Stash Less Challenge #1 - Taking Stock

In 2016 we invite you to join us in your own personal Stash Less project. Stash Less is a project whereby we work towards having a mindful stash. Each month we will be posting a challenge for you to use in your own journey of discovery and change. Please feel free to join in at any time. We can't wait to hear what you find out! Previous Stash Less posts can be found here.

Challenge #1 - Taking stock

So we want to start at the very beginning. A very good place to start. And that means taking stock; of what we have and how we came to have it.

All it involves is a couple of hours work, a pen, some paper and a bit of emotional recall.

Why do we start here? Because in order to change our behaviour around our consumption we need to understand why we consume. Understanding the why is the key to change. It gives us something to look for and tells us what our purchasing/stashing triggers are.

Some of you have been watching my journey and have been thinking about the Stash Less project for some time. Some of you have already created your own versions (which I love) and have already considered your stash. I would ask though, that if you have never gone through your whole stash before, that you do now. It is such a worthwhile exersize and one that cannot be overrated in terms of what it can tell you. On the simplest level it creates a baseline. On a deeper level it really allows you to be totally mindful of just how much you have. Taking the time to really sit down with all you own and go through it means that you don't allow yourself to have blindspots - bits of your stash you can't quite see as stashing.

I know when I sit with my stash and really do a proper inventory, my mind starts whirring at incredibly speed due to all the crazy, wonderful, exciting, magical possibilty that lies within it. And due to it's size. There is always more than I think there is when I take into consideration what is hidden in that cupboard, .... oh yeah and that basket over there. And then all those books, and my goodness all those patterns and then there is that special yarn that I keep in a different place...... And so on it goes.

Taking the time to take stock in a considered way will really change your perspective.

How to take stock

You need to write it down. All of it. If only so you can see it all on the pages at the end.

For those of you that want to be thorough I would suggest that you create a table. Write down the product, the amount you purchased, where you purchased it (online, a fair, a shop) and the why/s. There will generally be multiple whys. If it is something that has stayed in your stash for a long time you should also include information on why you haven't yet used it.

I have created the simplest of templates here if you want something to work from. I've left it as a .doc file so you can fiddle with it to your heart's content to make it something that would work for you.

The Craft Sessions Inventory Template

A quick word of warning. Depending on who you are, and how you stash, this might not be an enjoyable exercise for you. It might be difficult to sit with your stuff and your emotions around it. You might avoid it or you might want to walk out halfway through. Or you might need a friend to help you do it. It's all good - just pay attention to how you are feeling and remember that it is the feelings that we are really looking at. So all feelings, avoidance, boredom, annoyance..., are useful. Those feelings will tell you things about your relationship with your stash. And that is what we are trying to figure out.

A few words on "why"

The why could be multiple reasons and you should try to include as much detail as you remember. The why is actually up to three things;
1. The emotion that was "around" the purchase. Excitement, fomo, tiredness, desire, boredom, stress...
2. What you were purchasing it for? A particular project or as a base?
3. Why haven't used it yet.

After you get a little way into your inventory you will see patterns appear and this will get easier.

I have written a few posts about the "whys" I found, and what I learned, when I initial did an inventory of my stash, however I would encourage you to read it only after you have had a go at doing it by yourself, with your own head and heart. I'm worried that by reading them before you take stock, you will have my ideas in your head about why you might stash, and you might overlook a reason you have for purchasing that I haven't even thought of. When, and if, you read those posts then please read the comments. Other people have added the "extra" reasons they have found. So helpful!

A final word

If possible please set aside time to go through your whole stash in one go. This will really give you a good understanding of what you have. The brain is a crazy powerful thing and without doing this step properly, I believe there is the possibility that you (and I) can trick ourselves into believing what we want to believe about what we own.

For me it took me leaving my stash for six months to give me some clarity of perspective. Hopefully you can get yours in an afternoon.

If you are sharing your journey in any way on social media then please leave a link to your instagram, blog or facebook in the comments to this post. I'd also just love your comments on what you found, what you discovered about your whys or what surprised you about what you have. As always the instagram hastag is #stash_less.

I can't wait to hear what you learn!

Felicia x

Stash Less - A community challenge for 2016

A series whereby we talk about creating a thoughful stash. My previous posts on this journey can be found here.

