--from Larkin--
Hey guys, and thanks Mom, that was a great post!
Well as for me, I've got yarn on the brain. With Christmas coming up I am currently working on two gifts (hint: they're large and soft and lie across your bed) with two more waiting in the wings. And I am pleased to announce that all but one of them is made entirely of used yarn. The best place to get bulk yarn (or random small balls of texture yarn) is the Goodwill. Also at the Goodwill, any thrift shop, or the back of your closet are wonderful, yet horrible, sweaters just begging to be unraveled and re-knitted or crocheted. I recommend looking for bulky sweaters for this "reclaiming," though thin yarn can be very interesting to work with as well.
And while I must go now, so as to do math homework, I shall return! Meanwhile, I welcome all members to write beautiful things in my absence.
Happy Halloween, one and all!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Goodbye, cable TV!
--from Kate--
Yeah, so Larkin roped me in. Now it's time to put my fingers where my mouth is (huh?) and write about my experiences thus far joining the Compact Project.
Anyone who knows me knows that I wasn't really that far from making this leap. I'm a believer in reusing goods that still have life in them, and I've run my household in that way ever since I've had one to run. I can thank my mom for instilling much of that ethic, I'm sure. Plus I find I can be much more creative in fashion & decor when I'm not restricted by the walls of each store. It's all at the goodwill/garage sale/2nd hand shop. They're like the melting pots of consumerism. Just one example? Our daily dishware collection is all fine china. But each plate, saucer, and bowl is different from the other. Whenever I need new dishes, it's simple & inexpensive to add to the collection. And all the patterns are so pretty & varied. But I've been doing that for years. What's changed since joining?
Hmmm...I've opted to give experiences instead of goods for a couple of birthday gifts. Another difference is when I had to buy something new recently. I put a great deal more consideration into the purchase than I otherwise would have. I bought it as a result of the simplifying I'm trying to do...that "calm-pact" part of the effort. After a long period of waiting for the other decision-maker in my home to think about it, we chose to discontinue our cable tv service. The cable appeared 2 years ago, as it's done for one month every 4 years so that we could watch the World Cup before discreetly going away. Until 2006, when, for reasons that aren't pertinent to this blog, it didn't go away.
Back to the purchase though, since this cable business has been in the works for a good while. Our phone service was bundled with the cable, so we eliminated our land line, too. We have cell phones, and I decided to subscribe to Skype so that we can make free calls from our computer to anywhere in N America. For this I needed a microphone, and that's the purchase I made. Since by then I had joined the Compact, I considered buying used, but given how inexpensive they are, I figured it was an unreasonable risk to buy something non-returnable. See? I applied the fair & reasonable rule that Larkin outlined in one of her posts! I guess simplifying can mean dealing with some complications at the outset to achieve the end.
I'm proud of Larkin for choosing this as her senior project; it's a brave experiment for any American, but perhaps especially a teen. If anyone else is willing to give this a try, email Larkin. All who join are given writing capability on this blog, and are encouraged to share their own experiences with keeping to the guidelines of the Compact. Even a short paragraph on occasion is of great help to Larkin, and certainly of interest to us all!
Yeah, so Larkin roped me in. Now it's time to put my fingers where my mouth is (huh?) and write about my experiences thus far joining the Compact Project.
Anyone who knows me knows that I wasn't really that far from making this leap. I'm a believer in reusing goods that still have life in them, and I've run my household in that way ever since I've had one to run. I can thank my mom for instilling much of that ethic, I'm sure. Plus I find I can be much more creative in fashion & decor when I'm not restricted by the walls of each store. It's all at the goodwill/garage sale/2nd hand shop. They're like the melting pots of consumerism. Just one example? Our daily dishware collection is all fine china. But each plate, saucer, and bowl is different from the other. Whenever I need new dishes, it's simple & inexpensive to add to the collection. And all the patterns are so pretty & varied. But I've been doing that for years. What's changed since joining?
Hmmm...I've opted to give experiences instead of goods for a couple of birthday gifts. Another difference is when I had to buy something new recently. I put a great deal more consideration into the purchase than I otherwise would have. I bought it as a result of the simplifying I'm trying to do...that "calm-pact" part of the effort. After a long period of waiting for the other decision-maker in my home to think about it, we chose to discontinue our cable tv service. The cable appeared 2 years ago, as it's done for one month every 4 years so that we could watch the World Cup before discreetly going away. Until 2006, when, for reasons that aren't pertinent to this blog, it didn't go away.
Back to the purchase though, since this cable business has been in the works for a good while. Our phone service was bundled with the cable, so we eliminated our land line, too. We have cell phones, and I decided to subscribe to Skype so that we can make free calls from our computer to anywhere in N America. For this I needed a microphone, and that's the purchase I made. Since by then I had joined the Compact, I considered buying used, but given how inexpensive they are, I figured it was an unreasonable risk to buy something non-returnable. See? I applied the fair & reasonable rule that Larkin outlined in one of her posts! I guess simplifying can mean dealing with some complications at the outset to achieve the end.
