Nothing New Project

Closing Remarks

2007-10-07T21:14:00.001-04:00

Only two more days I am locked into the oath I took a year ago; I would not buy anything new that I could not make or buy used. I readily admit that I have not stuck to this oath religiously; I confess to a new collar for my cat, flip flops, earrings, and a host of other miscellaneous new purchases. But before you dismiss me as a fraud, I have spent a year paying careful attention to each purchase I made and examining the immediacy of each need I felt. I sincerely considered many different ways to satisfy these inherent “needs;” I grew my own food, made my own soap, crafted my own cheese, and sewed my own clothes. I wore donated shoes, painted my eyeglasses, watched my debt disappear, and went without shaving. Ah, the good times.

So now what? Do I continue or do I go on a buying spree like a kid in a candy store? The answer is no, I will not continue the Nothing New Project. And no, I will not go on a shopping spree. It has been a fantastic exercise in discipline and mindfulness, which I always need. But I have a new appreciation for well designed, high quality, socially responsible “new” things. I look forward to buying a new pair of shoes that will make my feet feel good and last me a long time. Happily I will exchange my hard earned money for an item I agree with. I look forward to financially supporting individuals, companies, and services that align with my own beliefs.

I come away from this project having truly learned one very important lesson. BE PATIENT. If I want or need something, all I need to do is ask for it and then watch and wait for it to show up. It’s best not to feed the instant gratification monster as it will only make him stronger. Just calm down. Wait.

I don’t know if it’s my over-achiever tendencies or maybe my Catholic upbringing that urges me to put myself in these absolutist situations (I do it all the time outside of this project), but I think I’m going to give up vows for a while. Putting myself in rigid, extremist positions doesn’t allow much wiggle room for change. I think I’m just going to be. Slow way down and be.

Thank you to everyone in my “real” (not digital) life who encouraged me, challenged me, discussed with me, listened to me, and perhaps was inspired by me during the execution of this project. Thank you, thank you.

Looking forward to new shoes,

Elle

Around the House

2007-10-06T12:31:00.000-04:00

Lampshade made from scrap muslin, scarf, coat hanger.

Curtain made from scrap of fabric, shower hooks. (No sew!)

This was originally my bed frame, but it makes a better fabric rack. Now my mattress is on the floor.

Kitty bathroom privacy provided by a moving box. I'm either going to cover it with fabric or draw on it.

Timeless

2007-09-15T13:45:00.000-04:00

Early on in this project, I blogged a few times about my watch. The band had broken and I kept making new ones, improving the design each time. The watch itself finally stopped so instead of buying a new battery, I've been living without a watch. It's made me pay closer attention to my surroundings and I've discovered that clocks are everywhere. I'm less anxious as I wait for the bus or the train because I'm not watching the minutes tick by. Instead, I read a book. Or just stand still. And if I MUST know the time, I just look at my phone.

Close Call

2007-09-10T14:29:00.001-04:00

Saturday night I found myself in a situation that wouldn't have occurred back in the Midwest. It was Saturday evening and I had spent the day out and about with some friends. I decided to go out with them that night, but I was far away from home in flip flops and cut off shorts. I could borrow clothes...but Brit and I wear different shoes sizes. What to do?! I was prepared to break the oath and just buy a new pair of shoes, but I was able to find these used Diesel boots at a local clothing swap. Phew!

These clothing swaps are all over NYC. They're brilliant! On Sunday, I traded in 3 items I don't wear and got 3 new ones in return (for $2.75). Why aren't these places all over the Midwest?!

TMI

2007-09-08T11:34:00.000-04:00

So, I stopped shaving a little while ago. Partly because I ran out of shaving products and was resisting the urge to buy new ones, part laziness, but mostly out of curiosity. I've been shaving since I was 11 and have been pretty consistent ever since. I wanted to know what my body looked like with all its natural hair. My hypothesis in this experiment is that the body is designed with hair so it must serve a function. Here are the results:

Underarm hair definitely serves a purpose. Odor hasn't been as big of a problem, I sweat less, and arm movement is more comfortable. My skin doesn't stick to itself like it used to. The only downfall; it's summer and I'm too embarrassed to wear tank tops because I feel too self-conscious.

Leg hair doesn't seem to serve much purpose. I feel very masculine with leg hair so I'll probably go back to shaving my legs, but only in the summer. And only to just above the knee.

I also found this great article at salon.com that looks at America's obsession with shaving from an outsider's point of view.

