I’m a sucker for a favorites list - if you write it, I’ll read it. But this past summer, something shifted. I was picking things to sell at our garage sale and I found piles (PILES!) of forgotten makeup, clothes, accessories, and crafts. All items I remember thinking “this is needed, this is an investment, I’ll use this again”.
And so, I made a vow: be incredibly, annoyingly intentional of things I bring into my house. This looked like taking a beat before making an impulse purchase, checking my Facebook Buy Nothing, and “shopping” the things I already have.
With this mindset, it then made me realize how much of these favorites lists were just focused on buying, buying, buying. What would an alternative list look like?
Welcome to Free Favorites - a list of things I’ve loved this past quarter that won’t inspire you to buy something new (unless you count a Forever Stamp) and won’t include affiliate links. This is not to say I didn’t buy anything at all. But I really wanted to challenge myself to seek joy in the things that don’t have a price tag.
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Digital Gardens
I’ve dug deeeeeep into digital gardens and I’ve recommended them to every creative I know. I’m in so deep that my digital garden is, frankly, mostly about digital gardens.What’s great about them is you don’t really need to spend money to create one. You can use free apps Obsidian and Notion (though it costs to publish). I use Obsidian to create my digital garden and use Quartz (also free!) to publish it.
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Free Toddler Pants Pattern by Old Made New
I feel like every morning, I’m always looking for pants for my daughter. Doesn’t matter if we just did laundry or if we just bought a few pairs. We are in a perpetual pants drought.After yet another day of looking for pants, I decided to go online for a toddler pants pattern. I found this free one and made a pair out of a thrifted men’s shirts (best place to find patterned fabric! TRUST) in just one afternoon. I love that it’s a straight-leg trouser vs a skinny legging. It makes for such cute outfit pairings.
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Public Domain Archive and Internet Archive
Free databases for images, books, music, and more. It’s kind of like a mini library/museum that you can access through your laptop. I’ve actually been grabbing screenshots from things I’ve found on these databases and including them in my digital garden. -
Free Thursdays in Portland
Every first Thursday, the Portland Art Museum is free! I used to go to these when I was in my 20s, but I totally forgot about them as I’ve gotten older. I met up with my friend and brought my daughter who was just in awe of all the artwork.
I also saw permanent exhibits I’ve never seen before! There was an entire room dedicated to paintings of Mt. Hood! Absolutely beautiful.
It really made me wonder: what other free events does my city offer?
5. Keep Going by Austin Kleon
Borrowed this from the library after a loooong stint of DNFs (to the point where I questioned my ability to actually finish a book).
I’ve read Kleon’s work in the past and they’re easy to read, to the point, and each one inspires me to actually create. This book was no exception. I logged my favorite quotes in my digital garden. And YES! I did finish this book.
6. Quietly Public series by Carolyn Yoo
When I deactivated my Instagram in January, I honestly did not know what my future as a creative would look like. Sure, I work full-time, but what if I wanted to release a new collection? How do I share things I’m working on? What would that look like without marketing on Instagram?
Turns out, Carolyn Yoo has been exploring that herself by interviewing people who are creating their own worlds on the internet. It’s also her article on Digital Gardening that gave me the biggest push to start my own.
7. Youtube Videos for Background Listening
I feel like all my friends know at this point, but I LOVE a good YouTube essay and commentary. I’m guilty of treating these videos as podcasts while I draw or work on something.
This month, I’ve been listening more to commentators and here are my current favorites:
Amanda from Swell Entertainment
Amanda attends both big-name and niche events, conferences, balls, etc and reviews them. The ones that intrigued me the most were the Furry Convention and the Gone Girl Cruise.
Zach from Swiftologist
Zach reviews songs and albums and comments on pop music. Although I don’t agree with some of his points, I wish I could write like how he thinks. He can dissect a song with such precision, sometimes I find myself rewinding just to hear his sentences again (he also speaks faster than any other YouTuber I know)
8. Olivia Rodrigo and Kacey Musgraves’ new albums
Yes, these two albums released earlier this year, not actually in August. Yes, I’m still including them in this list.
Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love is an absolutely stunning album. I’m honestly in awe of her songwriting and I wish I had this album to listen to on repeat when I was in my 20s. It would’ve been hella cathartic. Favorites include: Wrong with Me and Expectations.
Kacey Musgraves’ Middle of Nowhere
I heard Uncertain, Tx, and it was love at first listen. As someone born and raised in Texas and now living in Oregon - it hit this sweet balance of nostalgia and witty songwriting. I’ve had the entire album on repeat since. Favorites include: Rhinestoned and Dry Spell.
9. Writing letters
This has been one of my favorite things the entire year. I’ve been writing so many more letters, I’ve actually gotten a little craft box dedicated to letters complete with vintage stamps, wax seals, postcards, different types stationery and pens.
It’s been my favorite way to catch up with friends. Maybe it’s the act of actually putting pen to paper, but I’ve found the most meaningful conversations (besides talking in person ofc) happen in letters. And I’m near giddy whenever I receive one back in the mail.
But how about you? What would be on your Free Favorites list?