The Wait Begins....

I finally had Uber come and pick up my two ThredUP bags! I got up at noon, all ready. I had packed the bags previously, and I had my husband haul them to my front steps. Now the true wait begins as I wait for ThredUP to onload my clothes, and let me know what is going to happen to them.

I’ve heard women on Reddit cringing at the fact that sometimes ThredUP turns down perfectly good styles. I did donate a pair of jeans with holes from the factory, and I bet those will be turned down for regular jeans. I had checked that I wanted money for my old clothes on there. It would be nice to have some cash for some new digs! I don’t even mind if they just straight up recycle everything I sent. At least those clothes won’t just get thrown away.

So I’m waiting to see what happens to my old clothes! My man also threw away two big bags of trash from the sewing room, so my decluttering had some major wins this week! I still have too many clothes, but at least I made a dent in what I have.

Let's Talk Shoes

No woman I ever met only owned two pairs of shoes. Well, except for those years when I only had one pair! Years ago, I had a pair of Birkenstock clogs. They were brown. I had scrimped and saved to get them. It was the first time I had really held down a job in my youth, after going to college. And once I got those birks, I wore them for years. I felt like they went with everything! Yes, I only had ONE Pair of shoes, and I didn’t mind at all. They were my cool hippie shoes and I hated taking them off.

Fast forward a few years, and I now have more shoes. I have some in storage that my husband didn’t want me to throw away. What is it about shoes? They are hard to part with because you know you might want to wear them again some day down the road. I have some packed away, then I have three pairs of Crocs clogs and 2 pairs of sneakers, and 1 pair of Crocs flip flops. That assortment has gotten me through the last couple of years alright!

I do go through Crocs, and for a time Crocs were all I was wearing. I decided to branch out and get some sneakers too, just in case I wanted to look a little more “put together”. I’m in my late forties now, and all hell has broken loose! I no longer care all that much about how I look! Gone are the days of collecting shoes.

How many shoes is too many? If you want to be eco friendly, aim for a handful of pairs and that is it. If you already have abundance of shoes, definitely don’t buy any more. I feel blessed to have the good fortune of some shoes I love. Does that mean I need more pairs? No, no it doesn’t!

Free at Last!

For the last few days, I’ve had something on my mind. Nope, not whether or not I will wear white this Spring…thoughts like that have long since gone the way of my thirties. I’m pondering whether old clothes should be offered for sale or given away for free?

If we all decided to give away our old clothes for free, what a difference it would make. I would bet that there are enough clothes already in existence to put the fashion industry on pause for a good few years time. But more than that, where is the “good will” in selling everything? As a Christian I will tell you that it is admirable to be generous. Generosity doesn’t only have to be for the needy. It can be between sisters and friends, and run in families.

There used to be charities where you could donate clothes to help people. Whatever happened to non profits like Dress for Success? I tried to donate to them a year or so after COVID, and my local chapter was no longer accepting donations. Some cities have thrift shops that are tied to a local homeless shelter. There is one in my city. Nowadays, you can donate to your local thrift store, or an online thrift shop like ThredUP.

We all know where we can sell clothes, but when do you think it is justified to sell vs. flat out donate? Do you sell items if they are worth more money? Where do you draw the line at donating vs. selling? Selling your clothes isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you need money, you can sell them on Poshmark or Mercari, or even EBay or Etsy if the clothes are vintage. If you need money, don’t hesitate to sell your old clothes. You might not make much money off of them, but maybe sell what you can and donate what doesn’t sell. That way the clothes benefit yourself and others too.

Do you sell your old clothes? Or do you give them away for free? Neither path is actually wrong. Whichever path makes you feel good, do that thing. Bonus points if you help somebody else at the same time!

Why I still believe in making clothes by hand...

You might wonder, what’s the big idea! Why alter and sew clothes by hand, or remake stained and unfitting clothes to make them wearable again? What’s the big deal anyway? Well, I can only answer that with a photo.

This is just my overabundance! LOL, just one woman’s attempt to store clothing, art and home goods gone awry. Maybe I don’t make that much of a difference. I have three baskets in the hallway full of clean clothes, a big heap of dirty clothes on the floor in the bedroom, a clothing rack that I recently picked over to donate to ThredUP and three huge bins of clothes to donate or sell. Plus I have a closet full of clothes.

