I guess you could say I’ve been thinking a lot about footwear these days. Our recent discussion on handmade and domestically made socks kicked it off. Then I was thinking about shoes. Then baby shoes…
I think it’s the cold weather. I want warm everything. For everyone!
And if you happen to be our 14 month old niece, you’re going to have to ignore me today because I’m talking about local, handmade footwear for YOU.
I had a classmate from Turkey when I lived in Berlin. Before she got married to an older Turkish man in Berlin and joined our class, she worked in a sock factory in a small Turkish town. She started her job when she was 14 years old.
Our German was never good enough for me to ask her questions about working in a factory or to sit down and just chat and become friends. She would get mixed up whenever a classmate would ask her any question.
A few nights ago as Martin happened to be walking by me, I glanced at the back of his feet.
“Stop everything,” I shouted. He looked at me; he saw my eyes twitching as I watched his feet.
I didn’t even have to say a word.
“There’s another hole, isn’t there?” he said.
For the last 2 1/2 years, our little family has been on a self-emposed effort we call The No New Clothes Challenge.
I’m not sure what to say.
“Oh Katie, what a cute shirt! Where did you get it?”
“Oh thanks! It’s from Ann Taylor Loft… umm… over two years ago.”
I keep thinking about how I should probably start buying more clothes again. I don’t need new clothes. So I stop and ask myself why I’m compelled to go buy some then. And you know what I figure? I think I should go buy more clothes because THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE DO.
Thank you all for the incredible feedback on Monday’s post, Keeping a Focus When You Blog. My heart is full!
This month marks TWO YEARS since Martin and I stopped buying new clothes. Wowzers. I don’t think we would have survived without my sewing machine. There has been a lot of hole patching, sock darning, and repurposing. (In case you’ve missed it, you can catch the whole crazy journey here.)
I added to my wardrobe again.
This project is actually a no-sew one that I whipped up before Martin was even awake on Saturday morning. It’s super easy.
Yep – they’re just some simple fabric flowers on my jackets. Summer evenings get chilly around here (and did I mention we’re still getting snow? ha!). I figure it’s a good investment… although I’m not quite sold on the gray flower/green jacket combo.
I’m an American splitting life between a 480 square foot apartment in Berlin, Germany and – get this – a house made of old tires in the Rocky Mtns.
This blog chronicles the journey of Making This Home.Meet Katie.
