co-op and fair traded - woohoo!! They are SO comfy and warm and I'm really impressed by the quality.
I stumbled upon a link to an online fabric shop in the USA and it was an aladdins cave of all the quilting fabrics I have ever wanted and with the dollar being strong, it worked out much cheaper than buying from ebay. I also bought the woollen queen sized blanket off-cut in a local seconds sale and will use it as the insert for my last quilt.
All in all, I could have done better, but at least my purchases have not been made in China so far as I could tell (not sure about the tupperware??) so I'm going okay in the mini-challenge. Will try to do better next month!!

Okay for next months mini-challenge - I'm going to follow everyone elses lead and do a clothes cull. I have heaps of clothes that I no longer wear and I have to face the fact that after having 2 kids, I'm never going to fit into a size 8 again. So out they must go (sob). I'm a horder, so this may be tricky....I'll let you know how I go.....

Feb wrap up and March mini-challenge

Okay, so how did I go in February with my spending challenges?? Hmmm. Well, let's see.
Here's the breakdown:

• $75 school shoes
• $95 school uniform purchases from school shop and Big W
• $45 quilting fabrics (7 pieces from ebay and a length of ribbon from spotlight)
• $50 quilting bag (from Kirrily at Nice Knickers on ozebaby)
• $14.88 Organic t-shirt for me from Big W
• $17.86 Organic t-shirt for DH from Big W
• $20 Mr Men T-shirt for my Dad's b'day pressie Big W
• $20 Two egg cup & spoon sets from small local shop for b'day pressies for the boys next door
• $17.50 taggie blanket for gift for baby of my ex-babysitter, from Loopy Loo ozebaby

Total - $355.24

Well, no so bad for a former consumerholic I guess, and a better total than last month. Still, I reckon I could do better. I really didn't need the quilting bag (although I love it to death and I'm happy I bought it) and I'm bummed about my spend-up at Big W - I really could have thought of a better pressie for Dad than a Mr Men t-shirt and we really didn't those need those organic t-shirts I bought either. Curse that impulsive spending!!!

Well, in a bid to challenge myself further and totally shackle my spending from here on in, my March challenge is.......drum roll........another drum roll......I will not buy anything made in China. That's right. Nothing made in China. Not only for March but for THE REST OF THE YEAR!!! Gasp!!!! Can I do it??? I'm not sure but I sure as hell am going to give it a red hot go.

By the way, in case you were wondering how I went with the February challenge (no tissues) I was cruising with no problems til I got a head cold, then used all my hanky stash up in one day and lacked the energy to make new ones, so regressed to tissues. Oops. Am back on the wagon now though as my cold has disappeared. Yay!!

Cracking open the champers

So what am I celebrating??? Two things - I have finally finished Q1 - woohoo!!!! Here are some piccies of the front and back of the finished product - DD1 raced in front of the camera for one of them, so excuse her blurry outline. And also, DD2 has been in 100% cloth nappies for a year now. That's cloth 100% of the time - nights, holidays, outings, everything! I'm pretty chuffed about that. So we cracked open a bottle of champagne to celebrate (thats an Oxfam cleanskin champagne left over from our Xmas stash).

Hey also, in my quest for sustainable online clothes shopping I came across an interesting site http://eco-chick.com/ I get the New York Times by email, and there was an article in there about ecomums with a link to this site. I haven't had a chance to look at it an any great detail yet, but it has heaps of links to sustainable clothes sites (unfortunately they are probably mostly in the US, but its a start). Thought some of you might be interested.

To Op Shop or Not to Op Shop

This is something I've been thinking about for ages. I'm not a clothes person and don't often buy clothes, but when I do, I reckon there are three options for sustainable clothes shopping:

1. Buy from an op shop
2. Buy organic cotton or some other sustainable item from a large department store, thereby increasing demand for more sustainable products
3. Buy sustainable item locally made from small local business.