The reality is, most houses have a room like this. And most people have way too many clothes! I think women are usually more guilty of hoarding clothes than men are. But we buy things because we think we need them, until we have way too much. Why is it that people feel like it is so much easier to dress well when they have fewer pieces of clothes? Capsule wardrobes are becoming a huge trend. And so many women are talking about downsizing their wardrobe.

It is so easy to buy clothes, but what happens if you don’t like something or if it stops fitting. Heaven forbid you spill on a shirt.

When you sew your own clothes, you slow down and take your time. You make something that fits how you want. You make something you want to wear for a long time. And if you outgrow the clothing, you can remake it to fit your new body shape! Win win! Patching and mending are wonderful skills too, that keep clothes out of the landfill. When you sew your own clothes, you no longer pay for corporate greed. You no longer pay for people who are sewing clothes for pennies a day.

This is just a gentle nudge, my book is a pretty quick read. “The Portals of Locke Meade” introduces teens to the concept of sewing their own clothes, and teaches them why it matters. The book might not be available for very long! It’s a cozy weekend read, perfect for a quiet evening. Also, check out my website! It has tons of posts on sewing your own clothing, altering and upcycling to make things like new!

Earth Day is HERE!!!!!

It is Earth Day today, and I’m taking a moment to recommit my life and art journey to doing the right things to take care of the planet. Every little bit does make a difference! This year I am donating three bags of clothes to ThredUp. What is your Earth Day thing going to be?

This year I’m also reading two books. One is on reducing toxins in the home. It is called “A Healthier Home”. The book focuses chapters on different things you do in the home. With ideas for personal care, cooking, cleaning and more…I’m bound to get some ideas from this book on products to avoid and more Earth and people friendly habits to swap in.

The second book I’m reading is “Simply Living Well”. It features ways to go low waste and helps you get closer to zero waste. There are recipes for health, hearth and home. Plus the photos in the books are just gorgeous! It’s inspirational just flipping through the books. I cannot do natural medicine very much because I am on a lot of prescriptions, but it is encouraging to think there might be a few things I might be able to try.

I hope your Earth Day is fabulous! Extra points if you do something to make it matter to you!

Is Shopping Secondhand Becoming Mainstream?

When I was growing up, a lot of my sister’s unwanted clothes got passed down to me. Then in high school, when I discovered thrifting, it didn’t seem so strange to wear secondhand clothes. It actually felt exciting to see what wacky fashions I could find, and for me, nothing was off limits! I remember getting a couple of pairs of “old man pants” on the cheap, and rocking those to science class to the chagrin of my class mates. Something about wearing other people’s used clothes felt exciting. I even bought my wedding dress second hand! It was a tan and sky blue dress with sea shells on the skirt. I still remember how I felt getting married at the courthouse, with pride.

Today it seems normal to buy and sell used clothes. And I’m not alone in finding those habits to be fun! If you go on Reddit and search Poshmark, ThredUp and Mercari….women are highly interested in selling their old clothes for cash. Whether they take the time to upcycle them or not…it is now trendy to shop second hand! My mom and sister both shop second hand sometimes. I never would have imagined my own Mom getting into thrifting…but here she is talking about her thrifted clothes and home goods.

It used to seem like something only poor kids did, to wear hand me downs and second hand. But the reality is a lot of the parents who had their kids wear hand me downs were just frugal and trying to be smart with their money. Everybody here in the states, and most likely abroad as well, are feeling the crunch in their wallet from modern times. Selling your old clothes and doing clothing swaps is a great idea! You can leave with a sense of pride at selling your clothes, and benefit the planet at the same time. Every time you swap or sell, or shop second hand, you are doing the climate a favor by shifting the supply chain in favor of the Earth.

People need money, and selling clothes is a great way to make some quick cash. Even I am getting back into selling clothes on ThredUp! It might be a sign of the times, but it is equally a sign to cash in! More people are interested in buying secondhand than ever before! List your items on ThredUp, Poshmark, EBay or Mercari and start making an income while doing something good for the planet!

If you want to learn more about selling upcycled clothes, check out my book on the topic! This book is kind of cheeky and fun, but it dives into selling clothes both in person and online. Maybe it will be just the thing to get you into upcycling and selling clothes!

