Eco-find: Greenbelts, recycled belt accessories

This week's eco-find is Greenbelts - funky one-of-a-kind accessories made from post-consumer recycled belts, by Shannon Ritscher. I had the pleasure of interviewing Shannon about her label and recycling ethic.

Before that, though, I have to say that there's such a variety of cool things at Greenbelts, I can hardly decide which to include in this post. Like, I have to admit that I've never had a pet, but I can still appreciate this great idea:

Dog collar and owner cuff set

For dog owners, there's also the stylish Eco leash and cuff set. Anyway, to the interview.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you make.

My name is Shannon Ritscher. I made a living as a corporate graphic designer for many years before having a child and becoming a stay-at-home mom. I am now a full time mom, part-time freelance graphic designer and creator of Greenbelts. I create my Greenbelts out of recycled materials (mainly belts). They are dog collars, leashes and human accessories such as cuffs (both wrist and ankle), collar/cuff sets, belts, boot chains and rings.

Red leather Eco Cuff

How did you start making accessories?

I always enjoyed design but yearned for something a bit more "creative". I decided that it might be fun to spin my passion for recycling into something that could help our household make ends meet. I found a leather collar one day that I thought was beautiful and I knew I could make it's equal (or better) out of recycled materials.

Eco Cuff connected to button ring

How did you go about starting your business?

I try my best to make most of my Christmas presents by hand each year so, the year after my son was born, I decided that I would make dog collars and cuffs for my friends and family. I bought a leather-workers starter kit from my local Tandy leather store and some recycled belts from several second hand stores. My house is teeny-tiny so I asked my neighbors if I could borrow their workbench in their basement for a while so I could make my gifts.

The cuffs and collars were a hit! One of my other neighbors saw some of the collars that I was making and told me about Etsy. I fell in love with the site, opened a shop right away, and continued to borrow the workbench to create my Greenbelts for a year after that. My husband, Chris, finally built me a little shed/studio on our back porch so I could give the neighbors a break.

What kind of person shops at Greenbelts?

Eco-friendly, unique, funky, practical types.

His and hers leather cuffs

Tell us about your materials. What new supplies do you use? What recycled?

All of my belts are 100% post consumer materials. I hand cut thousands of flowers out of recycled scrap leather, reuse chain from old necklaces, cut the pin backs off of vintage brooches, reuse vintage buttons and anything else that looks like it can be attached to a cuff or collar. I also recycle buckles, rings, and any embellishments when I can. I add new items like rhinestones, rivets, metal spots, snaps, buckles and D-rings when needed.

Why do you use recycled materials?

Because that's what makes each item unique. There are tons of people out there who make cuffs and collars but when you recycle materials, you know that it's going to be one-of-a-kind. And I love that whole idea.

Which item of yours is your favourite?

Right now, I'm totally digging these ankle cuffs:

Ankle corset cuffs

Thanks so much Shannon!

Visit the Greenbelts shop

New look for Mr Blog

I've redesigned my blog. If you read this in a reader, come on over, have a squizz and let me know what you think. I've also added a list of my favourite blogs on the sidebar, as well as the pre-existing handmade, ethical and fashion blog lists. If you'd like your link added to a list, please let me know. I've also got a section for ethical online shops.

Thank you, ladies! (At least, I think you're all ladies. If you're a fella, do come on forward and shush my sexist self up.)

The Made It relaunch is here!

Made It is an Australian website for buying and selling handmade, and they've just had a complete overhaul. There's now favourites, a new look, and other nifty new things. I think they're still working out some of the kinks so it won't be perfect just yet. I've uploaded a slew of new things to my Made It shop. My favourites:

finders keepers dress

anchored top

rally singlet top

Check out the rest at madeit.com.au/heidiandseek.

And! Here's a sneak peek at what else I've been working on recently.


To be made into various accessories. Still working everything out. Who would have thought there'd be so much work involved in making and selling these little things?! Just thinking about planning packaging for them gives me a bit of a headache because I already have lots on my plate with the fashion show coming up this weekend. If you have any ideas for phrases to put on them I'd love to hear them. I've had a few more ideas since I made these, but haven't had time to create them.

I'm starting back at uni next week. I want to be there and I'm excited to be back, but I have no idea how I'm going to juggle everything. I need to be way more organised. I seem to have misplaced one of my three diaries, which isn't helping. I have a huge one for recording Heidi & Seek work, a weekly planner for personal, business and study events, to-dos and notes, and a mini one (which I lost) that I carry around everywhere to write things down in when I'm out. I want to start jotting down every purchase I make so I can cut down on the unnecessaries. Tim pokes fun at my having three, but they make sense, right?