Anyway, I've been thinking about op shop shopping for a while now, and I've decided that I would aim for number 2 or 3 on the list, as I want my hard-earned money to have a wider purpose - to drive the consumer market towards where I want it to go - to encourage manufacturers to see that there is a demand for sustainably made clothes, and so hopefully they will make more and buy more. My thoughts are (and these are just my own personal views) that at op shops you get good value and your money goes to support a charity but it doesn't encourage any market shifts if you get my drift

But anyway, yesterday I had to go to Big W to get a skort for DD1's school uniform. While I was there, I noticed they had organic cotton t-shirts for sale. They had catchy 'save the earth' type slogans on them and I needed a t-shirt and so did DH, so I bought us one each. I didn't get a chance to look at them in the shop as I was holding a wriggly toddler in one arm and trying to placate DD1 who wanted to go and look in the toy section.

Anyway, I got them home and was really disappointed. They'll get worn, don't get me wrong, but they were just not what I was expecting. They were dyed with a really strong colourful dye and had some plasticy stuff on the front for the slogan. They were made in China and they just had the wrong 'vibe' if you know what I mean. So I'm canning number 2 as an option.

Since I've discounted op-shops, that leaves me with number 3. Tricky! Is there anywhere in Hobart where you can buy locally made (or at least Aust made) clothes made with natural (preferably organic) fibres? I've only found 2 shops that cut it so far. One unfortunately is way outside my budget, but in the other one I picked up a long sleeved cotton top made in Aust - woohoo!!!

Oh and also, before you ask, I can't sew (well, I can only sew quilts!!) so I can't make my own. To be honest, I'm not interested enough in clothes to spend time making them. I don't even want to have to buy them that often. I just want the purchases I make to actually mean something. Phew! Its all trickier than I thought. Anyway, its no more clothes purchases from big stores for me - local and Aust made all the way.

January Round-up

Okay, so here's what I bought during January. Before I list them all, I have to say that I'm quite pleased with myself. Compared to what I was spending and buying late last year, I have come a long way.

Okay. Here it is:
$20.70 Webkinz toy for DD1. She paid me for it by washing the outside of my car, polishing the windows and vacuuming its insides. She ended up playing the online games for hours each day and I reckon it was money well spent.

$50 Bathers for DD1 from the Cancer Council shop

$40.20 Quilting fabrics for Q3. I bought these in bits and pieces throughout the month from various ebay shops. I added them all up and they came to this total.

$79.70 Bamboo, wild nettle and cotton backing for Q1, bought from WAHM online shop

$40 My sister's b'day pressie - handmade necklace from the Female Factory shop

$82.39 Quilt batting (unbleached cotton) and backing for Q2 and spool of King Tut quilting thread from online shop

$50 B'day pressie for DD1 (its not til March but I'm getting in early this year) - handmade necklace and earrings from the Female Factory shop

$48 B'day pressie for DH (not til September. Yes that's not a typo. His b'day is in Sept) - a clock in the shape of a VW combi with a surfboard on top, bought from small gift shop in city

$41 Another 2 webkinz toys. One for DD1's best friend's birthday which was a couple of days ago and another to put away for DD1's birthday (yes I know, hit me)

$8.83. DVD Mr & Mrs Smith

TOTAL - $460.82 (ouch)

A few observations. I think my high point was the bathers - before the Challenge I just would have bought onces made in China from a department store, but these ones are really nice, made in Australia and the profit goes to the Cancer Council - woohoo!! The handmade necklaces were also a great find, with the profits going to restoring the convict women's prison just down the road from us.

Low points. Hmmmm. I was surprised how much I spent on quilting - although the expenses for Q1 and Q2 are now pretty much done, only Q3 should be chewing up my money from now on. And I bought heaps of gifts!! For people whose birthdays were ages away!!! I think there is a bit of retail transferance or something happening there.

There are 2 items that I can't really justify - the extra reel of quilting thread and the DVD. I love the quilting thread, and although it was an indulgence, I'm happy with it. The DVD was a good buy I reckon - both DH and me love that movie and had recorded it when it was on TV a while ago but the recording stuffed up and each time we watch it, it cuts out at a random point. So I decided when the price was low enough I'd buy a copy.