Why I wrote "The Portals of Locke Meade"

There’s something really grounding about making your own clothes.
Just sitting with the fabric, taking your time, figuring things out as you go. It’s not fast, and it’s definitely not perfect—but that’s kind of the point. I think that’s why I’ve always loved it. It feels like stepping outside of everything else for a while. The pace is slower. You actually pay attention. And you end up with something that means a little more because you made it yourself.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about how different that is from the world we live in now. Clothing is made so quickly, in such huge quantities, and most of us never really see how or where it happens. It just shows up… and then disappears. And I started wondering—what would it look like if people pushed back against that in a bigger way? Not just quietly choosing to sew at home, but actually resisting it.

That question stuck with me more than I expected. I kept coming back to it—what would real resistance even look like in a world like this? And at some point, it stopped being just a question and started turning into a story.

I began imagining a group of people who didn’t just step outside the system, but decided to confront it. People who saw the environmental cost of mass production and couldn’t ignore it anymore. People who were willing to take risks to protect something they believed in.

That’s where this book came from.

It’s a mix of history, science fiction, and environmental themes—but at its core, it’s really about that same feeling so many of us have in quieter ways. Wanting to slow down. Wanting to live differently. Wanting to care about how things are made and what they cost beyond just money.

If you’ve ever felt that, even a little bit, I think this story might resonate with you.

The book is available on Amazon if you’d like to explore the story. And truly, thank you for being here and sharing this space with me.

#1 Teen European History New Release!!

We did it!! If you have been following me on Facebook the last couple of weeks, I asked people to help make my book #1 in Teen Historical Fiction. It did so today!! I’m beyond thrilled! What a way to spend the Easter holiday, basking in the glow of a book well done! I’m doing my happy dance over in my corner of the world. Get your copy of “The Portals of Locke Meade” today! Thank you beyond measure for helping making this book a success!

The Reluctant Farmer by Cathryn Wellner

I want to give a shout out to my friend from Australia! She is the author of many books, the one I love the most is “The Reluctant Farmer”! Cathryn Wellner and I met some years ago, because we both love to encourage other creatives online. She is a true storyteller! If you get a chance, check out her memoir and her Small Scale Stories! I am loving her memoir, “The Reluctant Farmer” so much. You can get a copy on Amazon.

It is raining out today, and I am just settling in for a quiet night of art and reading at my desk. I hope you all are doing well, and that you are having fun, no matter what continent you live on!

My Story, My Stuff: A Decluttering Adventure

What do your belongings say about you? For those of you who don’t know me, here’s an introduction! I’m Kat Sturges, an eco artist who loves stuff. I love creating stuff, and I love shopping for stuff. The problem is I have too much stuff, and the weight of it is making it hard to function and difficult to sleep at night. My stuff is weighing on my mind and hurting my pocket book. It is hard to clean my home, because there is stuff everywhere.

That’s where a gentle decluttering steps in. Maybe, just maybe, I don’t need so much stuff! Maybe I can do without some of this stuff.

This is the first post in a series called “My Story, My Stuff”! Give me follow on Instagram to comment and follow along. Let us declutter together, we can do it! http://www.instagram.com/art.kat.sews

A Quiet Kind of Together by Kathryn Sturges

This work explores the paradox of human connection: the coexistence of presence and isolation.

The fairy, initially alone, became part of a relational space through the addition of a second figure. This shift was not meant to resolve her solitude, but to complicate it—to reflect the lived experience of being both connected and internally distant at the same time.

Rather than offering closure, the piece invites contemplation. What does it mean to be seen? When does proximity become connection? And how do we hold the quiet spaces within ourselves, even in the company of others?

Sew Felt Junk Journals!

I FINALLY cleared way to get back to my sewing machine. My old sewing studio has become a room to store things, because my health was not good enough to sew. Now my health is slowly improving, so I cleared off my sewing table and made a path between the storage bins to get to my machine. I had switched to a new Brother Sewing Machine right before I got sick, so the machine still feels pretty new and I’m not used to it. My old machine quit right before my body did, lol! I know that is not funny, but the correlation is uncanny. I used that old Singer Sewing Machine for like fifteen years or so before it had enough of my patchwork and upcycling mayhem.

