2019 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

keepcalmandcraft

I stated earlier in the year that I was going to try to not buy any new clothes this year. I was doing really well until I went to stay with my brother in the USA! I bought a pair of short pyjamas (as it was so hot there), 2 t-shirts that are neutral and will go with everything (and a brand that I bought 15 years ago when I last visited and am still using) and a cardigan/jacket that is smart for work but not too formal. So I think the coupons for those are:
pyjamas 8
t-shirt 5 x 2
Cardigan (5) / Jacket (11) I am going to say 8 (is that ok?)
So that brings me up to 37 so far.


Well then I found some shoes and boots in the sales at home that were too good to miss! I bought 7 pairs but sent 3 back. Again these are a brand I have used before that are comfortable and last for me. I replaced my winter boots which split so I get soggy feet if it rains! a couple pairs of work shoes and a pair of sandals. So at 4 pairs at 3 coupons each that adds 12 making my total 49 for the year.

keepcalmandcraft

Hi Pip, you spoke a couple of days ago about doing a display screen assessment. There is a good one on the HSE website which I have used: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm. You can work through it yourself and then point out to HR if anything should be changed.

CAFCGirl

KeepCalm
We're usually on the optimistic side with items that cross category so I'd go with cardigan and less coupons LOL

CAFCGirl

I've bought two jumpers (I have 1!) but they're secondhand so coupon free thankfully. I'm also currently searching out some Chelsea boots in a 3 with a flat heel.... There must be some out there, there MUST!

Laura_Elsewhere

CAFCGirl wrote: »

I've bought two jumpers (I have 1!) but they're secondhand so coupon free thankfully. I'm also currently searching out some Chelsea boots in a 3 with a flat heel.... There must be some out there, there MUST!

There are loads!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Boots/53557/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Chelsea&_dcat=53557&rt=nc&Shoe%2520Size=UK%25203&Style=Chelsea%2520Boots&LH_ItemCondition=3000

Laura_Elsewhere

I'm all ready for my autumn, and the weather keeps not catching up with me - too mild still!

I am working my way steadily through a huge list of needlework projects that I have all or most of the materials for. Some are half-made, others are cut out but not sewn, some I simply have the design worked out and the materials ready but nothing yet started...

I got going on Friday on a pair of very wide-legged culottes (remember my Accidental Trousers in fawn cotton? These are the replacements), made in bright-crimson furnishing-cotton, lined in very soft black viscose, so should be very comfy and practical for autumn.
I have some beautiful wool fabric, free from someone clearing her attic, and want to make a new skirt from that. I have so much fabric and yarn, argh...

I'm trying to schedule dressmaking time into my week, to get things finished and in wear. And in order to do that I need to get rid of extant rubbish stuff...

CapricornLass

Hi, folks, sorry I've not been around for a while. Life has been chaotic as my Dad got diagnosed with a cancer on his neck at the beginnning of August (he's going to be ok, it hasn't spread, and the specialists at Southampton think that he has a very high chance of recovery). However, I've been ferrying him and my mother between Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton to get all the various scans and tests done, so there wasn't much time for anything else. And I've also just come back from 10 days 'holiday' in the North West. One of my oldest friends has just moved to a new to her house after 32 years in the last one, so I spent the Bank Holiday scrubbing her kitchen cupboards out. I know its an unusual house warming gift, but probably one that's rather more use than a potted plant just right now!


Anyway, we were originally only going to stay for a week and ended up buying another bra and a 5 pack of new knickers, simply because I had run out of clean ones. Could I treat the bra and one of the pairs of knickers as 3 coupons please as I won't be buying any more bras this year? And then there will be 8 coupons for the remaining, so 11 in total. making 35 coupons spent this year.


Pip, I found that using a couple of drops of ginger essential oil in a carrier oil several times really helped my RSI. I've got a feeling that I mixed it with a couple of drops of lavender and something else (Rosemary?) (It was over 20 years ago!)

Laura_Elsewhere

CapricornLass wrote: »

And I've also just come back from 10 days 'holiday' in the North West. One of my oldest friends has just moved to a new to her house after 32 years in the last one, so I spent the Bank Holiday scrubbing her kitchen cupboards out. I know its an unusual house warming gift, but probably one that's rather more use than a potted plant just right now!

Anyway, we were originally only going to stay for a week and ended up buying another bra and a 5 pack of new knickers, simply because I had run out of clean ones. Could I treat the bra and one of the pairs of knickers as 3 coupons please as I won't be buying any more bras this year? And then there will be 8 coupons for the remaining, so 11 in total. making 35 coupons spent this year.

Very glad to hear your Dad is going to be okay, but how draining for you! Hope you can relax and take it easy for a bit now.

I think if you went for 5 days and stayed for ten days, and you were scrubbing the kitchen of a friend's new home... well, may we ALL have friends like you, please!!!

PollyWollyDoodle

Laura_Elsewhere wrote: »

I'm all ready for my autumn, and the weather keeps not catching up with me - too mild still!

I'm trying to schedule dressmaking time into my week, to get things finished and in wear. And in order to do that I need to get rid of extant rubbish stuff...

I love Autumn, and (sorry, summer-lovers) I am looking forward to wearing scarves, jumpers and my new ankle-boots - undeclared yet, as I need to trawl back and find out my total coupon tally.

Laura, I keep thinking I should schedule in a specific time to do so. In my next house (I'm thinking vaguely of moving in a couple of years) I'm going to have a dedicated sewing room. Even if it has to double up as a bedroom! I usually sew at the kitchen table, which is not a problem until people want to visit me and then I have to put it all away, and somehow it is much harder to get it out again. I have so many unfinished projects.

CapricornLass, you are a true friend. I know what I'd rather have as a moving in present, support like that is priceless.

PipneyJane

Afternoon All.

Its a bit manic around here at present, but hopefully I can catch you up.

keepcalmandcraft - thank you for the DSE link. I will use it. Also, I second the vote for "Cardigan".

CAFCgirl M&S were selling Chelsea boots when I was in there a couple of weeks ago. I can't remember the heel height, though.

CapricornLass - so sorry to hear about your Dad. I hope he recovers well from his treatment. Re the Bra and Panties purchase, you are a true friend scrubbing your pal's new home, so we'll pretend that she donated the difference in coupons to you. Also, I will keep an eye out for ginger essential oil; thank you for the suggestion.

In my news, my BIL arrived from Australia on Saturday. We did the necessary blitz on the house, particularly the spare room (aka The Wool Cave) where I'll swear a sheep is in residence. I haven't found where the dust bunnies are breeding but I eliminated most of their relatives. A couple of spiders were liberated to the garden.

I hope BIL bought some warm winter clothes with him, because it looks bitter out there today - he's gone to the Cabinet War Rooms. Our central heating will kick in if the temperature drops too far and there's a meal in the slow cooker for when he gets back.

My arms are considerably better and my neck is much less twingey. I am knitting in comfort again. Just as well. I decided on Friday to knit BIL a pair of socks. Got to squeeze in 16 hours of knitting time before he leaves. It should be do-able. Only today and tomorrow at work before I'm off for the rest of his visit. (As well as a day at The Oval (cricket), we've got Proms-in-the-Park and then we're off to France in the middle of next week for a few days for DH's cousin's party. )

- Pip