I recently had the epiphany that I would often have the urge to spend money on stuff for a hobby or an activity because for a very short moment, it gave me the feeling that I'd engaged in that activity. But no amount of appliance buying can replace actual cooking, no amount of fabric buying can replace sewing. Just by buying stuff for a hobby, you are usually not actually engaging in that hobby (contrary to what our consumerist mindset is trying to tell us)

@garrulus3399

8 ай бұрын

I feel called out 😂 so true! It's giving "identity" and it works for... A minute or two.

@niamhm4109

8 ай бұрын

Me with buying books!!!

@pig3292

8 ай бұрын

This is why I stopped buying books. Buying books is not reading books 😂

@nanimaonovi2528

8 ай бұрын

Oof yeah, I get a sort of FOMO sewing a project because yardage is all potential and the finished item has a few flaws.

@Lou252

8 ай бұрын

My bookcase full of unread books and wardrobe full of unknitted yarn agrees with you.

I’ve had that realization: sometimes I just love that a thing exists. I don’t actually need it! It’s hard. 😅

@Alyssaleeeeeeee

8 ай бұрын

This was very important for me!!!

@rocioiribe5841

8 ай бұрын

same! you eventually come to that conclusion after a while of consuming intentionally and it's such a relief.

@GaGaObession

8 ай бұрын

Ahhh this is useful to think of 😅 as I struggle with this! I keep impulse buying things on Amazon like a sponge holder shaped like a little bed for the sponge 🤣

@charleendouglas7224

8 ай бұрын

Buy the Alice Fabric and reupholster the red chairs with it.

@myconfusedmerriment

8 ай бұрын

It is hard! These damn algorithms know me too well!! 😂 I am trying to keep in mind, every time something beautiful comes across my feed: just because something is beautiful doesn’t mean I need to own it. Also, another thing that I remind myself often: if I don’t buy it now and I just can’t stop thinking about it, we live in a world where I can almost certainly find something very similar (if not the same) with the power of the internet.

"Are you just glad it exists, or do you actually want to own it?" is such a good question.

That Alice in Wonderland fabric to recover the cushions on your red chairs would be amazing!!!! Two birds, one stone!

@merylcrooks711

8 ай бұрын

Seconded. Or even cut out the different elements and applique the chair with it?

@mxflint1715

8 ай бұрын

Or a fancy tablecloth! Or i think a vest would be really cute, i feel like thay's an iten you can go a little crazier with and still be ''normal''

@aimee5588

8 ай бұрын

I was thinking it’d look great as a couple of cushions on the sofa! Matching armchairs and sofa cushions…!

@tadghcr2175

8 ай бұрын

Also fun insides of pockets fabric!

@lilyd802

8 ай бұрын

Yes or a tote bag?

13:49 There is a library in my state (US) that has a kitchen appliances collection. Patrons can borrow things like air fryers to do exactly what you're talking about. I think it's a great idea and I'd love to see more libraries add these kinds of items.

@HereForTheCatContent

8 ай бұрын

That is amazing!!

@paularunslondon

6 ай бұрын

Yes, we have something similar in the UK too! I saw it when I was visiting my hometown (it was in the Glades in Bromley for anyone nearby) and I’m sure it’s not the only one. I feel like it was called Library of Little Things or something like that…

@susanbartlett5052

5 ай бұрын

I've seen things like small power tools like an electric drill for lending.

I'm often telling myself "I can love this without owning it" and this video has such good reminders to keep repeating that to myself.

Here’s a thing I realized: most brands have a big sale every 3-6 months. So if you miss this one because you’re not sure it fits in your life yet, it’s likely a 3 month waiting period and then you can catch the next sale. If it’s not 3, it IS 6. I realized this because I very often keep my version of items like these on my “wish list” for 2 years before I get them, in part because I can rarely afford something more ethically made, and so I’ve been able to notice that even the types of brands that “aren’t on sale all the time” do have that 3-6 month sale cadence more often than not. They want you to think you’ll have to wait a year but you won’t.

@rvb23

8 ай бұрын

This is also basically ASOS these days, and even then, it is even less than 3 months and more like 3 days till the next deal.

The IKEA armchair has now a washable linen cover at IKEA that you can put over your existing Strandmon chair to protect and preserve it. It seems like an easy option to sort of "upholster" it AND I imagine you could easily embroider that and just put over the chair you already have.

