Reaching Out: breaking free from my general malaise

I’m afraid to admit that it has been ONE OF THOSE WEEKS. The kind where I succumb to the lure of a general malaise and put off everything I need to do.

And after a particularly unproductive Thursday involving a Hulu binge and some unadvised quantities of guacamole, I found myself lying in my office in the dark wondering where the day had gone, and why it has been so difficult to find the appropriate energy lately.
After some intense soul-searching over a can of root beer, I identified the culprit. No, it was not the grayish weather we had this week, although that certainly didn’t help. Rather, it is my social isolation. You see, I work from home, and as such, I spend a lot of time alone planning and writing and creating, etc. etc. Which means that I don’t always spend much time out and about.
It’s a trend, I’ve concluded, that I need to remedy. So, to jump start the process, I thought I would search for some inspiration on Etsy this morning. More specifically, I wanted to see what other local sellers in my region were crafting and listing. I reasoned that perhaps I might be able to siphon off some of their energy, and maybe even have a chance to meet some likeminded creative-types who could rub off on me.

And pull me out of my home office.
The truth is that we all need a little outside help to pull us forward from time to time. Because often our dreams and plans get trapped inside our heads or on the pages of our journals or never make it outside of the three people we really share our lives with.
This, naturally, leads to loneliness and stagnation.
Fortunately I already feel better. Just looking at these beautiful items, and knowing that their creators live in my town takes away some of that loneliness. And their example of innovative and fresh enterprise refreshes my excitement about resourcefulness and entrepreneurism. They’re putting their skills “out there” just like me. And frankly doing a fine job of it at that!
So, if like me, you're currently struggling with a little malaise yourself, perhaps the prescription is to reach out. Because we can't accomplish our goals and dreams all by ourselves, no matter how disciplined and focused we are. Trust me--Hulu and guacamole are powerful distractions...

Take a minute to visit the shops of these wonderful local sellers to Northern Colorado, or perhaps visit Etsy and search for shops in your region!

And have a great Friday!
--steph

Glossary of handmade sellers:
1. rouched bamboo cream longsleeve top by mnemosyne
2. ginseng wristlet by chick bags
3. czech glass fire polished beads blue turquoise faceted donuts by bead soup beads
4. peppermint sugar scrub by all things mint
5. small size--one pendant custom silhouette necklace by lucky me beads
6. chenille and flannel baby blanket in apples and oranges by the red pistachio

Handmade Pillow

holiday slide show continued...
a cardigan pillow for my friend...

Toasty, Trendy, Last-Minute Project! (and it's super simple!)

It is five days before Christmas and I have not...

...wrapped any of my presents
...shipped any packages to relatives living far away
...finished making gifts for friends and family
...eaten enough holiday cookies
In other words, if there was a Holiday Procrastinators Anonymous, I would be the chairperson. Fortunately there are a few projects I have up my sleeve (get it...sleeve! ha ha, I'm so clever) that require little time and virtually no skill.
Like these adorable no-knit armwarmers. They were formerly sleeves on a sweater I don't wear. With a few snips, and a quick stitch, they became my newest favorite thing to wear to ballet class.
And with tank tops.
And to recommend as a last-minute handmade gift for friends, sisters, and hipster moms.
Armwarmers are, indeed, popular this year, but you don't need to trek to the store (or don a pair of knitting needles) to get, or give, the look. You just need an old sweater, and a pattern from my store.

As for the other shopping, wrapping, crafting, and cookie-eating...well, you're on your own. I have enough to do.

Thinking Outside the Box

The Teva sandal made its debut right around the time I entered junior high. Of course everyone who was cool had a pair. And naturally my parents weren’t the type to buy a sandal just for the sake of my popularity. So I was out of luck. Of course there were some available knock-offs at the stores, mainly in solid black. Which was okay, I guess, but they lacked the tell-tale colorful stitching of the originals.

So what did I do? I bought a pair, and using some embroidery thread, I hand-stitched my own pattern onto my generic sandals. True, they weren’t exactly the real thing, and I doubt I was fooling anyone. But I wore them to school every day in the spring with a certain pride that is very difficult to find in junior high.

A Habit is Born
Why do I share this story? Because thinking outside of the box is a Recessionista habit I’ve come to love. A habit that I started practicing back in junior high just to fit in with the cool kids.

Thinking outside of the box (aka creative resourcefulness) is the ability to look at something old or generic in a new and fresh way. And it can be applied in almost infinite situations. Like turning a handful of leftover ingredients lingering in the fridge into a new entree that is surprisingly good. Or covering old cereal boxes in decorative paper to use for storage. Or re-imagining a pile of scrap wood as canvases for art.

Practice Makes Perfect
Probably the best opportunities for out-of-the-box brilliance come from repurposing what you already have, but seeing old things in a new light can be difficult at times. It is easier to glimpse the potential in something when it is packaged and labeled. Practice can go a long way to unveil hidden potential, though. For instance:

* taking an inventory of what you already own may reveal some pleasant surprises. I wrote about this recently during my spring cleaning bout. It is very easy for me to forget about the stuff I already own, but uncovering it from the backs of my closets or under the bed can give me a jolt of inspiration.

* getting into the habit of asking “what else can I use this for?” can go a long way. Can the decorative cup holding your toothbrush be used as a small vase? Would your old sweater make a nice pillow? Can you grow strawberries out of that rusted watering can? Even if you would never turn your CD’s into a shiny hanging mobile (please, please don’t!), it still helps get the creative juices flowing to think about it.

Why the Trouble?
Why go to all this trouble? Well, the benefits seem fairly obvious to me. You can continue to adorn your home and wardrobe without spending a ton of money. You are practicing one of the three R's of conservation: re-using. You are practicing innovative thinking, which leads to invention and breakthrough. And--last but certainly not least--you are giving yourself a chance to be friends with the cool kids.

