Monday, January 07, 2008

Manifesto Monday


You know there is nothing better than having the family around.. But after 2 weeks of vacation there is nothing better than having them get the heck out of the house... and get back to their real lives. I get harassed a little on the home front for my blogging. Not too much, but it tends to keep me off the internets more, when witnesses are present. Between the guilt trips and the power outages, I have had plenty of time for non-electronic reflection lately. Please do forgive this wordy post.

I am still really involved in the "New Year's Purge" around here. So far, the linen closet, the hanging portion of my clothes closet, and some (read: an exorbitant amount of really aging) magazines are all "reorganized and downsized".
I need to get to my books, I am about 3/4 of the way through the craft cave, and I am working on a Futuregirl like system that will use binders for my daily schedule and inspiration stuff. I love my recipe binder. It helped me try a lot more new recipes last year, which helped us use more of what came in the veggie box. Maybe this will help me out in other areas too.


The main idea that I have for 2008, I guess, "my mission statement", is basically "Live within Your Means". To me this is a principle that think could really improve my life and cause me to have a more positive impact on my planet and my family too. This isn't so much about sticking to a budget fiscally, (that is a good idea too,) it is about really coming to grips with the way I budget my time, the size of our little cabin and living economically. That is cutting out all the stuff we have accumulated and don't really use. I am all about getting rid of the luxury of "stuff" to make way for the luxury of space. Embracing the idea that you don't buy 3, you buy one good one. Unless you are talking about underwear... but I digress.

I want apply "living within my means" in an ecological sense, being even more conscious of the little things I can do to Use Less. This in conjunction with "living within my means" on the "house" level should help me finish projects and use up the stash that threatens to envelop my entire house and surrounding out buildings. This is very much a win win situation, to my way of thinking. In any case, my mission statement and My crafty manifesto are related but they are not the same thing, and hopefully they encompass all my aspirations in a manageable way.

My mission statement- 2008:
"Live Within Your Means"

Bitter Betty's Crafty Manifesto

I acknowledge it to be my life's work to develop a myriad of skills to be able to use materials (preferably, at hand, rescued or reused or recycled) to make things that are beautiful, useful, and reflect my curiosities and obsessions.
I will do my best to use my imagination and talents to delight myself and inspire and amuse others in ways that will have a positive impact on the world around me... Which isn't to say I will be sunny and not sarcastic. It is my intention to create dialog.. even internal dialog.
I will do my best to share what I know so that anybody, and everybody can play along.
And I will rejoice in, and allow myself to always be inspired by the craft of others, even if it does make me feel a little bit jealous.

Craft On!

15 comments:

ruby-crowned kinglette said...

craft on indeed. purging sounds so good to me right now, but i think that in my bit of funk that i am in right now i might just decide to abandon it all a walk away - certainly one way to cleanse, but i dont' think the best way.
and, remember this, jealously can be used for good, as well as evil, if it prods you toward something creative.

Blaize said...

And rock on, too! Excellent manifesto, with a usable message. I should print it out for myself.

The Bone Family said...

Amen, my friend!

Anonymous said...

Amen indeed! Thanks for sharing your VERY inspiring manifesto. With much stuff comes much anxiety, though it is a hard crutch to let go of...

Felicia said...

Love your 08 mission statement :)

futuregirl said...

Live within your means is a perfect mission statement! I also love your manifesto. It's so inclusive and open that you may never need to update it, but it still drills down the core of what it means to be Bitter Betty.

I'm loving it!

Hyena In Petticoats said...

Excellent Manifesto!

I look forward to seeing it in progress....

xx

Junie Moon said...

What a great manifesto!

aniexma said...

Well said! This is exactly the outlook I need to adopt.

Heidi Ann said...

I like the way you think (and write). What a great manifesto. I am in the process of really starting to think about why I feel the need for all the STUFF, and to be very conscious of what I buy, how much, and why. I am inspired by your words.

Sonya said...

Oh I am in the final stages of The Great Purge o' 2007. That craft spazz giveaway - all very calculated. But write it like it is Bethany and have hit the needle/nail right on the head - it is about living within means, boundaries, limits. Damn, for me that that means follow-through and not just continual flights of imaginative fancy, with the accompanying expansion of supplies. Ah well. I'll still be your partner in crime or detox or whatever.

Natalie said...

So eloquently said and well inspired. I am trying to do the same. More creative output, less stash input.

Daphne said...

Wow! The manifesto, she is excellent.

Anonymous said...

awesome manifesto!

Angelina said...

Wonderful manifesto in every way. I think that during my month off from worrying about the future I will think on the manifesto aspect of the year too.

Though, why bother exactly? Can I just adopt yours?

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