@jesusbernardosfernandez6515

8 ай бұрын

Yeah! I had the same thought: cheap and not that hard to customize. Google gave me this: highdi wingback chair covers . Then apliqué on that

@usethebrick

7 ай бұрын

And if she hates how her work turned out, she can just take it off

What I’ve taken away from this video is this is a great gift guide for leena

I had a fabric I loved, but didn’t need an item in it, so I bought a sample and framed it. I get to see it every day that way vs just when I would wear it as a skirt and every time I pass it in my hall I smile. 🙂

@Nico5890

8 ай бұрын

BRILLIANT

Ok I am a member of the airfryer cult and I will say that for me personally, it’s been incredible. Saved on bills, so easy, much easier to clean an airfryer than an oven, yummy always crispy food in much less time. Brilliant for an ADHD girlie who generally hates cooking. I genuinely use it every single day. On the flip side, I bought an Organic Basics bralette a few years ago and sorry but I thought that it was piss poor. It washed terribly, despite following all of the instructions, was not made to be even moderately supportive and started bobbling within weeks. Big fat yikes from me and I really did want to love it 😬

@melanie_meanders

8 ай бұрын

this was also my air fryer experience and i also have adhd! it’s a great help for those of us with mental health/food issues already!

@aukkran

8 ай бұрын

I love the airfryer. Easier to clean than an oven, easier to flip things, and I get to just throw whatever I have and it beeps at me when it's made delicious. It helped us so much to cut down on food waste because we finally can eat everything with minimal effort

@meridith7137

8 ай бұрын

@@melanie_meandersit really is amazing the difference small things such as not having to preheat, select a baking tray / dish or set timers to take things out (because it just stops and beeps at you!) can make

@laurinexyz4681

8 ай бұрын

​@@aukkranabsolutely agree! I really love fries and crispy foods (I know, not that healthy but I try to balance it out) an airfryer is great to heat up foods again that become soggy in the microwave. I can re-heat pizza, I can freshen up bread and bread rolls, even fries that nice again (which are usually a pain to eat as leftovers)

@Juststudiothings

8 ай бұрын

Literally came here to say this. Sometimes new inventions are SO useful. My parents refused to buy any “newfangled” equipment or foods or anything else they didn’t deem a necessity. It made me a weird adult who was unwilling to spend money on things. Life is short. Some objects really do make life better and easier.

You could use the Alice in wonderland fabric to make a cushion cover or maybe, since what you like is to look at it, you could buy a small amount, frame it and hang it on the wall☺

@AnkV

8 ай бұрын

Yes or a nice tote bah

@rosefox4245

8 ай бұрын

An Alice in wonderland cushion on the red chairs???? Amazing, brilliant, outstanding 🤯🤩❤

Honestly Leena as a disabled person the air fryer did make cooking more accessible for me to cook really simple meals especially from frozen foods since that’s what is most accessible to me. I even use it to heat naan to butter when I have no energy. I suck at cooking & never use my oven!

@findingagain

8 ай бұрын

The air fryer made freezer meals accessible to me again as well! :) We've gotten a combination air fryer/microwave to help cut down on the footprint of such a thing.

@elzbethmrgn

8 ай бұрын

Same, but also the oven in my rental place was absolutely rubbish and the air fryer is *so* much more energy efficient. No regrets about getting the air fryer at all

@binkybombastic6200

8 ай бұрын

We make so many things in our air fryer - sausages, steaks, chips, fish,.. basically everything without a sauce that you would put in a frying pan or the oven.

@jodyvankuijk

8 ай бұрын

Same

@clairewillow6475

7 ай бұрын

I have a toaster oven, is that kind of the same thing? I don’t have room in my kitchen for more stuff

Reminder that vegan leather usually means plastic. While there are options out there for non synthetic vegan leather, the brand’s website doesn’t state anything other than vegan leather, so it’s likely plastic. For the Alice in Wonderland fabric, you could make a tote bag, laptop case, pillow cover, pajama bottoms, or use just a little of it for the trim on a dress.

@foxgloved8922

8 ай бұрын

Yep. If you’re wanting a leather-like item, I think the best bet is second hand authentic leather. If treated well (oiled yearly or more) it will last decades. Vegan leather, even the non plastic kind, will last years at best.

@littleleafy

8 ай бұрын

What if she could reupholster her chairs with the Alice in Wonderland fabric?!?

@kahkah1986

8 ай бұрын

@@littleleafy Absolutely, I think it just strikes me as a home decor type design, less of a clothing design imo. You can also put fabric you love in a frame on the wall. Carpets/ fake fur etc. add extra insulation in winter when they are hung.

@jessicaneal8553

8 ай бұрын

​@littleleafy yes!!! Put it on the chair!!!

@anyapearce6113

8 ай бұрын

I was thinking this as well. Could be an interesting topic for Leena to explore!

Hi Leena, The Alice in Wonderland fabric is designed by a company called Rifle Paper Company and they are predominantly a stationery company. I don't think they do the pattern in a greeting card but I'm pretty sure they have an art print and possibly previously a calendar with various images from that collection :)

I LOVE the Jabberwocky, and I memorized it at age 16! My uncle rattled the whole thing off at Thanksgiving one year and I was ENTRANCED. I wanted nothing more than to be so cool as to casually recite the Jabberwocky poem to anyone, at any time (teenage me had strange ideas about what classified as "cool"). I'm nearly 40 now, and I can still deliver this, and many other poems and song lyrics off-the-cuff to impress my friends and neighbors, 😉

@kahkah1986

8 ай бұрын

Once you have memorized something, it is forever yours - no-one can steal it from you. Even when you get old, people can often access different types of memory and still remember this sort of stuff. I think it is a different vision of ownership, and it is pretty humbling.

