some questions answered

I heard this story on NPR today about a woman who decided to try living for a month without post-1950s technology (no TV, computer/internet, cell phone among other things). It wasn't, I think, a terribly revolutionary act, but still really inspiring to me. I've been thinking a lot lately about the community that the internet has fostered for me, but wonder too how it might isolate me. I'd really like to take a technology break sometime soon. I'm thinking maybe this summer when my kids are home full time; they only rarely watch TV/videos or use the computer (maybe a couple hours total each month) and are great inspirations in their creativity and ingenuity (exhausting inspirations, but inspirations nonetheless). I'd have to put my beloved digital camera aside for a month, but it could be a great opportunity to experiment with film. Just thinking.

I'm thinking a lot about the big picture lately and am a bit overwhelmed by worries and choices and opportunities in my life. As a consequence, I'm really behind on email. I thought I'd answer some of the email questions here as so many of you had the same or similar queries.

What camera do you use? Check my about page.

Where did you get your boots? My brown boots are made by Born and my black boots are from Camper (and Keri says she has the same ones, so you know they are cool).

Can you tell me more information about the child's mug/bowl/plate set? I don't know more than what I posted, but I did receive these comments:

I have just found your site. I have the girl mug. At one time I had both the boy and girl sets for my kids but am down to just this. Fun to see them again. I will be happy to give the mug to someone who is trying to complete a set. I am downsizing at my house. email interestingquilts@yahoo.com.
Posted by: Pat

I can tell you a little bit about the little girl bowl, cup, plate set it is made by Interpur. I found a complete little boy set on ebay once-> it had already sold. The little girl bowl, the boy bowl, & boy feet are on ebay right now (I found them by searching "face bowl"). I guess from day to day you can check back to find the pieces you're looking for. I hope this helps!
Posted by: Kellie

When are you going to have {insert name of previously made item here} in your shop again? I am sorry that I have not been able to update my shop in the last few months. I'm currently exploring some new designs and ideas and may or may not restock some of the styles that I sold last year. I am not able to take any special orders. I will be updating the shop this Thursday, March 8th at 10am PST with some little chicks and maybe a few other surprises. There are a lot of etsy sellers who do keep their shops stocked and are open to special orders so make sure you check out all that is offered over there!

Can I have a pattern for your birds/chicks/bunnies etc...? Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have any plans to publish patterns for my stuffeds. If you're interested in making stuffed toys, I recommend looking at vintage craft books (check your library!) to learn about construction. Japanese craft books are another good resource. I learned how to make a round head with a gusset from this book (which I borrowed from Amy a couple years ago). I know that there are a lot of new books on softies and sewing coming out soon as well which I'm sure will be full of great patterns.

Hope that helps! Enjoy your weekend...

Comments

[shari]

hi stephanie,
i heard that same story yesterday as i was driving to chapel hill. it really inspired me too and i'd love to take a technology break in the near future. i wonder how difficult it would be and how i would be different from this little experiment. hope you are having a great weekend! xo shari

[carol]

I love this idea and plan to implement the no technology (specifically computer) life this summer for a month. I remember a time when I would only occassionally check my e-mail throughout the week and no web browsing! Although I don't feel like I'm totally out of hand, I still want to focus my attention on the lives around me.

Thanks for putting this idea out there- I'm going to head over to NPR and listen to the story.

[holly bechiri]

do it! take that breather! my husband and i, a few months ago, decided we were watching too much television, so we decided to leave the television off for one week to get us back on balance. we enjoyed that week so much, we were always talking about just not watching television anymore. but within a few weeks after our fast, we had crept back to just as much television-watching....so we did it again. and again, later. finally, after an inspiring day with the revolutionary sylvia keesmaat brian walsh, we decided to disconnect our cable. we now have one channel that comes in too fuzzy to enjoy watching, and we rent lots of foreign films from the library.
when we were first married, i didn't want a television. just a dvd player and a tv screen that wasn't connected to any channels. my husband balked at this, saying he couldn't just Not have his news and sports. now, He's the one to point out how much more peaceful our home is without a television and the barrage of garish commercials that come with it. the more we simplify our lives, the more rich and deep they seem to turn out to be. the paradox of the modern age, i suppose.

[amisha]

my partner and i are doing a no-tech month later this year as part of our modified new year's resolutions (one project per month)... the friends who inspired us did a similar month with their 2 young children, who didn't watch a lot of tv but did watch movies and such... the hardest definitely for the adults was the web-surfing/email but they felt so good about it afterwards. i love being online but i am also looking forward to this experiment to see how it will change our day-to-day habits.

