Sep
18
2009

Treasured Find!

bottle

I have been looking at redecorating our home, bit by bit, to suit us and our lifestyle, and generally make things more visually appealing. This process so far has involved following a few amazing blogs on DIY decorating and simple living. Some of these people’s homes that they share are truly magazine worthy. And they have been done on a budget and over time..right up my alley. I am not one to hoard and I love things to be neat and tidy and everything to have a place. I also love the idea of the pieces that make up my home to have a story behind them, to be loved, used and have a purpose. So just popping into Ikea with the masses to pick up another bookcase wont do for me.

I have had fun visiting some local op shops, and last Friday I visited the Trash and Treasure at the local Dakabin Waste Management Facility (ie rubbish dump). I havent bought anything except the blue glass bottle and little pottery vase pictured above. I loved their colours and shape so gave them a home. I set them up on the dining table at home with a handmade pottery bowl that was a wedding present and we use for fruit. I love  that noone else has them and I didnt get them at a mass produced department store.

Just wanted to share.

xx Sanch.

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Sep
18
2009

Why Buy Handmade?

I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org
Today I took my lil man for a haircut and whilst we were waiting we stopped in at Target and Myer for a quick browse of the toy section. What we found, isle after isle of plastic.. what I call landfill. Seriously, take a visit to your local trash and treasure and all those toys and plastic stuff that lines the department store shelves as today’s “must haves” will be tomorrow’s trash.

I love the idea of this website “Buy Handmade”. A pledge to buy handmade for ones self, ones loved ones, and request that others do the same for you. It means that the items you buy are one-of-a-kind, that you support the artisan or craftier that made the item. Its better for people and the environment. It is usually more expensive than the local department store, but along with this comes the above mentioned and also a quality and attention to detail that can’t be achieved by mass production. A couple of blogs by Etsy artists I follow have also addressed this topic, have a look for their take on it, White Plum and Angelenefay Jewellery.

There are fabulous sites on the net now supporting handmade artists where they bring this marketplace to us. Etsy, is one, it is American based but now has sellers and buyers worldwide, for Australian sellers on Etsy see this site, DUST team. There is a web site for 100% Australian Handmade, called Made it. Also a new one to come out of Sydney is Zibbet.  Or a google search for a particular item will bring up a heap more links. Right here in Brisbane we have a monthly market dedicated to the handmade, the Boutique Markets at Portside Wharf, Hamilton.

I think there is just as much fun in making or creating something yourself It can be as simple as a card for a friend or for decorating, and furnishing your home. Try visiting Ebay, Op shops or Trash and Treasures for beautiful one off pieces to complement your style and home as is, or give it new life with a bit of DIY. I have recently been doing a revamp on an old rocking chair which my dad gave me from his “shed” when I had my first bub. I will show you once its finished. Its been fun!

So buy handmade- try it!

xx Sanch

Posted in Living | 1 Comment »

Sep
18
2009

Keep it Simple!

apple

Simple living in today’s society? The idea of minimizing the amount of stuff you have, being more self-sufficient, or simply choosing specific products from small cottage industries, are not always  popular ones.

To achieve simplicity requires, 1. Imagination: A little imagination goes a long way in simple living. It’s easy hand over cash in order to acquire something instantly, but much more imaginative to make, create it yourself or search for it. 2. Individuality: Just because a friend got an i-phone, spa or new 4wd, it doesn’t mean you need one too. Instead of following the herd to the shops and grabbing the first thing that jumps out at out, stop, sit and think about your lifestyle. 3. Flexibility: everyone is used to the quick-fix of running to the store and purchasing something. Be willing to accept alternatives.

Living simply goes beyond home and lifestyle, it also entails the kind of person I want to be. To put it simply, being authentic and embracing that. I know that I am on a journey to simpler living, and the process is gradual. I’m hoping somewhere along the way to find the real me – without the imprint of anyone else’s opinions. Its about making decisions based on what is best for your family and self, and being proud of that. Not judging and giving others the freedom to be real with you also.

My blog is my place to share who I am, what I do and I will always try to be be authentic here. I hope you are inspired to be authentic and live simply,even just one small step at a time.

xx Sanch

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Sep
3
2009

A Reminder to Stop and Smell the Roses!

I just love this photo by Kwitham of Etsy. Its caption reads:”A Perfect Rose”:
~ We all need to be reminded to stop and smell the roses… ~


And something to ponder….

Washington , DC Metro station on a cold January morning in 2007. the man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace, stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later….

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk…

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started walking again…
10 minutes:

A 3 year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. the kids stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. the man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. he played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organised by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

In a common place environment at an appropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

Do we stop to appreciate it?

Do we recognise talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…

How many other things are we missing?

xx Sanch

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