Thrifting Patience

Here my find of the week. I came across this home for my little bird at the thrift store. I have a thing for birds these days. The best thrifting in my opinion is when it finally becomes an exercise in patience as opposed to frantic ‘I can’t believe the price – fill the bag’ mentality.Initially I would go to the thrift store and because the prices were amazing, sometimes I gave into purchasing something that just wasn’t quite right – beautiful jacket, lovely color, etc but I can only fasten one button when I wear it.
Don’t buy clothes you can’t wear now, don’t buy crap just because it’s inexpensive. Also – you can never buy enough children’s books. I cheerfully admit that my daughter has an amazing library for a 3 year old.

I make visits to my favorite stores a routine, I’m still working on the routine here in the DC area, please get in touch with your suggestions. Likewise I’d be happy to tell you my favorites if you are in the Denver area.

Ask proprietors when they usually get new merchandise, go once a week – look for new stuff, if nothing suits (or fits) and you really have to buy something get a new book for the baby, or smile and wait until next week. Routines can help you learn to wait for the right thing.

Now really – where are the hot spots for baby clothes in DC???

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Craft Addict – Confessional

My name is C and I am an addict.  No really, it’s a long time problem I’ve had since high school.  Basically ever since I had disposable income I’ve been addicted to crafts.  Growing up my mom made dresses twice a year, she even made my prom dresses, so sewing was one of the first crafts I learned.

My next obsession was beads, I had two large storage tubs of beads and wire and findings under my bed through all four years of college.  It was really good when I became an RA because I could spread my crafty stuff out all over the rug and not feel like I needed to clean it up to placate a roomate’s sense of cleanliness.

By the time I was done with college I’d also picked up glass blowing, polymer clay, metal smithing (not too portable) in addition to the beads and sewing machine.

After I graduated I did a little temp work and finally got my first job, I had more money to devote to buying the new crafty things.  I remember even at the time thinking that I was working just to provide money for my ‘habit’.  Showing a lot of restraint I managed to save up some money to buy my condo.

And in the condo… yup a whole second bedroom for crafts.  Now I had the leaning towers of fabric, an old desk full of beads, a small glass blowing torch.  I found that every few months I was done with one type of crafting and needed to move on to something else because I got bored really easily.  I still look back fondly on the couch cover I made for my 70s style rounded couch – it was a hot pink dream.  I converted shower curtains into window curtains.  You may have seen the trend of painting empty picture frames and arranging them on the wall – I think I started that trend.

well – maybe I saw it in a magazine

So there is me with my hot pink couch, red picture frame wall, pink curtains and huge tv.  And a room full of crafts.   My mother and I have joked that the ‘one who dies with the most wins’, I am in the running.

Now, with two babies and this bizarre lifestyle I’ve had to seriously evaluate my addiction.  My lifestyle is such that as we move from place to place – we’ve moved 4 times in the last 2 years – I really can’t have all my stuff, it’s a weight allowence kind of thing.  The whole family gets 600 lbs plus airline luggage.  Cutting down on the crafts became really REAL to me when I had to decide between boxes of fabric and Fimo and my winter coat.

Now I’m trying to be more frugal.  I feel like I am cheap… and getting cheaper all the time.  But sometimes I still dream of going to Michaels or Dick Blick and filling the cart.  My reality check – crafting equals nakedness.  I like clothes, I like my winter coat and so for now – no more trips to Michaels.

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