Leena, what I admire about you is how intentional you are about, like, everything in your life? How much thought and care you seem to put into every little thing? As someone who’s pretty much exhausted all the time and on autopilot a lot, i find this kind of intentionality aspirational

GIRL! If you love that Jabberwocky cover and color combination use it to inspire your next knitting project. You could do something with color blocking, or learn stranded colorwork and reproduce that pattern on a beanie, a cowl, or a jumper.

You could totally get a smaller amount of that Alice fabric and do a cushion or other type of homeware, you could even get a frame from a charity shop and frame some of it!

@CiriliaRose

8 ай бұрын

I second this idea; it’d also make a fantastic tote bag or small project bag pouch.

If you decorate you chair I'd love to see a video about it!

@deldevours

8 ай бұрын

I second that!

You can take my air fryer from my cold, dead hands. Uses less energy than my oven, doesn't heat up the room, and makes veggies delicious.

@adrianghandtchi1562

Ай бұрын

You made use of your air fryer, and that’s good. Some people keep it in the box and just leave in the back of the garage or something.

'You can love it, and leave it on the shelf' is a phrase that's helped me when I find myself wanting something beautiful, that I won't actually use 💙 Every person & their dog has an air fryer, glad I'm not the only one who's not bought into it! 😅 And great to have met you at your Podcast event Leena 😊

@LouleyK

8 ай бұрын

I'm going to tattoo that on my wrist!! Thankyou 😂

@bethany9477

8 ай бұрын

@@LouleyK Glad to be of help 😄

About the Alice in Wonderland fabric - if I find fabric I really love but can't picture sewing something I'd wear from it, I think about accessories I could make or home decor items. For this particular fabric I'm thinking it would make such a cute project bag for knitting :)

@teenyleebop

8 ай бұрын

I've used some fabric as art, stretch it like a canvas and pop it on the wall.

As someone who makes their own bras, I think you should give it a go! When I made my first one, I found that getting the pattern to fit me really well took a fair amount of time and experimentation, but the actual physical sewing wasn't really harder than sewing anything else. Because bras are relatively small compared to most other garments, they come together faster than you might think, and you can get a lot of them out of a yard, or even half a yard, of fabric. I haven't tried a lot of patterns, but so far my favorite is the Watson bra pattern from Cloth Habit.

Air fryers are something that has genuinely made cooking possible for me when cooking any other way seems arduous or would take too long (chronic mental illness brings that barrier up to an unworkable level not infrequently). They are just a conveniently-designed convection oven. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want, mostly. A caveat I will add here is that they are often coated with teflon inside the drawer, which is not only not great health-wise, but it is also not supposed to go in a dishwasher, which is often a dealbreaker quality for me when choosing what to buy.

I love the fit. So, I was very hesitant to get an air fryer but bit the bullet about 5 years ago. It has been a revelation for both reheating and cooking for me personally. My partner is vegetarian and I'm mostly vegetarian. The way this appliance handles potatoes is enough for us, but I love what it does to most veggies. It saves a lot of time too because it's compact. It's also more eco friendly than heating up an oven (which is great because my partner doesn't love microwaves).

@TheHelican

8 ай бұрын

100% agree that airfryers are the pinnacle of potato preparation. I add air fryer potatoes to meals that have no right to have a potato next to them. I think the ratio for what I use my air fryer for is 3:1 potatoes to order things. It's also great for those par-bakes rolls you can buy. We love doing hot rolls and soup for lunch

@slena

8 ай бұрын

yesss i transitioning to a vegetarian diet and the air fryer has been great for me to finally master crispy tofu and mushrooms, much easier to achieve than in the oven and i hate deep frying in my small space

@heathermayredetzke4245

8 ай бұрын

I got rid of my air. fryer because I found I just needed to. use the broil setting on my oven to get things nice n' crispy like that, and then have one less thing on the counter.

@Kat.....

8 ай бұрын

What air fryer do you have? Not sure which one to get

I'm pretty sure Danie from DIY Danie did a DIY version of this chair, worth a watch!

You could always thrift an air fryer. I couldn’t bring myself to pay $50-$100 for an appliance that I didn’t see myself using that much. But I scored one for $10 at a yard sale and I really enjoy using it even though I don’t use it super frequently. My favorite uses are making crispy fried tofu and reheating pizza 😁

Perfume is actually more resilient that people think, as long as it's stored somewhere appropriate (protected from the sun, humidity and heat). I've used perfumes from the 80s onwards and it's actually pretty interesting! As long as someone doesn't have extremely sensitive skin or the fragrance doesn't look/smell weird, it's probably fine. I think it's cool because it makes the whole thing less wasteful. The things I've been resisting later are backups of skincare. It's not a good idea but with Black Friday prices it can be tempting.