[Jessica]

Mmmm...a technology break. That sounds fabulous. Also, there's nothing like film photography. Digital just isn't the same. Must go dig out that old camera...

[Rebecca F.]

Don't have lots of advice, just a warm hug. I think worries are hard regardless of the topic. Just didn't want you to think you're alone.

Sending you a cup of tea.

[sally]

Hello, sweet giraffe.

I heard the same story and was very inspired. It is interesting how the "conveniences" in life can become burdens. I have no problem with giving up tv, since the boys only get an occasional video as it is, but the computer + digital camera...ahh...my weaknesses...cutting down screen time is one of my goals for this year though. Can't wait for your shop update.

[lisa s]

great photo stephanie....

i think it's important to try whatever you think might bring you a new perspective or fresh look....

but damn we'd miss teh 3191 pair ups!

be well!

[tracy]

tech free sounds great to me. (as long as i can keep using my cordless drill!) looking for summer inspiration - this may be it... thinking of youxo

[tut-tut]

No technology for a while; a good idea, I think. My daughter and I are taking a photography class this summer and I'm bringing my mother's yashikamat from the 1960s; I really want to know how to develop pictures!

You will find your children are able to come up with a vast arrary of activities on their own in future, unlike most of their contemporaries.

[Lindsey Clare]

sounds like a wonderful plan. i've recently been thinking a lot about my own creativity and energy and its relation to technology and consumption.
basically, i've been really overwhelmed because i spend hours looking at blogs and Flickr, and i love it so much, but then i sit down to create something myself and i am stuck! practically paralysed by all the thoughts of 'it won't be as good as theirs' or 'i don't have my own style' or whatever.
it's really difficult for me to remember who i really am, when i am surrounded by so many beautiful images and ideas and projects. you're right, it is isolating.
i think living in a big city (Sydney) has a lot to do with it too. i'm craving a country escape and a screen-free holiday!
good luck stephanie, i hope you find the refreshment and respite you are looking for.

[jude]

I am far too addicted to my technologies to give them up - however - I was really impressed with a friend of mine who lives in London England. She decided that TV was consumming all her evenings, so she threw hers out. She felt she - went to work - came home from work - watched TV - fell asleep - went to work... Since she got rid of her telly she has; joined a swimming club, taken on a conversational French speaking course, taught herself crochet, taken up knitting again and got back into cooking in a big way. It's definitely food for thought. Less viewing others lives - more active participation in our own.
And here I am saying this on someone elses blog...viewing again!

[peggy]

I LOVE your bathtub!

[Kristin]

I heard the story too and was also inspired. When my kids were about 6 mo and 2 we took a 2 year tv break and it was wonderful. This was before the internet was big and we didn't have a computer at home anyway, so we didn't have to worry about that. I really don't miss tv at all when I don't have access, because there's so much else to do. My hubby and son are pretty stuck on it though, so another tv break wouldn't go down so well here.

My one difficulty would be giving up the radio (or perhaps that doesn't count- I missed the first part of the story). NPR is my mainstay and first choice when it comes to entertainment. Anyway, good luck with all the choices I know how hard that can be!

[Jennifer]

I grew up in a house with no TV at all. My parents's TV broke in the late 1950s and they decided not to replace it. On the upside, my parents succeeded in turning us all into voracious readers. Our weekly outing to the library + Dairy Queen was a highlight. On the downside, we did feel like freaks when we couldn't discuss Dark Shadows and Laugh-In at school. When my brother got on honor roll in junior high, his reward was a TV (ironic, I know). With my own children, we impose a no-TV-on-school-days rule that works quite well.

[Audrey]

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust

Good luck on your tech break! We'll sure miss you.

[Katharina]

Here in Germany we had several reality series about living in former times on tv. The first was about a family who had to live like farmers in ca. 1900. Then there was one about a big house with "workers" (maidens and cooks and household-girls, i don't know the right words) and family (the persons who own the house and the money), like living in ca. 1910, one with such a house in ca. 1920, the last one was about a housewomens-school in 1950. Everything very interesting and inspiring!! It was a very much harder life than we have...(what was estonishing in many ways, if you see it that close, you remark many things, which you didn't expect!)and it was very comfortable to see it just on tv and not to be the one who has to live that way...
Best wishes from germany, Katharina

[Laurie]

Love your site! Great ideas! I'll be checking you out often!!! Happy Spring!!

[sharon]

That is a beautiful photograph!

[Stephanie]

check out the book called Better Off-Flipping the Switch on Technology by Eric Brende. This guy, an MIT student, actually went and lived near some Amish farmers for a year without technology. Inspiring and more than I would want to give up, but got me thinking about how i live my own life