I started getting into book making after I got sick. I’ve tried a few different types of books. The thing is, upcycled materials get my creative inspiration going so much that I go off on all these tangents. So it took a long time for me to come up with the concept for these felt journals. I have made two so far, one for myself and one for a gift. It is nice to have finished projects done on hand to gift for birthdays, and other festive celebrations. Make a few of these junk journals to give. They will be well received!

Felt junk journal number two by Kat Sturges

Felt Junk Journal Number One by Kat Sturges

Fairy pages in felt junk journal by Kat Sturges

Back cover pocket of felt junk journal by Kat Sturges

I don’t think that there is any need for step by step explanation. The journals are basically a cover, elastic to hold the pages together. I created a back pocket to hold pens and markers. I was going to make a bunch, but oops! I closed my Etsy shop. LOL! I hope that you get inspired to make some journals of your own, to use for junk journaling and for gifting.

Here is an excerpt from my new book!

I wrote this book as a dedication to my friends. When I started the book, I had two friends who made a huge impact on me! Unfortunately, I had a falling out with one of them. But I remain friends with the other! Here is a small excerpt from the book, “The Portals of Locke Meade”! If you enjoy this excerpt, you might enjoy the book. 📕 📖 🤩💝

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She drifted to the grand hallway, and sure enough, the jesters were there.  They did a slight bow when they saw her and then set down their props.

            “Patrick, Aston…I am so happy to have discovered you here!  I am beside myself with sorrow.  The chateau is being sold, and I am to move to town tomorrow!”

            Aston shrugged, “Yes, we already know!  The entire staff has been expecting this news for some time.  Patrick and I will be nearly neighbors though, isn’t that something worth celebrating?”

            “Well, yes.  It will be delightful if you both would help me get acquainted with town life and keep the riff raff away.  You know I have always delighted in both of your company!  I’m fearful though, because I have never actually lived alone before.  I don’t know what to expect!  What does a young lady do who finally has freedom after living under her mother’s thumb her entire life?”

            Patrick did his cool laugh; the one where he only slightly opened his mouth and tilted his head.  “Well, there is fun to be had in town!  You have not yet had the privilege of the pub, nor have you spent much time by the river there.  Aston and I will call on you each day and see how you are faring, and we can all hang out!  We will help you set up your cottage too!”

            Amber smiled and did a little curtsey.  “Oh, that sounds grand!  Maybe it will be fun for a change!  It will be nice to be finished with studying.  And perhaps I will find a path of freedom and whimsy there!  Is there any chance of me finding a first job to pass the long hours of the day?  I have always wondered what it was like to earn a wage…you know…to be a part of the bigger picture.”

Some paintings inspired by "The Portals of Locke Meade"...

Here are a few paintings I did along the way as I was writing the book. They will give you something of an idea of what the book is about. I chose to keep the book as just text, because young YA are just getting into full length chapter books. So I wanted the book text to stand on it's own.

I worked for over three years off and on writing this book! It is my finest book to date, although I’m still really partial to my art book, “The Faeries of Octo Bay”. “The Portals of Locke Meade” is a full length book of YA sci fi fiction! Be a part of the adventure today!

"The Portals of Locke Meade" is on Amazon!!

“The Portals of Locke Meade” is now available!

Amber Gamboge is learning what life is like beyond the chateau doors. What do the Fashion Police want with a little aristocrat who has never been on her own? Join in the adventure! Grab a copy of “The Portals of Locke Meade” today!

"Rise" by John Pavlovitz: Book Review

Lent is arriving right on time for me! Honestly, even though I have been a Christian since I was in my teens, I have never celebrated Lent. I’m the kind of open minded Christian who studies the Bible on a personal level. The takeaways I get are my own interpretation of things. Some people might consider that unholy or wrong. Sure, many Christians go to church and get taught how to pray. I did the church thing when I was young, and it was not a good experience. To the girl who didn’t fit in anywhere, church was a great place to be the odd man out. Double the sense of not fitting in, my parents didn’t go to church. So church elders looked at me with grave suspicion. I didn’t let that stop me. I was ready to devote my life to Christ, regardless of whether they wanted to be a part of that journey or not.

Nowadays I’m a lot more laid back and open minded. But honestly, this year I could use a renewal of my faith! It has been such a hard few years of my life. Harder than ever it seems. I’ve been doing these mini prayers sprinkled throughout my day, just to be in God’s presence for a while. And today I started reading the book “Rise”, by John Pavlovitz. If you have not heard of John Pavlovitz, he is a former pastor turned writer and leader of a movement for change. He symbolizes the good side of Christianity, not the MAGA side. I’ve been soaking up his writing for the last year or so, mostly through his Substack posts. He fires me up to make a difference.

