Make It Do Monday - Unsubscribe

A few weeks ago Arianne Faulks from Aeolidia shared a stop-me-in-my-tracks kind of post on Oh My Handmade - "End Each Day With an Empty Inbox."  


My first thought was, "Do some people really have empty inboxes? I want one!"  I didn't care if I only whittled my inbox that runneth over down to half, it had to be better than the virtual mess I had going on. I implemented many of her tips (brilliant they are!) and have since enjoyed a much more focused inbox. I ended up unsubscribing to dozens of newsletters and messages- many of which I honestly don't remember signing up for, but somehow got in the habit of just deleting every morning. 


But the whole process got me thinking....


How many times do I go through life just deleting things; comments, thoughts in my head, memories, images?  Each morning waking up to the same old figurative junk mail that I never pay attention to but waste time "clicking and deleting"?  


So, I've made it sort of a simplifying celebration this month- identifying not just what needs to go, but what should not even be here in the first place. Like the random newsletters, political emails, guilt-inducing animal rights campaigns (still a member, but I just can't look at those photos everyday!), and messages that fall short of inspiring -- I'm unsubscribing to the "junk mail" in my head. 


And it feels sooo good. 

{image credit thriftypyg}

Make It Do Monday - Saying Goodbye.....

....to someday. 
In my quest to simplify I've been focused on living more thoughtfully, with less noise, more things made at home, and parting ways with extras.  I said goodbye to lots of stuff this week and more symbolically said farewell to 'someday.'  


As in, 
someday this shirt might actually be flattering
someday I might want to look at this depressing photograph
someday I may want to read this card from someone I no longer love
someday this scrap of fabric may be just the thing I need
someday I'll pass this book to someone who might want it
someday these jeans won't feel so tight
someday I'll feel inspired to wear shimmery green eye shadow
someday  I'll miss this trinket that once meant something


But instead, I let all those thoughts go. 

I recycled, gave away,and sold someday. 

Now, I have room for today. 

is there a someday you can say goodbye to? 

{print via Hands Workshop}

Make It Do Monday - Felt Flower Wreath

I've wanted to make a wreath for our door for ages. In the spirit of Make It Do, I hoped to make a wreath that I could change with the seasons and one that would use up some of my extras. And this one does just that!  

I wrapped strips of linen scraps I had laying around the styrofoam wreath form (which I salvaged from my mom's craft project reject pile).  Then, using my beloved Accuquilt cutter, I made a bunch of felt flowers. I chose black for Halloween but my plan is to change them out (and use up all my scraps!) for each holiday and season.  Just imagine red + silver for Christmas and yellow + gray + turquoise for spring.  Working on changing it out for Thanksgiving now - the Go!Baby fabric cutter makes it super easy.....

...plus Jack loves using the machine to crank them out!

 I used the Funky Flower die cut to make about 20 flowers. I pinched each flower, adding dimension and then pinned in place.  The pins make it easy to move the flowers around and eventually change out when I'm ready for something new! 

Make It Do Monday - So Long....

.....cable. 

Yep. It's been a week since we said goodbye to cable. As part of my newly inspired mission to make do or do without, we decided to make the switch. Funny thing is, I don't really miss it at all. I didn't really watch a whole heckuva a lot anyway, but it sort of became a swampy stand-by I would turn to at the end of the day when I was exhausted &stressed and wanting to "relax."  Our little guy had a few favorite shows- but after a quick 5-minute meltdown he's over it. 


The other day my husband & I turned to each other & said, "what did we actually watch anyway?!" I had the usual line-up of design & cooking shows and of course I'd flip around the news wondering if something SUPER important happened in the world. I'm still watching some shows via the computer while I sew/create/stretch but I guess it's a little more intentional. Like catching up on the Project Runway finale. (yay Anya!)  In fact, my productivity has gone through the roof & I don't go to bed feeling like the day is incomplete. 


Anyhow, I guess the major withdrawal I prepared for was all for naught. I imagined we'd all be fussing over finales missed and grumbling about no DVR recordings. But, I guess you don't really miss things that weren't truly important to begin with! 


I'm now looking for other things to give-up.....


So, tell me - what's something you've given up or done without that hasn't been so hard after all? 

{image by A Wink of Illusion}

Make It Do Monday

I've always thought myself a resourceful gal. It's part of how we were raised & the whole making it on my own bit. But in the last year, especially the last couple months, I've really embraced the notion of a more simple approach to life...and things.  In fact, I've realized that things are really weighing me down! We're a pretty humble family to start with; I can't recall the last time I actually went clothes shopping (which explains my mix & match fashion style, lol!) and our vegan/vegetarian diet is rather cost effective already. 


Recently, however, I've sort of begun to unconsciously analyze things & purchases; determining if we really need them. And if we do, if I can make it myself.  Coincidentally, my husband has sort of taken the same approach (just dropped our cable services, someone please fill me in on Project Runway!). 


Now, I'm excited to move forward and make this a more conscious approach to living...and share what I find here! I've got lots of ideas brewing and can't wait to post it all - plus I'd love to hear any tips, experiences, suggestions others might have! 

• started making my own laundry detergent, saves a bundle & looks much prettier!
• consigning or giving away clothes that for some reason I've held on to. (um, I still had my prom gown?!) 
• finally cleaning out the studio....all the extra only weigh my creativity down. I'm parting way with lots of fabric so it can be enjoyed somewhere else! (take a peek at my destash shop if you happen to need fabric!)
• we switched to every other week trash service - less expensive & makes us really think about our trash!
• make my own sunflower seed butter spread for Jack's preschool lunches (cost friendly & meets nut-free requirements). 
• Enjoying all the amazing free activities in our community like story times at the farm, Lego builder events, art festivals
• In the process of finding the right recipe for my own shampoo. I've got a start....
• asking for family members to hop on board by gifting us with experiences or chipping in for major gifts (like my new birthday camera on it's way :) 
• Rethinking some things I've considered 'staples' - like starch for ironing or paper towels....
• Repurposing things we've got. This is tricky for me, but I'm trying!

Well now, I'm off to finish up the last bits of Jack's superhero costume but am so excited to hear any tips or experiences. I'll be posting some of my ideas soon :)

{ps. many thanks for all the sweet & thoughtful comments on my post about the boys- I'm seriously blessed for this amazing community!}

{image via the lovely sarah jane studios}