MADE FROM SCRATCH

A recent new purchase has been the book, Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life. Jenna Woginrich is my age, works a full-time desk job, and has written a very practical, easy-to-read memoir about her adventures in self-sufficient living. A lot of the chapters aren't quite applicable to me in my yardless studio apartment, (beekeeping, chickens, house dogs, etc), but I mostly wanted to support a 26-year old writing about homesteading. Check out her blog, Cold Antler Farm.

ZIPPER REPAIR

When the zipper on my favorite pair of pink pants stopped working, I thought I had to retire them. But low and behold, Arnst Zipper is located across the street! For $5.25, my pink pants will live on.

USING THINGS UP

Came across a post on one of my favorite blogs, Re-Nest, about spring cleaning by means of using things up. I recently overheard some friends discussing skipping a week of grocery shopping and using up everything collecting dust in the cabinets. Brilliant.

I'm also reminded of a story I once heard about a girl, let's call her Betty. Betty was moving to the big city and knew that she would not be able to buy new clothes often because the big city is freakin' expensive. So Betty, being such a clever girl, divided her wardrobe into 3 mini-wardrobes. She took one of the mini-wardrobes with her when she moved to the city and when she got to that point where she felt like she had "nothing to wear," she had her mom ship her another wardrobe. Free new clothes! And Betty and her 3 mini-wardrobes lived happily ever after. (Until she got sick of the city and moved back to the Midwest).

DISHRACK

Instead of buying a dishrack, I'm using a towel to dry my few dishes. (Besides, I really hate cleaning those things.)

HDMA

map #W1, Guardo, Spain

Hand Drawn Map Association Open Studio

John Michael Kohler Arts Center
May 2, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Free

Map your day with artist and founder of the Hand Drawn Map Association, Kris Harzinski. Use a variety of materials to tell the story of your day- a routine day, a work day, a school day, or a special day- and then add your map to the collection of hand drawn maps on Harzinski’s website. The Hand Drawn Map Association is featured in the exhibition, All Over the Map.

Why buy a new map when you can draw your own?

AFRIGADGET

AfriGadget: Solving everyday problems with African ingenuity.

PLASTIC BAG COASTERS

PINK CHAIR SAGA CONT'D

After watching the instructional video on sock darning that Amy sent, I tried it out on the pink chair. It's better, but I'll probably keep the quilt handy. I am excited to get a hold of some holey socks though...

SINGING LESSONS

I had the privilege to hear one of the greatest voices of our time perform in Milwaukee last night; Neko Case. A well-seasoned performer, she was at the end of her tour and her voice remained pitch-perfect, clear as day throughout the show.

My appreciation for good vocals has grown over the past couple weeks as I’ve started taking voice lessons. Being surrounded by so much music, I wanted to learn to play something myself, but I don’t have the money to buy an instrument. So in the spirit of ‘nothing new,’ I’m starting with my voice because it’s built-in.

And no, don’t ask me to sing for you. Not yet.

LUCKY DAY!

The Gods and Goddesses of the Goodwill have answered a long-standing prayer of mine. I've been coveting Amy's converted sewing machine for quite some time, and today I finally found a stand so that I can convert my own. And...it was 50% off furniture day! This beauty only set me back $32.50; in excellent condition too. I'll be sewing my way through the Apocalypse.