It isn’t too late to celebrate Lent! Grab a copy of “Rise” from John Pavlovitz’s website and get praying!

"Get Your Life Back" by John Eldredge

Lately I’m having a hard time processing what I see online. My eyes get watery, and I have to close my laptop lid. To see what is really happening in your life, sometimes it takes a culling out and a letting go. Letting go of constructs and ideals that have carried me for years, I have been slowly getting back to what matters most of all.

I’ve begun reading “Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge, and the book looks exactly like the message I need right now. Mostly because I had been spending too much time focused on goals. And not enough time connecting with the soul of my life. My house has been a mess, with parts looking a step away from a hoarder’s den. I keep dreaming about having a successful business, but my creative pace has slowed WAY down now that I am sick. I might have over a thousand paintings, but most of them have been practice. And most of them are way too close to my heart to offer in any shop. My husband needs me present, because my mind and my spirit have been going north and south for far too long. I lost my way over the last few years and I’m finally getting more grounded in reality and putting both feet in the here and now.

The book talks about how horses are constantly scanning for the next predator, and I’ve become the same way. Waiting for the other shoe to drop has been my way of life for the last six or seven years now! When do I get to just relax and know peace in my heart? You might say it is just a decision, but it is more than that. When you live in the hood like I do, even just standing outside can make you fearful of the cars driving by your block. Or the next homeless man screaming at the top of his lungs, pushing his cart while he walks by….slows and stands right in front of my house. I’m trying to know safety. I’m trying to trust God and know deep down that God has my back!

I’ve been closing my computer and processing my life. Finding my way back to me.

Searching for Home

Sometimes you can search the world over, and not find a home. My husband and I want to move. We moved in to this old house about four and a half years back, and everything has gone wrong. We aren’t sure if we are going to stay here or move to a condo, but one thing is for sure….somehow I dream of us finding home wherever we go next.

I have moved probably over twenty times in my life! Like a minstrel or wandering vagabond, I’m not the kind of woman to settle down in one place for very long. Our last place was a duplex, and I got pretty comfortable there. We lived there for over 8 years. It started to slowly feel too small as time went on. It was tiny, like one of those shoebox homes you see where you just know everyone in the home no sense of personal space. But I did have a room of my own, and I went in there and closed the door, just to dream for a while.

Whether we stay in this old house, or move someplace new, I dream of feeling settled. I dream of finally getting cozy in a home that is just right for us! I dream of being able to come home without fear of the unknown lurking around every corner. I dream of feeling safe and sound in my bedroom at night, without the shadows creeping up on all sides.

Home is sweet, as they say. Wherever you call home, I hope it brings you vast comfort and peace!

A little introspection: What are you hoping for this holiday?

Merry Christmas from Miso and Tuna!!

So Thankful for this Journey!

I’ve begun an exercise in gratitude! A couple of weeks ago, I played a manifestation game. I didn’t really ask to manifest specific things, but it felt good to dream again. I thought all my dreams were over. Turns out, I can still dream! I did a friend wrong, and then my life took a nose dive. Fortunately things are looking up for me. It took some time but I’m coming out the other side of a two year slump…devastation!

I’m doing a gratitude practice hosted by artist and author Liz Lameroux. It is where you list five things every day focused on a theme, every day for the month. I’ve noticed that just looking for things is making the gratitude blossom all over my life! Today I went to a park! It was a much needed escape from the dull drums of every day living. It was gorgeous out!

I’m feeling grateful for my journey as an artist! I might not have gotten as far as I had hoped in life. BUT…I’m so grateful for all the experiences I’ve had and all the people I’ve met. It has been such a fun journey. I’m grateful for every work I’ve created!

I made a friend three and a half years ago, who brought out the artist in me! I miss him so much! I know I messed up big time! I wish I could tell him I’m sorry. I’m grateful for everyone in my life, past present future. I’m grateful for everyone who reaches out, and everyone I reach out to. Blessed be! I’m grateful for this blog! I’m grateful to everyone who stops by to check it out. I’m grateful for YOU!