Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2017

elona

caterina

I rolled an old duvet into a sausage shape, covered it with fabric and used it as a bolster for DDs window seat. It could also be used for a day bed etc.

Caterina

Thank you for the suggestion Elona, but DS wants it. I will take it to the launderette tomorrow to wash and I know he will make good use of it, even if just to keep for guests in the flat he shares with friends. Sorted!

Was annoyed at the timewaster on Gumtree who emailed me several times and left me their mobile, I emailed back texted twice to ask what time they would pick it up and did not get any response. Well, I just emailed them an one-liner saying that my quilt is no longer available and thank you for the interest! Only slight worry is that they have my address, which is annoying, them asking for the address and then not turning up.

RainbowHippie

Caterina how frustrating about your duvet! Especially as i am having the same problem but in reverse, had the bright idea of using an old duvet, folded and stitched, to make cushion pads for our new-to-us kitchen chairs. Unfortunately there are 8 chairs and we have only 1 spare duvet, which after folding enough to be well-padded will not do all 8! So toddled off to town to find the same as you - charity shops are none too keen on stocking old duvets. Thanks to those who have reminded me of the existence of freecycle and gumtree for such things - i shall peruse the local listings/put out a request and hopefully be able to take an old duvet off someone's hands...

MrsSnowy, it sounds like you've been having a very busy time - i imagine it must be quite satisfying, in a way, to be able to rationalise and organise two houses-worth of gear, being able to pick and choose the best bits and pass on what you no longer need. Sounds like you have some great crafting ahead of you.

Villagelife, Winchelsea, and the rest suffering with winter bugs, hope you feel much better soon.

Make do - more leftovers, though this is so routine for us i'm not certain it really counts! Making do with a free online pattern and yarn from my stash to make the cardigan for my friend's daughter. I really wanted a grey yarn but as i have none in i'm using a rich dark red (they are against gender stereotyping so specified no pink!) and now i've been working on it for a while i think i like it more.

Mend - nothing today

Minimise - we currently have an extra tv taking up space - our friend very unluckily managed to break our brand new tv just before christmas (bought as a present to ourselves with a very unexpected work bonus i got); we got a replacement using our home insurance, but they weren't interested in taking the old one away. OH thinks he may be able to mend it by replacing the screen (for his man-cave) for a fraction of the cost of a new one, so he is reluctant to get rid. we've packed it away today into the box that the new tv came in and it will live under the stairs until he has time to see if he can mend it. Hoping it will be soon as the box is seemingly about twice the size of the tv and takes up loads of space!!

Floss

RainbowHippie wrote: »

...Minimise - we currently have an extra tv taking up space - our friend very unluckily managed to break our brand new tv just before christmas (bought as a present to ourselves with a very unexpected work bonus i got); we got a replacement using our home insurance, but they weren't interested in taking the old one away...

I thought retailers / suppliers had a legal obligation to remove old electrical items under the European electrical recycling law?

[Deleted User]

I'm making some leek and potato soup this morning to use up a Y/S bendy couple of leeks and a couple of sprouty spuds This will do for several days lunches at around 80p odd :):).its bubbling away as I type
Minimised some paperwork and mended a plug that needed refitting as the lead was too long
Not too bad and its only 10.20 I'm on a roll today

silvasava

Think it must be the weather Jackie! I've sprayed some silicone round the rubber on my car boot as it squeaks and sounds like I've a family of mice in there. Pinned some heavy polythene sheet round the corner of my bed to stop the cat using it as another scratching post. Ordered some new mop heads and found some gift bags that DH had stuffed in a cupboard that have now been stored with all the others. DH has just got my machine out ready for me to do some mending this afternoon and I think i'll take a walk down the road to the shops instead of the car as I only need a few bits and the walk will do me good.

LizzieR

Hughesfamily and Disflop - hope the broccoli tip worked for you! Especially as there now seems to be a problem in the supply chain due to flooding in Spain.....

RainbowHippie - the chair cover i'm making is using this sort of design http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mystical-lanterns-shawl if the link works. I'm using about 18 different colours so it should be interesting... At the moment I'm just making loads of the little lantern-shapes and will then work out how to put them together in the right sort of shape. I've done about 35 so far and reckon the chair is going to need about 300!!! Will post some pics when I've made a bit more progress.

In terms of MMMing, I've been doing mostly just minimising today. Renewed car insurance, contents insurance and changed energy supplier - saved about £300 for the year in total, and potentially have 3 meerkats heading in my direction. Will have to do some rehoming of the meerkats when they arrive!

Happy weekend all

Athome1

Wow Lizzier .. that pattern is fantastic .. clever you:T I'm crotcheting a blanket using all my odds and ends of wool .. hope that counting as mending. Minimising is just spending as little as possible and like everyone else making do with food from the food stores!
At work today and going out for a meal tonight with a new (to me) meet up group .. I find meeting and making new friends so much harder the older I get .. so wish me luck please. Have a good day all.

silvasava

Lizzie - that design is beautiful. Loved the ones in all the blues. You'll have to post a picture when you've finished it.
Well I walked to the shops yesterday, bumped into the wife of a friend of DH so we went for a cuppa and a chat - 2 hours later........!! Very nice though as we havn't seen each other since last year. I didn't get my mending done but I'm off to do it now!
Have a good day all

TheScarletPixie

This morning I have minimised the amount of 'stuff' under the sink by giving away a large box of dishwasher tablets and rinse aid on Freelywheely, we don't have a dishwasher anymore so they have now gone to somebody who will use them. I'll also be making some door curtains for our dining room from my massive fabric stash, some lovely grey/silver brocade.

Making do with food that's in, tbh we have quite well stocked freezer so no worries there.

Mending - replacing a lock on a cupboard, luckily I already have a lock that's been lurking in my collection of bits n bobs for a while.

I am a hoarder and I am trying to downsize, taking it one step at a time. I try to clear out at least one drawer, box or cupboard every week and I am feeling better for it. It's likely that we will be moving house in about 18 months time and I don't want to take anything with me that I don't use or like.

Have a great day everyone.