'As Is' Aesthetic

2007-09-05T12:58:00.000-04:00

A key component to the Nothing New Project is the appreciation of subtleties; accepting things "as is." I took some pictures around Bushwick to help illustrate what I mean.

furoshiki!

2007-09-04T20:14:00.000-04:00

Who knew that I'd have to furnish two new apartments in the year-span of this project? Sunday I moved into my new address in Brooklyn, New York. Eleven months of self-induced concientious consumerism has prepared me for this new culture. I can no longer drive over to Target to pick up "essentials" for my apartment. There isn't one. The practice of creative reuse has now become more necessity than novelty.
During my short stay with Amy, she showed me this blog about furoshiki. Above is my square-of-muslin rendition of furoshiki sock holders.

Irresponsible Disposal

2007-08-28T14:21:00.000-04:00

Some may call it littering, but I prefer Keri Smith's terminology: guerilla art. I left Sheboygan a few going-away presents.

Inspiration

2007-08-24T09:40:00.000-04:00

I saw this apartment in an issue of Dwell a while ago and I thought it was high time I added it to the blog. Not much to say, just look at the pics.

I also want to give a nod to happy mundane. It's a good blog.

Responsible Disposal

2007-08-18T10:47:00.000-04:00

I've been liquidating my apartment for about two months now. I only want to bring the necessities to New York; I want a fresh start. The challenge has been how to responsibly shed my accumulation of stuff. Strategies are as follows:

-donate it to a thrift store
-donate it to a building re-store (they take some stuff that the thrift store won't, like tile or electrical wire)
-sell it at a consignment shop
-pawn it
-sell it on ebay or half.com (great for textbooks)
-sell books/cds to a used book/cd store
-think of a friend who could really use it/like it and don't forget to give it to them
-leave it in the local coffee shop

Magic Lanterns

2007-08-13T14:09:00.000-04:00

EBCOLab has spent the summer adding to the upcoming Connecting Communities event at the JMKAC titled 'Lantern Towers and Magic Shadows,' to take place on August 24th. The spectacle is the brainchild of the Baltimore-based group, Nana Projects. We constructed our lanterns from 1x2's, wire, and tracing paper.

Resist the Urge

2007-08-12T16:04:00.000-04:00

As I prepare to move to Brooklyn, NY, it's hard to not go and buy a bunch of things. I'm so scared about the inflated cost of living out there that my fear urges me to go buy necesseties while they're cheap. But really, I have no idea what life is going to be like there. I can't predict what I'll need and what I'll be able to acquire. So I can't really prepare for the unexpected. I just have to stay open, relax, and wait.

Flip Flops

2007-07-30T15:31:00.000-04:00

So I'm hoping to gather some opinions...

My favorite pair of flip flops are these plain black Tevas with skinny straps. Very simple and they're super comfortable. I've had them for a few years and they're almost done; I'm practically walking on the ground and my feet hurt if I walk in them for a while. I've been daydreaming about a new pair, but in brown. So last Friday, when I was out and about on the 'Whirlwind Wisconsin Wildman Tour' with Kris, I found the exact style and color I had been dreaming about; and only $12. After arguing with myself as to whether or not this purchase was justified under the Nothing New Project, I bought them anyway. I don't really think they are justified, but my feet were hurting in my old pair and I really, really wanted them. I decided that flip flops fall under the same category as underwear; you can't really buy them used.

So, am I a total sham? Any thoughts?

Inside Out

2007-07-28T20:20:00.001-04:00

After a conversation with Stuart Hyatt a few months ago about clothing and his constant quest for a uniform, I agreed to make him a shirt. We hit up some thrift stores, he talked about his likes and dislikes, and I was left with a stack of shirts and the challenge to make him a favorite shirt. I ended up doing three.

To paraphrase my artist statement, I've been thinking about how fabric has a "right side" and a "wrong side" and how it's similar to how we interact with other people; we have a "right side" that we let others see and a "wrong side" that we keep hidden. In an attempt to create honest clothing, I turned the shirts inside out and exposed the seams, the insides of the pockets, and the undersides of the buttons; all the parts that are typically hidden. These shirts represent the beauty in being honest about our imperfections.

"The inside-out shirts are an honest attempt at honesty, as well as a homage to good craft."

Out of Debt

2007-07-24T09:48:00.001-04:00

I've been getting a lot of response to my post about how I've been able to get out of debt so quickly (not on the blog, but a lot in person and on the phone response). Some of my friends are now considering taking the challenge as well. Amy told me about her sister Darcy, who is practicing being mindful of her purchases. She and her husband, Tommy, are getting out of debt fast with the help of Dave Ramsey. I had read an article of his a while ago when I was trying to learn to manage my money and I found it to be very simple and do-able.

