The Girls-all machines need a name

A New machine make me a happy Crafter

As part if the Year if thrift, it was bound to  blead more and more into my business Drawn Threads. I needed someone sewing machines this week and instead of looking at brand new, I looked on the auctions sites and news papers to get 2nd hand and nearly new. 

I went to get a Brother LS2125 today and to say on thrilled would be an under statement! 

The lady had hardly taken it out if the box before deciding it 'wasn't for her' and as such, I've got a practically new machine for 1/3 the cost it would have been. 

That make a thrifty purchase for the business and reusing/recycling something that was almost new! 

And make me a very happy Crafter! 

The local Rag

 My local newspaper asked if they could do a report on my this week.

I was happy to, if it helped others discover the joy I'm getting out of our own personal Year of Thrift. 

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10960002.Darlington_mother_aims_to_revive_make_do_and_mend_lifestyle_with_a_year_of_thrift/

One remark in the comments page was that we were 'copying the 'Year with out SuperMarket' guys and their superb blog

 http://ayearwithoutsupermarkets.com

This is an understandable mistake an we are leaving the supermarkets for buying produce etc at local markets, indoor markets and farm shops, we haven't totally abandoned supermarkets per say. Our on personal approach is to be as Thrify as we can, it would be madness of we spent more on an item that cost us less at a shop or supermarket and quite frankly go against what we have sent out to do. So not to cause confusion here are  our rules 

1. Be thrifty and enjoy it! Think carefully about every purchase.

2. DONT impulse buy-Buy in sales, second hand, etc

3. Food bought locally from markets, farms and sustainable sources where possible but keep to the budget and with in the Thrity ethos

4. Learn new skills or trade our abilities 

5. Repair, reuse or recycle.  

6. New isn't bad, justify the longevity of a more expensive item against something 2nd hand with out a warrenty etc. 

7. Don't bulk buy-no stock piling or hoarding.

8. No pre-packed meals/take aways.  

And finally, I understand, we can't please all the people, all the time. We will always have critics. To them I say, I'm giving it a go-may be you should too! 

Year Of Thrift made the paper

I was approached to the local news paper this week to provide information on my families #YearOfThrift and what a lovely piece it is.

Here is the link

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10960002.Darlington_mother_aims_to_revive_make_do_and_mend_lifestyle_with_a_year_of_thrift/

Thrift isn't about finding something for nothing, denying yourself or even spending less, it's about using what you have to the best means, buying what you can afford and recylcling items yourslelf or giving them away so others can re-use them. 

I am a coffee fan, and love going I to my favorite coffee shop. At the beginning if the Year Of Thrift I made a rule that they were from now on a 'no go!' This was increasingly becoming harder and harder over the days and weeks until I realized, thrift isn't about dental, it's how you approach each situation. So I changed the 'rule'-we can use coffee shops, once a week, no food as that can be concidered an expense, and to choose the cheaper end of the menu. 

When I sat down and thought, I discovered that it was the experience of going for a coffee, the joy of the social interaction and stopping to relax In our busy frantic lives. So....tomorrow, I'm off to the coffee shop to enjoy an hours chat, coffee and time to relax. 

Patchwork and quilting workshops are go guns!

This weeks patchwork and quilting course and sewing workshops have given me emence pride. 

Claire had never made a thing be and within two sessions, she had made her self a pin cushion, the start of a sewing kit maybe to begin a new hobby, to last a life time.

Katherine hadn't sewn for many year and started the course a week after everyone else, so felt a little behind but soon caught up making a her English pieces square. 

I know next weeks workshop and courses will fill me with the same pride and we're all looking foreword to a special guest. 

2014, A year of upwards & onwards for Drawn Threads

2014, A year of upwards & onwards for Drawn Threads and a very exciting one too. 

The open arts outreach funded workshops have now begin and are all booked out. 

The wonderful ladies at the sewing Circle bring joy with their enthusiasm and passion for their own individual sewing project, weather it be patchwork, cross stitch or dress making. 

The equally awesome students at the weekly Wednesday Patchwork & Quilting course come with an abundance of enthusiasm to learn a new skill or brush up on something they have forgotten. 

 

We are continuing to do the Saturday seeing workshops at a cost of £40.00 for four week, and I just love teaching different sewing skills and techniques. 

We are looking forward to the Festival of Thrift in September, especially as my family are now in to our #YearOfThrift and will enhance our experiment further. 

Last years Festival was an eye opener for all who not only attended as a visitor but for the stall holders and organizers alike-we have been so blessed to have such a vibrant festival on our Door step and I can't wait to get into the thick of things again this year. 

Our 'Year of Thrift'

Drawn Threads is my business but as a family we decided have a ‘Thrifty Christmas’ really thinking about everything we bought, from presents to food and most importantly, were it came from. We decided to continue in to 2014 with guidelines set down for our ‘Year of Thrift 2014’.

 

For us the Year of thrift began with where we bought our groceries and the importance of shopping local.

As a trader on the Darlington Sunday Peoples Market each month with my creative business Drawn Threads, I support shopping and selling locally. Supporting the local indoor and outdoor market was never far from my mind and the ‘use it or loose it’ principle very firmly rooted.

 

On Saturday we went to the Darlington Indoor market to do a twice weekly shop for food, eggs, cheese and meat etc.

Each week we will try to compile how much we have saved by shopping on the local market compared to buying such items at supermarkets. This week we have spent about £29, but if the same was bought in a supermarket we would have spent nearly £43.00.

 

The money saving is only the first part, the actual shopping experience is very different and more pleasurable. The service we received was excellent with one incident making me feel incredible important as a customer. We bought some cheese for the price of £3.12 but the stall holder only charged me £3.00, as that was the amount of cheese I asked for. It established that the sellers business was customer orientated over the Kerrching of the till ringing.

 

To ensure the future of our markets and local small business, we really do need to use them or loose them. 

I appreciate every customer I have through my business, understanding the vitally important part they have to play in the success of Local Markets and their future.