Things I REFUSE to buy ✋
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2024
- Black Friday is here so it's time to give myself a pep-talk and bring you along for the ride.
00:00 intro
01:40 the chair of dreams
03:28 the coffee perfume
07:13 The classic book
09:42 The contemporary
12:19 The kitchen appliance
14:45 The bra
17:30 The fabric
19:54 The handbag
22:22 Final thoughts
/// LINKS ///
Hannah Louise Poston: • BUYING LESS: STRUGGLES...
THE ITEMS
the chair of dreams: www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/s...
The armchairs we actually own: www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/strandmo...
Coffee perfume from lush: www.lush.com/uk/en/p/cardamom...
The perfume I actually bought: www.lush.com/uk/en/p/american...
Jabberwocky Penguin Clothbound Classics: www.waterstones.com/book/jabb...
Burning Questions: www.waterstones.com/book/burn...
Organic Basics: organicbasics.com
The fabric: www.lovelyjubblyfabrics.co.uk...
The handbags: www.vendulalondon.com/uk/new-...
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I recently had the epiphany that I would often have the urge to spend money on stuff for a hobby or an activity because for a very short moment, it gave me the feeling that I'd engaged in that activity. But no amount of appliance buying can replace actual cooking, no amount of fabric buying can replace sewing. Just by buying stuff for a hobby, you are usually not actually engaging in that hobby (contrary to what our consumerist mindset is trying to tell us)
I feel called out 😂 so true! It's giving "identity" and it works for... A minute or two.
Me with buying books!!!
This is why I stopped buying books. Buying books is not reading books 😂
Oof yeah, I get a sort of FOMO sewing a project because yardage is all potential and the finished item has a few flaws.
My bookcase full of unread books and wardrobe full of unknitted yarn agrees with you.
"Are you just glad it exists, or do you actually want to own it?" is such a good question.
I’ve had that realization: sometimes I just love that a thing exists. I don’t actually need it! It’s hard. 😅
This was very important for me!!!
same! you eventually come to that conclusion after a while of consuming intentionally and it's such a relief.
Ahhh this is useful to think of 😅 as I struggle with this! I keep impulse buying things on Amazon like a sponge holder shaped like a little bed for the sponge 🤣
Buy the Alice Fabric and reupholster the red chairs with it.
It is hard! These damn algorithms know me too well!! 😂 I am trying to keep in mind, every time something beautiful comes across my feed: just because something is beautiful doesn’t mean I need to own it. Also, another thing that I remind myself often: if I don’t buy it now and I just can’t stop thinking about it, we live in a world where I can almost certainly find something very similar (if not the same) with the power of the internet.
That Alice in Wonderland fabric to recover the cushions on your red chairs would be amazing!!!! Two birds, one stone!
Seconded. Or even cut out the different elements and applique the chair with it?
Or a fancy tablecloth! Or i think a vest would be really cute, i feel like thay's an iten you can go a little crazier with and still be ''normal''
I was thinking it’d look great as a couple of cushions on the sofa! Matching armchairs and sofa cushions…!
Also fun insides of pockets fabric!
Yes or a tote bag?
What I’ve taken away from this video is this is a great gift guide for leena
The IKEA armchair has now a washable linen cover at IKEA that you can put over your existing Strandmon chair to protect and preserve it. It seems like an easy option to sort of "upholster" it AND I imagine you could easily embroider that and just put over the chair you already have.
Yeah! I had the same thought: cheap and not that hard to customize. Google gave me this: highdi wingback chair covers . Then apliqué on that
And if she hates how her work turned out, she can just take it off
13:49 There is a library in my state (US) that has a kitchen appliances collection. Patrons can borrow things like air fryers to do exactly what you're talking about. I think it's a great idea and I'd love to see more libraries add these kinds of items.
That is amazing!!
Yes, we have something similar in the UK too! I saw it when I was visiting my hometown (it was in the Glades in Bromley for anyone nearby) and I’m sure it’s not the only one. I feel like it was called Library of Little Things or something like that…
I've seen things like small power tools like an electric drill for lending.
Here’s a thing I realized: most brands have a big sale every 3-6 months. So if you miss this one because you’re not sure it fits in your life yet, it’s likely a 3 month waiting period and then you can catch the next sale. If it’s not 3, it IS 6. I realized this because I very often keep my version of items like these on my “wish list” for 2 years before I get them, in part because I can rarely afford something more ethically made, and so I’ve been able to notice that even the types of brands that “aren’t on sale all the time” do have that 3-6 month sale cadence more often than not. They want you to think you’ll have to wait a year but you won’t.
