Frump to Fab 2021

maman

I did, as promised, last night and gave myself a manicure. Like you, sheila, I was a bit concerned that some nails were  a bit ragged/rough and would catch on something and break.  I have those cotton socks but not gloves shabbychic. I used to wear them at night but since I sorted out my feet and have regular podiatry appointments they aren't as essential. It's not the same doing a manicure yourself but at least it's one beauty treatment that can be successfully done at home. Not like cutting hair which could be disastrous. 🤣 I'm managing at the moment having had my hair cut in December. In the first lockdown I did trim my fringe but hoping that won't be necessary this time. 

I read an article this morning about a guy who bought in someone to declutter his home. It's a variation on a theme like Marie Kondo but I thought the categories were interesting. She usd a series of bags and boxes . This is the quote: 

As we went along she brought some order to my confusion by explaining each of the bags and boxes she was labelling: “Re-gift, you give to a friend. Recycle, you give to charity. Rubbish, you dispose of. Repurpose, you give things like these unwanted toys to the nursery. Re-use, we’re discovering things that are hidden, but of use. Reorganise, we’ll get all your magazines and admin together so you can find and use them easily. Resell, you can list things on eBay. Refurbish, you can fix things and use them again. Reminisce, we’ll have a keepsake box to store memories.”

I particularly liked the reminisce. I find that the hardest part of decluttering is the items of sentimental value. 

Bitterly cold here but no snow. I'm having a bit of a tidy up of my craft materials. I'd like to do some embroidery or something but need inspiration as to what I should make. I have some patchwork pieces too (lots of hexagon 'flowers') that I should make into something. But what?? 🤔

Floss

Maman how about patchwork scented sachets for your wardrobe? Or some hankies like the Rev.Kate Bottley...

helensbiggestfan

brrrrrr🥶😂

hello lovely ladies.  Well, it's pretty cold here, gently snowing.  The forecast is grim all week but I'm all stocked up and the house is cosy.  This morning I have moved a bookcase from the spare bedroom into the lounge.  Its most likely a temporary move because I might get rid of it completely at some point. Two bags of books ready to go the chazza.  

I've decided that as this week will be more or less a write off due to the weather I am going to up my decluttering efforts, get it all ready for disposal when the world opens up again.  

My categories are..........auction house, ebay, charity shops and recycling centre, with perhaps a couple of cash converter type places for the stuff that doesn't sell on eBay.  I might try a couple of online dealers like Music Magpie.   Determined to shift it all this year.  One final push.  Will probably need a skip later.  

I am actually feeling really excited at the prospect of a much more streamlined home. I'm not messy and my home usually looks neat and tidy but I still have far too much stuff, hidden away in cupboards, wardrobes, the loft and the shed.  I think it will be a huge psychological boost once it's all done.  Hopefully easy to clean and maintain too.  

Good Feng shuey, releasing the flow of energy, getting rid of the past, making way for my future.  

Maman i can recommend a nice keepsake box. I found a lovely box, it's only cardboard but it was beautifully decorated and it just so happened to have my husbands name written on it in lovely calligraphy.  I took it as a sign. 😂 and bought it to house a few special sentimental items from my husband. 

 I still haven't  finished the photos......😁🤣. Very much a work in progress. I am going to buy a couple of really nice posh photo albums for the very best or special photos.  

As for trying new crafts.  I keep threatening to have a go at both calligraphy and scrapbooking.  Maybe next winter.  🤔.  For saying I have had so much time on my hands during this last lockdown I just haven't felt like doing anything very creative.  Just lacking inspiration and motivation for some reason.  I have been reading a lot more though so not all bad.  

Ps just booked a slot at the recycling centre, next Wednesday. That gives me just over a week to have a sort out and get a car load ready.  

sukeyboo

I love crafting maman - mainly embroidery and beading but, as LL mentioned, even though I have had all the time in the world recently, I just don’t seem to have the motivation to create anything 🙁. Saying that, it sounds like you are going to be very busy with your decluttering LL.

This bitter cold has put paid to any long walks at the moment - I did have a short walk up to the village shop/post office this morning and the wind was so chilly.

i have joined my local library online today - hadn’t realised how much content you can access for free 😀.