For some reason, diaries make me happy. The kind of happy I get when I'm browsing in a Kikki K store. Just think about the pretty organisation prospects, oh my! I would love to have enough time to organise the entire house, crafting and thrifting along the way, and having a rightful place for everything. I think that's just a pipe dream at the moment though, unless we win the lottery or a house. Ah, what-ifs.

I smell a change

I'm on the Etsy front page right now, yay.

I've been doing some thinking and I've decided to no longer make clothing from scratch, and instead concentrate on reconstructing. This is for a few reasons:

• Making items from scratch usually meant buying factory remnant fabric. This seems kind of like buying regular recycled paper instead of post-consumer paper. Recycled paper is made from the offcuts from paper mills (so maybe not truly recycled?), and post-consumer recycled paper has been used by the consumer, then recycled and made into new paper. It's still better than buying new, but post-consumer is better still, no?
• I wasn't making much of a wage, much less profit. I've now restructured my prices and created a comprehensive spreadsheet including ALL of my costs. Previously I just set my prices at what I thought they were worth, plus factored in some kind of wage. It wasn't very formal. Now that I'm starting to do more wholesaling, I've really had to work this out properly.
• Everything I make will definitely be one-of-a-kind now. I previously had the idea to do a made to order collection, choose your own size and I'll make you a copy kind of thing, but I think there's something special about having something that's yours, and yours only.
• It means I can make more things and list more regularly. Making things from scratch often took triple the time of a reconstruction that ends up the same level of pretty at the end.

I've been doing the reconstructing all of this week. I've become enamoured with gathering, so expect to see lots of frills and cute little flutter sleeves like this one:

M piece by piece dress

I've also been working on warmer designs - wool jumpers and long-sleeved things. If you'd like to see more of anything in particular, please do let me know.

Why care about the envrionment?

In my last post, I should have mentioned that the responses to the government's recommendations about the fashion industry weren't all one-sided. Oxfam, Brotherhood of St. Laurence, and Fair Wear all responded as well and had their say about the issues with worker welfare and the environment in mind. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

I was interviewed over at a new fashion blog called The Clothing Menu. Click here to check it out.

This is what I wore the other day.

Vintage dress
Random jewellery

Ellie picked up my strand of pearls while I was putting my jewellery on, then proceeded to wander around the house, putting it on and taking it off and putting it on. I caught her in the hall with the flash.


..which she was a little wary of. She is learning something new every day and constantly surprising me. Amazing. Something I've been thinking about lately is how many people begin to care about being environmentally friendly after they have a child. Maybe because they realise that it's their child's future at stake, or there's something about babies that makes us want everything natural and fresh, like the little one? Maybe both.

For me, the caring did come after Ellie was born, but I'm not sure if it was because of her. I feel like I would have had the same reaction if I'd learned about the issues before she was born, but who knows. I'm still not entirely sure what my main reason for caring is, or maybe I just don't know how to word it. I just know that the world's current level of consumption is fundamentally not good and don't want to participate when alternatives are often easier, cheaper and more fulfilling.

What's your reason? Why do you care about the environment?

Australian fashion ethics to improve?

I now have a better idea of which Australian fashion brands I'm happy to support and which I'll actively avoid.

An Australian government review of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear industries has set out fifteen recommendations for long-term improvement. The review, called Building Innovative Capability, is a heavy read, probably not ideal for late night browsing. But I steamed ahead anyway. (By that I mean I read the recommendations and ignored/skimmed the other 142 pages.)

A few of the recommendations address ethics in the fashion industry. The one I found most promising was the one that suggests a new Australian Ethical Quality Mark, which would set standards for labour conditions, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Another is to provide better protection for Australian homeworkers.

The review is currently getting submission responses from stakeholders in the Textile, Clothing and Footwear industries. Reading some of them (here) has put me off certain brands (though really, I no longer shop for women's clothing at any chain store).

The Just Group (Portmans, peteralexander, Jacqui E, Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Dotti) wrote, "We own the fabric and control the production process through a range of registered suppliers and believe that the general, unquantifiable proposals put forward in the Green Report will greatly reduce our confidence in effective Government assistance to local manufacture in the Australian clothing industry."