The Alice in Wonderland fabric is so pretty! I think I would use it to maybe make a cushion cover or use it to make a pocket on dungarees or a dress?

George and Ginger's free Little Black Bra pattern is amazing

@Shetooktothewoods

8 ай бұрын

Thank you!!!❤

@kirstya7172

8 ай бұрын

And the waves and wild superstar bra is also a wonderful pattern

I bought a nice toaster oven, satisfies the need for a toaster and air fryer. I rarely use my oven now. I do cook a lot and enjoy it. I’ve gotten so much use out of mine, but I know many who have bought bad ones or bought into the fad and not used them.

Sewing bras is not as hard as you might think! Sourcing the proper materials is the hardest part I find. For the Alice in Wonderland fabric, I tend to make pillows/ pillow cases when I love a quilting cotton but don't want to wear it. Bonus pillows with a book is cozy!

Leena! As someone who bought a small bit of the Alice fabric (before she even sewed really) with the plan to make a draw string book bag, no a cushion, no it’s too lovely😂 I can confirm it is nice that it just exists. In the end I made a little pouch for my sewing and knitting on the go bits and bobs, although I do still have a bit left that will need to get used one day. I don’t think they make it as greeting cards, but my step daughter has it as an art print, and I do also have the illustrated book 🫠

Edit: I know Lena loves this scent and she’s so valid. BUT: I got the cardamom coffee Lush perfume as a gift and… it’s not that great! If you like coffee notes, you are not missing out!

@GothGoneWrong

8 ай бұрын

Is the staying power poor? I've heard on Reddit it is 😕

@jacquiz.6837

8 ай бұрын

@@GothGoneWrong it’s been years since I had it, so I don’t remember

Leena!! DIYDanie did a DIY with that anthro chair! If you’re really want to decorate yours, you could look to hers as inspiration! 💛 Good luck!

Oh dear, the notion of admiring beautiful things without the need to acquire them! I love to think about for example clothes in the same vein: some designer object will be always and forever outside of my reach and that's ok, I still can look at them in awe of craftsmanship... training myself in admiring without acquiring, that's what I would love to do. Thank you, Leena for a thoughtful video as always!

I would love a video on keeping a craft stash. As a knitter, I fell into the trap of a stash when Covid started and now I'm a bit embarrassed with how much yarn I have. But I know that once I move out of my family home I won't have as much disposable income anymore, and I know I will be grateful for it then.

I actually got the bookshop bag last week after thinking about for for an age. I absolutely love it and i have worn it a couple of times but I can absolutely see why it doesn’t work for everyone. For me, I can see myself using it a couple of times a week for years and finding joy every time I wear it. Also, the door does open and it’s glorious

What I’ve just realised: nowadays we basically get things thrown at us and then we decide if it’s worth our money or if it’s something we really need in our lives rather than having an urge from within or having a problem that needs a solution and THEN looking for an item. I would have saved a lot of money if there weren‘t so many ads on Instagram.. 🥴

@TopazRubyQueen

8 ай бұрын

This is true. The trick is shifting your thinking so that you do make purchases in that second way you describe :) The constant advertising will of course continue, unfortunately, but I've found a lot of comfort, and savings, in limiting my purchases as much as possible to things about which I have had this thought process -- which you described well.

I highly highly recommend the Barrett bralette as a first bra pattern, it’s free and fantastic as comes with loads of online video assistance. I am also highly anti stash and further than not buying anything without a project in mind, I only buy fabric/yarn if I’m planning to start a project immediately. Before this rule I’d end up with both a daunting backlog that causes me to procrastinate and sometimes I’d fall out of love with a future project after a couple months and then have all the materials with no use for them. I still fail sometimes but having that framework in mind is really helpful.

@kahkah1986

8 ай бұрын

I wonder if you can knit underwear? I think the yarn would be key, so it wasn't unbearably itchy...

@leighbee13

8 ай бұрын

@@kahkah1986there’s actually a pattern maker called naked knit that does great knitted undies. They suggest you use fine cashmere but I guess it depends on your personal fibre tolerance.

would love to see more of these types of videos! somehow manages to hit the same easy dopamine buttons as those cursed haul videos but with the exact opposite message and effect. i found it really grounding and useful to see someone else working through the ‘i don’t need this actually’ process.

Wow, the book themed bags! You could totally sew a bag and do some appliqué on it and try and make something similar yourself. God, they are beautiful! One more item on the list of projects to do that hardly ever get done. 😉

@kahkah1986

8 ай бұрын

I have to say, I think the company ones do look really well done - you could try a simpler approximation, but to make one as detailed as that would be expert level unless there is a secret technique I know nothing about?