This is also basically ASOS these days, and even then, it is even less than 3 months and more like 3 days till the next deal.
I'm often telling myself "I can love this without owning it" and this video has such good reminders to keep repeating that to myself.
Reminder that vegan leather usually means plastic. While there are options out there for non synthetic vegan leather, the brand’s website doesn’t state anything other than vegan leather, so it’s likely plastic.
For the Alice in Wonderland fabric, you could make a tote bag, laptop case, pillow cover, pajama bottoms, or use just a little of it for the trim on a dress.
Yep. If you’re wanting a leather-like item, I think the best bet is second hand authentic leather. If treated well (oiled yearly or more) it will last decades. Vegan leather, even the non plastic kind, will last years at best.
What if she could reupholster her chairs with the Alice in Wonderland fabric?!?
@@littleleafy Absolutely, I think it just strikes me as a home decor type design, less of a clothing design imo. You can also put fabric you love in a frame on the wall. Carpets/ fake fur etc. add extra insulation in winter when they are hung.
@littleleafy yes!!! Put it on the chair!!!
I was thinking this as well. Could be an interesting topic for Leena to explore!
I had a fabric I loved, but didn’t need an item in it, so I bought a sample and framed it. I get to see it every day that way vs just when I would wear it as a skirt and every time I pass it in my hall I smile. 🙂
BRILLIANT
Honestly Leena as a disabled person the air fryer did make cooking more accessible for me to cook really simple meals especially from frozen foods since that’s what is most accessible to me. I even use it to heat naan to butter when I have no energy. I suck at cooking & never use my oven!
The air fryer made freezer meals accessible to me again as well! :)
We've gotten a combination air fryer/microwave to help cut down on the footprint of such a thing.
Same, but also the oven in my rental place was absolutely rubbish and the air fryer is *so* much more energy efficient. No regrets about getting the air fryer at all
We make so many things in our air fryer - sausages, steaks, chips, fish,.. basically everything without a sauce that you would put in a frying pan or the oven.
Same
I have a toaster oven, is that kind of the same thing? I don’t have room in my kitchen for more stuff
You could use the Alice in wonderland fabric to make a cushion cover or maybe, since what you like is to look at it, you could buy a small amount, frame it and hang it on the wall☺
Yes or a nice tote bah
An Alice in wonderland cushion on the red chairs???? Amazing, brilliant, outstanding 🤯🤩❤
Ok I am a member of the airfryer cult and I will say that for me personally, it’s been incredible. Saved on bills, so easy, much easier to clean an airfryer than an oven, yummy always crispy food in much less time. Brilliant for an ADHD girlie who generally hates cooking. I genuinely use it every single day. On the flip side, I bought an Organic Basics bralette a few years ago and sorry but I thought that it was piss poor. It washed terribly, despite following all of the instructions, was not made to be even moderately supportive and started bobbling within weeks. Big fat yikes from me and I really did want to love it 😬
this was also my air fryer experience and i also have adhd! it’s a great help for those of us with mental health/food issues already!
I love the airfryer. Easier to clean than an oven, easier to flip things, and I get to just throw whatever I have and it beeps at me when it's made delicious. It helped us so much to cut down on food waste because we finally can eat everything with minimal effort
@@melanie_meandersit really is amazing the difference small things such as not having to preheat, select a baking tray / dish or set timers to take things out (because it just stops and beeps at you!) can make
@@aukkranabsolutely agree! I really love fries and crispy foods (I know, not that healthy but I try to balance it out) an airfryer is great to heat up foods again that become soggy in the microwave. I can re-heat pizza, I can freshen up bread and bread rolls, even fries that nice again (which are usually a pain to eat as leftovers)
Literally came here to say this.
Sometimes new inventions are SO useful.
My parents refused to buy any “newfangled” equipment or foods or anything else they didn’t deem a necessity. It made me a weird adult who was unwilling to spend money on things.
Life is short. Some objects really do make life better and easier.