New Frock

2007-07-12T05:10:00.001-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about the number sizing system. My observation is that women stress about the number that is on the label of their clothing (Confession: I have bought pants because I fit into a size 4 and was excited to own a pair of size 4 pants). And the cruel irony of it is that women's bodies fluctuate in size regularly; from week to week, even day to day. What if our clothing didn't notify us of our bodies' minute changes? What if, instead of feeling a little too tight or a little too loose, our clothes were designed to give and take?
This top is my first attempt at such fashion utopia. It ties in both the front and the back, can be worn forward or backward, and is able to accomodate a range of sizes. The armholes fit a little strangely so I haven't worn it in public yet, but I'm going to try it out tonight.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2007-07-08T19:17:00.001-04:00

I've taken up gardening this year for the first time. Seriously. I'd never planted a seed in the ground in my life until 6 weeks ago. Since the apartment I'm renting doesn't include any land, I'm sharing a rented plot with Erik at Mrs. Krause's community garden. It hasn't produced much of a bounty yet, so I still buy produce elsewhere, (namely the Farmer's Market on 8th and Erie). But I now understand why so many farmers use chemicals. Weeding is so much work! Not to mention all the bugs chomping holes in my leaves.

Sublime Spaces

2007-07-06T14:36:00.000-04:00

I can't help but plug the new show at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sublime Spaces and Visionary Worlds: Built Environments of Vernacular Artists. The show features 22 artists from the museum's collection, all of whom transformed their living environments into works of art. These artists were mostly self-taught and used whatever materials they had lying around. These two pieces are from Emery Blagdon's Healing Machine.

Independence Day

2007-07-05T20:28:00.000-04:00

July 4 may be the day that America celebrates its independence from Britain, but July 5 will go down in my personal history as the day I declared independence from my credit card debt. God Bless America! Nine months of just saying no to frivolous spending, and I've completely paid off my debt (student loan debt is in a different category). And now that I've learned to live within my means, I'm not worried about falling back into it.

So, this is what freedom feels like!

Parring Down

2007-06-10T23:26:00.001-04:00

Out with the old, in with the new. I firmly believe that in order to bring in new (new stuff, new people, new experiences), we must clean house and part with the things that no longer represent us. I spent the better part of this sunny Sunday parting with the majority of my CD collection. My collection began in 1993, when I received 'janet.' by Janet Jackson for Christmas and it's been compiling ever since. Twenty-seven CD's I felt were worth keeping, while the rest were reduced to iTunes imports. In the same way that babysitting is an effective form of birth control, surveying one's accumulation of stuff is definitely a shopping deterrent.

Lots to Learn

2007-06-09T11:17:00.000-04:00

I wish I could say that I haven't been posting because I've been busy making. Unfortunately, I find myself in that vicious state where I criticize my ideas before I make them. I managed to bring this idea to life last night and it's probably the worst piece of clothing I've ever made. But it's a start.

Trophy

2007-05-11T09:42:00.000-04:00

Kentucky Derby trophy made from a candle holder, Barbie horse, and PBR box.

Stationary

2007-05-06T16:15:00.000-04:00

I think Brit has received this by now so it's OK to post. My penpal has been outdoing me BIG time in the stationary department, so I made use of what I had and wrote my letter on this brown paper bag. I find myself looking around my apartment thinking, 'I could write on that...'

Voluntary Simplicity

2007-04-29T16:33:00.000-04:00

I realized today as I was flipping through my bible, The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs, that I haven't given the voluntary simplicity movement enough credit in this project. Voluntary simplicity means mono-tasking instead of multi-tasking. It means living in the moment, taking one's time to engage the senses and truly experience a task. The Simple Living Guide continues to bring me back to center as I try to live this counter-American way of life here in the Midwest.

Still Kicking

2007-04-24T23:49:00.000-04:00

One thing I've learned from this project is that I'm not a very passionate blogger. I really like the idea of a blog, and I thought a web-log was an appropriate medium for this project, but I just don't like to spend that much time on the internet. It feels like a chore. It's getting so warm out and I just got a Wisconsin State Park pass so I've been in the woods where I can't get wi-fi.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for posting my progress, I do have some success to report. Everyday for the past week, the Demon of Instant Gratification has been whispering in my ear to buy things. New things. For example, I've been obsessing about my health (again, spring fever) and decided that I need a vegetable steamer. I wanted to go to Target and buy one so bad, but I got a used one on ebay instead. Now I wait in agony until it arrives...