And back to the good news, I didn't buy any cloth nappies!!!!!! For the first time in over a year, I haven't bought a cloth nappy this month. Not even a Bitti D'lish. Gosh. Who'd have thought. Anyway, I need to go and watch something on TV about Cat Stevens and I've rambled enough. SO there it is - the January round-up.

February Mini-Challenge

Okay, I 've decided what my mini-challenge will be for February. Drum roll please......I've decided that for the month of February I will only use hankies, not tissues. Yes that's no I repeat NO tissues for the entire month of February. Hankies only. I do own some hankies which is lucky, but with a box of tissues in every room in the house just about (its a small house) its just too convenient to reach for a tissue than to track down a hankie. But no more. No tissues for me for the next month. Hmmm. Hope I don't come down with a cold.

Confessions of a former rabid consumer

Gulp! I got my financial statement from my credit union today and it has a list of what I spent in the 6 months from July to December last year. At first I convinced myself it must be a mistake - there is no way I could have spent THAT much!! But gradually the denial receded and I realised I must have spent a whackload of money in the last few months of 2007.
The trouble was that I got a good tax return and a payout from work as I resigned in August 2007. The payout was meant to be my income for the next year at least ( I was even hoping I'd be able to stretch it out further - maybe 18 months) so I can stay at home with my youngest and not need to put her in childcare.
Unfortunately, a huge lot of it disappeared into a blackhole of spending before it could be put away and saved. The really worrying thing is that, other than a couple of big ticket items I bought with my tax return (awnings for the bedroom windows as we don't have aircon and the bedrooms heat up too much in summer, and organic wool toppers and pillows for the beds) I can't for the life of me remember what I spent all the money on. I worked out that if I kept spending at the same rate, I'd have to go back to work in March this year, as the money would be all gone (Shock! Shock!)

Ye Gods. Thank the heavens for the consumption challenge!!! Not only have I saved money and made a list of what I am spending my money on so I can see where it all goes, but I feel SO much better now I am not buying stuff. I have now gone into the city around 4 times and not bought anything other than what I had gone there for!!! And I've perused my favourite online shops heaps and haven't caved in and put things into my shopping cart. And it feels SO good compared to what I felt like last year.

Its hard to explain, but you know how it feels when you go into a cafe and order a slice of the the biggest, richest mudcake you can see? It comes with lashings of cream and you are really excited about eating it, but after you've finished you feel bloated, overfed and undernourished??? That's how I felt when I was spending heaps. Now it feels like I'm on a detox diet. I only consume what I need to consume and while I don't get that buzz of zoning in on an ebay item or snapping up a bargain in the sales, I feel so much better generally, all over. Its great. I'm loving it. I really think that this is actually a lifestyle change - that I've kicked an addiction and that things will be great from now on. Not only during 2008 but beyond. Woohoo!!! Go the consumption challenge!!!

Shonky Quilts

Okay, now that I've posted about my quilts (and also they've kind of blown my budget a bit for this month) here they are (if I can work out how to attach the piccies). Its a bit hard to see them in the photos - they are about the size of a double bed.

First is Q1 - butterflies and batik. I've got a bit more of quilting to do, then the front panel is finished and I've just got to work out how to extend my length of bamboo, wild nettle and cotton fabric that I bought for the backing (as it isn't wide enough) - I think I'll string some leftover fabric together.

Second is Q2 - cats and lighthouses. I've only just sewn this one together and today the unbleached cotton batting arrived along with the blue ticking I ordered for the back - woohoo!!!

Q3 - Medieval Playing Cards is just a small pile of fabric at the moment, so no piccies.

PS Sorry about the photos being on the side. Each time I tried to rotate them the computer crashed so I gave up.

Keep in mind that these are not proper quilts - I don't own a sewing machine and all I know about quilts I read in a House and Garden magazine I found at my mums (then forgot half of and ignored a lot of the rest of). But I like them and they are making my evenings and downtime very pleasant at the moment.

