Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

MyHappinessProject

Oh GreyQueen -SO TRUE...You always make me laugh !:rotfl:

silvasava

Vulpix - Absolutely!! If I see something that is perfect for someone I definitely would give a pre-owned item. I'm certainly not averse to receiving them either! So many of us give away items that are new or barely used so there's nothing wrong with them going to a grateful recipient - isn't that what it's all about?

[Deleted User]

I too re-gift somethings or get great second-hand books.I am happy to receive them as well.I used to know a friends (moved to Harrogate now ) who was horrified that I would borrow library books from our local library."Oh my deah I couldn't possible read or handle a book someone else has used " she would say sniffily. I got so fed up with her Mrs Bucket attitude One day I said " Mmm, you know those fancy cruises you go on,do they buy new sheets or bedding when you get on board the ship,or at the five star hotels that you swan off to ? "
She couldn't answer that.

I am more than happy that anyone has thought to buy or make me anything no matter how small, its definitely the thought that counts for me not the cost or where its come from.

I sometimes get given perfume that I am not overly fond off from one of my DGS and bless her she means well, but at 23 her tastes are different to mine and I wouldn't hurt her feelings for the world so I say thank you sweetheart and put it in my drawer upstairs and often regift it to my sis-in-law later that year as perhaps a birthday pressies.She loves any sort of smells bless her and its getting used up ,just not me thats using it

I am in the middle of making one of my DGS a blanket in his favourite teams colours of red & white, it will be one of his Christmas pressies and I know he really wants one to wrap around him when he is on his computer gaming station. The wool I bought back in August whilst on holiday and I am quite happy to sit and knit it for him as I know he will appreciate it. I make small baskets of tins and odds and ends for housebound friends for Christmas and put in little treats that I spot throughout the year, jams or marmalade,soap,new face flannels ,really nice bath stuff.If I see stuff on special offer that will go into the baskets in December I buy it and stash it away. I have a couple of friends who don't get many treats because of their financial position and my little baskets of treat really don't cost much in the scheme of things but I know how pleased they are opening them up. One of the ladies makes me some bars of soap from odds and ends of left over bits and wraps them beautifully and I appreciate them as I know she can't afford to spend a great deal.Its definitely the thought that counts I think

meritaten

I am certainly not averse to receiving second-hand or 're-gifted' items. and if I see something I know someone would like, in CS or online - I will purchase it, and possibly spruce it up a bit then wrap it VERY nicely! using new wrapping paper no less!

candlelight_2013

I always try to make my gifts look beautiful, even if they only cost a small amount. I think with all gifts it is the anticipation of what is inside the parcel.

I wouldn't mind at all if someone gave me a re-gifted present if they thought I would like it.

Last Christmas my elder granddaughter gave me the most beautiful Christmas box, and to be perfectly honest I would have been thrilled with that, but she had filled it with little presents all wrapped in tissue paper and she had given so much thought to each item, definitely with me in mind.

I have re-gifted on the odd occasion, usually when it is something I have already and too good to send to the charity shop.

Candlelightx

GreyQueen

meritaten wrote: »

I am certainly not averse to receiving second-hand or 're-gifted' items. and if I see something I know someone would like, in CS or online - I will purchase it, and possibly spruce it up a bit then wrap it VERY nicely! using new wrapping paper no less!

:T Nice presentation is the key, I think, to a happy present-giving life. What most of us want from others is a sense that we matter to them and are important, and a feeling that someone has taken time and trouble is often more the gift than the gift itself, IYSWIM.

Newness vs secondhandness is an interesting concept. If I pick up a handsome hardcover book from the shelf of a charity shop, as I sometimes do, and the way the pages fall make it clear that it hasn't ever been read, or even leafed through, is that more secondhand than a new bookshop book which could well have been pawed-through by dozens of prospective purchasers? And it could be a bit thumb-marked and shelf-rubbed and even have a creased dust jacket in a new bookshop?