Hi Leena, The Alice in Wonderland fabric is designed by a company called Rifle Paper Company and they are predominantly a stationery company. I don't think they do the pattern in a greeting card but I'm pretty sure they have an art print and possibly previously a calendar with various images from that collection :)
I LOVE the Jabberwocky, and I memorized it at age 16! My uncle rattled the whole thing off at Thanksgiving one year and I was ENTRANCED. I wanted nothing more than to be so cool as to casually recite the Jabberwocky poem to anyone, at any time (teenage me had strange ideas about what classified as "cool"). I'm nearly 40 now, and I can still deliver this, and many other poems and song lyrics off-the-cuff to impress my friends and neighbors, 😉
Once you have memorized something, it is forever yours - no-one can steal it from you. Even when you get old, people can often access different types of memory and still remember this sort of stuff. I think it is a different vision of ownership, and it is pretty humbling.
Leena, what I admire about you is how intentional you are about, like, everything in your life? How much thought and care you seem to put into every little thing? As someone who’s pretty much exhausted all the time and on autopilot a lot, i find this kind of intentionality aspirational
GIRL! If you love that Jabberwocky cover and color combination use it to inspire your next knitting project. You could do something with color blocking, or learn stranded colorwork and reproduce that pattern on a beanie, a cowl, or a jumper.
As someone who makes their own bras, I think you should give it a go! When I made my first one, I found that getting the pattern to fit me really well took a fair amount of time and experimentation, but the actual physical sewing wasn't really harder than sewing anything else. Because bras are relatively small compared to most other garments, they come together faster than you might think, and you can get a lot of them out of a yard, or even half a yard, of fabric. I haven't tried a lot of patterns, but so far my favorite is the Watson bra pattern from Cloth Habit.
You could totally get a smaller amount of that Alice fabric and do a cushion or other type of homeware, you could even get a frame from a charity shop and frame some of it!
I second this idea; it’d also make a fantastic tote bag or small project bag pouch.
If you decorate you chair I'd love to see a video about it!
I second that!
About the Alice in Wonderland fabric - if I find fabric I really love but can't picture sewing something I'd wear from it, I think about accessories I could make or home decor items. For this particular fabric I'm thinking it would make such a cute project bag for knitting :)
I've used some fabric as art, stretch it like a canvas and pop it on the wall.
'You can love it, and leave it on the shelf' is a phrase that's helped me when I find myself wanting something beautiful, that I won't actually use 💙 Every person & their dog has an air fryer, glad I'm not the only one who's not bought into it! 😅 And great to have met you at your Podcast event Leena 😊
I'm going to tattoo that on my wrist!! Thankyou 😂
@@LouleyK Glad to be of help 😄
Air fryers are something that has genuinely made cooking possible for me when cooking any other way seems arduous or would take too long (chronic mental illness brings that barrier up to an unworkable level not infrequently). They are just a conveniently-designed convection oven. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want, mostly. A caveat I will add here is that they are often coated with teflon inside the drawer, which is not only not great health-wise, but it is also not supposed to go in a dishwasher, which is often a dealbreaker quality for me when choosing what to buy.
Perfume is actually more resilient that people think, as long as it's stored somewhere appropriate (protected from the sun, humidity and heat). I've used perfumes from the 80s onwards and it's actually pretty interesting! As long as someone doesn't have extremely sensitive skin or the fragrance doesn't look/smell weird, it's probably fine. I think it's cool because it makes the whole thing less wasteful.
The things I've been resisting later are backups of skincare. It's not a good idea but with Black Friday prices it can be tempting.
I'm pretty sure Danie from DIY Danie did a DIY version of this chair, worth a watch!
Leena! As someone who bought a small bit of the Alice fabric (before she even sewed really) with the plan to make a draw string book bag, no a cushion, no it’s too lovely😂 I can confirm it is nice that it just exists. In the end I made a little pouch for my sewing and knitting on the go bits and bobs, although I do still have a bit left that will need to get used one day.
I don’t think they make it as greeting cards, but my step daughter has it as an art print, and I do also have the illustrated book 🫠
You could always thrift an air fryer. I couldn’t bring myself to pay $50-$100 for an appliance that I didn’t see myself using that much. But I scored one for $10 at a yard sale and I really enjoy using it even though I don’t use it super frequently. My favorite uses are making crispy fried tofu and reheating pizza 😁
I bought a nice toaster oven, satisfies the need for a toaster and air fryer. I rarely use my oven now. I do cook a lot and enjoy it. I’ve gotten so much use out of mine, but I know many who have bought bad ones or bought into the fad and not used them.
