No Shopping, report #2

In general, I can say that it is becoming more and more simple to ignore all the stuff in stores when I am out and about. I am still drawn to bright colors and pretty textures, but it is sort of like looking at flowers in a public garden. I don’t want to pick one.
I’ve passed up all the Winter Bargain sales without any trouble and even got annoyed at the eye-catching ads for them on trains. At the Australia Day ball, we only bid on service items – no goods at all. I wore an old dress and accessories to the Ball and the same nondescript black high heels I have been wearing for years. It wasn’t really a sacrifice at all.
There was one moment a few weeks back, walking with Jim in Akasaka when I saw a stationery shop and was a bit sad I couldn’t go in and buy stuff. Moments later I saw a cute dress that left me feeling regretful that I couldn’t buy it. I laughed, commented on my emotion, and the desire to shop evaporated.
But there is one big Fail this month. I blame it on a late Christmas present – a new serger/overlocker. It arrived four days ago and I have been on a spend-fest to get appropriate thread (sergers use up to 5 cones of special thread at a time, so I now own 20 spools in various useful colors) and a range of fabrics to test the new machine. I splashed out on some knits that I didn’t have in my stash because I never would have considered sewing on my conventional machine. Fuchsia ruffled tricot panties anyone?

The culprit
Aside from my fervor with the serger, I have noticed that my desire to craft has decreased. Maybe I am concerned about using up all my supplies; maybe I just don’t want to make more things that will accumulate. I am not sure, but I don’t read crafting blogs so often anymore. I used to read them daily.
Fabric wasn’t my only purchase in the last month. I also bought some music to use in hoop classes that I am teaching. As I wrote in my journal, “Does this set a precedent that it is OK to buy music? In general, or for justified cases? Does this purchase mean other supplies are fair game?”
I want to use the supplies I have and not buy anything more, which is tricky because patching together odds and ends and random supplies I have on hand is sometimes more challenging that I wish. Buying something purpose made (whether is it a completed product or a particular part) is so much easier than thinking creatively. Maybe a stronger, more robust creativity is part of the essence I want to find in this No Shopping year.
WISH LIST
1/1 – hoop tape to finish the 160psi hoops
1/1 – keitai battery to replace my dying one.
1/1 – serger (a promised Xmas present, arrived 2/5)
1/1 – archival photo boxes
1/20 – a few more sports/hoop outfits for teaching
1/20 – “indoor shoes” for gym wear
1/28 – Fashion Design Idea Notes (oops, I already had it!)
1/29 – photo album (or two)
2/9 – 4-way stretch cotton fabric for unspecified hooping outfits
2/9 – Burda World of Fashion 11/2007 issue (yoga pants pattern)
2/9 – patterns for sportswear
2/9 – sewing books on overlock/serging