Its 2017 and already a month after the Christmas fun and madness. The year has started with a bang as I launched the very first "No Brand New Directory" which is coming very soon. Followed with an interview on TV 3 about my year of nothing brand new and focus on minimalism. I was absolutely amazed at the support and people whom got in contact with me. Amazing stuff to think that I have inspired so many with a little crazy challenge I set myself to improve my own lifestyle 9 months ago. (link below if you are interested) I still have just under three months left on my "No Brand New" Journey however I do believe I have got through the worst of it, surviving Christmas temptation. So do you want to know how I went??? Did I succeed??
I have a large family and 7 beautiful nieces and nephews so a total of 20+ Christmas presents. So lets do the maths here...I could of gone out and purchased 2 small gifts for each person at $10 a pop for a total of $400, most likely made in China, it would most likely have no meaning, it would most likely be one of those token gifts that is put on the shelf for a year then disposed of. Even though the quickest option and possibly most cost effective, obviously it wasn't the route I was destined to take.
I started planing my first "No Brand New" Christmas in late October. I needed plenty of time to prepare, source and make. My sewing machine got an absolute battering, and I cried over a handmade apron that I was so incredibly proud of and stuffed up at the last minute, I smashed two photo frames, and...... I brought fabric. I tried to source as much secondhand fabric as I could and even brought cotton and wool from my local hospice shop but I have forgiven myself as I made several gifts from that fabric so that's ok (I keep telling my self). The worst of it...I also brought 2 photo frames...yes new! I managed to source second hand photo frames that my son's artwork fit in perfectly and they got smashed. Instead of getting my son to produce more artwork I sheepishly ran into a store late December and brought photo frames. I didn't have to tell you any of that, but this is a real story about a real person and I want you to know that this journey hasn't been the easiest but I am bloody proud of my effort that's for sure. Its not a story about absolute perfection its a story about self discovery, about being thoughtful and mindful, about joy, about minimizing and about reducing stress for my family and for the planet. Hence why I decided that buying those photo frames that day was my option, it was the less stressful.
I have a large family and 7 beautiful nieces and nephews so a total of 20+ Christmas presents. So lets do the maths here...I could of gone out and purchased 2 small gifts for each person at $10 a pop for a total of $400, most likely made in China, it would most likely have no meaning, it would most likely be one of those token gifts that is put on the shelf for a year then disposed of. Even though the quickest option and possibly most cost effective, obviously it wasn't the route I was destined to take.
I started planing my first "No Brand New" Christmas in late October. I needed plenty of time to prepare, source and make. My sewing machine got an absolute battering, and I cried over a handmade apron that I was so incredibly proud of and stuffed up at the last minute, I smashed two photo frames, and...... I brought fabric. I tried to source as much secondhand fabric as I could and even brought cotton and wool from my local hospice shop but I have forgiven myself as I made several gifts from that fabric so that's ok (I keep telling my self). The worst of it...I also brought 2 photo frames...yes new! I managed to source second hand photo frames that my son's artwork fit in perfectly and they got smashed. Instead of getting my son to produce more artwork I sheepishly ran into a store late December and brought photo frames. I didn't have to tell you any of that, but this is a real story about a real person and I want you to know that this journey hasn't been the easiest but I am bloody proud of my effort that's for sure. Its not a story about absolute perfection its a story about self discovery, about being thoughtful and mindful, about joy, about minimizing and about reducing stress for my family and for the planet. Hence why I decided that buying those photo frames that day was my option, it was the less stressful.
Santa brought Charlie a vintage airport that we sourced from a local community facebook page, handmade clothes, and few toys that he had received for his first birthday and were still sitting in the linen cupboard. I made cookie mixtures in recycled mason jars, tea blends, handmade dresses and tea towels, a brought a box of NERF guns off trade me for my nephews and made them share them (you should of seen their faces when they opened the box) My son spent afternoons outside painting only for his mother to cut up his artwork and frame it or make Christmas cards. I framed an old baby blanket that my great grandmother made and gifted it to my sister who is expecting her first child. I found some treasures at local op shops and second hand clothing stores. I even found a flash pizza cutter in its packaging for my gadget crazy brother in law. I brought an antique suitcase (for $1 I might add) and my husband made clocks out of recycled pallets...the list goes on. However the most meaningful gifts I made this Christmas were a labour of love, it was a reinvention process with huge meaning. I made dream catchers for my nieces out of their great grandmothers handwork (a lady whom we never met), a connection to their past and a symbol of a treasured ancestor being a gate keeper for their dreams. I attached a little story about the history of the dream catcher and their Great Grandmother.
I was not the only one that gave this Christmas but our family was utterly spoilt. I have always been amazed at the creative talent of my family and loved receiving a handmade soy candle in a vintage tea cup from my sister & my other equally talented sister made my husband Mike a singlet with a felt Santa Clause eating a ice cream (how cool is that!!)
The gift giving theme in Mikes family was HANDMADE, and it produced some surprising results. We were in utter shock when my sister in law drove her present in on the back of a trailer, a handmade recycled pallet herb garden, and when my brother in law produced a giant handmade garden domino set. Just awesome, and so much time and effort!
The gift giving theme in Mikes family was HANDMADE, and it produced some surprising results. We were in utter shock when my sister in law drove her present in on the back of a trailer, a handmade recycled pallet herb garden, and when my brother in law produced a giant handmade garden domino set. Just awesome, and so much time and effort!
So a successful No Brand New Christmas? I think so!!
Now into the new year with plenty to focus on including launching the directory and asking others to take on the No Brand New Challenge...check it out...
www.nobrandnew.com/
Now into the new year with plenty to focus on including launching the directory and asking others to take on the No Brand New Challenge...check it out...
www.nobrandnew.com/