Sewing bras is not as hard as you might think! Sourcing the proper materials is the hardest part I find.
For the Alice in Wonderland fabric, I tend to make pillows/ pillow cases when I love a quilting cotton but don't want to wear it. Bonus pillows with a book is cozy!
I love the fit. So, I was very hesitant to get an air fryer but bit the bullet about 5 years ago. It has been a revelation for both reheating and cooking for me personally. My partner is vegetarian and I'm mostly vegetarian. The way this appliance handles potatoes is enough for us, but I love what it does to most veggies. It saves a lot of time too because it's compact. It's also more eco friendly than heating up an oven (which is great because my partner doesn't love microwaves).
100% agree that airfryers are the pinnacle of potato preparation. I add air fryer potatoes to meals that have no right to have a potato next to them. I think the ratio for what I use my air fryer for is 3:1 potatoes to order things. It's also great for those par-bakes rolls you can buy. We love doing hot rolls and soup for lunch
yesss i transitioning to a vegetarian diet and the air fryer has been great for me to finally master crispy tofu and mushrooms, much easier to achieve than in the oven and i hate deep frying in my small space
I got rid of my air. fryer because I found I just needed to. use the broil setting on my oven to get things nice n' crispy like that, and then have one less thing on the counter.
What air fryer do you have? Not sure which one to get
Edit: I know Lena loves this scent and she’s so valid. BUT: I got the cardamom coffee Lush perfume as a gift and… it’s not that great! If you like coffee notes, you are not missing out!
Is the staying power poor? I've heard on Reddit it is 😕
@@GothGoneWrong it’s been years since I had it, so I don’t remember
The Alice in Wonderland fabric is so pretty! I think I would use it to maybe make a cushion cover or use it to make a pocket on dungarees or a dress?
Leena!! DIYDanie did a DIY with that anthro chair! If you’re really want to decorate yours, you could look to hers as inspiration! 💛 Good luck!
I actually got the bookshop bag last week after thinking about for for an age. I absolutely love it and i have worn it a couple of times but I can absolutely see why it doesn’t work for everyone. For me, I can see myself using it a couple of times a week for years and finding joy every time I wear it.
Also, the door does open and it’s glorious
If you ever visit Berlin, feel free to stop by and pick up my air fryer. I bought into the hype during the panini to make better and healthier snack and vastly overestimated my interest in homemade kale chips.
George and Ginger's free Little Black Bra pattern is amazing
Thank you!!!❤
And the waves and wild superstar bra is also a wonderful pattern
Oh dear, the notion of admiring beautiful things without the need to acquire them! I love to think about for example clothes in the same vein: some designer object will be always and forever outside of my reach and that's ok, I still can look at them in awe of craftsmanship... training myself in admiring without acquiring, that's what I would love to do. Thank you, Leena for a thoughtful video as always!
I would love a video on keeping a craft stash. As a knitter, I fell into the trap of a stash when Covid started and now I'm a bit embarrassed with how much yarn I have. But I know that once I move out of my family home I won't have as much disposable income anymore, and I know I will be grateful for it then.
THAT BAG! And, hear me out...an Alice In Wonderland BRA! (She says, with no idea how to make clothing, and no idea how that fabric could or should be used lol)
Lady, cease and desist with those good ideas!!!!
My mom was a huge fan of re-upholstering furniture that needed a new life. She sent our chairs to a professional, but I imagine there are guides for doing it yourself out there too. I think applique on your chairs could be lovely, but so could a similar fun fabric!
would love to see more of these types of videos! somehow manages to hit the same easy dopamine buttons as those cursed haul videos but with the exact opposite message and effect. i found it really grounding and useful to see someone else working through the ‘i don’t need this actually’ process.
I have a hyrbid air fryer/ toaster oven that I use multiple times a day! It does all the toaster things, and also acts as a mini-oven. The airfryer function is excellent for reheating or cooking anything frozen, anything breaded, baked goods like muffins, pancakes, etc. BUT I dont have a microwave. This is it. oh and it makes and reheats pizza.
I think if I had a toaster oven and microwave, I would also think long and hard before buying an air fryer.
What I’ve just realised: nowadays we basically get things thrown at us and then we decide if it’s worth our money or if it’s something we really need in our lives rather than having an urge from within or having a problem that needs a solution and THEN looking for an item. I would have saved a lot of money if there weren‘t so many ads on Instagram.. 🥴
This is true. The trick is shifting your thinking so that you do make purchases in that second way you describe :) The constant advertising will of course continue, unfortunately, but I've found a lot of comfort, and savings, in limiting my purchases as much as possible to things about which I have had this thought process -- which you described well.