They also wrote, "Improved processes, supplier collaboration and the adoption of technology will see a traditional manual supply chain transform into a competitive, efficient and effective quick response supply chain." (source)

"Quick response supply chain"? Right. Fast fashion is not a good. I'd also like to know what their local manufacturing involves, and I have an inkling. You might interpret these quotes differently, but I don't trust their vagueness. In any case, they made no mention of agreeing with the proposed ethical standards.

I'm not sure what to make of the Pacific Brands submission (Bonds, Berlei, Dunlop, Grosby, Hard Yakka, Hush Puppies, Mossimo, Rio, Sleepmaker, Slazenger) in terms of ethics. They wrote about their disappointment with other parts of the review, but didn't mention the ethical items. (source)

A pleasant surprise was the Target submission, which said that they recommend "the development of a new Australian Ethical Quality Mark," and that they "strongly recommend that the introduction of such a mark would be globally aligned and not specific to Australian standards. If this was not the case, given the globalisation of the manufacturing industry, it would be meaningless." (source)

This is the case of high-end footwear label, Anna Fiori: "...although we are known Australia wide as leading manufacturers this alone cannot help us to compete with the onslaught of Asian imports (namely china). Although the product we produce is undoubtedly better quality than our cheaper imports we cannot offer retailers the big margins they can achieve by buying and selling the Asian import. Infact to quote one retailer 'if all the customer can buy is the Chinese import then we can sell it at any price.'" (source)

Disheartening. I truly hope that the proposed ethical standards goes ahead, that they are policed well and that there are adequate consequences for failing to comply.

Eco-find: Naturally Hip cloth menstrual pads

Most people know about the cloth versus disposable nappy debate. But how many of you have thought about cloth menstrual pads? Not me, I have to admit. But now that I've looked into it a little, I'm going to give it a try. Here's why:

• In the US alone, 7 million tampons and 12 billion pads are sent to landfill every year - not to mention the packaging each disposable comes in. If I never buy disposables again for the rest of my life, that's going to make a significant waste reduction.
  
• It's cheaper
• No nasty, chemical-laden plastics against your skin. I imagine it just feels nicer, and you're less likely to have irritation issues 'down there'. Some women's privates react to the chemicals and they mistake the problem for 'just that time of the month'.
  
• It can help reduce period pain, and it commonly makes periods shorter and lighter.
• Support the little (and eco-friendly) guys - most cloth pads are made by self-employed, work-from-home women.
  
• Many cloth pads are made from natural materials, which means you won't be supporting the production of plastics and chemicals, which adds to pollution.
  

I spoke to the lovely Lindsay of Naturally Hip, who makes cloth pads both gorgeous and functional.


Tell us about yourself and what you make.

My name is Lindsay. I live in Burlington, Ontario, in Canada, with my wonderful husband and two adorable children ages 6 months and 2 and a half years. Naturally Hip is my line of handmade cloth menstrual pads and wet bags. I am a one-woman show. Everything I create is made by me from start to finish (right up to dropping it in the mailbox)! Down the road I would love to expand my business to include nursing pads and cloth baby items as well.

Tell us a bit about the cloth versus disposable pad debate.

Disposable hygiene products have become so mainstream in the last few decades that we forget they haven’t existed for long! Cloth pads have come a long way, but have been around for ages. There are lots of opinions but the key issues of the debate are health benefits, cost, environmental impact, and comfort.

The absorbent material in disposable pads and tampons is bleached with the chemical dioxin, a known carcinogen. Research suggests that continuous exposure to this chemical can lead to increased chance of cervical and ovarian cancer. Unbleached pads are available, but are more expensive and still end up in the landfill. Many women report irritation caused by disposable products which disappears after making the switch to cloth (I hear this over and over). Some even experience shorter and less painful periods!

There is definitely an initial investment with cloth pads. However, since they’re made to last several years, the cost is quite a bit lower in the long run. I calculated it out a little while back and the savings were close to 50%!

Every disposable product ends up in a landfill – and women go through thousands in a lifetime – while cloth pads can be washed and used over and over. There is a small increase in water consumption for washing cloth pads, but the environmental impact is less overall. Sanitary waste in landfill sites is also a valid concern.

Cloth pads are wonderfully soft and comfortable - like your favorite flannel pajamas! There is just no comparison with the sticky, plasticky feeling of disposable ones.


What's the difference between cloth and disposable pads in terms of absorption, convenience and ease of use?

