Garage Sales and Church Fetes

Op Shops and a Freebie

Boot Sales, Bazaars and

Freecycle and eBay

Postie with Parcels all tied up with strings......

It must be the thrill of the chase - a bargain makes my day. Over the years I have benefitted from other people's offcasts. Now it seems I am up there with the Hollywood set - second hand is 'in'. Thanks to ever-burgeoning environmental awareness, 'used' is a respectable word. It is the ultimate 'reduce, re-use, recycle' and may I add 're-purpose'. My recent trip to UK was funded totally on eBay sales - mostly scruffy looking 'rags' as my friend calls them which I had purchased at garage sales and op shops and lovingly laundered to expose their beauty. These little vintage treasures give me so much pleasure as I turn them into a tribute to the hands that stitched them and the women who have used them before me. One can only imagine the friendship and laughter across tea tables that many of these pieces adorned.

I love knitting beanies! They are easy to do, I can hold a conversation or watch TV at the same time, and they knit up so fast which is very satisfying - not to mention the fact that any odd ball of wool or even mixed leftovers can be used to create a masterpiece. With the cold, rainy days we have had this week, what simpler pleasure can be enjoyed than an afternoon of hot chocolate and beanie-knitting.

My beanies are jostling for attention right now - they all have purposeful destinations and I am torn as to where they will head (or perhaps that should be who they will head).

Will you join me in beanie knitting for a good cause - here are my beanie's destinations:

• kogo http://www.knitonegiveone.org/index.html
• Local maternity hospital for 'premmie' size beanies
• Red Cross Shop
• Samaritan's Purse for the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
• My online shop - buy one and the money is donated to one of the charities listed on this site.

Yes - the daffodils by the roadsides in UK were awesome - I delighted in them every day as we travelled around the countryside. But it was another flower - the humble dandelion which drew my admiration. Just as the showy daffodils bent their heads and curled up and died they were replaced by masses of yellow dandelions, prolonging the dignity of the daffodils - so brightly and happily extending the sideshow for a while longer.

In the world of giving I think of myself as a dandelion - beautiful daffies have already set the standard by shining in the lives of those in need - as a 'dandelion' I can keep their dream alive by contributing to their good work and supporting the various charitable organisations they represent.

I'm visiting England - the first time I've been here in April since I emigrated in 1981. Back then - did I really not notice how green the fields are...how did I manage to forget the blue carpets of bluebells or the light fragrance in the air that heralds Springtime?

Perfectly shaped apples - shining green, bright red tomatoes and strawberries - the bigger the better, potatoes - clean and evenly sized, avocadoes all year round. For decades we have looked for perfection in our fruit and veg but at what cost to our health and the environment? Could it just be the case that fruit and vegetables were created to be available just when our bodies needed the goodness they provided?

Welcome growing trends are:

• growing our own vegie patches even in pots for those with little garden spac
• slow cookin
• seasonal eatin
• organic food production

and these trends offer enormous benefits:

• less food miles travelle
• healthier eatin
• exercise and fresh air when gardenin
• teaching children where food comes fro
• eating foods in season to provide our body's need
• growing surplus to shar
• meeting the neighbour
• joy in lovingly prepared food for our loved one
• using foods at their freshes
• fewer pesticides and poisons in the food chain

Having recently downsized to a villa with very little growing space, we are amazed at the amount we can still grow. After a couple of months here we are already enjoying the simple beauty of fresh potted herbs in our meals, sweet tiny tomatoes in our salads, picking exactly the number of lettuce leaves needed and bok choy for stir fries (albeit shared with bright green caterpillars!).

Giving is fun! For some years now I have filled a shoebox of gifts for a child through the Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child. I will never meet that child, but having my own children and grandchildren means I can imagine the delight on the face of my overseas child when they receive their gift.

This year I have set myself the challenge of filling 50 shoeboxes by October when they are collected and shipped. To make it simple I have set up a spreadsheet to keep track of the gifts as I collect them. Local Op Shops are a great resource for toys, clothes and treasures, although I only buy those that are new. In addition my knitting needles are flashing along making beanies and soft toys in bright happy colours. Soon my giftboxes will be overflowing and I get joy from picturing the smiles on 50 boys and girls faces.

If you would like to join me in this venture click on the Samaritan's Purse logo to download an information pack and labels for your shoeboxes. And if you are wondering what to put in your shoeboxes go to 'Lists' where you will find lots of ideas.

One part of my website not mentioned yesterday is my 'shop'. When considering what I have to give or share I thought of the gift of creativity with which I have been blessed. At 5 years old I was creating my own paper dress up dolls then progressed to knitting, cross stitch and cardmaking. Sometimes combining all three :) I have sold at craft markets and fairs and by commission and until recently supported a major charity. Sadly that door has closed for me. So 'Yours Truly' (my creative name) offers visitors to the site the opportunity to purchase handcrafted items with all proceeds going to one of the charities supported by this website. All items can be paid for by Paypal (you don't need a Paypal account) and postage is free in Australia and at cost to overseas addresses. In many cases I will be able to custom make items in colours/designs of your choosing.

You will also find a link to my eBay listings - proceeds from these sales help to pay for the craft materials etc. Please note though that I am not a registered charity or business. I donate the money honestly and with integrity but no accounts are kept. If this bothers you, I hope you will consider supporting these charities in your own way.

So why this website? Click on 'About' to get the full story of its inception.. When I discovered eBay 10 years ago I started selling 50 years worth of accumulated treasures. To my amazement the more I disposed of, the richer I felt and the more free I became. I began to appreciate simplicity and noticed beauty around me. The world became more precious to me as did the people in it. One of my favourite poems from childhood was:

'"WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."

by W.H.Davies

Suddenly the poem came alive and I wanted to show my love for this planet by treating it kindly. Being an avid reader, I soon learnt some of the mistakes we have been making, through greed, ignorance and arrogance. Reading further I discovered how many millions of people, billions even, are hurting because of this and I am now passionate and committed to doing whatever I can to bring compassion and practical help to even just one of them.

Take your finger walking through my site (which is still only a baby remember). My hope is you will find much to inspire you to live simply and beautifully. There are links to charities that deserve your consideration and other favourites which have inspired me or helped me on my journey.

How excited I have been, putting together this website dedicated to a simple life of beauty, joy and sharing. It has taken me nearly 60 years to realise how rich I am. Now I want to enable others to reach that part of their life's journey too. By leading a simple life we find we have an abundance of good things and by stepping lightly on this beautiful world of ours means others can share in this bounty.

Thank you to my son Rhys who owns Autumnhouse www.autumnhouse.com.au. I am delighted with the website he has created for me. Rhys has learnt early in life that giving generously brings rewards. Four years ago he used his talents in Graphic Design and I.T. to set up his own successful business which supports up and coming artistes, especially musicians, and fledgling businesses. He charges minimal costs to get them online quickly and offers integrated web services such as logo design and brand creation. Now at just 18 years old, Rhys has experienced the joy of using his talents to help people. God Bless You, Rhys!