DIY

Knit a neck-warming creation for $5

I saw this little neckie on Etsy -- for $28. HA! I thought. Even a bad or new knitter could create her own version for about $5. I set to it, and here is a DIY for my knittin' homeys. Play with this pattern until you get it the way you want it -- there's no wrong way.

Instructions

Using Lion Brand Jiffy (you can use any worsted-weight or you can double up on fuzzy yarns) in the color of your choice, cast on 20 stitches on size 1061/27 needles.

Work in garter stitch (purl only) for about 8 to 10 rows (for two inches).

On right side, work in garter stitch for five, knit for 10, garter stitch for five.

On wrong side, purl.

Continue until piece measures 13 inches.

Garter stitch, beginning on right side, for two inches.

Cast off.

Wrap around your neck and pin with a large brooch.

Magic Three

1: OK, someone has been stealing my pens. It's not cool. First I had these really awesome rollerball pens. Then I switched to the el cheapo ballpoints. Now I'm switching to the very distinctive Borrow My Pen by Fred and Friends. These pens look like typical company promotional pens, but bear names like "Verdant Fields Nudist Group," "Stuffed with Love Taxidermy" and "Springfield Sexual Addiction Center." Pick them up at www.perpetualkid.com; $6.99 for 8.

2: Landlocked folks like us might not understand it, but surfers leash their boards to their ankles. That was the inspiration behind K9Coil. Similar to the surf leash surfers wear to help them stay close to their craft, this leash provides a comfortable, humane way to walk your dog. The coiled leash also helps prevent tangling around dogs' paws. Visit www.K9Coil.com to buy.

3: All fashion shows contain sparks of creativity and inspiration. This one, however, is right up my alley. Reused Threads: A Green Fashion Show, is part of the Spirit & Place Festival happening now throughout Indianapolis. The show starts at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Road. Bring and exchange a belt, tie or scarf. Call (317) 251-1481, or e-mail perrasjodi@comcast.net for more information.

Don't give in to gimmick

The term "recessionista" has been bouncing around on a lot of fashionable lips these days. In fact, I've received a passel of press kits advising said recessionistas on what to buy, and how and where. Publications have happily hopped on the bandwagon, promoting both the term and a load of cheap crap that you probably wouldn't buy anyway -- even if we weren't going through economic hardship.

Initially, "recessionista" sounded like a cool term. I thought maybe it referred to women who made their own clothes, or went thrift shopping, or used alternative materials to outfit themselves.

While I am impressed and inspired by the new frugality and thriftiness (I'm thinking mainly of the upcycling movement), I'm a little chafed by a cutesy name like "recessionista." This is just another marketing opportunity, and it's one that smacks of pandering to peddle garbage.

A little background: All four of my grandparents lived through the Great Depression. My paternal grandma seemed the most affected. Her response to economic hardship in life was to give quantity rather than quality, so I got plenty of outdated calendars, broken toys and Michael Jackson puffy stickers -- even in 1994. I would rather have quality.

That's not to say all inexpensive items are bad. But don't sell yourself short, and don't let marketers encourage you to do so. Shop around. Find something you genuinely like.

Don't be afraid to hold off on a purchase. Splurge, if you need to, on smaller items. Make things; learn to knit or crochet or sew and revamp your wardrobe that way. Frequent thrift stores. Become your own kind of "recessionista," and the term will take on its own, genuine life.