The Nanna Factor

I was eating my way through the best crop of apricots we have had for years, and it got me thinking about my Nanna (who gave us the apricot tree as a wedding present).

She's 84 years old and has lived alone since my Pop died about 5 years ago. She lives in the same tiny weatherboard house they built before the second world war. Before she was married, she lived with her 3 sisters and brother on a farm, during the depression.

She has a totally different attitude to consumption than the current generations. She has always had a vegie garden and fruit trees and grows most of the vegetables and fruit that she eats. She makes jam and preserves with the left-over fruit. She knits, sews, mends, crochets and does an amazing amount of handyman tasks. If something breaks, she will try and fix it rather than throwing it away. She repairs, builds and creates her own cupboards and the like. She really is an amazing person.

Anyway, it occurred to me that people nowdays rely so much on there being groceries in the shops, electricity coming down the wires, water running out of taps etc etc. If something happened to disrupt that (a natural or man-made disaster) where would all those people be who own inner-city apartments worth millions of dollars (with no garden, everything automated and electronic, and a tiny kitchen)?? What would they do? Do any of them know how to darn socks, dry tomato seeds and save them for next years crop, and preserve excess fruit so you can eat it in winter?? Don't reckon.

My Nanna, though, would hardly miss a beat. She doesn't have a cow or goat, so she wouldn't have any dairy products and wouldn't eat meat, but on her average suburban block of land and tiny house I reckon she could exist quite happily through any food rationing, electricity blackouts and no new clothes to wear. She did it before (during WW2) with 3 kids, so I reckon she'd romp it in.

I just wonder where our priorities are today, and whether we are teaching our kids the right stuff. When people like my Nanna pass away (hopefully ages yet Nan) will all that important knowledge pass with them? Will people know how to let down a hem or darn socks? Will babies have knitted beanies to wear and homemade dolls to play with? Will people be able to feed themselves if they go to the shop and find no food on the shelves?

Hmmm. I hope so.

This consumer challenge is really making me think about stuff like this. Which is a good thing I reckon.

Quilting Sustainably

Ah the challenges of sustainable quilting!! I started quilting as a hobby last year. Its not proper quilting as I don't own a sewing machine and I don't like the idea of measuring and cutting things straight. So I've been getting bits of quilting fabric from ebay and cutting them into large squares or triangles and sewing them together. They usually don't join where they are meant to and if there are gaps, I plug the gap with a scrap of other fabric. Sounds weird, but I'm getting a kick out of it.

Anyway, I have 3 quilts on the go. Q1 'Butterflies and Batik', Q2 'Cats and Lighthouses' and Q3 'Medieval Playing Cards'. Q1 I'm currently quilting the front layer onto some polyester batting. Next step is to buy some fabric for the backing and quilt that on as well. I was going to go to Spotlight and get some quilting cotton for the backing, but in light of the Rules, I decided to get something more sustainable. I ended up with some rust coloured fabric made of wild nettle, bamboo and cotton from the online shop Bamboo Fabric Store. I only ordered it yesterday so it hasn;'t arrived yet, and it won't be wide enough so I'll boost it up with some fabric from ebay. But I really like it. So Q1 is on track -woohoo!!!!

Q2 is at the stage where I am sewing the front panels together. Next step is to buy the batting. Since I'm doing this challenge, instead of using polyester, I'm going to get some unbleached cotton batting from the online shop Autumn Threads. They also have some quilting threads that are to die for, so I might have to breach the Rules and get a reel of thread as well (oops).

Q3 is just at the beginning. As its the last quilt I will make (we only have 3 beds in the house so only need 3 quilts) I chose an obscure subject in the hope that it will take me ages to source the fabrics for it. I want to string it out for as long as I can. Unfortunately I managed to find 3 pieces on ebay last week, so I might not look again for a while. Its so much fun trawling ebay for interesting fabrics that I want to delay finishing this part for as long as possible.

Anyway, I might post pictures of them when they are finished. Go the sustainable quilts - woohoo!!!!

