On Consumerism and a List of Hopefuls

Posted by Dianne on January 24, 2017 in 2017, crafts, wish list,

I, for one, complain a lot about capitalism. Who wouldn't?

I'm not fond of communism due to historical precedent, and capitalism thrives on exploitation and relies on blissful ignorance from its consumers. Economic theories have always been painful since they rely on human beings to be reliable, and from common experience, we know they aren't. That being said, many still engage in retail therapy, myself included. Shopping plays into this guilt psychology that tricks the consumer into believing that they have control in their lives--enough control to afford purchasing non-necessary goods. And whenever a crisis arrives, that desire to feel in control, to feel normal, sends many into a downward spiral of guilt for spending money but in a constant need to channel their depression into the momentary feeling of luxury & wealth.

Stress, more often than not, is a direct catalyst for prompting spontaneous shopping. Stress is the reason I open up the Michaels app on my phone and gaze longingly at the coupons (and does it break my heart whenever there is a 25% of total purchase coupon that has to go unused for the sake of saving money). I try to curb my purchases as often as I can, whether it be through creating reward systems based on homework done or through creating shopping lists for those days that I want to live in the blissful ignorance of consumerism. 

I make a list every year of the things I'd like to buy/acquire, so as to give me a strict outline and a set of priorities, and here's the list for 2017.

Dianne's Contribution to Capitalism

This is, conveniently, similar to the name of my Amazon wish list. I can't deny being excessively materialistic. It's something most of us struggle with.

1. This clamp holder, simply for the reason that I would love to be able to film videos of scrapbooking (this may or may not be linked to the dream project I will eventually make).
2. The Arrival Blu-ray set. I absolutely loved the movie and find it incredibly thought-provoking. The linguistics and questions of xenophobia were beautiful themes strewn throughout the movie.
3. A bag to hold my pins in. I have so many enamel pins (as well as treasured wooden ones), and would hate to see them fall--the only compromise I can see is buying a bag with a see-through pocket.
4. Thin washi tape. We don't have to mention the washi collection right now, that's for another blog post where I feel less guilty.
5. The Honeycomb stamp from Paper Source. 
6. The Hello Honey mug. Can't ever have enough mugs (I mean, you can, but honestly if there's anything I would want to have by the time I get my own place, it's a collection of mugs.)
7. The matching Bee & Honeycomb washi set--can't have enough bees in the world, since they're practically endangered!
8. Hexagon squeeze punch. I've always loved patchwork quilt designs and would like to integrate that into scrapbooking, but I've only recently fixed most of my trypophobia (shoutout to Anna Joy, my darling professor who asked that I put myself under liberating constraints). 
9. Circle squeeze punch. Inspired by Adele who created a gorgeous embellishment with gold glitter paper.
10. SARASA pastel pens <3
11. Champagne bearsssss (and maybe the rose ones, too)
12. Tea Party washi tape
13. The planner washi tape box
14. The Marble Words washi tape (I have been eyeing this one for so LONG)
15. this washi tape, too. you can start to see my interests.
16. Jane Davenport washi tape with faces. I really like the oddness of it. It captivates me.
17. The desktop storage carousel. I've had a fondness for it in the past but this all really depends if I have a desk or not, sadly.
18. The Jane Davenport pen. I'd like to try out the fountain pen, just as a side interest.
19. A handful of paper stacks. I don't put a specific emphasis because I haven't completely specified my style, and that will be discussed in a future blog post.
20. A typewriter. This is actually more of a long-term goal rather than a 2017 goal, as I would like to get a job and pay for it myself. I find that it would be a suitable reward for stepping into genuine adulthood. :)
21. artist washi tapes: the gold foil one here, shattered-earth's nebula one, whiterabbitcafe's katsudon washi tape, maruti bitamin's washi tape / terranaut patch, 
22. cherry blossom petals washi tape
23. The citrus universe enamel pin by alumi 
24. maydaydoodlez's botanical garden notebook

This is my list--it'll bloom, it'll grow, it'll shrivel. I'll add and cross out over the course of the year, and in the meantime, all I can do is hope that our world will preserve what love it still has.

Yours Sincerely,

Dianne