@trilliand

8 ай бұрын

@@kahkah1986 I am just tempted to try to make one myself. It will certainly not look like the professionally made ones, but nevertheless. I would probably handsew or glue the little parts on. Or Cricut and use iron on vinyl. The result would obviously be be different, but inspired by the idea and me-made.

My mom was a huge fan of re-upholstering furniture that needed a new life. She sent our chairs to a professional, but I imagine there are guides for doing it yourself out there too. I think applique on your chairs could be lovely, but so could a similar fun fabric!

I'm learning to be at peace with the fact that I can enjoy an item's existence without needing to own it. Like knowing that a beautiful thing exists can be joyful enough, and I don't HAVE to possess it (good exemple would be the fabric). It's hard! But I'm getting better at it.

@luciflemme

8 ай бұрын

Also trying to live by the rule "If I wouldn't buy it full price, I shouldn't buy it on sale" (keyword, would not could, like if I could afford it full price but still wouldn't want to pay that price) Of course exceptions apply for necessities or buying the higher end version of something I would have bought anyway

If you ever visit Berlin, feel free to stop by and pick up my air fryer. I bought into the hype during the panini to make better and healthier snack and vastly overestimated my interest in homemade kale chips.

Love this! This made me think of how, especially now that we live in this era of aesthetic culture, I have to often question myself do I just love that this thing feels like.. I don't know... dark academia or cottagecore or whatever it is and an imaginary alternate version of myself would totally own that but does it actually fit with everything else I own and feel like ME, you know? I see so many people rebranding themselves constantly and buying different versions of the same thing for different vibes and aesthetics and it just seems exhausting and I don't have a fucking clue how they afford it.

@EmL-kg5gn

8 ай бұрын

Honestly I think some of them can’t afford it and end up in financial trouble. And even if they can afford it we really need to address the issues that lead to addiction in our society (lack of safety and connection) because even if an individual can afford it our planet and exploited workers are still paying the price and they can’t afford it! I wish we could ban advertising beyond the confines of physical/virtual storefronts 😭

That this video is such a version of the thought process I usually go through about buying/owning things (and the weird pleasure of thinking it all through in excruciating detail) that I really feel seen; thank you!

Re: Black Friday, I think it has expanded slowly into a “November sale” for a lot of brands this year as they compete for each other’s customers and they each basically play discount chicken. So I’m just using it as an opportunity to buy the things I was already going to replace without being too concerned over timing. I’d rather just enjoy my day off than hop onto websites asap that day. Can hardly believe customers used to line up the night before or stampede into stores for Black Friday deals. Maybe eventually we wont have sale culture in the future but just constant flash sales and consumers being resistant to buy things unless they’re “on sale” since sale is so common. There’s already a common hardware store in the US (Harbor Freight) that has sales so frequently that if you buy full price, you’re basically just there on the wrong day of the month and don’t know about the constant sales.

@myconfusedmerriment

8 ай бұрын

I do like that Black Friday is kind of a weeks-long affair at this point (“discount chicken” is a good way to put it 😂). There are a couple things I reliably buy this time of year because I actually use them, but I like that it’s becoming less of a scramble. I also always remember the one time I waited in line to do the midnight shopping thing and I hated it so much lol. Didn’t even end up getting anything because turns out shopping with hundreds of other people at midnight is just really stressful and I can’t make decisions that way. 😅

We recently borrowed an air fryer from some friends … I’d been toying with the idea, but really didn’t want to buy it if I wasn’t gonna like it. Borrowed it for about a month (they never use it), and we just evaluated that we will not be getting one and we will be returning theirs. I have a feeling they’re gonna be disappointed that we’re giving it back 😅

We will always support you no matter what. Leena definitely has the capacity to formulate her insights really well.

I have a hyrbid air fryer/ toaster oven that I use multiple times a day! It does all the toaster things, and also acts as a mini-oven. The airfryer function is excellent for reheating or cooking anything frozen, anything breaded, baked goods like muffins, pancakes, etc. BUT I dont have a microwave. This is it. oh and it makes and reheats pizza. I think if I had a toaster oven and microwave, I would also think long and hard before buying an air fryer.

Hi Leena. Why not frame a piece of the fabric or cover a canvas & make a wall hanging? It would bring you so much joy just to look at it ❤️

@rachelmaddison3681

8 ай бұрын

Ooh yes, I can just see it against that blue backdrop.

I have to admit I have a bit of a spending phobia at the minute, I won't buy things that I really want/need because of the thought of 'what if I get it but then don't like it?' which is stupid but has allowed me to keep the clutter in my space down to a minimum. Also, not trying to be a bad influence but that Alice fabric would make a wonderful cushion cover for you to decorate your ikea armchairs with...

Second comment: I love Rifle fabric and actually have had a bit of the Alice in Wonderland (made masks) For small bits like this, I've made myself fabric covers for notebooks. It protects my notebook in my bag and can move on to a new notebook the same size. I could see you making a book sleeve to cover a paperback in your bag out of it or a little travel bag for knitting supplies. Also, I've got small bits of fabric from etsy, typically when someone is destashing (second-hand) or as a remnant. That could be a sustainable way to get it.

