Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

vhalla1478

Thank you, Cheerfulness for the tip about the chilli jam; that's one of the jars I have lurking in the fridge - next aim is to go through all those half-finished jars of chutneys etc and see what I can use them for.

Did quite well on my sewing this afternoon and apart from hems have finished leggings and pinafore dress for my youngest granddaughter. Only six more garments to go out of this batch of material. AND I was very virtuous and took over large box of Thorntons to my son, daughter-in-law and 6 grandchildren, left for me by my friend yesterday - otherwise I would have sat and eaten them all. So the diet isn't doing too badly either!

GreyQueen

:j I've spent a princely 50p on something this afternoon which has made me very happy; a vinyl cloth from a chazzer. I cleaned it, cut the sides off to turn it from a circle to a rectangle, and have just this minute put it on the table which lives in my sitting-room beside the pooter desk.

It has a lovely print and replaces a rather solemn dark green cloth and has really given the room a pop of colour.

And, because I squared the circle, I have 4 semi-circular bits of vinyl cloth to play with, woop-woop. For a woman with a sewing machine and an active imagination, that's a lot of fun for 50p.

Hmmm, I see a new pencil case for work, the present effort is held together will sellotape. I can also see (possibly) a tool roll for my spanners, or is it too girly for that..........? Decisions, decisions........

It really is very pretty. * Does happy dance.*

ginnyknit

Dont you just love small victorys GQ. 50p's worth of joy.

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Celtic Moon - not wishing to pry but hoping to help - did you know that the PDSA helps folks afford vet fees? They used to do only the most rudimentary checks of your income. I dont know if they help in retrospect but for you, and all those animal owners out there, it might be a good tip to find their web site and check out what they do nowadays.

I last used them when I needed by GSD cross neutered - she was on her way to the RSPCA if I didnt have her. I saved up for all her injections and went without so she could have her food (i.e. me and the kids ate vegetarian and she had her meat! - the kids didnt mind! It was food!) I was on Income Support at the time. Why didnt I let her just go to the RSPCA - I had watched being born and held her just a few moments old! My friend (who's female dog had escaped and mated) kept her out of all the litter but just couldnt manage when she was 18 months old. But she gave her to me and was able to see her every day when we collected the kids from school and was happy that she had such a good home. Miss her like mad and am trying to get into a work/life balance where I can have a dog again! Its been 7 years!
so sending healing vibes to your cat Celtic Moon as I know how much a pet can mean!
NSD again today :-)
Done tax return today:T
Realised just how much tax man wants - inspiring me to E-bay everything!!!And to look at all my craft stuff to create pressys this year!

GreyQueen

It's gorjuss, ginny, got fruit and flowers all over it, tiny bits of black peeking out of the background. I love vibrant prints on black, cannot abide mimsy pastels. Says 'Fiesta' on the back, dunno if that's the manufacturer or the name of the design.

I've just foraged in the salvaged zips and hoiked out an unused black zip which will be just the ticket. Won't rev the sewing machine up tonight, it's on the party wall and I want to be considerate of Him Next Door.

I'd long been minded to change that table cloth for another vinyl one in a vibrant shade but don't they want a pretty penny for that stuff new? I figured I would turn up something eventually secondhand. This is why I love browsing the chazzers; I can go weeks without buying anything at all, but I have a mental list of not-time-critcal wants, which I keep an eye out for.

I would have paid 50p for a secondhand pencil case to hold my work bits today but I couldn't find one. The old one really is disintegrating although I will probably have the zip outta there before it's binned. I am, after all, my mother's daughter.:rotfl:

Now, I shall still have some scraps left over, any suggestions for small things I can make with vinyl cloth and remnants from the sewing box?

Oooo, I am a saddo, it's been a good day but that 50p purchase has made me as happy as larry.

cheerfulness4

GreyQueen wrote: »

I can also see (possibly) a tool roll for my spanners,

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
I wasn't expecting that. You're hard core 'make do and mend' aren't you?!

savingqueen

GreyQueen wrote: »

Now, I shall still have some scraps left over, any suggestions for small things I can make with vinyl cloth and remnants from the sewing box?

I love that your 50p find has made you so happy! How about little bags/purses to go in handbags - use for mini 1st aid or sewing kits, makeup, meds, change or whatever. Give as gifts or keep for yourself!

cheerfulness4

These little notebook covers look sweet to make and useful.


http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/12/23/mini-oil-cloth-notebook-covers/




Maybe useful for gifts or list making. Don't think they'd take much of your cloth, GQ

GreyQueen

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
I wasn't expecting that. You're hard core 'make do and mend' aren't you?!

LOL, I guess I have gone so far into eccentricity, I've gone clean out the other side.

I can knit, sew, embroider, weave tapestries, bake bread, flatten cakes (no one's perfect ), do simple woodwork and have a tool bag under my bed.

Whence I was rummaging last week and saw that the spanners (was after one to take the bolts off the new washer) were falling all over the shop. I don't use spanners very often, although I did one take a wombled pushbike apart to sell for spares with nowt but an adjustable spanner and two screwdrivers. £40 profit for 2 hours' effort, indoors and PMSL at a comedy prog on the radio at the same time. No point in sitting on your arris and complaining you're poor, I used to do quite nicely out of the salvage in the back lane of the old place.......*

The screwdrivers have their own tool roll but there's no space in there for the spanners as well. Plus, they might fight.....

I think that this vinyl cloth is too cute for the spanner roll. Also, imagine the potential embarrassment of having to lend them out to some bloke, he'd think I was a right one. I will use something else for that.

I do like the idea of little pouches/ purses. I could line them with some fabric from the stash. Oh yes, girl's on a roll now.

* Items wombled and sold included; most of a pushbike, a china cabinet, a Dyson DC01, a wardrobe, two bookcases, a planter of fake plants, a bedside table and a pine bedstead plus many small bits of misc such as the offcuts of decking which went to my Nan's to be made into a step for her shed.

My family tree includes farmers, smallholders, general dealers, bodgers, blacksmiths, tailors and seamstresses, to name but a few trades.

joedenise

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

Joedenise- does your greek yogurt come out consistently thick? Some have thought it hit and miss but can you control the thickness as you get more experienced?
I'd very much like to add that skill to my list in 2015 if I could make decent yogurt as we eat a fair bit of it.I

I "cook" in the flask for about 8 hours and then strain through muslin for about 2 hours which gives a fairly consistent "greek style" yoghurt. DH certainly doesn't complain about it being too watery. Very rarely needs to pour off any whey from it.

Denise