The idea and impetus for Stash Less arose from shock – I went away for six months and on my return I was totally bowled over by how much stuff I had accumulated through my years of making. The time away gave me perspective and opened my eyes to what I had. And ultimately it changed my life.

My spending habits changed for sure as did my making, and the way I go about coming up with new project, but it also changed something more subtle. By establishing boundaries around my spending on craft, I found that I spent less time in a desire state thinking about the future and more time focused on the possibilities of now. What was/is before me at this very moment. I'm much more conscious of my consumption, and how it affects my life, and not just in terms of my making. Subtle but pretty profound.

Now I still have work to do regarding my habits around purchasing, hoarding (let's just call a spade a spade shall we) and using my materials. And I also have many ideas and resources that I am yet to share with you on this topic - so Stash Less will continue as a regular-ish series. But I wanted to take it a little further and see if you lot are interested in playing along in some way.

You see the thing is that as I've been posting about Stash Less, so many of you have pinged me to say that mindful consumption of materials is something that you too have issues with. And while you may not want to engage in the challenge in the way that I have, that you have been thinking about your purchasing. I want to encourage it, create community around it, and see more of what you are up to. I learn so much from your comments and ideas.

So here is what I'm suggesting; there will be two ways to participate...

1. A monthly challenge -  An idea or an exersize to get you thinking and to assist you in your journey to a mindful stash. One we share so that we can learn from each other. I'm going to ask you to leave me a comment in the blog to direct me to your instagram or blog where I see what you are up to around that particular challenge. First challenge will be set next week. 

2. Every three months I'm going to give away a (good :)) prize for my favourite Stash Less project created during that time - Jan to March, April to June etc. I'll post about it in more detail but I want to make sure we are highlighting the work people are doing to get creative with their stash. I love watching your projects pop up on instagram using the #stash_less hashtag and can't wait to see more of them as we progress through the year. 

Finally, because I want this challenge to be all about the joy then feel free to jump in and out throughout the year as your other life commitments allow - for the month, for a few months or play along for the whole year.

First challenge will be posted next week. In the meantime, are you interested thinking about your stash?

Felicia x

PS. I LOVED all your comments on Tuesday's would you or wouldn't you post. I can't wait to be able to sit down and read through them in detail. It's school holidays here so computer time is non-existant. Hopefully tomorrow, as I can see there were so many good, inspiring ideas. xx

Stash Less - The Tipping Point

This post has another title. It's also called "How stashing has wreaked havoc on my kid's wardrobes." Now some of you might say that wreaked havoc is a little harsh - and maybe I'll concede on that point. I do have a point though - and that is that they definitely aren't the wardrobes they would have had if I hadn't been stashing for all those years. I need this post as a reminder - reminder that buying without thought leads to chaos.

See the thing about stashing is that I bought without thought. For many years I didn't use my visual diary to consciously determine what I like and then purchase accordingly. Instead, on a whim, I purchased pretty sparkly things that I fell for on the day. My stash became a stash filled with fabrics that are attractive but that aren't my "deep style". And now, because I am the kind of person who wants to use up what I have, (due to this Stash Less Project I started and my desire to be a more conscious consumer), I am now making them clothes with what I have.

My “deep style" can be seen on my kid's Pinterest page. Lots of plain fabrics in soft colours. My kid's wardrobes however, are full of bright colours and lots of prints!

Don’t get me wrong. They look cuuute. Adorable even – when they aren’t kicking one another and complaining about having to eat “broc-ol-leee agaaain” - but that kind of isn’t the point. The point is that if I hadn’t stashed to the extent I did, and had put just a smidge more thought into coordinating my purchasing, then maybe they may have looked a little less circus-chic/urchin-unwashed and instead looked something more akin to “turned out”. And once in a while that would be y'know, nice.

I feel like now is the time I need to add a clarification. I love their look. But I guess sometimes as I look into the mishmash that is their wardrobes I wish that there was a teensy bit more coordination and a teensy bit less chaos. And I can see how my purchasing on a whim, and excessive stashing has contributed to this.

Their look is, however, theirs. As soon as my kids were old enough to talk they were picking their own outfits and wanted to have a big say in what I was making. They weren't/aren't dolls to be dressed. I have very limited input into their choices, and as such, if I offer them a plain fabric for a frock then they look at me with total horror. Like I am causing them physical pain. They will always go for the bright, and the mistake I made in the past was that I had bright on the shelves. Accessible and ready to go.