I'm learning to be at peace with the fact that I can enjoy an item's existence without needing to own it. Like knowing that a beautiful thing exists can be joyful enough, and I don't HAVE to possess it (good exemple would be the fabric). It's hard! But I'm getting better at it.
Also trying to live by the rule "If I wouldn't buy it full price, I shouldn't buy it on sale" (keyword, would not could, like if I could afford it full price but still wouldn't want to pay that price)
Of course exceptions apply for necessities or buying the higher end version of something I would have bought anyway
That this video is such a version of the thought process I usually go through about buying/owning things (and the weird pleasure of thinking it all through in excruciating detail) that I really feel seen; thank you!
You can take my air fryer from my cold, dead hands. Uses less energy than my oven, doesn't heat up the room, and makes veggies delicious.
You made use of your air fryer, and that’s good. Some people keep it in the box and just leave in the back of the garage or something.
I highly highly recommend the Barrett bralette as a first bra pattern, it’s free and fantastic as comes with loads of online video assistance.
I am also highly anti stash and further than not buying anything without a project in mind, I only buy fabric/yarn if I’m planning to start a project immediately. Before this rule I’d end up with both a daunting backlog that causes me to procrastinate and sometimes I’d fall out of love with a future project after a couple months and then have all the materials with no use for them. I still fail sometimes but having that framework in mind is really helpful.
I wonder if you can knit underwear? I think the yarn would be key, so it wasn't unbearably itchy...
@@kahkah1986there’s actually a pattern maker called naked knit that does great knitted undies. They suggest you use fine cashmere but I guess it depends on your personal fibre tolerance.
Re: Black Friday, I think it has expanded slowly into a “November sale” for a lot of brands this year as they compete for each other’s customers and they each basically play discount chicken. So I’m just using it as an opportunity to buy the things I was already going to replace without being too concerned over timing. I’d rather just enjoy my day off than hop onto websites asap that day. Can hardly believe customers used to line up the night before or stampede into stores for Black Friday deals. Maybe eventually we wont have sale culture in the future but just constant flash sales and consumers being resistant to buy things unless they’re “on sale” since sale is so common. There’s already a common hardware store in the US (Harbor Freight) that has sales so frequently that if you buy full price, you’re basically just there on the wrong day of the month and don’t know about the constant sales.
I do like that Black Friday is kind of a weeks-long affair at this point (“discount chicken” is a good way to put it 😂). There are a couple things I reliably buy this time of year because I actually use them, but I like that it’s becoming less of a scramble. I also always remember the one time I waited in line to do the midnight shopping thing and I hated it so much lol. Didn’t even end up getting anything because turns out shopping with hundreds of other people at midnight is just really stressful and I can’t make decisions that way. 😅
Hi Leena. Why not frame a piece of the fabric or cover a canvas & make a wall hanging? It would bring you so much joy just to look at it ❤️
Ooh yes, I can just see it against that blue backdrop.
We recently borrowed an air fryer from some friends … I’d been toying with the idea, but really didn’t want to buy it if I wasn’t gonna like it. Borrowed it for about a month (they never use it), and we just evaluated that we will not be getting one and we will be returning theirs. I have a feeling they’re gonna be disappointed that we’re giving it back 😅
I have to admit I have a bit of a spending phobia at the minute, I won't buy things that I really want/need because of the thought of 'what if I get it but then don't like it?' which is stupid but has allowed me to keep the clutter in my space down to a minimum. Also, not trying to be a bad influence but that Alice fabric would make a wonderful cushion cover for you to decorate your ikea armchairs with...
Wow, the book themed bags! You could totally sew a bag and do some appliqué on it and try and make something similar yourself. God, they are beautiful! One more item on the list of projects to do that hardly ever get done. 😉
I have to say, I think the company ones do look really well done - you could try a simpler approximation, but to make one as detailed as that would be expert level unless there is a secret technique I know nothing about?
@@kahkah1986 I am just tempted to try to make one myself. It will certainly not look like the professionally made ones, but nevertheless. I would probably handsew or glue the little parts on. Or Cricut and use iron on vinyl. The result would obviously be be different, but inspired by the idea and me-made.