Sweater Rehab

2007-04-19T14:23:00.000-04:00

I found this handmade sweater at the thrift store and it was very unflattering. I removed the cuffs from the waist and the wrists, made the neck more attractive, and added some accents with yellow yarn.

Felting Wins Again

2007-04-16T21:58:00.000-04:00

I realized I didn't like wearing this sweater anymore (and yes, it's the sweater in my profile picture) but I wasn't ready to donate it because I still like the pattern. Since its previous owner had already felted it, I easily cut off the sleeves without any fraying and I now have a vest and leg warmers.

L.O.C.

2007-03-27T20:20:00.000-04:00

EBCOLab's first opening, L.O.C. (Llama Obstacle Course) took place last Friday, March 23 at EBCO. Starry Acres Llama Farm brought three llamas, Tommy, Luna, and Twinkle, to test out the course. I designed the course according to guidelines established by the American Llama Showing Association (yes, it exists) and built the obstacles over the past six weeks with EBCOLab's teenage participants and their supervisors.

Although the course is not entirely made of salvaged materials, we were able to incorporate used plywood, second-hand paint, street signs, lawn chair parts, and some cast off packaging material.

For more complete coverage, check out my flickr page, or Timon's flickr page.

Knitprovisation

2007-03-25T12:14:00.000-04:00

While browsing the New Books section of the Mead Public Library yesterday, I came across my new favorite craft book, Knitprovisation by Cilla Ramnek. Instead of confusing knitting patterns for start-from-scratch projects, she teaches a more organic approach to knitting with instructions such as, "Study the picture and improvise." Her projects often start with a knit item, such as an old sweater, and she gives tips on how to transform it. She even includes bags knit from plastic bags!

I've come to believe that knitting was never meant to be captured in a pattern. It's best learned through trial and error and making it up as you go along. With so many books on knitting out there in the universe, it's refreshing to finally find an author who gets it.

Let's Play A Game!

2007-03-19T19:27:00.000-04:00

How many Nothing New Strategies can you identify in my living room?

Answer: 9

Living Raugh (sounds like "Raw")

2007-03-04T16:49:00.001-05:00

After 9 months of living like a gypsy, today I move into my own place. This should spawn a series of posts dedicated to furnishing an apartment without buying anything new (I've spent the weekend in and out of every thrift shop in Sheboygan looking for goodies).

But I've been hesitant to fill my place with second-hand furniture. Now that my taste for kitsch has worn off, I find it harder and harder to find second-hand furnishings that suit me.

As I was thinking about all this, I accidentally re-stumbled upon the "Rules of Raugh" as established by my favorite artist, Andrea Zittel. Her website describes "Raugh" as follows:

While “Raw” suggests a more natural or original state, “Raugh” on the other hand actually means the way that something becomes naturally “undone” over time and as the result of repeated lived experience.

There are many “Rules of Raugh”, some of which include:
• Raugh is absolutely comfortable
• Instead of being easy to clean, a Raugh surface absorbs or camouflages dirt rather than reveals it
• Since everything will ultimately break down or wear out, a Raugh design must deteriorate beautifully
• Something Raugh doesn’t require an “expert” to make it

This concept of creating "raugh" objects really rings true to me these days because this project has taken me beyond what I had originally anticipated. It's no longer about buying a second hand couch or making myself a table. It's about rethinking what I choose to include in my living space. Instead of designing and making objects that I would normally buy, I'm constantly evaluating if I need the object at all and how I can make one that's better than what's available for purchase.

Stay tuned...It's just starting to get good.

Nothing New and Food

2007-02-18T18:35:00.000-05:00

After taking Linda Conroy's 'Simple Living Series,' I can no longer buy bread, cheese, or soap. Because I can make them!

The biggest motivation for the Nothing New Project has been my desire to decrease my time in the store and increase my time spent involved in creative activity. Of course this includes food! Since taking the course, I am spending more time in the kitchen and less time at restaurants and supermarkets (which are beginning to frighten me these days...). The project is now taking me further than I had originally envisioned.

Loincloths

2007-02-10T15:23:00.000-05:00

This project has me thinking more about clothes than anything, which has prompted me to play fashion designer. I've been deconstructing frumpy old thrift store sweaters to see if I can transform them into desirable articles of clothing. Each design begins with sweater pieces and I play with draping them over the key body parts that are "supposed" to be covered. I started calling them "loincloths" because it feels like a very primitve approach to fashion design.