Here's a thing about that Alice fabric (from a quilter and former fabric seller): there is metallic gold ink all over that print and it does not hold up well. Literally the oils in your hands will break it down, it rubs off, washes off...some brands even turn green exactly like copper. It's going to be extremely pretty right away and a lot more dull in a couple years. You could likely find a print or fat quarter of this and frame it. It's a good compromise for the "need" while sidestepping the impractical nature of fugitive inks.

Hi Leena, As a huge HLP fan, I'm happy to let you know she released her annual gift guide this morning. :) Love your work, thank you for sharing your brain with us!

This might help you feel more solid about not buying the Alice in Wonderland fabric, but after taking a look at the fiber content and fabric weight it looks like it's more structured/thick/sturdy/likely stiff than what would be ideal for the clothing I've seen you make and wear. If I was to make something out of this type of fabric, I would guess it would do better as a bit of a quilt, maybe a pillow, a tote bag, or something else that better aligns with a fabric that holds it's own. Now take this with a grain of salt as I have only looked at the online listing, not actually touched the fabric to see how it behaves.

shook to see the cardamom coffee on here because i smelled it the other day and the dilemma of whether or not i need more lush perfume is currently bouncing around my head at top speed!!

Leena, your videos keep getting better and better! Never stop, keep making videos into your 90s please!

THAT BAG! And, hear me out...an Alice In Wonderland BRA! (She says, with no idea how to make clothing, and no idea how that fabric could or should be used lol)

@leenanorms

7 ай бұрын

Lady, cease and desist with those good ideas!!!!

OMG, that fabric is fantastic. If I was a talented seamstress, I would use it to make a quilted jacket or vest. So lovely!

Pretty fabrics can always turn into beautiful kitchen towels and you can never have too many kitchen towels!

It is so hard to appreciate art and not covet it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and struggles ❤

Love this video! Love you! Love Hannah! Lots of love all around!!!! ❤

Great video concept Leena! You have really made me think, and I think these ideas will stick with me in the future when I'm trying to decide whether to buy or not to buy :) And as always, you have articulated very well some debates I have had internally many times over, but that I would never be able to accurately put into words myself. Thank you 😊🏵️

As a fullerbust girlie, I've been on the hunt for ethical bras for years. Two of my fav ethical bra brands are Luckysewandsew as well as Molke UK Both of these brands are fantastic and they last for ages.

@hepcatliz

8 ай бұрын

ooh, making a note! I've ordered with understance, there's here in Canada and they're pretty too 😉❤️

@EmL-kg5gn

8 ай бұрын

You’re an angel!!!! I just had a look and Molke actually has my size which is honestly a miracle and even better Luckysewandsew is made to measure??? Gosh I was just looking for any bras at this point so ethical and long lasting is more than I ever hoped for!

thank you, your thoughts are always so refreshing and grounding!! i would love to see a video about collecting (books, etc.) and consumerism and/or that stash video you mentioned! i have had lots of collecting and even addictive shopping struggles and i feel weirdly thankful for learning my own ways to appreciate things from afar or get a feeling of ownership (which isnt really the right word) from having no money as a teen, though thats something i unlearnt when i was stable and quickly had to relearn ! before, i used to trawl etsy to get the 'found a cool thing' dopamine hit but just save what i found to various lists for reference, to revist for my own fun or creative inspiration. now i do it across pc screenshot folders, google slides, and pinterest (with that add pins chrome extension). its great bc even if i dont have those cool things in my home or to wear, ive captured them in an accessible place where they can inform my making and spending without any time limit. and in those times when i get caught in a crisis of self image and feel under pressure to show others how cool i am through stuff, i have to investigate it, and try better ways to affirm my indentity and connect with others, helped very much by all the information and insight you share here on your channel, so thank you so much!

For the fabric you love, a few ideas: - Get a small piece, and frame it (if you just want to admire it as art, make it hanging art!) - Use it as a lining for a jacket (I think it would look best as a large flat piece of fabric, so you can admire the design) - Laptop cover (maybe add a bit of foam in the middle to protect it) - Get a small amount for a bunch of little projects: bookmarks, headbands, pocket linings

Fabric wise "can i think of anything to make with this?" is definitely a question I use. I have a fairly large stash because I buy second hand from charity shops, but I know what each fabric will be used for, and then old bedsheets for mockups and linings.

