LiveDifferent Challenge (8): Something Out of Nothing

Have you ever seen those purses people make out of garbage bags? Yeah, me neither. But I’ve heard of them. And now I’ve read of Eco-Fashion becoming all the rage–putting laborers in Peru to work using misprinted or discontinued packaging from Coca-Cola, Luna Bar, and Aveda to create must-have Eco Fashion handbags fit for supermodels. Well I’m not rushing out to buy a $180 purse made out of Target plastic bags, but I do love the idea of making good use of what we already have instead of constantly falling into the default mode of buying something new. That is one of the things that I’m loving about my clothes fast (see LiveDifferent Challenge 1–I’m not buying clothes for one year). When I’m in town, there is not even the option of looking at clothes, so I simply ignore the sales, skip the women’s section, and resist the magnetic draw of the clearance rack. It’s actually a lot easier to just not buy clothes altogether than it is to try to always discern “Well, do I really need this or not?” My answer is always “no!” so it makes it super easy. It’s like when Jeff and I were dating. We decided right off that we weren’t going to kiss. So there was no agonizing over whether we “should or shouldn’t” or obsessing over whether we were or weren’t or nerves or stress about what we might do physically. We weren’t even going to go there, so it made it so freeing and simple! It’s kind of the same thing … when clothes are off limits it’s a done deal–I don’t even have to think about it. But I’m getting off track…

The other thing I love about the clothes fast is that it forces me to get creative (I know, I haven’t even been at it for 2 months, but I’m still learning things). Instead of thinking, “Oh, there’s a wedding coming up, I have nothing to wear,” I simply make the most of what I already have…it’s so much simpler! So this has gotten me thinking about creativity, and how much more creative we might be if we worked at it a little. God is the Creator, and as people made in His image, we have the ability to create and be creative–and there’s profound joy in that.

So my husband was the one who unknowingly set the stage for all this Creative Eco-Fashion Make-Something-Out-of-Nothing business. Last weekend he came in from outside carrying a big Real Estate sign from the neighbor. I raised my eyebrows. “What are you doing with that?” He smiled, very satisfied with himself. “I’m making a laptop case.” “What?” I was skeptical to say the least. But he did. He had found the idea online, and while visiting with the neighbor, saw that he was going to burn this old real estate sign. Jeff rescued the sign, dug out his yellow duct tape (he insisted on making the case with the print on the outside so you could see that was indeed a re-used sign), and … tada! … laptop case. Click Click here (1), here (2), and here (3) to see the pics! He got the idea here.

Also this week my dad and I planted a garden. I’ve always wanted a garden, a real one, but haven’t had the space. So this year, while enjoying the beautiful property overlooking the river, Dad tilled up a good sized plot, took me to buy the seeds, and even set the stakes and string for me. I pretty much just had to go in and plant the seeds–my kind of gardening! But it was so fun to do, and has been fun to water, and Dutch loves to romp around and dig in the mug and watch me water. What could be better than having fresh produce from our own garden this summer!

So, our challenge this week is to make something out of nothing. I’d like to have a new little bag for the summer to carry Dutch’s gear, without toting around the monster diaper bag. I’m not much of a sewer, but I have a pattern from a book my momma-in-law got me, so I’m thinking that will be my response to this challenge. Instead of paying $9.99 to get one at Target, I’ll sew one up here at home…it may be a little less perfect, but we’ll call it character. It’ll be one of a kind. What could you make rather than buy? What could you re-use rather than throw away? Take the challenge, embrace the fact that you are made in the image of a Creator God, and ask Him how you can use the resources He’s given you to create something out of nothing. Ex Nihilo creation abilities may be reserved for God himself, but we can at least make something good out of something destined for the dump. What will you create? I’d love to hear your ideas!