Comments on: Simplicity and Consumption http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/ Crafting the Super-Natural Life Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:47:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Joe Monkman http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-71771 Joe Monkman Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:51:25 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-71771 Thanks for this great reminder. Thanks for this great reminder.

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Voluntary Simplicity/Frugality Online Resources http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-29775 The Worsted Witch » Voluntary Simplicity/Frugality Online Resources Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:33:39 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-29775 [...] Related articles: 1. What is “Voluntary Simplicity”? 2. The Golden Rule 3. Simplicity and Consumption [...] [...] Related articles: 1. What is “Voluntary Simplicity”? 2. The Golden Rule 3. Simplicity and Consumption [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Money Quotes http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-25617 The Worsted Witch » Money Quotes Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:26:32 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-25617 [...] Sound familiar? The War Advertising Council, in 1943, sounded off another anti-inflation message: Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without. [...] [...] Sound familiar? The War Advertising Council, in 1943, sounded off another anti-inflation message: Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without. [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Stop Shopping or the Planet Gets It http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-17442 The Worsted Witch » Stop Shopping or the Planet Gets It Thu, 12 Apr 2007 21:31:32 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-17442 [...] Related articles: 1. Simplicity and Consumption 2. World Overshoot Day 3. I Shop Therefore I Am [...] [...] Related articles: 1. Simplicity and Consumption 2. World Overshoot Day 3. I Shop Therefore I Am [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » “Ethical” parents face extra £700 http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-13420 The Worsted Witch » “Ethical” parents face extra £700 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:45:50 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-13420 [...] Live simply, but also live richly. [...] [...] Live simply, but also live richly. [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Money Quotes http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-11004 The Worsted Witch » Money Quotes Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:49:29 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-11004 [...] Related articles: 1. What is “Voluntary Simplicity”? 2. The Golden Rule 3. Simplicity and Consumption 4. Voluntary Simplicity/Frugality Online Resources [...] [...] Related articles: 1. What is “Voluntary Simplicity”? 2. The Golden Rule 3. Simplicity and Consumption 4. Voluntary Simplicity/Frugality Online Resources [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Think Before You Plink http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-3925 The Worsted Witch » Think Before You Plink Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:57:31 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-3925 [...] Related articles 1. Simplicity and Consumption 2. I Shop Therefore I Am [...] [...] Related articles 1. Simplicity and Consumption 2. I Shop Therefore I Am [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Present Tense: Our Picks http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-3344 The Worsted Witch » Present Tense: Our Picks Mon, 27 Nov 2006 17:08:54 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-3344 [...] We’ve been trying our darndest, since our decision to live more sustainably almost a year ago, to give waste-free, non-consumerist gifts that were not only carefully chosen with the giftee in mind, but also reflected our values (but hopefully without being sanctimonious or pushy, because no one likes a Smug-a-lot; we have cats for that) Consuming less of everything all year also meant we could afford to spend more on what truly mattered. [...] [...] We’ve been trying our darndest, since our decision to live more sustainably almost a year ago, to give waste-free, non-consumerist gifts that were not only carefully chosen with the giftee in mind, but also reflected our values (but hopefully without being sanctimonious or pushy, because no one likes a Smug-a-lot; we have cats for that) Consuming less of everything all year also meant we could afford to spend more on what truly mattered. [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-3056 The Worsted Witch » Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:22:48 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-3056 [...] BEST: Don’t buy anything. (No foolin’!) Refuse to wrap your identity within the temporarily gratifying bounds of material consumption and be “possessed by your possessions.” Like Juliet B. Schor, author of The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don’t Need and Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture says, choose quality over quantity, longevity over novelty, and versatility over specialty. If we’re satisfied with a much smaller closet, we can spend more per garment so our clothes are better constructed. “Workers would work less, produce fewer but higher-quality items, and be paid more per hour. Such a change would help make ecologically clean technologies economically feasible,” she says. [...] [...] BEST: Don’t buy anything. (No foolin’!) Refuse to wrap your identity within the temporarily gratifying bounds of material consumption and be “possessed by your possessions.” Like Juliet B. Schor, author of The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don’t