When the craft-bug really, REALLY got to me and I wanted to do more than sell bellydance costumes, I opened a little Etsy shop called Sugar Pickle. It was full of colorful, crazy, loud, kitschy, silly, fun stuff. And while I still loved all of that, I eventually began to "grow up" in my creativity and moved on to start a new Etsy shop, Folk, which all of you lovely darlings know about already.
So, dear old Sugar Pickle was neglected. It has languished in the background for some time now; I quit adding new items, I might make one sale every couple months or so, and that was that.
Recently, however, I have been thinking of ways to do more good. While I always try to be conscious anyway of the materials I use and the way I use them, I would like to get serious, like, real serious, about crafting things that are very specifically eco-friendly. And I would like to donate any profit received from these items to causes that help people and the environment. AND, I need an outlet for these items....so I am reinventing and reclaiming Sugar Pickle!
Upon the Grand Reopening, Sugar Pickle will be the purveyor of fine recycled-plastic-bag wallets, hand-knit wash clothes, comfortable reusable menstrual pads, and then some. I hope to add many more earth-friendly items to the list shortly after I get the "new" shop up and running. But, until then, please know that Sugar Pickle's Grand Reopening is scheduled for SEPTEMBER 1st, which is--gasp--Tuesday! Please stop by and support handmade, and get some eco-conscious goods, all while supporting my charity fund!
Few things make a person appreciate air conditioning like an August day in Kansas without it. It reached about 93 degrees in the house today, and naturally, opening the windows only causes more hot air to blast through the house (when there's a breeze.) Fans help, but hey....what happened to the cold air that comes out of those vents in the floor?!
While it will probably be a little bit of money to fix (I hate to think how much) and I am very uncomfortable, I am not going to say it's the worst thing that's ever happened. In fact, it can be a good thing. While I like to think of myself as a mindful person, striving to always be aware of her blessings, losing something that is so often taken for granted is a reminder one can't ignore.
And what a common luxury it is! About 50 years ago, when my mom was growing up, she did not have any such thing. But they were still more fortunate than most. Think of those who do not know where their next meal will come from, or when. Think of the many who don't know if there will be clean drinking water for them tomorrow. I may have no AC, but it will be fixed soon enough. I can grab a cold drink out of the fridge. I can open my screened window at night, and while a few obnoxious gnats may make their way in, I probably will not have to worry about mosquitoes carrying Malaria. I don't want to do the dishes that have been piling up, but once I do I will have dishes to eat off of, not to mention food to eat.
It seems that, of late, I have been bombarded from every direction with this general message: "You are blessed with much. Many have next to nothing. Could you do on less to help others?" I've been thinking about this for a time, now. But recently, I was encouraged first by one of my favorite podcasts, Cast On, then again by listening to an older episode of my other favorite podcast, Craftlit. Then I find it again in a friend's blog and again in the sermon at church this morning!
Where am I going with this? Well--I want to start doing more good things. Or perhaps I should say that I want more good things to occur, and if I happen to be an instrument in that process, well enough. But I don't say this to boast; I only share this with you to inspire and encourage! I am taking baby steps and doing the little things that help, for sure, but someday I'd like to do something a little bigger. I don't have a real plan yet, just musing on some things. I hope when I get a plan together, you will help me!