Here's a thing about that Alice fabric (from a quilter and former fabric seller): there is metallic gold ink all over that print and it does not hold up well. Literally the oils in your hands will break it down, it rubs off, washes off...some brands even turn green exactly like copper. It's going to be extremely pretty right away and a lot more dull in a couple years. You could likely find a print or fat quarter of this and frame it. It's a good compromise for the "need" while sidestepping the impractical nature of fugitive inks.
Second comment: I love Rifle fabric and actually have had a bit of the Alice in Wonderland (made masks) For small bits like this, I've made myself fabric covers for notebooks. It protects my notebook in my bag and can move on to a new notebook the same size. I could see you making a book sleeve to cover a paperback in your bag out of it or a little travel bag for knitting supplies. Also, I've got small bits of fabric from etsy, typically when someone is destashing (second-hand) or as a remnant. That could be a sustainable way to get it.
i love just adding everything to my cart, all of the things i like and then i go to the cart see the total and see that that is not money i have to spend and then just close the tab.
Love this! This made me think of how, especially now that we live in this era of aesthetic culture, I have to often question myself do I just love that this thing feels like.. I don't know... dark academia or cottagecore or whatever it is and an imaginary alternate version of myself would totally own that but does it actually fit with everything else I own and feel like ME, you know? I see so many people rebranding themselves constantly and buying different versions of the same thing for different vibes and aesthetics and it just seems exhausting and I don't have a fucking clue how they afford it.
Honestly I think some of them can’t afford it and end up in financial trouble. And even if they can afford it we really need to address the issues that lead to addiction in our society (lack of safety and connection) because even if an individual can afford it our planet and exploited workers are still paying the price and they can’t afford it! I wish we could ban advertising beyond the confines of physical/virtual storefronts 😭
This might help you feel more solid about not buying the Alice in Wonderland fabric, but after taking a look at the fiber content and fabric weight it looks like it's more structured/thick/sturdy/likely stiff than what would be ideal for the clothing I've seen you make and wear.
If I was to make something out of this type of fabric, I would guess it would do better as a bit of a quilt, maybe a pillow, a tote bag, or something else that better aligns with a fabric that holds it's own.
Now take this with a grain of salt as I have only looked at the online listing, not actually touched the fabric to see how it behaves.
the consumerist urge to convince you to 'treat yourself' to half these gorgeous things is overwhelming.
The way I cackled at “my boobs don’t need that kind of architecture” 😅😅 same, girl. Same.
Hi Leena, As a huge HLP fan, I'm happy to let you know she released her annual gift guide this morning. :) Love your work, thank you for sharing your brain with us!
New craft house is a deadstock fabric company based in London who do bra kits! I haven’t tried them myself but they have a big size range and all the fabric I have bought from them have been great quality 😊
I know this isn’t the point, but for you and anyone else who might benefit, I do want to argue in favor of the air fryer, lol.
I think I got lucky by buying mine on sale from a reputable brand (instant pot) for about $40, but I’m disabled, in a way that heavily impacts my energy and my abilities for self care, and I find it to be life changing.
It’s adhd friendly, because it turns itself off when the timer is up, so I can’t forget my food and burn things. And while it’s recommended you preheat first and THEN put the food in, there’s no real hazard if you just put in your food, set the settings, turn it on, and walk away! Less trips, less standing, less running back and forth from cupboards. it's a noticeable relief for me.
When I first got it, I expected it to be more of a gimmick that I used for French fries and baked goods, but it's gotten to the point where i almost refuse to use anything else. ill just google 'how to x in air fryer' and see if i can make it work 😂.
also, mine is dishwasher safe. i dont have to do any manual cleanup at all. so its truly a perfect device if you're chronically ill and energy is your most precious resource.
My "stash" is basically all my old clothes 😆
I’m sorry to suggest this cos it goes against the no-buy but…. Wouldn’t that A.I.W. Fabric make such good arm covers and head rest for the red chairs? And a great sewing project? My mum always used to order 1m of sample fabric from each sofa we bought (2 in 40 years so ‘every’ a bit of a stretch) and sew covers to extend their life over the parts that would get a lot of wear/require washing. The pops of red in the fabric would look so good with them. And they could become cosy ‘reading’ chairs; maybe a diff fabric on each? And it’s solved 2 of these conundrums in one fell swoop.