I Miss Music

2007-02-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

So far, there are two things I really miss. Buying new shoes and buying new music. I can download new music, since someone else's art is not something that I can buy used or make myself, but I really miss the experience of walking into a record store (like Shake It Records in Cincinnati...), buying a CD, and going home to absorb it while taking in the liner notes. Sure, downloading conserves on physical resources, but it also alters the experience.

Poor Man's Planner

2007-02-07T14:46:00.000-05:00

I had been trying to use iCal to keep track of my schedule but it was inconvenient to have my computer on me at all times. I needed a physical planner. I could have got fancy, but I went for quick and dirty with graph paper and sharpies. The cover is recycled from an old journal.

Under Where?

2007-02-04T16:53:00.000-05:00

I was challenged by the idea of not buying new underwear so I bought still-in-the-package tights at the thrift store and cut off the legs. Although it works, they're not very comfortable and I kinda hate wearing them. So I don't. I think I'll just continue to buy new underwear for the rest of my life.

A note about winter...all I want to do is hibernate! The spark that ignites me to make just isn't there like it is in the other seasons. Hopefully, as the air gets warmer I'll have more to post about. But until then...

I Made a Hat

2007-01-22T20:35:00.000-05:00

I started this hat around Thanksgiving when I was living with Amy. I finished it yesterday. I can finally read a knitting pattern! It felt a little awkward at first, then Amy informed me I needed to "block" it, which means I had to hand wash it in Woolite and lay it flat, or as Amy described it, "teach it to be a hat." Luckily, it's a quick learner.

Adios, Piggly Wiggly!

2007-01-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

Since food is something that I cannot make or buy used, I've been allowing myself to shop at grocery stores during this project. Since I moved to Wisconsin, it's been difficult to get organic, wholesome foods and I despise the excessive amount of packaging used to market the few "health foods" that are available. But yesterday was my lucky day! After discovering Grassway Organic Farm in New Holstein, WI, I never have to step foot in another Piggly Wiggly the rest of my stay in America's Dairyland. The farm has a small but to-the-point shop where I can get dairy products, produce, meat, grains, spices, beans, even hand made soap and brown paper towels. And the best part is that as I shop, I can look out the window and SEE the land and SEE the animals. Plus, Kay and Wayne are super nice.

I'm Not Alone

2007-01-10T13:02:00.000-05:00

Magda just sent me this story on Yahoo about The Compact. A group of friends in San Francisco gave up shopping for a year, made an online group, and got a lot of other people to do it too. My membership is pending acceptance.

A Wedding Gift

2007-01-06T20:05:00.000-05:00

For the Amy Horst/Richard Saxton wedding, I couldn't resist giving the newlyweds a set of napkins complete with hose clamp napkin rings.

In The Wake

2007-01-02T12:15:00.000-05:00

"...Survival books are usually about people who are trapped or lost in the wilderness trying to get back to civilization. In the Wake is about people trapped or lost in civilization, trying to get back to the land."

Amy just introduced me to an interesting site that parallels the Nothing New Project called In The Wake. It is a website that encourages readers to contribute information concerning sustainable survival strategies. It's kind of intense, for example, "Industrial civilization will destroy more human and living communities the longer it lasts. Hence, the longer it exists, the worse are our chances for survival. Therefore, it is desirable that industrial civilization should end as soon as possible." However, there are some interesting interviews and bits of advice, (I enjoyed the bit about toothpaste and shampoo.)

Happy (Nothing) New Year!

A Fancy Door

2006-12-22T22:54:00.000-05:00

EBCOLab can't just have any ordinary door. We found this one laying around EBCO and adapted it to fit our doorway. We added some OSB to the bottom and some street signs (aqcuired legally, of course.)

Let's Get Some Shoes

2006-12-22T10:55:00.000-05:00

The pair of boots on the left I got off ebay and although they are stylish, solid, and affordable, they don't quite fit. I found the pair on the right at the Salvation Army and they're comfy and sturdy. I think I'm gonna call it a day.

HAIR

2006-12-21T19:39:00.000-05:00

Since I started 'Nothing New' all of my purchasing habits have come under scrutiny, even my hair products. Must I always shampoo, condition, and then add large amounts of styling product? Is there another way?

I picked up a bottle of 'Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps: 18-in-1 Hemp Lavendar Pure-Castile Soap,' thinking I could use it for everything. Although it works great as a body soap, it doesn't cut it as a shampoo and it's too oily to use on my face. So I still have to use shampoo and conditioner, but I discovered I can get away with only washing my hair every few days. When I washed it every day, it would dry out because it's curly. And I can get away with not using a styling product. I think next time I'll just get the bar soap and try to use it on my face as well.