“What does all this have to do with a tipping point?”, I hear you ask. Well I've happy/sad news to report my friends! Happy because I've finally hit a tipping point in my quest to Stash Less. A point whereby I can see unequivocal progress. The stash – especially the fabric stash - is massively down in volume and my purchasing habits have changed - hopefully for good.

The tipping point occurred sometime over the last few weeks. I went to the fabric shelf, and lo and behold, I was stuggling to find exactly what I needed. Now I'm definitely not out of fabric and there are still about 15 pieces with some kind of meterage but at a guess I'd say I've at least halved what I had a year ago. And I’ve used many of the fabrics that I had hoarded for years due to their specialness. Big yay to me for being an achiever!

What this has to do with the kid’s wardrobes is that I’m now using the leftovers, smaller pieces and odds and ends, in order to make what I need to clothe them. I did a wardrobe edit a few weeks ago and the making list looked like this…

• The boy child needed shorts x 4
• The middle kid needed shorts x 2 and tshirts x 4
• The smallest one needs dresses x 3 and shorts x 2.
• The middle kid also wants some dresses. She has grown like a weed.

None of this is unusual; it is a time of year thing for me. October time is get-ready-for-summer time.

But what was unusual was that I didn't have endless choice. I made the shorts but am now out of boy short fabric. I literally have nothing left that would work for boy shorts. Then in order to get the aforementioned dresses cut out I had to do a bit of scrounging. Not quite enough of this or that fabric. I’ve been piecing things together, adding panels to the yokes and frills on the bottom, cutting on the crossgrain. Scrounging, using all that is left and thereby using fabric I don’t actually like to make dresses I’ll see twice a week for the next year or three. And I can't tell you how thrilled it is making me.

I’m thrilled because it’s finally got hard to find fabric; and because I’m really enjoying the challenge of figuring out how to use the dregs. I'm thrilled because I still have some special fabrics I can use for special projects. I’m thrilled because I’m enjoying sucking up the fact that their wardrobes are getting even crazier with weird fabric I don’t like. Thrilled because I can see the fabric stacks are small and I’ve used fabrics I love over the course of Stash Less. Thrilled because the preciousness of precious fabric is now has a more healthy perspective. Thrilled by how light I feel.

While I’m not there yet Ifinally feel progress has been made. We are exactly 13.5-months-and-a-bit in, and these last weeks have felt like total joy. I'm proud of my progress.

For those of you who are making your own changes to your stashing - how is it going?? Anything to report?

Felicia x

Slow Fashion October : Small

So I tried to write this post earlier this week. And I wrote a whole other post about my plans for my frocks - but it didn't sit right and so I didn't post. I talked about my goals for Slow Fashion October last week on the blog and they remain the same. Focus and frocks. But how they fit into the bigger picture .....well I needed to give it some thought. 

So from Karen's setup post - this weeks theme is Small. 

“...we’re talking handmade / living with less / quality over quantity / the capsule wardrobe / indie fashion / small-batch makers / sustainability in every sense. ”

— Karen from Fringe Association

The more I thought about it the more I wanted to spend this month focused on the bigger picture. Not just making frocks at a frantic rate (I'm sewing faaaassst this week!) but sewing frocks that fit into the bigger picture of a quality wardrobe that will last over time. 

Before embarking on this process of making my wardrobe a few years ago,  I often used to go to the cupboard and find nothing to wear. This is no longer my reality.  I've slowly created my larger-than-necessary capsule wardrobe, in complimentary colours, and it works really well. I fell good about it. So now it's just a process of filling in the gaps. Which means not making lots of frocks but making frocks the right frocks.

That said I think part of the problem of desiring more and more is that I don’t think I’ve ever felt that good about my wardrobe. I’ve looked into it and  many/most of the clothes haven’t made me feel that good. I haven't put that much thought into them. I've impulse purchased and not planned. I've had that "I don't have anything to wear feeling" often.  Moving to a place where most of my clothing “sparks joy” Konmari style, and throwing out those things that don’t, has me feeling more grateful and less needy. Which means that I’m less focused on acquiring more (from a place of not-having-enough) and more focused on being joyful for what is there (from a place of gratitude).

