Is my craft killing the planet?

As a mother I'm familiar with guilt. I live with it every day. So it's probably no surprise that I feel guilty about my crafting ways. Not just because I get distracted with it and ignore my children (slight exaggeration obviously!) and let my house go to rack and ruin (no exaggeration) but I wonder what impact I'm having on the planet with what I make.

Yes, I'm making 'handmade' stuff - but the supplies have to be made somewhere don't they? How much water, electricity, pollution etc contributes to a metre of fabric? A piece of scrapbooking paper? A plastic diamante? Aaaaarrrggghhhhh!

For some months now I have been trying to rack my brain to come up with some crafty goodness that appeases my guilt. Finally I came up with something. What about a gift card that could be reused? Not recycled, but reused. I'm quite sure these already exist but this is my take on it.

(ok, for some reason every time I try and upload the picture to show you the inserts, internet explorer stops working. Annoying. There's a picture on my Facebook page though).
The first series I've made use minimal, yet what I believe to be striking, fabric offcuts. Most are embellished with a fabric covered button. Then they are finished with a simple ribbon ('cos that's my style - limited frou frou in my life!) and inside, there are 2 additional pieces of paper (yep, recycled office paper) where people can write their message. Then, after the sentiment wears off, or someone is simply frantically looking for a gift card in a hurry, that person simply pulls out that piece of paper and writes on the next, which can then be given to the next person. This can be repeated over and over again. Does that make sense??

I figure unless it's the birth of a baby, 1st birthday, wedding or some special and significant birthdate most people don't keep cards - so why not reuse them instead of just chucking them out??

I know, I know. I should be making recycled paper, using upcylced fabric and vintage buttons but the reality is, I already have all this stuff sitting on my craft table/dining table (they're one and the same). So I'm trying to use everything I have before I turn my hand to paper making etc etc. Mainly to declutter but also because taking up a new craft would likely result in a divorce.

So, guilt somewhat appeased for the minute, I will now move on to my next project - Christmas hair clips made from ribbon that's "Made in China". Sigh.....maybe I'll feel better if I go and turn off all the lights.

PS If you would like to appease your own guilt by buying one or some of my reusable cards, they're available on my Facebook page now.

Blinkeritis : the story of my first ruffled nappy cover

So, I have this flaw. Okay, I have heaps of flaws but this one is a particularly annoying one that is impacting on my craftiness. I call this flaw BLINKERITIS. Nope, that doesn't mean I suffer from excessive blinking (apparently that's called blepharospasm) but it does mean that when I'm working on a project it's like I have imaginary blinkers, like racehorses wear, attached to my head. Some may call this focus (if they're a cup-half-full kinda person) while others may call it tunnel vision (the cup-half-empty folk) but for me, it really feels like blinkeritis.

The most recent case of this was when I decided I needed to learn how to make ruffled nappy covers. Some background : I used to sew lots when I was a teenager and even got lessons for my 18th birthday (how dorky was I?!) but didn't touch a sewing machine for about 12 years - until this year. So I started with a skirt, then some shorts and given the craze for ruffled nappy covers, I really wanted to give it a try.

Needless to say, it was a lengthy and time consuming exercise. Not because they're difficult (actually they were quite easy) but because I decided I HAD to make them at a time when my entire family was sick. Husband with tonsilitis, me with sinus infection, baby boy with chest infection and little girl with asthma - 3 out of 4 of us on antibiotics. It was sooooo frustrating!! And I just couldn't focus on anything but getting these darned nappy covers made. The house looked like someone had broken in and ransacked it (okay, it looks like that most days until the kids have gone to bed and I tidy up) and our meals were pretty simple (who am I kidding, they're always simple). Fortunately we all have plenty of clothes because not a lot of washing got done either.

And then there was the distinct lack of crafty action going on. No hairclips, no cards, nothing but the nappy covers!!! I finally got there in the end. Here's the product of my frustration and determination - and blinkeritis of course.

I'm pretty happy with how they turned out - one set is for my sister's baby shower next weekend, and the other two are for friends' babies. I loved making them but don't think it's something I'll pursue since every woman and her kids are making, and attempting to sell them, at the moment.

Now if only I could use my blinkeritis for good - like getting fit, losing a few kilos or even focusing on my Millamaloo venture :)

Speaking of which....night, night, I'm off to craft while hubby watches the footy (if you want to see a male version of blinkeritis you should just watch him doing that!!).

Letting go of the fear

Yesterday, after about 3 months of preparation, I finally published my Facebook page for Millamaloo. It was incredibly scary putting myself - and my creations - out into the world. When you're publishing something so personal, you just never know whether you'll get congralutations or criticism. So far it's been all positive but I'm sure there'll be times when it won't be so rosy. I'll just have to prepare myself for that and remember that what I make won't be to everyone's taste. I can only hope that some things I make will make some people happy.

I am so grateful to my wonderful friends, work colleagues and family who have supported my little venture. Without you this would still be a little fantasy. Thank you.

And so it begins....

I always swore there was NO WAY I'd ever have a blog. What a waste of time, I thought. What the heck would I write about? And who, in their right mind, would actually read what I wrote?

Well I've decided to give it a go because I so, so want to be part of the handmade community. I don't have a lot of time at the moment to actually make things (strangely enough, two kids, a husband and a part time job seem to take up a fair bit of time!) but hopefully as my kids get a bit older I might have more of a chance.

In the meantime, I'm doing an exceptional job of building up a stash of crafty materials - fabric, ribbons, buttons, paper - all with the hope that one day I'll get a bit of time to create beautiful things with them. I have so many ideas in my head that I just look forward to the day I can see them come alive. Until then I'll have to be happy to see what other talented people make!!

Hopefully in a few year's time I'll look back on this first blog post and think 'wow, I've come a long way!'.