New craft house is a deadstock fabric company based in London who do bra kits! I haven’t tried them myself but they have a big size range and all the fabric I have bought from them have been great quality 😊

Borrowing an air fryer is a great way to decide! When my MIL was on holiday, we borrowed hers. We loved it and decided we want to get one at some point when we know we have the counter space available for it. Knowing that it's a "not yet" purchase for us has also helped me stop researching uses for one since I now know what I would realistically use one for based on our own use case during the time we had my MIL's air fryer.

that fabric would make such a good cushion cover - i am very tempted

Leena, loved this video, the Vendula book bag is darling. I just went to the website and fell head over heels in love with the little Tiger camera bag design. Well, it's on its way to the USA for my Christmas present. Thanks so much! LOL

One thing to note about air fryers is they cook with the same method as a convection oven. So you may be able to either find a big oven with convection abilities or find a small counter top convection oven (that may come with regular baking ability like a toaster oven or other capabilites) and get something very similar but in a multipurpose tool that youd use for more things.

I'm getting an airfryer as my company christmas gift this year and I'm very excited to try it out, but before choosing it I did also ask around to see if I had someone in my life who would want to inherit it in case I don't actually use it 😅

I know this isn’t the point, but for you and anyone else who might benefit, I do want to argue in favor of the air fryer, lol. I think I got lucky by buying mine on sale from a reputable brand (instant pot) for about $40, but I’m disabled, in a way that heavily impacts my energy and my abilities for self care, and I find it to be life changing. It’s adhd friendly, because it turns itself off when the timer is up, so I can’t forget my food and burn things. And while it’s recommended you preheat first and THEN put the food in, there’s no real hazard if you just put in your food, set the settings, turn it on, and walk away! Less trips, less standing, less running back and forth from cupboards. it's a noticeable relief for me. When I first got it, I expected it to be more of a gimmick that I used for French fries and baked goods, but it's gotten to the point where i almost refuse to use anything else. ill just google 'how to x in air fryer' and see if i can make it work 😂. also, mine is dishwasher safe. i dont have to do any manual cleanup at all. so its truly a perfect device if you're chronically ill and energy is your most precious resource.

I love this kind of video :) I often think about stuff I didn't buy, too ... but especially with visually appealing things, it helps me to save a photo/screenshot from the object (especially fabrics - not really helpful with perfume, of course ...). That way, I can admire the thing whenever I want but I don't have to own it. I have accepted that there are too many beautiful fabrics/patterns/pieces of clothing etc. in this world - more than I can ever use in my life and what good is it when they are sitting unused in my home? For black Friday, I just got some printer ink and maybe I will buy some stuff for my home (we moved in half a year ago and there are still so many things missing). In the past years, I sometimes got things that I liked but never used in the end, so I try to only buy things that I need. Sewing is my main hobby (has been for 20 years) and I currently own about 40 clothes fabrics and 40 patchwork/decorative fabrics. I'm okay with my stash, it only fills half of a small cabinet. But it just happens naturally if you sew a lot - sometimes you have leftover fabric from projects even because calculating the right amount can be tricky, or plans change and you end up not doing a project at all. I find it worrying though that some people have been sewing for 1 or 2 years and already collected WALLS full of fabrics, 10 or 20 times more than I collected in 20 years.

I know it's not for everyone for a lot of reasons but one reason I do love my Kindle is that it no longer matters how physically long or large a book is, it's always Kindle-sized. It's probably not a coincidence that I'd never read Pillars of the Earth until I got the Kindle lol.

i love just adding everything to my cart, all of the things i like and then i go to the cart see the total and see that that is not money i have to spend and then just close the tab.

your opinions on the oven are so relatable. i have only used the oven at uni once this term so far to make a pizza which is not something i eat loads. hob meals are so much nicer to cook

My way of having a fabric stash is to know the plans I have for things to make and have an idea of what fabric/colour and how much I need for that, then whenever I see something that works for that plan, I buy it. So that can vary between like 1.5m green boiled wool to "some sort of cotton with at least 0.5m fabric that will look nice with the fabric I already have so I can use this as a lining for it" and generally the latter is thrifted and the former is a specific trip to the fabric store. It helps so I have things mostly ready to start projects when I want to and I don't have to scramble to find the perfect fabric and I can usually find things at good prices, too, since I have the time to be picky.

Project ideas for the amazing fabric: Statement pocket/s on boring dungarees, jeans, jackets, skirts. Statement hem on the afformentioned garments. Knitting/ crochet/ sewing roll for tools and needles. Tote bag (i know we all have too many tho) Scarf or bandana. Lets all think of some more ideas please!!!

Leena, I love this concept, and really feels like a balm in the storm of this week when I just want to hide from the internet and feel sick as a recovering shopaholic. The deinfluencing trend I've seen is sort of what you do all the time, but would love to see a video about things you have bought in the past that weren't worth the hype or that people may often be influenced to feel like they need but might need a wake up call on how much it's not a necessity.

Alice fabric would make a lovely tote bag (or another style). As a crafting girly, stash building is a separate hobby, for which I have also planned out how to distribute in my will as I don't want someone who doesn't know the craft to struggle with how to dispose of the stash.

