T-shirt Travels- Where does donated clothing go?

An interesting documentary about where all of the shirts donated to Goodwill really go. I'd recommend watching this if you donate any of your clothing to Goodwill. Also, I would research other thrift stores to find out their history. Not all thrift stores are equal.

a dinosaur dig

Enjoy a treasury full of dinosaurs : ) -Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

idea: doily curtains

doily curtains by Michela Scherrer

I've been dreaming about making my own curtains for a while. But I hate how heavy some curtains can look. I want light in my house, but still want the privacy that curtains can provide. So, I've been browsing around for some inspiration, and I think I've found it.

DIY doily curtains.

I wish I had saved more of my grandma's sweet doilys. I love how they can be transformed when light shines through them.

curtains by Little White Boutique

There is a great little tutorial on how to make a full-length doily curtain very easily on Siren Adams DIY blog. But I don't want mine to be full length. So, instead I will mostly likely be making a valance for my windows that are inspired by these curtains-

photo by Sweet Paul

It will take me some time to get a nice little collection of doilys, but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled.

What would you do with a collection of your grandma's doilys?

Want more ideas on what to do with all of your doilys? Click here.

going home/leaving home

 
I didn't take any pictures while I was home. I kept forgetting to take out my camera. Or maybe it was that I just think that cameras get in the way sometimes of actually experiencing the moment. But I still wish I had taken a few.

Home and I always seem to travel further apart from each other in many ways. The distance becomes harder to span, the food begins to seem foreign, and it becomes harder to explain what is going on in my life to family and friends.

My generation is a generation that travels, lands, flits, flutters, and flirts with a new home until picking it up and traveling again. My generation changes addresses as often as their shoes. They also gather new friends at an alarming speed. Their trends, their interests, their clothing, their jobs rapidly transform with the blink of an eye.

For instance, vegetarianism is not uncommon in my family. What is uncommon is the act of vegetarianism becoming a life choice. Food choices wax and wane, from omnivores to vegans, from organic fans to Walmart produce consumers. I admit, I'm part of this too, as I continue to remove animal products and processed food from my diet while always being tempted to cheat whenever I'm home from lack of healthy choices being readily available.

This year, I also decided not to go Black Friday shopping with my friends. Granted, I never usually bought anything anyways, and always went for the companionship and humor my high school friends never seem to run out of. But this year, I couldn't bring myself to even stand at the doors. It was all a bit sad to me, watching the people on the evening news fight over televisions and X-boxes because they believe this would bring them happiness.

I did end up going to the mall later with my sister, but we were both bored to tears and returned home empty handed after getting a coffee from a local coffee joint and visiting with Grandma.

Home has changed, and so have I. We've both grown, in different ways. And yet, I always look forward to coming home.

How has home made you aware of how you have changed? Do you dread or look forward to going home, or is there a little of both?

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

a rustic thanksgiving

Featuring members of Chicago Style Crafters. Enjoy!

etsy treasury- crisp leaves under my boots

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-

welcome andrea and alyce!

 This is Alyce. She writes, knits, sings, plays the bass guitar, and makes people laugh.

This is Andrea. She  a talented visual artist and dancer who is starting her own art studio, has pink hair, is super sweet, and has a way of making everyone feel super special.

These wonderful ladies helped me out for my latest photo shoot of my new scarves so I can (finally) post them to Etsy. I can't thank them enough! I've known them ever since I moved to Chicago, and I feel blessed to have such talented and sweet women in my life. They make Chicago awesome.

Also, I have to say, my photography is improving slowly but surely. My new favorite backdrop is the brickwall on my stairwell, which worked beautifully on Sunday even though it was cloudy and kind of chilly. The clouds actually probably helped diffuse the light nicely, although a little more light might have been nice.

Check my shop for more items that will be posted everyday! Also, check back soon for information about new shops that will be carrying my scarves for the holidays : ).

-Find my upcycled clothing designs on ragsbysockmonkey.etsy.com!-