A few moments ago, I picked a set of mugs out of the flowerbed where a neighbour who moved out today dumped them in the past few hours. They were very clean, but they are sitting in a bowl of water with a Milton sterilising tablet right now, so they will be really really clean. And they will then be dried and added to a charity donation bag. I don't think they acquired any horrible 'germs' by sitting on the top of bedding plants for 2-3 hours on a chilly autumn day and they appear to have never been used. Blinking neighbours should've donated the mugs themselves if they didn't want them but were too idle, I guess, so I'll see to it.

I am officially a totter - so shoot me.

candlelight_2013

When I wrap my presents I like to put a wide piece of ribbon round it, and then add a Christmas decoration to it. I usually buy these from £land, and if you choose carefully you can probably get 3 decorations out of one item.

I went in the other day but of course the Halloween stuff is still in, so after next weekend I will visit again and see what I can find.

I made several hampers last year, and like Jackie I was able to buy one or two items whenever I saw them, but I haven't made any this year

Candlelightx

RicardaRacoon

Evening everyone

Haven't been in here for ages, but really need to go back into the MM+M spirit.

Jackie, I too had a friend who would never get a book from the library or buy a secondhand book off Amaz0n, but she did bought a nightdress in a fancy vintage store in NY once. Well, that was vintage, not second hand, wasn't it? Had a good laught about Mrs Bucket, that was one of her favorite series, so maybe she had more in common with her than she thought...

I also don't have a problem with giving/recieving something second hand, especially with books. I read so many old books that it is normal for me to have them second hand.

Candlelight, you could also stitch little gift tags. I made some a couple of years ago and besides red paper to glue the aida on I didn't had to buy anything as I have so many small pieces of tread and aida left over from bigger projects.

bargainhuntress, I haven't really tried a lot with baking sweet and savoury at the same time, but an apple crumble survives very well to be in the oven with shepherds pie or a potato bake. Would probably not try it with mac'n'cheese or something with loads of leek, onion or garlic.

Lyn, had a good laugh about Ispy... Two friends and I travelled home for 2 hours lately with the last train of the day, which is what we call the farmers express... Stopping for every muckheap and haystack...We were all so tired and had to keep ourself awake and ended up playing truth or dare...

Silver and Lyn, I know the quote as "We might not get what we want but what is best."

I made some Devon Apple Cake as muffins yesterday, strangely it never really seems to end the way it should. So I "had" to eat two of them today as they get a bit soggy... Thought they would get me till at least Wednesday sweets-wise and keep me out of trouble of the shared sweets tin at work... So will have to find something else to bake mid-week...

Have a nice evening everyone! I have a date planned with the mending pile.... Darning some socks...

Siebrie

I don't post much, but I've read along the whole thread.

Today, I made pasta sauce from scratch, including red lentils and lots of veg, which will do for two or three more meals.

I have also mended the following:
a perfectly good towel with unravelling seems on both ends
A single duvet cover that had become worn through at the top
Reattached a button to a girl's vest
Fixed holes in two girl's leggings
Fixed a hole in a pair of thick tights
Fixed a hole in a pair of glimmering sparkly 40denier girl's tights
Replaced button elastic on a girl's skirt
Sew parts of a Rapunzel dress back together again

I've used the sewing machine for the first time since my parents gave it to me two years ago!

All of the above items were given to me/us, apart from the Rapunzel dress, which was our birthday gift to dd1 two years ago.

misstara

GreyQueen wrote: »

:T Nice presentation is the key, I think, to a happy present-giving life. What most of us want from others is a sense that we matter to them and are important, and a feeling that someone has taken time and trouble is often more the gift than the gift itself, IYSWIM.

Very true Grey Queen I also have no problem with receiving 2nd hand gifts and would much prefer a 2nd hand gift which someone had put some thought into rather than an expensive gift bought in a hurry. I always regift things if I'm not going to use them and quite often buy gifts at CSs if I know the person will appreciate it.

No MMMing going on here today as I've been at work all day but have quite a few bits to be getting on with during the week.