I’ve talked a bit about my changing relationship with the idea of “enough”. A tricky concept to be sure. So while I’ve been meaning to make frocks for forever, when I’m finally about to make, I find myself wondering if I actually already have enough clothes. Eek!! So I want to be careful. Careful that I am making things that I really want to wear, will wear often, will be part of my everyday and that won’t date. 

I read this line in Women In Clothes this week when one of the editors/writers talks about how she believes that each person has a “deep style”, even if they don’t know it. I’m thinking a bit about what mine might be, so that I can make sure the things I’m making fill the gaps, and then last me. I’m hoping the formula leads to something like this.

Less + better* = Satisfied for longer and grateful

*Where better is something that fits me, my lifestyle and makes me feel joyful. Because joyful clothing is where it is at - non?

There is this other line in Women in Clothes (I can’t find where ) where one of the women says that her purchasing line is “will I like this in five years?” Isn’t that an ace yardstick with which to measure a purchase?

So I have a revised plan for my wardrobe - to fill gaps with deep style items I will like in five years. 

And the thing I was at risk of doing at the start of the week was planning on making a lot of things. Four frocks was my plan. And in time four might be a good amount - I already have a few. But after a few days of thought about enough/capsule/style/consumerism/responsibility/desire I am scaling the plan back to include the two that I most want and am most avoiding because I'm a little scared. Scared they won't turn out as beautifully as I want them to. I've been dreaming about them both for so long that making them into a reality comes with the risk that I'll screw them up..... Slow Fashion October to the rescue! Let's focus on the things that will make us happiest in the long term in order to kick the fear to the curb. 

Without further ado, they are...

The everday boxy tunic - in a gorgeous fabric

Over jeans, over tights. Loose box tunic with a stylish shape in a gorgeous fabric. Lou Box again – but altered to be more Georgia like. So a bit wider and with the cuff on the sleeves. I can’t remember how I came across Elizabeth Suzann originally but like many others before me I'm a little obsessed with her style. Timeless, fashionless, forever clothing that suits my everyday*. I want to make a long tunic kinda knee length frock in my favourite ever linen that I have been saving like the hoarder I am. It’s going to be simple and smashing. I've cut it out already and am very nervous that I made the neckline too big. "It's only fabric, it's only fabric, it's only fabric" is the mantra of the day.

Scraps ready to go....

 

my favourite daywear-to-dinner frock style - in a gorgeous fabric I made

Anna by By Hand London is the base pattern of the top of this frock! Again I’ve been wanting to do Anna for-ever. This dress shape is one of my favourites - but it needs a lightly gathered skirt like you see in the examples here that pair it with the Emery skirt.  I plan on doing a slightly gathered skirt as per my favourite ever Gorman frock and will lower the neckline a little. And the fabric.....well I can't wait to show you but I have plans for a masterpiece…..that is where the slow fashion comes in. It may not work but I'm going to finally give it a shot.

And then there is the dress that I don't get to make yet but may make before the summer.

the summer perfect summer frock - in Nani Iro 

Lisa by Tessuti. Frocks like Lisa would be my everday summer uniform if I had one. I have a jersey fushia number (I can see your shocked faces) that I’ve worn quite a bit. But I've worn it not because I like it, OR because it fills me with joy, but rather because it's there. Lisa will be joyful. She will be made from that gorgeous Nani Iro in the photo above, with a lower scooped neckline and possibly no buttons. I need to lower the neckline as I think Lisa suffers a little bit from Waist Boob on me. I tried the sample on in Tessuti's Melbourne shop. If only we could do that with all sewing patterns!  

Can't wait to see what you have all been up to this week.

Felicia x

*In time I plan on purchasing some of her sensational Clyde pants.

Why I love "Slow Fashion October": Focus!

I want to live a life I can be proud of. One where I can think back over the choices that I've made and know that they enriched my life. One where I didn't get so distracted by the buzz of the connected world that I spent so much time in my virtual life at the expense of my real life. And by virtual life I include time spent in my imagination. I want to be mindful of the life that is right in front of me. I want to make sure that I am prioritising what will make me feel fulfilled in the long term. And not get caught up in the quick fix.

