Thursday, April 3, 2008

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.....