Buy this book!

What's Mine is Yours talks about this new movement of collaborative consumption. How we're sharing resources through car-sharing, swapping clothes rather than buying new ones, and staying in people's spare rooms rather than hotels. We're using the things we have rather than always generating more. We're putting our names down to get a small plot of land to grow vegetables. While being thrifty, or 'making do', has certainly been boosted by the global economic crisis (I'm sure I'm not the only one rediscovering op-shops), this movement started before the financial woes began, which means it is likely to outlast the eventual rebound in the global economy.

If you've ever heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, you'll be even more motivated to share rather than generate new things!

I guarantee it's a good read, and it is a great philosophy for embracing the creative world.

Jewelry workshop

Upcycle your jewelry!

Welcome to simoneandginko, I'm Simone.

I've been creating jewelry on and off since I was a teenager. First collecting beads, wires and hooks, and then making jewelry for my friends and family. Now I've decided to share the love - I'm going to teach you how to make your own jewelry!

In this day and age, it's really important to use what we have rather than creating more and more items to fill up the world. So my jewelry workshops will help you to upcycle old necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc, to use beautiful beads you may have been given by your grandmother or great aunt, and to turn those random op-shop finds into an elegant piece of jewelry for you to wear.

The next workshop will be held on Saturday 27 August, 10:00 - 12:30pm. Please contact me if you'd like to attend. Cost is $25 including materials and morning tea.

Currently the workshops are only being offered in Canberra, however if you're interested and don't live in Canberra, send me a message and I'll see how I might be able to help. My workshops can also be tailored to parties and other events.