I'm proud of Larkin for choosing this as her senior project; it's a brave experiment for any American, but perhaps especially a teen. If anyone else is willing to give this a try, email Larkin. All who join are given writing capability on this blog, and are encouraged to share their own experiences with keeping to the guidelines of the Compact. Even a short paragraph on occasion is of great help to Larkin, and certainly of interest to us all!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Old to New
--from Larkin--
Last Friday there was no school, so I took a trip to the Ballard neighborhood Goodwill . I must say, I do like thrift stores.
One of the sweaters I bought, a housecoat style, didn't have any buttons or a clasp. So when I got home, I broke out the sculpey clay and made a shawl pin like the ones I have seen in many
yarn stores. The store-bought ones are always so expensive, but here is one very simple, very cost efficient pin on my "new" sweater.
Not content with stopping at just one pin, I was able to make many other sculpey creations, so my Christmas presents are officially underway! I also found 3 bags of different yarns, so those will undoubtedly end up as someones knitted gifts.
Meanwhile, I'd like to welcome my mom, Kate, and our friend over in Spokane, Mark. Both have joined The Compact Project and have been given blogging rights here. Look for posts coming soon from them, as well as Tina and Beth.
Thanks for joining me, everyone. Maybe your decisions will inspire other friends and family to make this same commitment. Come on...it's fun and challenging!
Last Friday there was no school, so I took a trip to the Ballard neighborhood Goodwill . I must say, I do like thrift stores.
One of the sweaters I bought, a housecoat style, didn't have any buttons or a clasp. So when I got home, I broke out the sculpey clay and made a shawl pin like the ones I have seen in many
yarn stores. The store-bought ones are always so expensive, but here is one very simple, very cost efficient pin on my "new" sweater.Not content with stopping at just one pin, I was able to make many other sculpey creations, so my Christmas presents are officially underway! I also found 3 bags of different yarns, so those will undoubtedly end up as someones knitted gifts.
Meanwhile, I'd like to welcome my mom, Kate, and our friend over in Spokane, Mark. Both have joined The Compact Project and have been given blogging rights here. Look for posts coming soon from them, as well as Tina and Beth.
Thanks for joining me, everyone. Maybe your decisions will inspire other friends and family to make this same commitment. Come on...it's fun and challenging!
Friday, October 3, 2008
I am not alone!
--from Larkin--
Responses to my initial email are coming in, and what responses they are! I already have two people who have accepted the challenge to join me in opting out of the consumer loop. I want to give a warm welcome to Beth and Tina, who have each been given blogging rights here. We can all look forward to entries from them very soon. Thanks for joining me!
If you'd like to get in on this fun and challenging experiment, it's not too late! Just because you can't buy new goods, doesn't mean you can't get your retail fix. Think second hand and vintage shops. Think local artisans. Think sewing and crafty things. Think barter/trade.
And you can still buy new experiences: restaurants, shows, trips. Recently, rather than buying my bff a "thing" for her birthday, I took her out for sushi. We had a great time together, and that time was more fun and valuable than anything else I could have given her.
If anyone out there is thinking that you could almost try this experiment, except that there are times when you just have to purchase new...you can still join! When there is no other option but buying new (for a car part or special hiking gear or whatever), you just have to apply the reasonable rule. Do I really need to have this? Is there any reasonable way to get it used, or can I maybe barter for it? The main thing is that you think it through, consider all the possibilities, and then make an informed, intentional choice.
Anyway, thanks for all the emails of support and encouragement. I'm still hoping my mom will join this experiment, as she has been a strong supporter of this effort all along. Come on, mom! You almost never buy new stuff anyway--it would be easy for you! : )
Responses to my initial email are coming in, and what responses they are! I already have two people who have accepted the challenge to join me in opting out of the consumer loop. I want to give a warm welcome to Beth and Tina, who have each been given blogging rights here. We can all look forward to entries from them very soon. Thanks for joining me!
If you'd like to get in on this fun and challenging experiment, it's not too late! Just because you can't buy new goods, doesn't mean you can't get your retail fix. Think second hand and vintage shops. Think local artisans. Think sewing and crafty things. Think barter/trade.
And you can still buy new experiences: restaurants, shows, trips. Recently, rather than buying my bff a "thing" for her birthday, I took her out for sushi. We had a great time together, and that time was more fun and valuable than anything else I could have given her.
If anyone out there is thinking that you could almost try this experiment, except that there are times when you just have to purchase new...you can still join! When there is no other option but buying new (for a car part or special hiking gear or whatever), you just have to apply the reasonable rule. Do I really need to have this? Is there any reasonable way to get it used, or can I maybe barter for it? The main thing is that you think it through, consider all the possibilities, and then make an informed, intentional choice.
Anyway, thanks for all the emails of support and encouragement. I'm still hoping my mom will join this experiment, as she has been a strong supporter of this effort all along. Come on, mom! You almost never buy new stuff anyway--it would be easy for you! : )
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