I bought my organic basics bra (and some underwear) back in 2020 and I LOVED IT so much. I wore it literally to shreds, and I am now in the same position as you where I’m holding on to it bc I wanna clone it and make a new one, but I don’t feel confident in sewing. Prices on the site have also gone up quite a bit in these past three years, and I can’t really justify buying one again.

I'd make a book jacket with that fabric, basically it protects your books while you're traveling, stops them getting bashed about, also keeps them private from other people. Can be used again and again. And personalised.

as someone who always talks herself out of buying things i LOVE this video hahahah i do keep them in the back of my mind for if someone wants to gift me something and asks what id like! our airfryer helped me with cooking so much - i never use our oven but ive found aifryer to be so easy to cook veggies on and its so quick. i also love it for that random fries craving :P pretty bags are 100% something im always tempted by but fully relate to your thoughts here, theyre just not very pratical!

as a proud cardamom coffee owner, i really do recommend it! it's a big comfort every autumn/winter. HOWEVER, i got mine years ago when it was cheaper and they also sold it in smaller sizes. i've been rationing mine since they relaunched the scent with a bigger bottle and bigger price tag. glad to find another lover of the scent!

If I may give my personal experience, I waited 2years to get an airfryer (from the brand cosori) and daaaaang was I right to give in, I love cooking but this is next level practical, quick, easy and efficient. No regrets ^^ I got it on black friday and it's so useful! Plus, it's energy efficient. Organic basic on the other hand, I'm a bit sad about my purchase, because it's pricy and the fabric is easily distended after a few months of wearing. It's still soft and confortable but it's no longer supporting anything, tho. Hope this helps!

The way I cackled at “my boobs don’t need that kind of architecture” 😅😅 same, girl. Same.

Jabberwocky is one of my fav poems too and have nearly memorized it. I LOVE how Ian Holms recites it in the 1998 version of Alice Through the Looking Glass (the one staring Kate Beckinsale) and that’s the voice I imagine it in every time I recite it.

I love the idea of loving something and appreciating that something exists without buying it.

I avoided an air fryer for yearsssss and finally gave in this year - no regrets! Great for frozen things like fries, samosas, eggrolls, hash browns, personal pizzas, etc. Takes less than half the time of my oven and doesn't waste energy heating up a whole oven for just one item. It's super nonstick so I can generally just rinse out/wipe out. I also make roasted potatoes and those just take 15 min. Brussels can be done in like 7-8 minutes! Great for roasted veggies. Definitely try one.

I’m sorry to suggest this cos it goes against the no-buy but…. Wouldn’t that A.I.W. Fabric make such good arm covers and head rest for the red chairs? And a great sewing project? My mum always used to order 1m of sample fabric from each sofa we bought (2 in 40 years so ‘every’ a bit of a stretch) and sew covers to extend their life over the parts that would get a lot of wear/require washing. The pops of red in the fabric would look so good with them. And they could become cosy ‘reading’ chairs; maybe a diff fabric on each? And it’s solved 2 of these conundrums in one fell swoop.

I loved this video, and I've really taken to 'shopping' but not buying recently. It is often just as satisfying as actually making a purchase because as you say, I'm daydreaming about the kind of person I am more than anything else. However, I did make an expensive (for me) purchase on this sale of a new handbag which I will use daily. Mine gave up the ghost a while ago, but I've been enduring. After losing notebooks and pens and almost everything else a few weeks ago I started looking around for the perfect replacement, and when the price dropped on something I LOVE but couldn't normally afford, I snapped it up - it's also locally made, from locally sourced materials, and a smaller business. I did a little Christmas shopping as well, but again, locally made stuff. I'm team airfryer too! It made it so much easier to make things and my kids can all use it, so has reduced my meal prep load when one of them is hungry.

Ooh also for the fabric! Make cute little socks for your plant pots to go in! Or make book covers, like a sleeve for a journal or book you want to protect. Or cut out hearts or small squares and glue them to handmade cards to gift people.

That fabric would be a stunning jumpsuit! Like the Elizabeth Suzanne style jumpsuits 🙈 so beautiful!!!

Okay, hear me out: recovering the backs of those chairs in the Alice in Wonderland fabric would be so fabulous.

I‘m an avid knitter and still consider myself a newbie sewist. The thing somebody above mentioned about adding things to stash feeling the same as actually doing the hobby is weirdly accurate. But I also want to mention the Banksia bralette by Muna and Broad. It was my very first bra-like pattern and I still think it‘s so easy to sew and wear. You can make it with more support or less support, however you prefer and is just an allover great starting point for everyday bras imo. As a saucepan girlie myself I use our airfryer for heating up frozen food, letting dough rise or heating up rolls on the second day - the uses are endless. You can even bake cakes but I‘ve never tried that, because we miss the appropriate insert for that. Even so, I‘m very happy we got one but maybe that‘s a sign of me pushing 40 😂 Thanks for sharing this Leena, as always! 💌