Need and Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture says, choose quality over quantity, longevity over novelty, and versatility over specialty. If we’re satisfied with a much smaller closet, we can spend more per garment so our clothes are better constructed. “Workers would work less, produce fewer but higher-quality items, and be paid more per hour. Such a change would help make ecologically clean technologies economically feasible,” she says. [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Simplifying the Holidays http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-3029 The Worsted Witch » Simplifying the Holidays Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:33:32 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-3029 [...] Jennifer Swanson from the Simple Living Network writes about simple, sustainable, and clutter-free gift ideas for the holidays, whether you’re a proponent of voluntary simplicity, or if you’re related to one and just don’t get their requests for “nothing” this year. “Many gift choices only add more disorder to our already cluttered homes, but what can you do?” she says “My answer is to request and give disappearing gifts, relieving the burden on the receiver to find space for the gift—while sparing the environment at the same time.” [...] [...] Jennifer Swanson from the Simple Living Network writes about simple, sustainable, and clutter-free gift ideas for the holidays, whether you’re a proponent of voluntary simplicity, or if you’re related to one and just don’t get their requests for “nothing” this year. “Many gift choices only add more disorder to our already cluttered homes, but what can you do?” she says “My answer is to request and give disappearing gifts, relieving the burden on the receiver to find space for the gift—while sparing the environment at the same time.” [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Mail Call: Eco Scrapbooking http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-2817 The Worsted Witch » Mail Call: Eco Scrapbooking Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:14:01 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-2817 [...] Remember a time when scrapbooking—as a way of preserving old movie tickets or a striking image from a magazine—was practically synonymous with frugality and environmental friendliness? Then, somewhere in the past few years, like knitting, it became trendy, and a glut of papers, doo-dads, gadgets, and gee-gaws emerged like Valkyries swooping down on a battlefield, all eager to accommodate the sudden burgeoning interest in the centuries-old craft. All shiny and new, the avalanche of stickers, embellishments, letter transfers, rubber stamps, paper croppers, and shape punchers began to take the “scrap” out of “scrapbook.” This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you have self-control, but as someone who has seen his resting spots gradually being annexed by enough skeins of wool to keep Antarctica toasty (before the Witch cried foul and decided to cool her heels), ignoring the Siren call of stash accumulation takes tremendous willpower. What’s an eco-minded scrapbooker to do? [...] [...] Remember a time when scrapbooking—as a way of preserving old movie tickets or a striking image from a magazine—was practically synonymous with frugality and environmental friendliness? Then, somewhere in the past few years, like knitting, it became trendy, and a glut of papers, doo-dads, gadgets, and gee-gaws emerged like Valkyries swooping down on a battlefield, all eager to accommodate the sudden burgeoning interest in the centuries-old craft. All shiny and new, the avalanche of stickers, embellishments, letter transfers, rubber stamps, paper croppers, and shape punchers began to take the “scrap” out of “scrapbook.” This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you have self-control, but as someone who has seen his resting spots gradually being annexed by enough skeins of wool to keep Antarctica toasty (before the Witch cried foul and decided to cool her heels), ignoring the Siren call of stash accumulation takes tremendous willpower. What’s an eco-minded scrapbooker to do? [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » World Overshoot Day http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-2386 The Worsted Witch » World Overshoot Day Tue, 17 Oct 2006 02:59:10 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-2386 [...] Overconsumption isn’t solely an ecological issue, but a social justice one, as well. Spending more than our fair share of the world’s resources also diverts food, clothing, and other essentials from communities in greater need. Obviously, we need to seriously reexamine our patterns of consumption, buy less, and reclaim holidays and special occasions from the hollow trappings of overcommercialization. The impact of what you buy (or don’t buy) ripples far beyond a line on your credit-card statement. [...] [...] Overconsumption isn’t solely an ecological issue, but a social justice one, as well. Spending more than our fair share of the world’s resources also diverts food, clothing, and other essentials from communities in greater need. Obviously, we need to seriously reexamine our patterns of consumption, buy less, and reclaim holidays and special occasions from the hollow trappings of overcommercialization. The impact of what you buy (or don’t buy) ripples far beyond a line on your credit-card statement. [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » Free Fun For Kids http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-2257 The Worsted Witch » Free Fun For Kids Sun, 08 Oct 2006 01:21:16 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-2257 [...] Related articles: 1. What is “Voluntary Simplicity”? 2. The Golden Rule 3. Simplicity and Consumption 4. Voluntary Simplicity/Frugality Online Resources [...] [...] Related articles: 1. What is “Voluntary Simplicity”? 2. The Golden Rule 3. Simplicity and Consumption 4. Voluntary Simplicity/Frugality Online Resources [...]

