My "New" Jean Jacket

In the seemingly never ending quest for determining what is enough, I've come to realize that I...am...a...consumer. Yuck. It's hard for me to say those word and admit that, but when I look around there is evidence all over the place. I've even tried to make very concerted efforts in my life to "go green", but I still end up "consuming" quite a bit. I already have so much; surely there are more and better ways to use the things that are already here.

While window shopping one day, I came across a jean jacket and I'm telling you, it was love at first sight! (At least as far as jean jackets are concerned!) I'd never seen a "cooler" denim jacket. It was embellished with ribbon and beads and beautiful buttons in such a unique and creative way that I was drawn to the rack on which it was hanging and found myself slipping my arms into and looking for a mirror. Yup, it looked pretty darn good! As I put it back on it's hanger, I did something I should have done before I tried it on...I looked at the price tag. What?? $785???? I didn't have my glasses on, so maybe I wasn't seeing correctly. Maybe it said $78.50, but they just forgot to put the decimal point between the eight and the five. But upon further investigation, I found that the price was indeed $785. Hmm. Well, the decision was actually pretty easy because I didn't have $785 in my bank account to spend on a jean jacket....even a really cool, unique and creative jean jacket.

I embarrassed to say that for quite a few days I thought about that silly jacket. Wondered if there were some way I could somehow afford it. Wondered if it would ever go on sale enough for me to be able to purchase it.

One day, while I was pulling a sweater out of my closet, I noticed a jean jacket. My jean jacket. I had purchased it at a Goodwill store at one time and hadn't worn it in quite some time. It didn't look anything like the one I had seen at the store several days before. As I turned to leave the bedroom, my eyes rested on an antique Ball canning jar that is filled with old buttons and sits on my dresser. An idea began to take shape.

I did some cutting of seams and removing of buttons on my jacket. I tossed it in the washer and dryer to get a bit of a "frayed" look where the cutting had been done. Ribbon and beads were scrounged from various shelves and drawers in the house. All of these things...the ribbon, the beads, the antique jar with the buttons, even the jacket itself were purchased at one time or another and were deemed to be somehow necessary to me...I guess. When I looked at the beads, I couldn't even remember WHY I had bought them in the first place. But, I was pleased with the results of my "new" jean jacket.

Using the things that I already own and putting them together in different ways to create something new is fun and rewarding. Figuring out what is enough and being content with that....that's a path I am continuing to pursue.

Peace out,
Lyn