My new quest is for the perfect shampoo; one that's made of natural products and not tested on animals, (and still a good product!)

EbcoLAB Launch

2006-12-14T10:35:00.000-05:00

This week I arrived in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to launch the municipalWORKSHOP's next project, EbcoLAB. Artist Richard Saxton has been completing public art projects that involve and enhance communities under the name municipalWORKSHOP, whose home base/studio is in the Ebco Venture Center Building in Sheboygan. EbcoLAB will occupy its own space in the building and will operate as a creative laboratory where creative reuse ideas are generated and tested. In the afternoons, the studio will be open for local students, namely ones that are considered at-risk, to drop in and work on projects. My title is 'EbcoLAB Site Supervisor' which puts me in charge of making sure everyone has something to do.

This month is to be spent constructing our space, scavenging for materials, and recruiting students. The actual "lab time" will begin in January.

Yuletide 2007

2006-12-13T22:05:00.000-05:00

Only 11 more shopping days until Christmas!

If you're looking for something unique and handmade and you are in the Cincinnati area, Yuletide 2007 at the 1305 Gallery is a must. In addition to plastic bag purses hand knit by yours truly, you'll find jewelry, mittens, ornaments, dolls, magnets, candles, etc, etc, all made by local artists. Each item purchased also includes custom gift wrapping provided by the artist. For directions and gallery times, check out the 1305 Gallery's blog.

post-Enlightenment strategies

2006-12-13T21:59:00.000-05:00

"...We 'know' about climate change, but there has been no en masse abandonment of cars, no mass migration to dense urban centers to shrink our carbon footprint, no sudden antishopping spree-in fact, no significant lifestyle changes. A fundamental conceit of the Enlightenment is that knowledge leads to action. And it is the artists who are producing the post-Enlightenment strategies."

-Natalie Jeremijenko, from her article 'Artspeak' in Seed magazine, Dec/Jan 2007

Welcome to Wisconsin

2006-12-12T11:38:00.000-05:00

Saturday was spent driving across the Midwest from Cincinnati to my new home in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It's much smaller and it gets dark much sooner and everyone has a great accent, but it's pretty much the same. I miss my friends but am excited to meet new characters (small towns tend to produce "characters").

No pictures yet as I'm still unpacking equipment and getting settled but I have exciting news to report: I have not yet gone to Wal-Mart! Or any other large corporate giant. Mallory Feltz and I had a conversation once about how when you move somewhere, upon arrival you need a handful of things and Wal-Mart is always the easiest place to acquire them. Yesterday I went to the Salvation Army, a local bakery, Trilling Hardware, Pick 'N Save, Hobby Lobby, and finally Walgreens to aqcuire necessities. I did have an unfair advantage though; since I spent two months here this summer, I knew where all these places were. The real challenge will be moving to an entirely new city and avoiding the Wal-Mart.

Thirty-six dollars

2006-12-07T16:55:00.000-05:00

is all it costs to get ready for winter in Wisconsin (that is, when you buy nothing new).

And again with the watch...

2006-12-04T17:55:00.000-05:00

The T-shirt watchband wasn't as practical as it seemed. After a few days, the ends started curling and I had to tie it really tight for it to stay which left imprints in my wrist. This model is a strip of knitted yarn with buttons that is comfortable to wear. However, I think I'm just going to stop wearing a watch daily. If I need to know the time I can just look at my phone.

Scrap House

2006-12-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

AWESOME house made entirely out of Recycled Materials!

I bow down in respect.

Softcore Punk

2006-12-01T12:11:00.000-05:00

by Amy Bogard

It's hard to take crocheted spikes too seriously.

Pete Moss

2006-12-01T12:07:00.000-05:00

by Ashley Hollingsworth

There's just something extra warm and fuzzy about a handmade gift.

OMG! Shuze.

2006-11-28T22:08:00.000-05:00

I was about to give these comfy flats away (I never wear them) when it dawned on me that I could replace the not-so-chic bows with oh-so-sophisticated buttons.

(Did I just write that? I swear, if I don't get anything out of this project, at least I'll get offered a job as a caption-writer for a fashion magazine.)

Defeat.

2006-11-28T22:03:00.000-05:00

After 2 failed attempts at an improvisational tam, I'm going to use a pattern. I can't wing it. (There, I said it.) I'm even making a swatch like a good knitter. I guess I have to learn to read a pattern eventually and I might as well do it while living under Amy's roof.

