A Homemade Christmas - Issue #45
Minimalism ain't for me
For the last ten years or so, minimalism has taken the world by storm. I understand why. People want to live more simply, buy less stuff, be less cluttered, etc... This, however, would never work for me. I am a creative person by nature. (Creative minds must reconcile with clutter. I like to be neat and tidy, but creative endeavors create mess.) I write, I sew, I make, I cook, I aspire to extreme hospitality. You have to have stuff around to do all of that. And you have to buy it when the price is right, not wait until the last possible minute when you absolutely need it and when you will pay a premium for it.
Fabric is expensive right now. A simple yard of cotton print costs anywhere from 10-15.00 at somewhere like Joann's. That means the aprons I am making right now would cost probably 15.00 plus my time. Lucky for me, I am a fabric pack rat. I do not throw any fabric away. Not even ugly fabric. Ugly fabric is perfect for dress making rough drafts or crocheted into rag rugs. Not even scraps from previous projects. The big scraps go in a special basket where they will be cut into doll clothes for my niece, or quilt pieces. The tiny scraps go in a big jar where I'll turn them into twine. What's more, I don't buy fabric at Joann's unless there is something specific there that I can't find anywhere else.
I have an entire walk in closet full of fabric. About 50% of that was given to me. The remaining 50% I bought on clearance at Hobby Lobby for 3.00 a yard, or I picked it up at a local thrift store for 1.00 a yard. Most recently, I snagged garbage bags full of fabric at an estate sale for 5.00 a bag. The dress I made for my sister-in-law a while back came from that sale. On occasion, I buy fabric at Fabric Wholesale Direct. The black, floor length concert dress I made back in August was made from satin, organza and black lining I bought for 5.00 a yard and under. It's not the world's finest satin, but it worked for what I needed.
So...yes. I am saving a vast amount of cash by sewing my Christmas presents this year.
So, what did ya make?
Those of you who follow me on Facebook have already seen several of my projects, but for the rest of you, here ya go! I am making neck ties for the men in my family and aprons for the ladies. For the kiddos, I'm making clothes. I've already made my niece's outfits. I have yet to make the little boys clothes. I will probably make shirts and pants for them. I have three men folk in my family who wouldn't wear a tie to save their lives, so I'm thinking to go very simple and make them a set of old fashioned hankies.
So, now you have it.
Due to all this making, I have had zero time to work on my novel. I will resume progress on January 1st! Hope you've all enjoyed the photos, and perhaps you've gotten some thrifty and creative ideas of your own while you've browsed.
That's all for now. Until next time, folks...