Like disposable pads, cloth pads are available in all different levels of absorbency. They typically have an absorbent core of natural fibers such as cotton or bamboo with a soft fabric top layer. Disposable products have a combination of cotton batting and absorbent gel inside and often have a perforated plastic top sheet.

Although the convenience of disposable products seems hard to beat, using cloth pads is pretty simple too! Away from home they can be carried in a wet bag (a washable pouch with waterproof lining) or zipper-seal plastic bag. They are easy to wash and dry, and - maybe the best part - they’re always there when you need them!

Cloth and disposable pads are worn the same way. While disposable pads have a sticky plastic backing, cloth pads with wings fasten with a simple snap or other closure (wingless pads stay in place nicely when worn with close-fitting cotton underwear). After use, cloth pads are rinsed or soaked until wash day. From there, they go right in the washing machine and usually through the dryer too. The process takes no longer than wrapping and throwing away each disposable pad and taking out the garbage.

How many pads do you recommend to start?

This is a tough question since everyone’s body is different. I usually suggest starting with a couple of pantyliners, some daytime pads and a couple of larger pads for overnight, and go from there. The ideal collection for you depends on how frequently you do laundry, the length of your period, absorbency needs, your body size, etc.


How did you start making cloth pads?

I discovered cloth pads while researching cloth diapering options for my first child. It was intriguing to me (though of course not a new idea by any means!) and curiosity took over. I drafted some patterns and started trying out various designs and materials. A few months later I started selling them online and Naturally Hip was born.

What aspects of your business are eco-friendly, other than the obvious?

Behind the scenes I try to be as green as possible. I reduce waste by using every last scrap of fabric – my 2-year old crafts beside me gluing teeny fabric scraps to paper - and by using recyclable and reusable packaging materials. I buy fabric locally and in bulk, walk to the mailbox whenever possible, and compost dryer lint from pre-washing fabrics. Being a stay-at-home mom saves a lot in gas consumption too - I commute on foot to my downstairs studio!


What's your best eco-tip (besides switching to cloth)?

Reduce! In everything I do or buy, I first try to think “how can this be more earth friendly?” For example, cutting down on the amount of plastic we use and throw away, buying products with less packaging, purchasing used items at second-hand stores, conserving energy, composting. In addition to helping the earth, we’re often saving money too!

Thanks so much, Lindsay, for the informative and thought-provoking responses. I really love finding people running businesses who have the same concern for the environment that I do. I love that her first eco-tip was 'reduce!' because I really think that's the key. We can recycle absolutely everything and still be doing bad things for the environment because the initial high consumption is still there. I won't be buying my cloth pads from anywhere else, because I think it's important to support like-minded people. Plus, after reading my previous blog posts about the Bushfire Appeal, Lindsay has decided to donate some of her items to the Oz Bushfire Appeal shop. So kind of her.

Visit the Naturally Hip online shop

Bushfire Appeal on Etsy

My drawstring skirt is now available from the OzBushfireAppeal shop. The listing is here. All proceeds will go the Bushfire Appeal.

I found a sweet accessories shop on Made It called Allira where 100% of the proceeds will be donated, too.

Owl brooch

Lamby brooches (set of 2)

Fashion show - La Dolce Vita and Handmade Help

I'm participating in a fashion show at the end of the month! ALL profits from the show are going to the Bushfire Appeal, so it's a very good cause. If you are in Melbourne and would like to attend, here are the details:

La Dolce Vita - young designers fashion show
'Enjoy the sweet life with the excitement of fashion. Featuring 8 young designers showing their unique collections.'

Saturday 28 February
2-5pm Eltham Community & Reception Centre

$25 inc. champagne and finger food
Contact Georgia to book and for ticket and event info: 0425 806 039

Style Melbourne are covering it and their post about the show here lists the other designers involved.

The Handmade Help blog lists items for sale (and sold) where all or a percentage of the sale price will be donated to the appeal as well. Also check out the Etsy shop OzBushfireAppeal.

My favourites:

Blue Lagoon Earrings by Michvanetta from the OzBushfireAppeal shop

Lambie by Lark


Courtyard garden by Gretchenmist

I heart teapots brooch by SophieIsobelDesigns

I bought this dress for my little one:

Blossom sun dress by SparklyGreenKnickers

I know Ellie is a bit young for this (fits 3-4 and she is 1 and a half) but she will grow into it and it is gorgeous. All proceeds from the SparklyGreenKnickers shop goes to the Bushfire Appeal.

