Mend & Patch Your Denim Jeans for a More Sustainable Lifestyle: The Destiny of Things Story #596

Mend & Patch Your Denim Jeans for a More Sustainable Lifestyle:  Mending Ways, Story #19

Don't throw away those old jeans because they ripped or you are tired of them!  Upcycle!

An Etsy buyer ordered patches #2 and #4 earlier this month and then I received an email about them!  There are two patches left in stock in this set, patches #1 and #3, available here.

Photo via Hoarder Rehab

Instead upcycle your jeans and other clothes as they need mending or change the way they look by adding patches and stitching for a more sustainable lifestyle!  Here are some ideas!

Here is the kind email:

Hi Kennedy,
The boro patches are beautiful. I have a pair of jeans in mind to sew them on. You are so generous. I can't believe you sent me a 3rd patch and all those other little goodies.
Your work is really detailed and beautiful. I need to read your note more carefully and will respond to your request for input for your blog. Thanks so much again!  Best, Etsy buyer

I'd love to know if she is repairing her jeans or adding this patch as an embellishment to upcycle them!  Patches left in stock in this set, patches #1 and #3, available here.  

Photo via Hoarder Rehab

It's always so nice to get an email of appreciation from a kindred spirit!  Here is what I wrote back:

Hi! Thank you for your inspiring email and compliments! I appreciate every word. I am so happy you can use all 3 patches. I'd love to see how you use the patches on your jeans! Kindest regards, Kennedy

Of course, I'd want to be the fly on the wall and see what she did with this patch too!  Two patches left in stock in this set, patches #1 and #3, available here.  Photo via Hoarder Rehab

Saying Goodbye:  I don't mind letting these go because I know I can make another like it, if I wanted one for my own projects!  As a matter of fact, stitching is my alternative to hoarding!  Hoarding takes up a lot of time and once I slowed down and/or stopped buying so much, I have/had a lot of extra time on my hands.  Who knew?  

What I learned:   

1.  Who knew hoarding is also a time hoarder!  All that window shopping, price and quality comparing and zooming on photos and reading descriptions, etc was so time consuming!  Not only did I let go of all that but I gained blocks of time.  At first I didn't know what to do with myself, I watched a lot of shows, read a lot of books and started a backyard farm!

2.  Hoarding was also my stress valve reliever through retail therapy.  Any time I felt a bit stressed, I bought something, a little pick my up.  Until all those pick me ups turned into piles.  Now I know it's time to re think what I'm doing when when the little pick me ups go into a pile unopened!  If I don't put it away, it's my own inner alert letting me know.... sometimes I don't always know, but it's the alert to start digging.

On the other hand, my alternative to stop hoarding and buying little pick me ups went to comfort foods!  Instead of stuffing my house, I started to stuff my face, which isn't always kind to my ever growing love handles!  Anything fried, salty, creamy and crunchy will do!  I'm not talking healthy stuff... more like junkie junk foods!  Why doesn't hummus and carrot sticks take away stress like french fries and thousand island dip?

Okay, so I still have a ways to go to finding alternatives to hoarding, but so far, stitching, gardening and reading has worked, but I still need more alternatives because I'm ADD like that!  Hoarding and eating comfort foods are so instant.... Anyone know other healthy alternatives out there that are instant?

I think these would be good for hiding stains on clothing.  These take a long time to make due to the tiny stitches to make all the curves.  They were a request from an Etsy buyer and I ended up making around 20 of them to try and make the one she wanted that was on a t shirt I had sold.  My needles seem to have a mind of their own.  Frayed and tattered, available here.   

Photo via Hoarder Rehab

Thank you Etsy buyer for sending your inspiring email  It's emails like yours that make my day and keep me stitching!  Wish I could see your up cycled patched up jeans!  I am so thankful I can help others live a more sustainable lifestyle.  Hope my patches helps save time, so you can spend your time making your clothes more aesthetic and last longer!

 

This patch I added to upcycle a t shirt sold long time ago and an Etsy buyer requested a custom order of this patch and it took me 20 patches to get one too look like this one! 
Frayed and tattered patches like the one above, available here.   

Photo via Hoarder Rehab

Sales have been up and down with mainly crazy busy on the weekends, but today we've had two sales, so here I am! I have been under the weather lately, actually for about a month.  I'm hoping I'll feel better soon and start new listing, stitching and organizing again.  I've been misplacing stuff and spending hours looking for them.  Yesterday it was a religious medal and some Spider Man toilet paper that sold and I could not find them.

The religious medal I hunted down, but it took me two days!  The Spider Man toilet paper was lost for a couple hours.  A great reminder for me to put things back where they are destined and can be found again and to organize and clean daily!

My simple plan is to have the 2nd room organized by next year!  Right now I'm just taking baby steps and working on the room for at least 20 min a day, yes I set a timer and usually go over 20 min, and to specifically organize and clear the two tables in there!  Sounds so easy!  Not so!  Those two table are my dumping grounds for everything else found around the house!  So keeping them clear is like hoping to see the bottom of the kitchen sink!  Wish me luck!