I want to consciously build that life I'm proud of. Construct it. A construction that is a work in progress over the next fifty years. Making sure my values are at the core of it, and they enrich both my life, and the lives of the people around me. Especially my partner and my kids. My local community. And my environment.

I want my kids to understand my values and watch me walk my talk. I have no choice. Smart cookies that they are - they will see through me if I don't. 

And all this is why I love Slow Fashion October. 

Over the last year I've been writing about my journey in a project I called Stash Less. It's initial aim was to talk about my consumption around craft but it's scope also included ideas around what I was making, how and why. It's changed my making and furthermore it's changed me. I've learnt so much about myself and what I value - and yesterday on October 1st Stash Less was a year old! The very same day that Karen launched Slow Fashion October - such a lovely coincidence! 

In a very lovely and supportive way, Karen and I have been on a bit of a parallel journey around our wardrobes over the last year. It's something we both talk about in the Woolful episode we were featured in early this year. Ashley titled the episode "Handmade wardrobes, Intentional making, stashes and talent". And I think her title was perfect!! In it we both talk a bit about our evolving thoughts around concious wardrobe creation. I've found Karen's journey so inspiring! And I'm so glad she came up with the idea to create and host Slow Fashion October. It feels really timely to me.

Late last year, I wrote a Stash Less post called Selling Discontent. In it, I talked about how I felt that  even though I was hand making, sometimes my approach towards making was more akin to fast fashion than slow. That my crafting wasn't necessarily connected to my values. And how I was letting the time poverty of early parenting act as an excuse (a good one but an excuse none the less) to make at a frantic pace. Churning things out without putting as much thought as I would like to into whether I was creating a body of work (read: wardrobe) that I would be proud of and that suited my needs.

Me Made May this year showed me clearly that actually it probably isn't as bad as I thought. Over the last few years I've created wardrobe that is versatile and coordinated. There are a million outfit options open to me that mean that I'm not getting bored and I'm able to look like I want. However one thing I did identify in that post was that most of what i had made fell into the category of Simple Sewing 101. This is great, as that is mainly what I wear, simple clothes. However, when I look at my visual diary via Pinterest, I can clearly see there is a disconnect. The pinterest page shows I really, truly, love frocks. And yet my frock making tally consists of two frocks in total, one of which I don't wear. 

Frocks are my white whale (terrible analogy but go with it, I'm a little tired). They are the thing I never get to making even though they are the thing I really want to make, and really want to wear. I never get to them due to the hum of distraction and instant gratification. I prioritise all the easy stuff. The kids clothes, the sweaters, the cushion covers as I know I will get the result I want. I am yet to make a frock I love - I avoid the frock making as it is a bit harder. I will have to work on getting them to fit. And they might not work. The perfectionist in me is in full avoidance mode. 

 And so I live in avoidance land. In anticipatory hum of when I will get to the frock pile of fabrics and patterns. Oh the joy that will be had when I get there. And yet I don't. Get there. Because I prioritise all the easy stuff at the expense of the thing I really want. 

My commitment to Slow Fashion October!

I plan on using Slow Fashion October as a way to focus. I think the loose structure that Karen has provided gives a lovely framework within which focus can be found and intention set. 

Put simply, my focus is to do the hard stuff and to make the frocks that have been sitting on my wish list forever.

One caveat to my plan is that Slow Fashion October will not be a slow crafting month for me. October is a seasonal transition month in Australia. It is the month where each year I remake the kids wardrobes with the things they need for the summer. And there is a birthday which means special sewing. So as well as making frocks for me I need to make four pairs of small boy shorts, two pairs of small girl shorts and two small girl dresses - one of which is a birthday dress. That said, birthday dresses take time and are all about intention so that fits well. 

Lucky for me I love a bit of a deadline and I love me a bit of focused making. Also lucky for me the definition of Slow Fashion October is up to the individual (thanks Karen!) and may or may not include speed making. As long as that making is done with intention.

Cause that's point is really.... to think about what is meaningful!

My commitment to Slow Fashion October is to think about the intention behind the things I make and ensure that my making sits comfortably with my values. 

If anyone else feels like joining me in a bit of frock sewing I'm hashtagging it #slowfashionoctoberfrocks. A wordy hashtag to be sure but one I'm chuffed to be participating in.

Felicia x