My Trip Through Oz

2006-11-26T19:46:00.000-05:00

Friday night was the opening for Yuletide at the 1305 Gallery. I had my plastic purses in the show so I wanted to dress up for the opening. I had a simple outfit in mind, but at the last minute decided I needed something new (well, new to me). Amy and I hit up Valley Thrift and I found this brown and white wool jumper that fit me perfectly. New dilemma; I now needed brown tights to match the jumper. After frantically rushing from store to store to find a pair in my size, I got home and tried on the outfit that looked great in my head. I looked ridiculous. So I put on the original outfit, which looked more like me anyway, and I was ready to go in two minutes.

I drove to the show cursing myself for my wasted afternoon. All that effort and stress and money spent and all I had to do was click my heels together three times. I had what I needed all along!

My new goal is to scale down my clothing and accessories so that everything matches each other. That way everything is interchangable and I don't have to worry about having a pair of tights in every color.

New Buttons

2006-11-20T21:11:00.000-05:00

This sweater came from the thrift store about a year ago and I'm 99.9% positive that it's handmade. I realized I had been avoiding wearing it because it was missing two buttons. I missed my sweater, so I bought these "new" vintage buttons from St. Theresa's Textile Trove (in it's new College Hill home) and it's my favorite again.

What's Happening to Me?!

2006-11-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

I don't want to buy ANYTHING! Nothing is good enough! I'll go into a store with someone, and everything I see is...

a) poor quality
b) too expensive
c) i could make it
d) all of the above

And what does a girl have to do to get a freakin' used pair of size 9 winter boots that don't suck?!

You've Been Outbid!

2006-11-17T09:14:00.000-05:00

So I tried ebay for the first time and it's effin' hard! There's strategy involved! I bid on a pair of snow boots for my winter in Wisconsin (btw, I'm moving to Wisconsin)and with two hours left, I was the only bidder. I went to bed thinking I had a new pair of boots, only to awake to the "You've Been Outbid" email. Next thing I know, I've spent the bulk of the morning obsessively looking at every single pair of size 9 snow boots, carefully plotting my revenge. I don't know if I like this...

Watchband

2006-11-14T19:43:00.000-05:00

A girl on the bus had a watchband that looked like this and I coveted it (sinner). It's an old T-shirt cut into two long strips that wrap around the wrist one and a half times each. Then they're knotted.

Headband

2006-11-14T19:35:00.000-05:00

I saw knitted headbands at Anthropologie (great source of inspiration) and just had to make my own.

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

2006-11-14T07:17:00.000-05:00

According to Recycling Fun Facts, "The highest point in Ohio is 'Mount Rumpke,' which is actually a mountain of trash at the Rumpke sanitary landfill!"

The Center for Land Use Interpretation tells more.

And don't forget the Rumpke Mountain Boys.

1 Down, 11 to Go...

2006-11-12T20:48:00.000-05:00

It's been a month of living outside the radar of consumerism and so far, I haven't even suffered. Not even a little bit. I've been in stores and browsed, but I'm getting really picky about style and quality. If I'm going to spend money on something brand new, it had better be hot and built to last.

Most of all, I'm excited to keep pushing this thing further. I want to start using a hankerchief instead of tissues. And make my own lip gloss. And reuse my sandwich bags.

This is a fun game.

Frames!

2006-11-01T22:04:00.000-05:00

(Above)
Since I can't afford new glasses, I had to improvise with nail polish.
(Below)
Amy made this earring holder with screen stapled into an old frame.

Victory!

2006-10-25T18:53:00.000-04:00

After a frustrating day of failed attempts and almost throwing in the art towel (it's always 'almost') I finally emerged victorious with a successful prototype of the plastic bag wallet! I like this one more than the crocheted wallet because it's simpler, more user friendly, and I don't have to hunt down used zippers. However, I am hunting down a heat sealer to use in place of a sewing machine. And the best part you can't even see; it has magnets sewn in that hold it shut! Ashley saved the day with that suggestion.

Observations...

2006-10-23T00:36:00.000-04:00

I needed a new toothbrush. I can neither make one or buy one used so I was allowed to buy a new one. Now that I don't spend much time in stores, when I do find that I need to make a purchase I can be really thoughtful about it. I would normally go to Target for a toothbrush, but I decided to check out Wild Oats instead and found a toothbrush by Eco Dent. It has replacable bristles so I don't have to buy a whole new toothbrush each time.

Never in my life has the ecological footprint of my toothbrush been a concern. When I went to the store, I didn't go with the intention of examining every product and researching online for the absolute best toothbrush. But now that my overall volume of purchases has decreased, somehow there's more space in my head to take a moment and consider the small details.