This was one of my favorite teaching and then gardening t shirts and I upcycled it with the abundance of patches I made to complete the custom order request.  It has six scribble doodle patches on it.  Five are on the front and one is on the back.  Available here.  Photo via Hoarder Rehab

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard: HoarderRehab with 162 items, The Destiny of Things- 162 items, VintageToGoEasy - 153 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 170 items.   And now, Mending Ways with 80 items!  My new goal is to list 170 items on each shop and to keep a full 3 pages on Mending Ways.  I am immensely grateful, thank you all who are supporting my alternative to hoarding!

Maybe you'll find something and give it new life and a new home!  All pleasant lookieloos are appreciated!

 

 One of my favorite pair of jeans that I no longer wore because I only wear flat shoes now and I wore these with wedges when I was teaching.  They are now experiencing a more sustainable lifestyle with an Etsy buyer!  I am inspired by the embroidered flowers and did my own thing on another pair of jeans, they will be washed this weekend and hopefully listed next week!  So fun!

Photo via JunkDrawerAndMore, but will most likely be listed on Mending Ways.

"Although the word is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it." ---Helen Keller

Thank you readers for your visits and support from my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!

PHOTO UPDATES 2021 Library Mechanical Date Stamp USES by Etsy Buyers: The Destiny of Things, Stories 582-595

PHOTO UPDATES 2021 Library Mechanical Date Stamp USES by Etsy Buyers:  The Destiny of Things, Story 582-595

So many uses, let us count the ways.... I stopped counting at 13!  BEFORE:

Shipped so quick. All sorts of little kitschy surprises included and packaged with care! Put a smile on my face. Very kind and thoughtful.  I’m using this stamp for my creative journal notebook & beyond! Thank you.  Photo via Etsy buyer  

Retro Rotating Library Date stamp and/or in pad available here.

Here are some of my favorite Etsy buyer ideas!  AFTER:

 Back of Etsy buyer journal using the library date stamp.  Thank you Etsy buyer for the inspiration that leads to other ideas!  I love how she used different color inks to make it look authentic!  Very cool.  I love that idea, makes me want to start and art journal today!  And if I did, under borrower's name I'd either add the title to the art page or a short list of supplies used.

Photo via Etsy buyer

Save the date rotating library stamp available here.

 

Email from Etsy buyer:   

 

Thanks! It was just what I wanted and I left a 5-star review. I really appreciates the minimal packaging! And the extra gifts. I’m attaching photos of how I’m using the stamp right now, which you can feel free to share without my name attached. Someone sent me a vintage-style library-book pocket with card and I decided to putt he card in the back of my art journal and stamp it every time I play in the journal. (Photos attached.) I’ll also probably use the stamp in my regular journal at the beginning of each entry.   Thanks again! --Etsy buyer

 

I love the front of her art journal, it's very simple yet inviting!  I just want to turn to the first page and then the next, and the next...  Love that purpley ink, reminds me of old school library days!  Reminder, the mechanical library date stamp we sell, is a little different than the one on her art journal.  It starts with the numerical day, then the abbreviated month and lastly the year.  Save the date rotating library stamp and/or ink pad available here.

Here is another favorite use!  She said on her next batch, she's going to use the date stamp on these beauties! 

These look like a lot of fun to make!  Look at all the different stampers she must use!  Want, Want!!!  Must go looking for those tiny circular stamps, love the wreath one!  Thank you Etsy buyer for all the motivation and eye candy!

Unexpected Uses!  Who would have thought so many would use them to date their eggs!

Fantastic item! lots of little goodies and it made me so happy to open my simple purchase to a hand written note.  Photo via Etsy buyer.  

Retro Rotating Library Date stamp and/or ink pad available here.

 

Bought this stamp so I could start dating my eggs as I collect them. Came in a pack with a bunch of other little fun things. I loved the hand written personalized note as well.  VTG

Loved the rotating date stamp! It reminds me of working in my dad's office decades ago. It works great for stamping our fresh chicken eggs. Fast shipping too - thank you!  

All these date stamped eggs, makes me want to start raising my own chickens!  BTW, you can order a small ink pad as seen in the first photo with your order, all I know is it's not permanent ink.  I found this photo while looking for something else, not sure which Etsy buyer it's from yet.  The rest are from Etsy buyer from our shops, VintageToGoEasy and The Destiny of Things.  (Center alignment not working again)  Photo via Etsy buyer.  Retro Rotating Library Date stamp and/or in pad available here.

I haven’t used them yet but thEse look like they will work perfectly for stamping my egg cartons, salves, jams and more! Thank you so much for the note and extra goodies! Good luck on your cleansing journey! 

Thank you for all the extra goodies. I'm so thankful to be able to date eggs from my chickens.  

This is exactly what I needed to keep my eggs dated correctly! Love love love this! Works so well!                                                             Photo via Etsy buyer.