Alice fabric would make a lovely tote bag (or another style). As a crafting girly, stash building is a separate hobby, for which I have also planned out how to distribute in my will as I don't want someone who doesn't know the craft to struggle with how to dispose of the stash.
Project ideas for the amazing fabric:
Statement pocket/s on boring dungarees, jeans, jackets, skirts.
Statement hem on the afformentioned garments.
Knitting/ crochet/ sewing roll for tools and needles.
Tote bag (i know we all have too many tho)
Scarf or bandana.
Lets all think of some more ideas please!!!
Fabric wise "can i think of anything to make with this?" is definitely a question I use. I have a fairly large stash because I buy second hand from charity shops, but I know what each fabric will be used for, and then old bedsheets for mockups and linings.
I know it's not for everyone for a lot of reasons but one reason I do love my Kindle is that it no longer matters how physically long or large a book is, it's always Kindle-sized. It's probably not a coincidence that I'd never read Pillars of the Earth until I got the Kindle lol.
There are some really good and simple back pack patterns online, if youre looking to learn applique for your armchair covers you could practice applique on your own version of the bookshop back pack....
Love this video! Love you! Love Hannah! Lots of love all around!!!! ❤
I'd make a book jacket with that fabric, basically it protects your books while you're traveling, stops them getting bashed about, also keeps them private from other people. Can be used again and again. And personalised.
For the fabric you love, a few ideas:
- Get a small piece, and frame it (if you just want to admire it as art, make it hanging art!)
- Use it as a lining for a jacket (I think it would look best as a large flat piece of fabric, so you can admire the design)
- Laptop cover (maybe add a bit of foam in the middle to protect it)
- Get a small amount for a bunch of little projects: bookmarks, headbands, pocket linings
Okay, hear me out: recovering the backs of those chairs in the Alice in Wonderland fabric would be so fabulous.
As a fullerbust girlie, I've been on the hunt for ethical bras for years. Two of my fav ethical bra brands are Luckysewandsew as well as Molke UK
Both of these brands are fantastic and they last for ages.
ooh, making a note! I've ordered with understance, there's here in Canada and they're pretty too 😉❤️
You’re an angel!!!! I just had a look and Molke actually has my size which is honestly a miracle and even better Luckysewandsew is made to measure??? Gosh I was just looking for any bras at this point so ethical and long lasting is more than I ever hoped for!
I'm getting an airfryer as my company christmas gift this year and I'm very excited to try it out, but before choosing it I did also ask around to see if I had someone in my life who would want to inherit it in case I don't actually use it 😅
One thing to note about air fryers is they cook with the same method as a convection oven. So you may be able to either find a big oven with convection abilities or find a small counter top convection oven (that may come with regular baking ability like a toaster oven or other capabilites) and get something very similar but in a multipurpose tool that youd use for more things.
If I may give my personal experience, I waited 2years to get an airfryer (from the brand cosori) and daaaaang was I right to give in, I love cooking but this is next level practical, quick, easy and efficient. No regrets ^^ I got it on black friday and it's so useful! Plus, it's energy efficient.
Organic basic on the other hand, I'm a bit sad about my purchase, because it's pricy and the fabric is easily distended after a few months of wearing. It's still soft and confortable but it's no longer supporting anything, tho.
Hope this helps!
The alice in wonderland fabric would be perfect as a cushion or bedding
Some of our libraries in Ireland let you rent out things like air fryers, really cool!
One things I’ll say on the air fryer. If your oven is solid. You don’t need it. I only got one when my oven failed during the lockdowns and I needed to save up significant cash to replace. Now I have a working oven the air fryer isn’t used as much, but it’s an excellent leftover pizza reheater 😂
We will always support you no matter what. Leena definitely has the capacity to formulate her insights really well.
Here's the thing about that Anthropologie chair - it's actually inspired by upcycled and 'visibly mended' (as in the visible mending movement) chair. So yeah, I would take the idea full circle and DIY 😆
Omgggg whenever I see something “shabby chic” that’s mass produced I’m like “y’all are missing the point.”
I patched my overalls and learned some v basic japanese style visible mending and people were asking where I got them…
Leena, your videos keep getting better and better! Never stop, keep making videos into your 90s please!