We donated as much money as we could last night - to the Red Cross, Wildlife Victoria and the RSPCA - and put together toys, clothes and children's and adult's books to donate for the drive they are doing at Tim's work. I put my copy of Twilight in - hope it finds someone who really wanted to read it.

Bushfire Appeal

THEY warn you it comes fast. But the word "fast" doesn't come anywhere near describing it.

It comes at you like a runaway train. One minute you are preparing. The next you are fighting for your home. Then you are fighting for your life.

But it is not minutes that come between. It's more like seconds. The firestorm moves faster than you can think, let alone react.

Read the rest here: The Australian | How we cheated flames of death

The death toll of Victoria's bushfire disaster is currently at 173. It's expected to rise because they're constantly finding more people. That one or more of the fires were deliberately set makes me sick to my stomach. The TV news keeps showing footage of a man who left his two children at home to help fight the fire... and later they perished. Every time the fires appear on the news or I read about it somewhere I can't help but shed tears.

Via Anna Laura I found a shop on Etsy, ozbushfireappeal.etsy.com, where sellers donate goods and 100% of the proceeds go to the Bushfire Appeal. I've offered to donate this skirt.


It's one-size-fits all, due to the drawstring, so I thought it was the best option. I will let you know when it becomes available there. Please consider buying from the shop or donating to the Red Cross to help out. People have lost their homes, possessions and family members.

Australians can also donate blood for burn victims. There are a number of other ways to help listed at the Meet Me at Mikes blog, and info on how to help the wildlife at Vegan and Vintage.

Materialism and play

I was searching through past pictures and found these.

The photos were taken in mum's backyard. The little house was originally a dated dark brown, which I only vaguely remember because mum repainted it and added the cute semi-circle trim. The fake fruit hanging inside has been there for as long as I can remember. I remember selling leaves out the side window to my dad. He paid with more leaves, I think.

I miss playing cricket in the backyard. I miss the little yellow bat and the tennis ball on a pole that creaked and swung around in circles as you hit it. I miss the fluoro velcro mitts that would stuck to the ball when you made a catch. I miss pushing my cousin around our street in the old pram in our garage. I miss games and play. I don't think there should be an age when it stops and you're "too old for it".

The cubby is now mostly storage for all of the things I wasted my money on and accumulated when I was a teenager. Clothes and bags and accessories and knick knacks. I wish I'd spent my time playing games instead, because none of it meant anything to me.

There's something very sad about materialism. Outdoor games are being replaced with computerised ones. A ball could last many years and be the source of a million different games. Whereas, computer games are constantly being upgraded with better technology and ideas so they're only fresh for a little while. And there's only one game to play with each - the one that's been programmed for you. For a few years I used to play computer games a lot. I can't remember one instance where I looked back on an occasion playing any of these games with fondness.

I'm not old-fashioned. My ears still perk up when the prospect of playing a Nintendo Wii comes about. I just think there's something important to be said of simplicity.

Replicca: pocketed pulse protectors

Rebecca of replicca is pretty popular in the Etsy clothing world, so everything seems to sell out in a flash. She was also featured in Etsy's 'Quit your day job' series here. I always find the interviews in the series inspiring. Anyway, yesterday Rebecca did a massive upload and there are many pretties to be had.

Medium Black and blue

I am particularly adoring these pocketed pulse protectors.




They look like so much fun, and handy too, because there's a little pouch in them that holds things. And, awesomely, they're made from remnant fabrics.

New mailing list - ooh, exclusive things

I'm starting a Heidi & Seek mailing list soon. Exclusive sales and discount codes will go through this list first so subscribers will have the best dibs. It'll be sent out monthly and, of course, I won't be sending you anything unsolicited or passing your address on to third parties. If you'd like to join, email hayley[at]heidiandseek[dot]com with 'subscribe' as the title.

I've had a few items on the front page of Etsy recently. This is one of them.

M kake dress

It's funny how changing the main photo got this so much more attention. The main photo was originally this:


And the listing was relatively lonely. I guess this photo isn't intriguing enough in thumbnail size.

I have exciting things coming up for Heidi & Seek. Busy busy busy.

Little leaves

Every piece is so ancient and plain that I won't bother naming brands

A quick pic of what I wore today. It was hot hot (yet again) so I put on this outfit, realised it was a bit boring, then got out my jewellery collection to spice it up a bit. These are two of my favourite necklaces, but I'd never thought to wear them together before.