The above are all the five star reviews for using the date stamper on eggs, but not everyone thinks so, below is a four star review, so you can make your own decisions, if using this on your eggs.

This print is pretty tough to get right on an egg without a ton of smudging. I guess I'll need lots of practice. 

ALL TYPES of JOURNAL USES, even SNAIL MAIL:  from scrapbooks, Bible journals, etc.

The date stamp is easy to use, small enough to carry around and super cute. I am going to use the date stamp in my journals (one for books, one for brain dump, and one for podcasts). I love the "library aesthetic". Bonus! The best thing about my package was the unexpected bonus kit of junk stuff!! Super cute. Will be adding those in my journal as well!

I was looking for a date stamp to date my Bible journal pages. This was just perfect. Quick service and delivery. 

Can’t wait to use my date stamper on my scrapbook pages! Great quality! Fast shipping! Thank you 

i love this! came quickly, very adorably wrapped. i'm using it to date all my outgoing mail. thank you!

Seems fine. The stamper will hopefully last me a long time. In the package the shop owner asked what we were using them for, and I am using mine to keep track of the dates I draw. I know I could just write it on the page, but something about the act/ritual of stamping the date on the page after each drawing struck me as something I would more likely remember over adding more lines to the page in writing. We'll see if it works. I had stopped drawing for over a decade and am now trying to get back into it, so this was a very low cost "perk" to try to keep myself motivated.  

This date stamper will last many years!  At least 8 years, most of the date stamps can date from 2020 all the way to 2030.  See you again in 8 years!  Save the date rotating library stamp and/or ink pad available here.   This date stamp is on sale with more than 10% discount for the month of August 2021 or until they sell out,here .  Photo via The Destiny of Things.

GIFT GIVING USES:  According to Etsy buyers it also makes a great gift:

This is a gift for my stepdad that is always giving away farm fresh eggs from his small Nebraska farm! He writes the date on the egg carton, thought he’d like to put a date stamp on each egg instead!

 

Wrote back:

 

Hi! What a great story! Your stepdad sounds very down to earth and generous! Thank you for sharing it with me! I'll use it on my blog and leave you anonymous and see what kind of insight I get into my hoarding ways. Thanks again, Kennedy

 

Perfect for "just because" gifts, low cost perk me motivational gift for yourself and friends, stocking stuffers, artist and writers gift and care packages....

 

I loved it soooo much it’s for my sisters birthday I know she’ll treasure it forever!! 

 

OTHER USES besides snail mail, journals and library cards,

 

What a perfect stamp! We are using it to addend my wedding "crash cards" (guests can come drink and dance with us after all the formal wedding things) which somehow made it through multiple proofs with out our wedding date on them! This stamp is great! 

Not sure what category this goes under, except it was very disappointing for me, but I'm adding it for transparency:

This is our lowest review for this item, it's 3 stars, not sure what the person was expecting, but here goes!  So please don't order this unless you like the date format, we can't change it!

 

I am quite disappointed with the stamp because its in the European format. I know it was shown in the item pictures, but I somehow figured because we are in the US, it would be US format. My bad! However, the extra gifts that came a long with it made it a little less painful. I spent that whole day playing with the Fortune Telling Fish, when I should probably have been doing some work! Well packed and addressed. I would totally recommend seller again and will not hesitate to buy from again! 

  

I'm not sure what to think about that one!  I can't even explain it or say it's user error!  Here is one to hopefully counter it!

Super cute works like a charm.   Etsy buyer from The Destiny of Things.

 

REVIEWS from Etsy buyers about it's vintage library style:

 

Great vintage-style date stamp, and super-fast shipping!  

I was looking for a date stamp and found one that reminds me of the school library. Delivery was much faster than expected.

 

Wow, this turned out to be a long one!  And I have a lot more ideas and photo updates from two other shops!  Next time I hope I remember to add all my Etsy buyers thank yous at the beginning, but right now I'm quickly running out of time because I've gone into over time collecting all the inspiration, photos and ideas and don't have much time to comment on the ones I want!  Plus this is so long already!

Thank you Etsy buyers for all your help by sending emails, comments and photos of how you use this library style date stamp!  The hoarding insight you all helped me get today is that some hoard never dies!  or what I call re hoard!  Long story short I used to hoard these when I was teaching because it would save a lot of time with 30 students!  From grading papers, letting them use it for their daily journals and paperwork, like field trip slips!  What a time saver!  Hope it saves you time or makes your creations more aesthetic!

 

Like I said,  "Save the Date" rotating library stamp and/or ink pad available here.   This date stamp is on sale with more than 10% discount for the month of August 2021 or until they sell out,here.  Photo via The Destiny of Things. as an extra thank you for all those who will continue inspiring me in more ways than one and my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!

Stay tuned for more Etsy buyer inspiration!  I'm going to go look for those circle stamps to create the postal stamps!  BIG thanks to all those from around the world that support me and my Hoarder Rehab!