by blukatzen » Fri 25 Nov 2005, 17:55:47
Hi Fairmaiden
It is good that you have learned to think outside of excess consumerism and learned to repair or refurbish what you could salvage from what you do own already.
Our parents and grandparents did that during the depression (I am in my mid-40's). People do not consume and use up things for the home much like you think they do, and our ancestors made do by using even scraps to make rag rugs, etc. Look at what the Amish have accomplished, all without electricity to boot.
There were very few items around most folks' homes in the early parts of last century that weren't for a particular use. Back then, homes were much smaller, with smaller closets, storage space, rooms, etc. Even the furniture was scaled smaller, as people only had one or two good suits "for Sunday or special", and women had only a few good dresses, and then a few housedresses.
I myself was introduced to thrift store shopping last spring by a girlfriend from our local peakoil group, and I have seen quite a bit of things that were given away, still with tags on them! Of course, many things are given away from people that pass on as well..as I can tell by the age or style of the things given away, that this must have been so. I had recently had the responsibility of settling the estates of 2 elderly relatives with no children that passed on, and as they say..you can't take it with you. If you DO need something, and if it does not have to be brand-new, why not shop at a thrift store and save on the energy costs it makes to make something brand new. Some of the old things were made VERY well. There is something also called "freecycle" that is where people that have no use/outgrown something can pass it along. You have to start out by giving something away, but it slows down the piles at the trash heaps at the garbage dumps.
Sometimes, for a comforter, a duvet sewn from nice old sheets..this time of year, flannel would be wonderful! When they are found at the thrift store for a dollar or two, they are so broken in and cozy! Just a little thread and you have a comforter cover to change the look/color scheme.
If you live with this mindset, you do not have to be a slave to taking care of your things, and you will live and leave a much lighter footprint on this earth.
Good luck on your upcoming wedding! A question though, how will you choose to carry this philosophy over to your wedding preperations?
. Actually, I'm making a quilt out of worn out blue jeans and other denim I can find, and all the seams I cut out of the denim are being used to make the rug. It's turning out pretty nicely if I do say so myself (though so far it's only the size of a table placemat ) 
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