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When I started this blog two years ago, I was unsure about how long I would follow through with it. While I haven’t been the most regular poster I find that I now love this blog. It is my place to save my progress, inspiration and thoughts, not to mention the fact that it’s much easier to pull up the page and share projects without lugging around a book of scattered ideas!
Glancing back at the original post, I was surprised to see that I have basically avoided (excepting the occasional wagon-fall) purchasing new clothing for the past two years when I have second hand or hand made options available. I hadn’t realised that much time has passed, simply because it feels normal for me now. My confidence in my projects has also increased exponentially and I am now excited to give handmade gifts to everyone rather than a select few. Having friends that say No one gives gifts like me, or Everyone always loves my gifts (although of course these friends, being friends, are biased) definitely helps too! To set the scene for this blog-iversary (or whatever all those bloggin’ pros out there call it), here’s a shot of my recent 29th birthday cake!
I just came across Co-op America’s list of “21 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Recycle”…and while the list of things I didn’t know is much smaller, I’m particularly excited about the lightbulbs at Ikea (number 6) and the idea of the toothbrushes. It is a US-focused list, but a mobile phone recycler, etc, is easily found anywhere I’d suspect. Various organizations certainly compete for our old mobiles in the UK. Back to the toothbrushes, a company called Recycline (located near my alma matter, it turns out) allows you to purchase recycled toothbrushes and return theirs for later recycling. Too bad regular toothbrushes cannot be collected, but it doesn’t seem difficult to get in on the cycle. I’m guessing that since they’re made in the US, if you purchase them there, (my current toothbrush, I just checked, was made and purchased here in the UK) the shipping still comes out better because of the post-consumer content!
I just found this excellent article/blog post at True Stitches about a t-shirt’s ecological footprint. Its better researched and written than my work, so check it out!
These discarded pieces of clothing – perhaps even after years of love in some cases- are my current inspiration. In fact, I cleared through my wardrobe today, searching for items to mend and to assess everything. Interestingly, even after only a few weeks of thinking in a wardrobe refashion frame of mind, I got excited when I withdrew 3-4 garments from the closet. Usually, items like this get donated, or turn into wrag, for these said garments have not been seriously worn (perhaps as pajamas or around the house in a pinch) in serveral months if at all. However, I surged with excitement when realising they were now simply pieces of fabric full of potential for me to refashion! This is hopefully where their lifecycles will take further steps towards completion.
I’m starting this blog today to keep my webpage clutter-free from my clothing re-fashioning endeavours. I have not officially taken the wardrobe refashion pledge because I would be too busy to post as a good refashionista should….Still, I’ve pledged to myself that for the next two months, any “new” clothing I want or need will come from a charity shop, or a sewing pattern. Who knows if anyone will stumble across this blog, or even find it interesting, but I’m looking forward to using it as my own marker of progress, and to reinforce my pledge. My goal over the Spring and Summer, is to crochet, sew, and refashion (and maybe knit here or there), all new items of clothing for my Fall wardrobe! Here’s to recycling what’s already out there, and using what I have!