Leena, loved this video, the Vendula book bag is darling. I just went to the website and fell head over heels in love with the little Tiger camera bag design. Well, it's on its way to the USA for my Christmas present. Thanks so much! LOL
that fabric would make such a good cushion cover - i am very tempted
I totally agree with not buying something under the artificial pressure of a sale ("time pressure" is actually the fastest way to make me bail)
Can't hurt to be mindful of the face value "I WANT THAT" sensation and how there is often an underlying "OR PERHAPS I JUST WANT AN ASPECT OF THAT BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY FIT IN MY LIFE AND I CAN SCRATCH THAT ITCH IN ANOTHER WAY"
And IDK... the past year has been me trusting my gut that I DO want a nice thing now and again, and my loved ones saying "DO IT 🥰" after a decade of essentially depriving myself of things because (ummm that's for me and my therapist to figure out lol but spoiler alert it's probably depression???)
And I stay within my means, but like YEAH. I have a few beautiful items now that remind me of people I love, help me enjoy my space, respect how I want to spend my time, and let me adorn myself in new ways.
It's like tangible reminders that I exist and can influence my space in yet another way
Note: the amount of money spent DOESN'T correlate with the intensity of positive feeling I may experience. But it can feel awesome to pay an independent artist a few dollars for a delightful handbag in a custom print, an up-and-coming musician for their band tee that is super comfy, a local business for a delicious burrito, or a neighborhood yarn shop for cool yarn that I will then turn into something I want to wear literally all the time
IDK basically: it's all a balance of researching, borrowing, making, thrifting, and buying new. None of these are always the perfect solution across all situations (don't picture myself buying someone's used underwear for example, even if it were arguably a spectacular price at a thrift store, and I also can't and don't even want to make everything myself)
Anyway, very intriguing video!
It is so hard to appreciate art and not covet it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and struggles ❤
That Alice in Wonderland fabric would be ideal for: pillowcases, sheets, tote bags, quilting. Just imagine a literature themed quilt using that fabric.
Great video concept Leena! You have really made me think, and I think these ideas will stick with me in the future when I'm trying to decide whether to buy or not to buy :) And as always, you have articulated very well some debates I have had internally many times over, but that I would never be able to accurately put into words myself. Thank you 😊🏵️
I would LOVE to see you reupholster your chair with the vibes of the anthro one!!!!
With the alice fabric
That bag.. Thanks Leena.. That's now my must have
Borrowing an air fryer is a great way to decide! When my MIL was on holiday, we borrowed hers. We loved it and decided we want to get one at some point when we know we have the counter space available for it. Knowing that it's a "not yet" purchase for us has also helped me stop researching uses for one since I now know what I would realistically use one for based on our own use case during the time we had my MIL's air fryer.
I always tend to want to spend more money when i am going through a period of financial difficulty. It's a real problem I'm struggling with
as a proud cardamom coffee owner, i really do recommend it! it's a big comfort every autumn/winter. HOWEVER, i got mine years ago when it was cheaper and they also sold it in smaller sizes. i've been rationing mine since they relaunched the scent with a bigger bottle and bigger price tag. glad to find another lover of the scent!
Sophie Hines has some amazing basic bra patterns
When the cost of living crisis hit me and my partner were living in a flat with electric storage heaters and an incredibly old electric oven that cost a fortune to run. We had come to the end of our energy contract so our electric bill basically quadrupled overnight. We survived using a plug in induction hob and an air fryer kindly gifted to us by my parents, and it saved us SO much money. I would highly recommend an air fryer like our that has multiple shelves like a mini oven, rather than those with a basket that you dump things into. We live somewhere else now with a way better oven, but we still use the air fryer more often than not, its just like a mini, super efficient, oven.
I love the idea of loving something and appreciating that something exists without buying it.
That exact bag and I had the exact same conversation. "I love you, and I would love using you... but... when would I realistically use you? Or would this make my life harder because I need something big enough for my lifestyle..." The conclusion was I didn't buy it, but I might at some future point.
It's funny, for sewing and knitting I have a tiny stash, and it's all stuff that's been purchased for a specific project I've gotten to. I don't get any new stuff until I work through some of the stuff I already have.
And Black Friday sales? I only shopped at one place, and that was a purchase I'd been planning for weeks, but decided to wait before I made the investment. When the stuff I wanted was on sale I decided to rework my finaces to make the purchases earlier to accommodate, so instead of buying in two weeks on my next check, I picked it up now to save a few bucks.
Pretty fabrics can always turn into beautiful kitchen towels and you can never have too many kitchen towels!