My sister's birthday pressie

Ooh I'm quite proud of myself. My sister's birthday is coming up this weekend so I set about trying to find a present that fits within the Rules. What I ended up buying was a locally handmade necklace from the Female Factory (an old convict women's prison just down the road from our house). They are trying to get money to restore the old sandstone walls and one of the volunteers is also a jeweller and makes necklaces which are sold in a shop onsite, and the profits go towards restoring the prison. Yay!! My daugher was so impressed by the necklace that she wants one for her birthday in March (although she is only 6 years old, so will probably change her mind next week and want a barbie instead)
I hope my sister likes it....

January Mini Challenge

Okay, its time for the January mini-challenge. This month I've decided that I'm going to use up all of the shampoos, conditioners, hair products and moisterisers in the house before I buy any new ones. You wouldn't believe how many samples, half-finished bottles of shampoo and half-finished bottles of handcream (mostly gifts from relatives) I have lying around. They are cluttering up my bathroom cupboard and they have to be used!!! Now is the time!!! And seriously, I have so many bottles of moisteriser I reckon I won't need to buy any for at least a year. Woohoo!!! Go the January challenge!!

So far, so good

Well, its a week into the challenge and I think its time to do an update. I think things are going well so far. I faced my first big challenge yesterday as I went into the city to buy a pair of bathers for my daughter.
Ah the post-Christmas sales! Each summer I brave the crowds and spend heaps of money I don't have on stuff that's on sale that I don't need. But not this year! I strode past the signs saying '70% off today only' and my credit card stayed in my wallet. Afterall, its not really a bargain if you are buying something that you don't need - its just a waste of money.
Anyway, in accordance with the Rules I steered clear of the department stores and instead went to the cancer council to get the bathers. In this way, my money supports a charity instead of a big business. The bathers were pretty snazzy and my daughter likes them! Yay!
Another exciting development is the establishment of the consumption challenge blogring. I'm really looking forward to checking out how others are going with their journeys - love it, love it!!!!

The Rules

Okay, here are the rules that I will try to stick to for my consumer challenge.

THE RULES

1. Anything bought during 2008 (except groceries and other items you can buy at a supermarket) must be recorded on a monthly basis along with the cost.

2. Before purchasing anything, the questions below must be considered.

THE QUESTIONS

1. Do I really need to buy it, or do I just want it?
2. Can I make do with something else that I already have instead of buying something?
3. Is it well made? Will it last a long time so in the long run it reduces what I consume?
4. Will it save money and resources by replacing something that is disposable?
5. What is its environmental impact and its carbon footprint?
6. Is it made locally?
7. Is it made with natural or recycled products?
8. Does buying it support a small business or charity? If from overseas, is it fairtrade?
9. Is it something that I will love and treasure, or is it something I will lose interest in after a while?

Why?

Why did I decide to join the consumer challenge? Basically, to stop consuming so much stuff - most of it stuff that I don't really need.
I read somewhere recently that at any one time there are 20 million people on this planet suffering from severe malnutrition. That's insane! While so many people in richer countries are eating so much that they are getting overweight, there are millions out there sharing the same planet as us who are struggling to eat enough to stay alive. Someone once said that all you need to live is food, shelter and some clothes. Everything else is just trappings. Well, I think I am drowning in my trappings. I certainly have more stuff than I need, and during 2008 I've made a pledge to reduce what I buy.
I read in the New York Times earlier this week that a person living in the US, UK or Australia consumes 32 times more than a person from a developing country. That means that we have a negative impact on this planet 32 times more than poorer people. And this is totally unsustainable. The poor planet is groaning while we dive into the post-Xmas sales to buy cheap clothes made in China, the latest plasma TVs and gadgets and stuff that we really don't need. Enough!!! It stops here!!!! No more!!!! Go the consumer challenge!!!

Testing, testing...1,2,3

Wow! I've never blogged before. I hope this works. Hey its easy! A bit like emailing. Well, hopefully this is the first blog of many. I wonder how I get this onto my blog page? Guess I click on that 'publish post' button down there. Here goes.....