]]> By: The Worsted Witch » http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-2194 The Worsted Witch » Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:26:10 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-2194 [...] I will be the first to admit that I truly love Anthropologie’s sense of Old World sophistication—from its bright hand-embroidered napkins and burnished vintage-inspired drawer pulls to its wispy, lace-edged blouses and billowy skirts. Not that I could ever afford anything there or find anything worth affording, even before I fell into the steady gait of a life lived in voluntary simplicity. My husband could regale you with tales, however, of a time when he used to have to hoist my limp, quietly sobbing form from the store and drag me down West Broadway, sighing as I occasionally punctuated the air with sudden gasps of “so pretty…” [...] [...] I will be the first to admit that I truly love Anthropologie’s sense of Old World sophistication—from its bright hand-embroidered napkins and burnished vintage-inspired drawer pulls to its wispy, lace-edged blouses and billowy skirts. Not that I could ever afford anything there or find anything worth affording, even before I fell into the steady gait of a life lived in voluntary simplicity. My husband could regale you with tales, however, of a time when he used to have to hoist my limp, quietly sobbing form from the store and drag me down West Broadway, sighing as I occasionally punctuated the air with sudden gasps of “so pretty…” [...]

]]> By: melanie http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 melanie Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:03:26 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-1760 I read both Elgin's book and Cecile Andrew's Circle of Simplicity earlier this year and found both of them to be very inspiring. I found your blog through Amy and will definitely keep reading. I read both Elgin’s book and Cecile Andrew’s Circle of Simplicity earlier this year and found both of them to be very inspiring. I found your blog through Amy and will definitely keep reading.

]]> By: jill danyelle http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-1744 jill danyelle Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:44:03 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-1744 Coincidentally, I have been thinking a lot about this. Years earlier I have read books on simple living and frugal living and while budget is a four letter word to a Gemini like me, I have found my way... I weave on and off this road. But mostly accept I still want some things, while I am capable of giving up many others. While I do fall in love with "things" mostly it is because of the design not as much the status it will give me. I think I also tend to need a lot of change, but am learning I am much happier ripping something apart and resewing it than I am constantly bringing home new stuff. Also, the things that i do then bring home, tend to be fewer and more special. This also has been part of what prohibits me from fully pursuing designing a collection. Because I feel... do we really need more stuff? I just watched a great show on Einstein where he states that each possession is like a weight around his neck and am now also inspired to write about simplicity. I understand. For as much as I like some of my things, just storing and caring for them can be a pain. For a long time I lived here without a sofa and a t.v. And would spend summer nights sailing in the harbor. Now I come home and write about style and sustainability. I hope it has some positive impact, because in many ways it has complicated my life so much more... I wonder how you feel about your time spent blogging... Have you read about Judith Levine? http://www.judithlevine.com/ She wrote a book on her year without shopping. I read an excerpt in The Gaurdian. There is also this thread of people doing it over at SuperNaturale... http://www.supernaturale.com/glitter/viewtopic.php?t=20958&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=adf0ca49bd7782e46043366a40582f2b I tried to participate for awhile, but I could easily spend my life online, so in order to "simplify" stopped contributing. all the best! Coincidentally, I have been thinking a lot about this. Years earlier I have read books on simple living and frugal living and while budget is a four letter word to a Gemini like me, I have found my way… I weave on and off this road. But mostly accept I still want some things, while I am capable of giving up many others. While I do fall in love with “things” mostly it is because of the design not as much the status it will give me. I think I also tend to need a lot of change, but am learning I am much happier ripping something apart and resewing it than I am constantly bringing home new stuff. Also, the things that i do then bring home, tend to be fewer and more special. This also has been part of what prohibits me from fully pursuing designing a collection. Because I feel… do we really need more stuff? I just watched a great show on Einstein where he states that each possession is like a weight around his neck and am now also inspired to write about simplicity. I understand. For as much as I like some of my things, just storing and caring for them can be a pain. For a long time I lived here without a sofa and a t.v. And would spend summer nights sailing in the harbor. Now I come home and write about style and sustainability. I hope it has some positive impact, because in many ways it has complicated my life so much more… I wonder how you feel about your time spent blogging…

Have you read about Judith Levine?
http://www.judithlevine.com/
She wrote a book on her year without shopping. I read an excerpt in The Gaurdian. There is also this thread of people doing it over at SuperNaturale…
http://www.supernaturale.com/glitter/viewtopic.php?t=20958&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=adf0ca49bd7782e46043366a40582f2b

I tried to participate for awhile, but I could easily spend my life online, so in order to “simplify” stopped contributing.

all the best!

]]> By: Suse http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-1701 Suse Mon, 14 Aug 2006 06:01:44 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-1701 This is exactly what I have just been thinking about and trying to put into words. Thank you. I also like the photo. Are you aware of Andy Goldsworthy's work? He does amazing towers of stones, walls and cairns and all sorts of beautiful transient things with coloured leaves. This is exactly what I have just been thinking about and trying to put into words. Thank you.
I also like the photo. Are you aware of Andy Goldsworthy’s work? He does amazing towers of stones, walls and cairns and all sorts of beautiful transient things with coloured leaves.

]]> By: Amy http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-1697 Amy Sun, 13 Aug 2006 20:20:12 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-1697 Thanks for the transciption. It sounds like a great book and sounds like it has had a big effect on you. Mims turned me on to your blog. I shall return. Thanks for the transciption. It sounds like a great book and sounds like it has had a big effect on you. Mims turned me on to your blog. I shall return.

]]> By: mim http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/08/13/simplicity-and-consumption/comment-page-1/#comment-1696 mim Sun, 13 Aug 2006 19:46:01 +0000 http://www.worstedwitch.com/?p=393#comment-1696 what a wonderful post, thank you for helping me get out of my funk (see my blogentry today) by framing/making the issue more clear. what a wonderful post, thank you for helping me get out of my funk (see my blogentry today) by framing/making the issue more clear.

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