What is your best thinking-outside-of-the-box story? Share by posting your comment below!

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Modern Benefits from a Vintage Chore

My Sprouts are Sprouting!

I felt a little like a kid when I began to see the first sprouts pop up in my garden this year. I haven't planted with seeds since I was in grade school, and have to confess that I had my doubts about their ability to actually produce plants.

Could it really be this easy? I thought as I stuck them in the soil last month.

Incidentally, it is.

A Good Return
I can't wait to see how much salad I can harvest from $4.00 worth of seeds. I'm guessing that unless something goes terribly, terribly wrong, I'll probably get more greens than a $4.00 bag of premixed salad, so I'm feeling optimistic about good returns. I mean, if stocks and bonds were like lettuce seeds, we probably wouldn't be in the mess we're in right now!

Glad to be Trendy
I wrote earlier in this series about how glad I am that gardening is becoming trendy again. I mean, you don't need an advanced degree to understand that growing your own food can save money and help the environment. And I'm digging (pun intended) the "return to the land" simplicity of it all. Even if it is just along my very small suburban plot.

Furthermore, producing your own food also contributes to that "preparation" I was talking about earlier in the week. It supports that little "cushion" that softens the blows of hard and/or unexpected events.

Efficiency vs. Simplicity
Of course, the cynics (my husband being one) make a point when they highlight the inefficiency of the whole operation. And it is true that backyard agriculture isn't quite the economical wonder of industrial farming. But sometimes losses in efficiency can be gains in simplicity and sustainability.

Plus, I just like to watch my sprouts grow.

Are you growing anything this year? Or perhaps planning to frequent the farmer's market or buy shares in a local CSA? Tell me about it by commenting below!

Previous Related Posts:
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Creating a Little Cushion
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Deep Economy--I promise it's cool

I just finished reading Deep Economy by Bill McKibben, and I have to say I liked it.  Now, I know what you're thinking--What kind of girl reads books called Deep Economy?  She can't be cool.  Let me assure you that I read a variety of other things too, in addition to books on the economy, like girly magazines, and even the occasional People and US Weekly.  And believe it or not, I think you might like McKibben's book, too.

His entire premise is to challenge the notion that "more is better" and recommend generally that we all be a little more neighborly.  If you aren't convinced yet that this is interesting stuff, consider that I had a lively discussion with friends just the other night on this very topic, and they certainly are cool.  

I think that young people, maybe women in particular, are searching for some alternatives to the usual arguments and agendas.  I mean, I follow politics (more than I'd like--I'm married to a political junkie), and I have to confess that I get rather tired of hearing the same stump speeches time and time again.  I don't really feel like I fit well into "conservative" and "liberal" categories.  This, incidentally, is one of McKibben's points--that a lot of stuff worth talking about doesn't "fit."

Anyway, I picked up the book originally because the Etsy book club will be discussing it this spring.  Good recommendation from a great company.  Check it out, and visit etsy to jump into the discussion.  Or email me your thoughts--I'd love to hear 'em!

More on Being Adornable

I know I've been making vague references to "be adornable" since launching this blog earlier this year.  I thought I'd take a quick minute, then, to write a little more detail about what "being adornable" means, and what you can expect from topics on this blog in the future.

Be adornable is a clever phrase invented to inspire women in our modern era to embrace (and/or "adorn" themselves with) the following five qualities:

1.  knowledge.  specifically knowledge about current affairs, global trends, and what is going on in the world in general.  

2.  appreciation for values.  modern values. family values.  political values.  etc. etc.  the bottom line is that the convictions we hold in our hearts inform our decisions, and the decisions of others.  

3.  resourcefulness.  kind of like being green, only more broad.  essentially it is being mindful of how we consume, and where we invest our resources.

4.  enterprising.  all hail the entrepreneur!  enterprising people are always coming up with clever ideas that benefit both the market (aka where the money flows) and the community.

5.  engaged.  not to be married, although that might be a good analogy.  Engaged means to be involved and active in your community and for causes that are important to you.

So, these "adornable" qualities essentially "frame" the content for this blog.  You can expect to read about enterprising and entrepreneurial ideas, particularly if they come from women.  You will certainly see posts on current affairs (hopefully they'll be a little less dry than what is normally out there!).  You'll read about budgeting and sustainability and consumption.  You'll encounter stories about men and women who are making positive changes in the world through their creativity and time.  And you'll see how "worldviews" (aka values) influence events and ideas today.

For more information on "be adornable," I also invite you to visit me at www.stephaniehillberry.com.  Look to April for more articles and ideas!

Multi-Use Movement

Sunset magazine's March 2008 issue featured an article ("Green Like Us") on three families residing in Portland, OR (above pic) who exemplify sustainable living.

Now, I am the first to admit that this whole "sustainable, green movement" has gotten a little trendy and commercial (more on that topic another time).  However, I always appreciate stories about people who are choosing to live in community and sharing their lives with others.

One particular idea that grabbed my attention and sparked thought was a brief look into the value of multi-use development plans.  This is a trend in urban planning that I have been very interested in, and find inspiring.  

In a nutshell, multi-use developments are neighborhoods that combine uses, like residential, retail, and dining, in close proximity to each other, sometimes even sharing buildings.  The multi-use plan is in direct contrast to the type of neighborhood I live in, which is zoned only for residences and does not permit other uses.  

I think there is a lot of potential to foster community and nurture civil society through these multi-use neighborhoods, and I hope they catch on in communities around the country.  Of course, for people like me, who live in standard suburban neighborhoods, we will have to try a little harder to create the kind of community that more easily thrives in closer quarters.  But I think that it can be done by taking some cues from families like these featured in Sunset.  Again...more on that to come in the future!