Painted my nails as planned last night - lilac this time - I trimmed them a bit shorter as I think it does them good once in a while.

thepurplepixie

It is freezing here and very dark and gloomy.  My arthritic hand and wrist are playing up with the cold so I got my crochet things out, I know someone who is pregnant so I am making her a multi coloured blanket for the baby. I usually use DK but I'm using some 4 ply so it is more fiddly and will take longer but I think it will look very prettty and time isn't really an issue is it, we seem to have lots of time on our hands.  Usually the pain eases quite quickly when I crochet so I'm hoping I can stop the painkillers as they make me feel sick.

maman

That's a good way of giving your hands some exercise pixie, productive and enjoyable. 😊

We had a very  light dusting of snow overnight but it's gone now. I'm pleased because DH has to go to a funeral today, a four hour return journey, so didn't want treacherous roads. It's his first cousin and he's gone on his own because it's a large family and places are so limited by Covid. 

I buffed and polished my nails again last night and they are shining almost like clear polish. Although I don't plan to set foot outside the door, I will put some make up on later just to make myself feel good. I've done all the routine stuff and blow dried my hair so it's worth making an effort. 

I heard an interesting interview on the radio earlier with a young woman who works for Top Shop. She was explaining that they're currently packing up everything and returning it to the Arcadia warehouse. It must now all belong to Asos. I wonder if they (an other retailers) will sell  last season's stock  on their own website or whether it will go to TKMaxx or similar. 🤔 The High Streets are going to look very different when things reopen. We have a Debenhams and Top Shop and some of the neighbouring little towns have Burton and Dorothy Perkins, none of which will open again. I shan't miss them personally as they weren't my favourite stores but the general feel of desolation with empty shops is depressing. 

helensbiggestfan

Hello,lovely ladies.  

Cold here, a light dusting of snow but the roads are good.  I took advantage of a sunny interlude and took the car for a spin, just to turn the engine over and stop the old girl from sulking.  She doesnt like being left standing alone for  too long, so even during these covid times when I'm not really out and about much I take her for a spin every now and again. Worse than having a pet.  😂

Maman. I think the high streets and shopping malls are going to look quite desolate aren't they, with so many empty units.  Councils are going to have to be imaginative and come up with some radical solutions because I think the face of retail has changed forever,  it was happening anyway, but lockdowns were the final nail in the coffin.  

Having said that I am so looking forward to having a good mooch round the shops.  I think I've got charity shop withdrawal. 

I've been busy this Morning, I have cleaned and tidied the downstairs spare bedroom ready to turn it into a "staging post" for the next bout of decluttering.  I have booked a slot at the recycling plant for next week so I can now work through the top rooms and start bringing items down to the downstairs bedroom, ready to load the car the day before I take everything for recycling.  Then I will  use the downstairs bedroom as a holding area for all the stuff that's ready to go once the charity shops re-open.   Its a plan. 😂. Then I can decide what to do about the loft bedroom, whether to go for a full revamp and add an en-suite bathroom, which means resiting the stairs 😱😂 or whether to just up the insulation and then decorate. Big decisions.  

My pearl necklace arrived, I'm really pleased with it. Definitely going to treat myself more often this year.  I am soooooo worth it, 😂🤣

thepurplepixie

In Plymouth one of the big stores, Derry's which was a co-op store, has been changed into student flats.  It is a good idea I think, lots of young people right in the middle of the city.  I don't suppose that all the empty shops can be used like that but it does seem a good idea for a big department store.
We are certainly going to have lots of empty shops for a while but hopefully we might get some interesting shops opened by enterprising people.  As a seaside town we seem to have more cafe's, bars, takeaways than anything else and of course we always have shops shut at this time of the year, not really worth having a bucket and spade shop open in January.  In February things start to get busy with places getting ready to open, usually at Easter.   We also seem to have loads of hairdressers and nail bars which always seem busy.
It is going to be interesting to see what happens.  If foreign travel is off for a while we might have a boom time this summer, good for businesses but I don't look forward to the traffic.

Floss

This link just popped up on my Instagram and I thought of you all....it's the Museum of London's A-Z of Fashion 
https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/londons-fashion-alphabet

maman

Floss said:

This link just popped up on my Instagram and I thought of you all....it's the Museum of London's A-Z of Fashion 
https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/londons-fashion-alphabet

Thanks floss, even a jumpsuit video for Wednesday!  🤣