speeding up + slowing down
July 23rd, 2008First of all, a big thanks to decor8 for including Stockton & Co. in yesterday’s Etsy Take Five Tuesdays, and welcome to any of you finding your way here from there. Holly has a real knack for finds and her Etsy posts are no exception … I just love these letterpress frames by Sycamore Street Press, such a great idea! Speaking of Etsy, look who I found in my front garden early this morning:
What do Etsy & a snail have in common you ask? I don’t really make new year’s resolutions but at the start of this year I tried to take a step back and look at my habits, my household, and see if I could slow down, do some things better, and more thoughtfully. I was never a rabid consumer but I am as guilty as the next person of making weird, dumb, unnecessary purchases. In addition to not wanting to be a slave to debt my entire life, I’d like to do as little harm as I can while I’m here. I won’t bore you with the laundry list of changes we’ve made (and it’s definitely an ongoing process) … but one of the things I’m doing differently is always thinking ‘handmade’ first. I’ve purchased probably 80% of all gifts & things for myself from independent artists this year, (whether on Etsy or elsewhere). Whenever I need something, I first ask myself - can I get it on Etsy? Or from a local craftsperson?
That’s the purchase-decision-change I’ve made, and it’s pretty simple … what’s harder for me to articulate is what this process has been like … the amazing people I’ve ‘met’, whose care for their work and their customers is evident in everything they do, and who make me feel like the activity of buying can mean something … the vintage sellers with shops full of perfect, loved items with a charm that’s sometimes hard to find in newer mass-produced goods … the artists whose work I’ve fallen in love with and whose shops I basically stalk, because I can’t wait to see what they do next. So over the next few weeks I’m going to start sharing some of my purchases, showing the amazing things & I’ve found and a little bit about what they mean to me.
I’m going to leave you with a couple of Kate Bingaman-Burt links, who’s Obssessive Consumption work says more (and more thoughtfully) on the subject than I can!
Stumble it!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 am
thanks for the mention! your things are wonderful, too! and i agree taht it is so much better to be more aware of our purchases and buy more hand made and locally. from small artisans, small local businesses, etc… i am working on this, too.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
thanks eva (and it’s my pleasure, your stuff is great!)
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 am
Congrats on the feature! I saw it last night. I can completely related to what you’re saying. I’ve been making conscientious choices, too- even if the choice is not to buy something. I suppose the state of the economy makes it a bit easier to keep the wallet in your bag, too. But as a result of all my paring back, I realized that I have been buying more and more from independents- even if I have to pay a little more. Makes me feel good to know I’m helping to support another person like myself, too… I know I appreciate it… I know they do too. And while we help each other, we help to not feed the big consumerism machine.
Cheers!
michelle
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 am
Thanks Michelle - yes, buying less is such a big part of it for me too! I find it’s starting to come more and more naturally just because the thought process around buying has become so much longer (and because of the sometimes higher cost with independents as you mentioned ^_^ - it’s kind of win-win … I find I’m buying less stuff, but better stuff).
p.s. I was just looking at the pictures of your new fabrics, they look great!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Hey Hey! thanks so much for the link! I appreciate it! keep up the awesome work!
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
thanks Kate, right back at ya!
July 24th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Congrats on the decor8 listing!
July 25th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I find that pairing down on all sorts of ’stuff’ focuses my attention on things that truly matter. It also happens to clear out my mind- there is truly a relationship between the unnecessary things in our lives and all the unnecessary thoughts in our heads!