I adore the result. In case you can't tell, they are: a multi-layered antique bronze necklace with leaf charms hanging from it, and a reed necklace handmade in Thailand with tiny multi coloured beads. I used to buy jewellery like nobody's business, but it's almost completely halted now since I don't wear it often and I don't want to buy unnecessarily. I already have nice pieces that I can pull out when feeling decorative.

Loomstate Flux jeans and Estile,com

Must restrain myself from buying this dress..

Peace acid tee dress by The Cassette Society

It's seriously on sale at Estile.com. I'm not sure when or how I signed up there, because it's apparently invite only, but there it was - my email and password pre-entered in the browser waiting for me to click 'Enter'. Unfortunately I know nothing about the ethics of the company and so I'll resist the bargain temptation.

Speaking of resisting temptation, I simply couldn't when I came across these jeans on sale from EcoGirl.com.au.

Loomstate Flux jeans in Noir

They're made from 99% organic cotton and 1% spandex. I know you can't really see much from the picture, but I did some research into the brand. This review pretty much sold me, because I've been looking for comfortable, flattering jeans that don't flash people when you bend over. Try as I might, the second-hand jeans I've found were never what I want, and for some reason I feel a little weird about buying preloved jeans. I'm not sure why exactly, because I'm fine with other second-hand clothing.

I actually wanted them in this colour, because black skinnies are so cliche.

But they didn't have my size. I later discovered that they're not actually skinnies, but not quite bootlegs. There's just some comfortable space in it below the knee. I'm not sure I can quite convey my excitement when they arrived. They fit perfectly. And I have NEVER had comfortable jeans before. I used to scoff when people talked about jeans being their comfort clothes. My jeans experiences always had me wearing long tops with them, so that I could safely bend over, and when I got home I'd take them off and breathe a sigh of relief. But now I get it! I'll be wearing these until they die, and then probably some more because I'll find it hard to let go.

Green things and what I wore

Our energy company is Origin. We pay extra for a percentage of green energy, which means that that this percentage of the amount of energy we use is added to the electricity grid from renewable sources. In Australia, the mandatory amount of GreenPower that must be sourced into the grid is about 3%. It's up to us to get that tiny percentage higher by choosing green energy. Even 10% GreenPower helps and it doesn't cost much more at all. You can find out more here.

What brought me to this topic was that we get the current issue of Marie Claire for free for being with Origin. At first I was kind of dubious about the magazine, because I thought it would be too mainstream to interest me. I actually found it a darn good read. It had an Eco News page, upon which I found out about an organic grocery delivery company in Melbourne, The Green Line. I never would have thought to search out a service like this but I'm excited about ordering from them. At the moment we usually shop at the closest supermarket because we're strapped for time. This ends in a bunch of 'add-ons' to the trolley that we don't really need, and me still thinking that there's nothing to cook right after a shop.

Organic grocery delivery is even more convenient because it'll end up right on our front door step, plus we'll cut out all the unnecessary purchases, the food will taste better and be healthier, I'll be supporting a husband-and-wife run business instead of a large corporation AND it'll be much kinder to the environment. I'm quite sure we can work it so that it'll be cheaper than what we're currently doing, too. Phew. The delivery cost is quite a steal, and free for members standing orders (buying the same items every week). Groceries add up to so much over time, I'll be glad to finally feel ethical about my purchasing in this area. I'll feel much better about what I'm feeding my little one, too.


Have a Google and see if there's a similar business in your area.

Anyway! Here's what I wore today.

Dress - second-hand
Red boots - eBay, Django & Juliette

How cute are those sleeves? For some reason I very nearly passed this by at the second-hand store. And then I was planning on cutting it up for Heidi & Seek. When I got home and tried it on I found I loved it a lot more than my initial judgment let on, so I decided to keep it for myself, as is (although, now I'm thinking of sewing the wrap together, because today's wind meant a bit of a peep-show for onlookers).

P.S. I've been on a little listing hiatus at my Etsy shop, but new pretties will resume this evening.

P.P.S Mosey on over to Style Collective to see an interview with yours truly! Style Collective is a brand new fashion directory and style community. They have an indie style directory, too.

P.P.P.S. Made It is having a makeover! Soon the site will be revamped: bugs fixed, features added, new look applied. The problems with the site are what's made me stick to Etsy, but if all goes well I'll be listing regularly in my Made It shop as well.