Simplifying Life - Mark II

funkymonkey849

I too am trying to live a simple life!

Cooking from scratch. I do this anyway, but OH has recently got more into and is now regularly making bread, makes me laugh seeing him all domesticated

Making clothes by hand - sewing, knitting and crocheting. Sewing is my nemesis, I have made a few things but I am still a very beginner. The patterns are so bloody complicated! I would love to make a vintage style cotton dress for the summer.

Home furnishings - I made all my cushion covers out of leftover fabrics. I really want to make a patchwork quilt so I am slowly saving my leftover scraps of fabrics.

Thifting as much as possible. We furnished our house almost entirely second hand - the only things we bought new was the sofa (after a bad experience with fleas :eek:) and a chest of drawers from ikea (which I now regret as they fell apart).

Growing veg. Had limited success last year but we have a plan this year. Raised beds, crop rotation - the lot!

I would love to start making my own chutneys but I don't know if I have the right type of pan, or how to do it. It may be a steep learning curve.

Next year I'd like to make as many xmas presents as I can to avoid the hideous amount of packaging that comes with commercially bought presents. Hand knitted items, homemade truffles and fudge, chutney (if I can master it!), and maybe some handmade smellies

A simple life all the way :A

ally18

Hi,
I have plans to try and be more os this year. I'm not a gardener, plants seem to die under my fingers but I'm determind to at least give it a go. My new plastic greenhouse which I recently got in a good deal in sitting waiting for the end of Feb when I can get out in the garden and put it up. My dad has seeds and pots for me to start my ideas on, its daft but I feel like a child again, back when he tried to get me to start growing things in the good old days.

I have borrowed my mums old singer sewing machine because I made my own door curtain back when it was really cold and I want to now try and alter some clothes that have got a bit baggy so I dont spend anymore. How I'm going to do this I have no idea, I can't sew at all but will try on something very old to start off with and see how I go.

Ive started making more cakes, twinks are now a favourite, and making banana & choc chip muffins to use up old bananas when in the past they would have gone straight in the bin. I've even started to make myself a meal at night instead of sticking a processed dish straight in the oven.

I couldnt be without the internet for all the tips and advice I now get. Time to put it to some use.

laineyc_2

I am aiming to slow down and enjoy things this year and move away from consumerism. I am in the process of sorting space in my garden to growing my own fruit and veg.

Through reading on the this forum I have picked up loads of tips. I read Ceridwen's posts about her involvement in a transition town. I googled my area and a group. Through this I have found a knitting group based in the next street, a master gardener scheme and the local edible landscape movement which I am planning to help out at at after half term. I also found a meditation group through the transition town group which I am going to join in March.

I also plan to dust off my sewing machin ewhich I have used only a couple of times. My first project is a cover for my K-mix.

I have saved money adopting more OS ways but what has really surprised me is how much better I feel. Life doesn't feel so cluttered or frantic. A couple of months ago I would not have believed diggin my garden and growing plants could be so therapeutic.

ChocClare

funkymonkey849 wrote: »

I would love to start making my own chutneys but I don't know if I have the right type of pan, or how to do it. It may be a steep learning curve.
A simple life all the way :A

Start with this one, FM - you don't need any kind of pan, just a large bowl. I guarantee it is delicious. You can move on to cooked ones later (though I have made loads of different types over the years and this one is still my favourite)

Lavandula

It's great to hear everyone's feedback on this topic.

I definitely feel more relaxed and happy after spending a few hours planting in the garden, or sewing a herbal cushion, or making a few cakes...

Just planted some Lupin seeds and will be making a microwave jam pud for dinner later..the jam is homemade with loganberries and blackberries from our garden....

lostinrates

Lavandula wrote: »

microwave

I've got no microwave so have to be even more OS than that! Your jam sounds yummy.

re making bedding, has anyone found high thread count cotton. or linen come to think of it, in widths suitable for big beds for sale to make own bedding? The price of really beautiful linen is SHOCKING and I'm sure with patience and some lessons from my mother in embroidery I could hem sheeting for sheets, make pillow slips and duvet covers, and sew trim on them to make the pretty....?

Seakay

funkymonkey849 wrote: »

I too am trying to live a simple life!


I would love to start making my own chutneys but I don't know if I have the right type of pan, or how to do it. It may be a steep learning curve.

:A

The advantages of a preserving or maslin pan are a large surface area (less cooking time when reducing liquid) and a thick base (good even heat distribution).
Such pans are expensive - I got mine from Lakeland - but you could always look out in charity shops, boot sales, freecycle etc.
I started out making small amounts in my pressure cooker - thick base although smallish surface area - until I could save up.
In reality any pan will do, just be extra careful to stir to make sure that nothing sticks.

Only other thing to bear in mind - no bare metal lids as the vinegar will corrode them and the rust could taint the chutney. Lids coated on the inside are fine. Similarly don't use the film jam pot covers as the vinegar will evaporate through them and you chutney will dry out. If you want to cover jars with something other than a lid then porosan is the stuff to look out for. Lakeland do sell lids which fit many standard jars.

Seakay

lostinrates wrote: »

re making bedding, has anyobe found high thread count cotton. or linen come to think of it, in widths suitable for big beds for sale to make own bedding? The price of really beautiful linen is SHOCKING and I'm sure with patience and some lessons from my mother in embroidery I could hem sheeting for sheets, make pillow slips and duvet covers, and sew trim on them to make the pretty....?

What a fantastic idea - I second the request. Perhaps I could finally afford some really good quality sheets etc!

MichH

This blog is brilliant for simple living tips, recipes, soap making, etc.

http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/

Beware it is addictive reading!

vesper

At the moment I grow my own veg, but my plot is tiny as we are in a rented house and I don't want to have to dig the lawn up. Hopefully we will be buying our own house and I have got to admit the garden has been one of the most important factors on what house to buy. The one we have seen has a huge garden with plenty of room to grow all the veg etc we could want. Most of all I enjoy growing it.
I experimented a couple of years ago with making my own jam, which didn't turn out bad for a first attempt and was much yummier than supermarket stuff.
I've noticed that during the last couple of years we are defintely producing less wastage. Which is good.