Shop Local

It is no secret that Alberta's economy is struggling. It is also no secret that we have some amazingly talented entrepreneurs. I have read in numerous places that during a recession it is a great time to dig deep and start a new business and follow a new path. It seems like that is what a lot of people are doing right now.

My husband and I were talking about how if everyone started to buy items local, from small business, or at the very least Made in Alberta or Made in Canada what kind of a difference would it make to our economy. Now I fully admit that sometimes I am pretty cheap, and will buy a t-shirt from Walmart or SuperStore. But every time I look at the tag that says Made in Cambodia I cringe a little inside. We have all heard about the unethical work conditions overseas, and if we won't work for $2.00 an hour here in Canada, why are we buying $5.00 t-shirts?

So in the long run is that $5.00 tshirt really a bargain? What if we bought Made in Canada t-shirts? From a Canadian retailer, or from a small home business. Not only do we know that it was ethically made, we also know that we may be keeping our neighbour employed. We know that we are keeping money in our local community. We are helping a local family pay for their groceries or put their kid in dance class. We in a very small way can help eliminate corporate greed.....

The scenario of a $5.00 t-shirt may seem really small....but if everyone started to look at the labels of where they buy products from I think it would really make a difference. I know in my own life, I am looking at things a whole new way. Up front....it may cost a bit more to buy local. But in the long run supporting products made here saves us all.

My goal from now on is to buy as much as I can of locally made/grown products. Alberta made, Canadian made. I also want to move away from purchasing cheap, disposable products. Quality items can be reused, repurposed and resold.

I hope this is something everyone will begin to consider!

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Anne of Green Gables

Who else fell in love with Green Gables as a kid..... ok, maybe no one under 30! But I remember my mom read the series to me back in the 70's when I was around 8 or 9 years old. I came across this post today from Country Living Magazine that got me thinking that I need to dig out my old books and reread them just for fun.

 

Being a child of the 70's, with plaid bell bottom pants and the Bay City Rollers, the simplistic world of Green Gables with horses, buggies and one room school houses seemed like an imaginary world. But who couldn't fall in love with Anne with E and all of her antics.....and what exactly was cordial?

That could have been when I fell in love with that point in history. Later on it became the Walton's and Little House on the Prairie. But the Green Gables series of books was so well written and descriptive that I just fell in love with houses, the fields, the décor, the clothing.... I could picture it all so well in my 8 year old head and it seemed like a time and a place that I wanted to be. Forty years later and some things have not changed!

 

I can not say I ever loved the clothing of the 70's and I certainly thought outfits like Anne had would have been so much more fun to wear! Even though poor Anne had to wear sensible dresses that Marilla made for her and longed to have fancy dresses like her friend Dianna.

 A re-creation of Avonlea..... oh be still my palpitating heart. Look at those houses. I would love to have any of them.

 

 

I have always said 'it would be cool to go to Green Gables'. But this morning and looking at these pictures  has made decide to add a trip to Prince Edward Island and Green Gables to my bucket list. Does anyone want to join me?

 

 

~Michele~

No One Tells You This......

I came across this last week and it just rings so true for me.

 Even after all of these years as a sewer and a crafter I still get so frustrated with myself when things are not perfect or when I am trying a new pattern or new technique. I can see it in my head, how I want it to look, but then I look at it and it is no where near my vision.

But I don't quit, because something always calls me back to try again. Try something else, try it a different way, but it calls me to keep trying. Because even though I may be frustrated by what I am doing, I always have this vision in my head and a desire in my soul to make beautiful things.

Then eventually, as if by magic, I manage to make something that I love, that I am happy with, that I am proud of. But it's not magic...it's days, weeks, months of trying and trying again.

If your heart calls you to do something.....then do it. But I warn you now, it probably will not be anything like you think it is going to be. It probably won't be very good.  It will be crooked, and it will be wonky, and it may even be downright ugly..... you will get there through practice, and doing it again tomorrow, and maybe the next day too. It gets better and it gets easier....and one day, as if by magic, you are doing work that just comes easy for you.

~Michele~