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Red is really hard to photograph.

Today I picked up two cards of jumbo red ricrac and a red potholder. When I got home, I found some lovely fabric from Lara in my letterbox. I had forgotten that I had ordered it so it was an extra nice surprise!

Wasn’t Lost so good tonight - oh my god, the ending! (US people, it was the episode with Nicki and Paulo)

I, Jen Leheny, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 4 months.

I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract.

I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that my thriftyness brings!

Signed Jen Leheny.

Well, that’s it then. It’s official. My first WR pledge - from now until 1st October, at least.  Maybe it will have become such a habit by then that I will keep it up. I have been looking forward to doing this - such a good idea. Nothing like a bit of group encouragement.

Blue is a nice colour but not a nice feeling.

I am feeling rather annoyed today, having realised (faced) the truth. I think these last few days of feeling crappy and not being bothered to do much have not been an illness coming on but it looks like a depressive episode. I feel so angry about this as I really thought that this wasn’t going to be happening any more. I have had six or seven months of feeling great and now this.

Previously when this happened, my instinct is to curl up and withdraw (as much as possible with kids) but I am going to try hard to resist that. I don’t know, they sound like big words and it may be too hard. We will see.

This (almost) daily blogging has been a happy side effect of no more depression but I am going to try hard to keep it up now that I am in the groove. Even if I don’t say much I can at least post a picture and I am going to try hard to keep doing something creative on a regular basis. I am going to try really hard to get some exercise in (walking) and not to sleep/lay around all the time during the day.

On a happier note, my shop RED INSTEAD handmade was featured over at Indie Quarter recently! Thanks so much.

I know, no posts for three days and then two in one day. To be honest, I just plain didn’t feel like it over the last few days. Feeling lazy and just wanting to snuggle under the quilt my mum made me and watch telly or movies. So I did that for a few days and now I have to shake it off.

Having said all that, I did get out on Saturday morning to do a little thrifting.

A few embroidered bits, a doily and some lovely cards. Emma has taken these and plays “matchy matchy” with them.

They seem to be handprinted, and are an incomplete set, but I know nothing more about them. They are sweet though so they came home with us.

I also found this case, probably meant to be a makeup case (people have this much makeup???) but I found a better use for it. I like how it is very nuetral and plain, but sturdy.

Once I got it home, I realised it was the right size to stuff some patterns for me that I had been mulling over lately and were cluttering up my work table.

More sewing things - though actually from eBay not thrifting. Check out this cute cute trim, will you? Ruffles on binding with red rick rack! I love it.

Some fabric - actually a doona cover but great for bags I think. If I ever get off my butt and make some more! Soon, soon.

And for some reason, in two different thrifty shops, I kept finding aprons so I took it as a sign and brought them home with me.

This was is very plain and boring (and could use an iron!) but I thought I could have some fun with trim. This next stripy one, I like the fabric but I think I will have to take off that poxy lace trim. Cute pocket.

This one is a funky print.

How cute is this fabric? Pity whoever made it didn’t think to match the flower when making the pocket. Sweet and simple half apron.

Now this one, despite having a very faded Target tag so probably not very vintage and definitely not hand made, is still pretty cute.  Love the print.

I don’t know why I am drawn to aprons lately. Not something I really wear to be honest, though maybe I might have to now. My collection is growing and growing. And after cooking some brownies with the kids yesterday and being covered in cocoa and flour, it did occur to me that it would have been smart to frock up. Or apron up.

There seems to me to be a much bigger culture and collective memory about aprons in America than here in Australia. I admit to feeling a little jealous of that, but I don’t know why. It is funny, when I think of the anti-domestic feminist I used to be, a lifetime ago. I had no clue really. No understanding of this whole other life.

I have memories of my mum putting a “pinnie” on every so often, or getting me or my sister to, but it wasn’t a regular thing. I am interested in the Australian experience of aprons so if you have a story to share, I’d love to hear it. I have to ask my mum about this too.

Go on, share your stories too. The comments link is just down there.