The Math of Craft

2006-10-21T18:06:00.000-04:00

5 Crafty Women + 1 (Lg.) Bottle of Wine + 10 Plastic Bags = 1 Crafty Evening!

Last night at Ashley's dinner party turned craft extravaganza, I discovered I've been doing things the hard way. Jen opened my eyes to a new way of cutting plastic bags that is SO MUCH more efficient! I bowed to her in respect. I found online instructions for better ways to cut plastic bags at HGTV.

I also found some good instructions for a plastic bag tote at DIY Network. And in the spirit of Sweetest Day, a plastic bag bra, just for fun.

Viva la bag!

Bag Lady

2006-10-18T23:15:00.000-04:00

In need of an everyday purse that could take a beating, I knitted myself this one out of plastic bags. Starting at the bottom of the bag, I moved in a spiral around the bag to create one long strand. This bag required several bags so when I came to the end of a strand, I just knotted it on to the next one. I used a Knifty Knitter loom (because I'm lazy and impatient) to knit a tube and then added a handle. It's lined with an old T-shirt so this pretty baby cost me nothing but the time. Just for fun, I had to have a matching wallet. And don't worry, the zipper for the wallet came from a children's clothing item from the thrift store. It was 75 cents.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

2006-10-18T23:05:00.000-04:00

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Lisa's Chandelier

2006-10-12T22:38:00.000-04:00

So this post could have been published under "Skins & Skeins," but I felt it deserved it's own post. Yesterday was my first visit to Lisa's house so it was my first encounter with her chandelier. She got it at an antique store near Cleveland for a great price because a car had driven through the window of the shop and it no longer had any crystals. At her birthday party, she invited guests to string beads, ornaments, and other shinies and hang them haphazardly. I made one yesterday. It consisted of an orange christmas light and two gaudy earrings.

Skins & Skeins

2006-10-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

I spent yesterday morning at Lisa's house with Amy. We were there to can tomatoes. My Hamburger Helper upbringing was void of such domestic acts so at age 23, tomato canning is new and fascinating. Plus, in light of my new project, it seems like an appropriate skill to learn. For utterly thorough canning instructions, check out the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

I also learned how to wind a skein (is that even the correct terminology?). Lisa has this really great skein winder that is ancient and charming. We had to prop up it's bad leg with a cookbook. It measures exactly two feet around so you can quickly wind your string and know exactly how long it is (example: 50 turns = 100 feet). When I have a studio, I think I'll try to make my own, except permanently attached to the wall. In the meantime, I'll be on the lookout for old wheels.

Just for the record, I kicked MYSELF out

2006-10-10T23:12:00.000-04:00

Today was the first day on my own. Sure, I went to college and felt like I was on my own. Then I got my first apartment and felt like I was really on my own. But it was only partial independence. Little did I know that in the chaos and confusion of post-graduation I would end up once again co-habitating with my parents.

I chose to move back in with my parents because I was just really tired after 5 years of school and all that it entailed. The ridiculous assignments, the all-nighters, the crappy jobs, the meals of rice, the attic apartment void of heat but full of silverfish, and having to work every hour of every day for it all. I needed some rest and they needed a hand so I did the unthinkable and moved back in with Mom and Dad.

It was only temporary. One, maybe two months at the most. Two months later, I found myself interviewing for part-time jobs, just to earn some cash so that I could leave in two more months. I decided this wasn't for me.

With $60 and my life in my truck bed (clothes to wear, clothes to sell, and art supplies), I drove back to Cincinnati. I know people, I know the city, and if I'm gonna hack it somewhere, Cincinnati has the highest potential-for-success rate. I want to be financially independent, I want to be around people that inspire me, and (possibly) most of all, I want to make things. All the time.

Now for the blog. I had this really great plan and I even wrote a proposal. For my 2007 New Year's Resolution, I was going to commit to not buying anything new that I could not make or buy used for the entire year. I was going to have time to prepare, I was going to have time to wane myself off materialism, but I've put myself in a situation where I have no money to buy anything and nowhere to even put it. Right now, the less I own the better off I am. So I didn't choose to start this project now. It chose to start itself.

Starting today, October 10, 2006, I will not buy anything new that I cannot make or buy used. I will do this for one complete year. This blog is in place to hold me accountable, as well as share my strategies for living outside the jurisdiction of consumerism. But most of all, I want to do this project because I want to retrain myself. Hopefully, someday in the future, if I do find myself in need of an object my initial reaction will be to make, not buy.

Here goes nothing (new),

Elle

I dedicate this project to my grandma, (who taught me to be stubborn, strong, and thrifty).