Sprung

We have reached about the half way mark of our year of A Challenge of the Utmost Kind. A year of only buying second hand or handmade goods for the home and closet. Is it just me, or is time flying by at an alarming rate?

We have learned from this weeks posts that it is easy being green, it is good to live local and now a small recap and thoughts on this challenge business. It's all connected you see, at least in my mind.

I have to tell you, it has not been nearly as challenging as I would have thought. I have not fallen from grace at all. Not even a whisper of temptation, I have remained steadfast and righteous through and through! Alright, that is a bit of a fib. There was that one wee wobble concerning some footwear, I tortured myself by looking at their loveliness a little too long. In the end though, I remained strong. Then I heard the talk about Liberty of London coming to Target, be still my beating heart! I discovered during an unrelated trip to said store, I really had no trouble passing it by. Although my cart did mysteriously make a sudden lunge towards the Liberty puddle jumpers and I had to act quick to get it back on track to the band-aid aisle.

The challenge has rekindled my passion for thrifting, which is a bit of a double edged sword. I have come across many lovelies that have made my heart sing. I made my first ever purchase from etsy (see the cool textile bobbins in the picture at the top of the post) and then I made another. I have received amazing gifts from fellow challengers (see the beautiful bouquet of vintage knitters in the top pic. from the utmost challenger herself, Dottie Angel!). These treasures have made me feel most grand and I love them more than any mass produced item that may tempt me. It has also taught me what an amazing community of "friends" I have here.


I made some exceptions recently. For Pony Girl's birthday I bought her a gift of a new camera, the extra tough kind, can be dropped over and over (it said so right on the package), and I am feeling pretty good about that purchase. As well as the paint that will soon be bought for the lounge (I will be sure to go good on the environment when selecting).

I do have some concern over my closet for the second half of the challenge, it is quite poor in the summer clothes department. I shall have to devote a couple of my precious thrifting safaris to hunting down the elusive animal that is the summer wardrobe.

All in all, it has been a good first half and I so appreciate what I have been blessed with in this life. What more could I want?
Can a trip to the islands be considered handmade?

Have a lovely weekend dears!