Simplifying Life

rosieben

auntymabel wrote: »

Re Ceridwen's post on repurposing, does anyoneone remember a TV programme in the eighties called "Low Tech"? There were 2 young chaps who gathered all sorts of unwanted stuff, a lot from skips, and made it into useful items - of furniture mainly. They also published a book and I wish now that I'd bought it as the series was quite short-lived and not repeated.

I remember one early evening sort of magazine programme - they made furniture from pallets; very impressive too, they made beds, sofas, and outdoor furniture; dont remember anything else though. Thats the sort of programme that would go down well now, even if only OSers watched it the viewing figures would be sky high

we're taking over the world!

sophiesmum_2

ceridwen wrote: »

good point thinks me - having earlier this evening thought "hmmmm - that storage dish with lid will do nicely for a button box" - so have already done my little bit of repurposing for this evening. Thinks: his idea of pill bottle for sewing needles - well, I was wondering what I could use for that purpose earlier today, as my last bit of repurposing for them is about to fall apart.

Empty plastic film cannisters are good for needles too and also for fiddly bits like sequins/press studs.:D

Olliebeak

auntymabel wrote: »

Re Ceridwen's post on repurposing, does anyoneone remember a TV programme in the eighties called "Low Tech"? There were 2 young chaps who gathered all sorts of unwanted stuff, a lot from skips, and made it into useful items - of furniture mainly. They also published a book and I wish now that I'd bought it as the series was quite short-lived and not repeated.

quote - "I remember one early evening sort of magazine programme - they made furniture from pallets; very impressive too, they made beds, sofas, and outdoor furniture; dont remember anything else though. Thats the sort of programme that would go down well now, even if only OSers watched it the viewing figures would be sky high

we're taking over the world!"



I remember those programmes - great ideas. I remember the skip-diving and them giving advice that technically it's stealing and that you should still ask permission even if it appears that something has been thrown out.

There was a 'wall-unit' made from shelving and some black plastic drainpipes cut into short lengths - also remember them making a bed.

Was it on Channel4?

ceridwen

auntymabel wrote: »

Re Ceridwen's post on repurposing, does anyoneone remember a TV programme in the eighties called "Low Tech"? There were 2 young chaps who gathered all sorts of unwanted stuff, a lot from skips, and made it into useful items - of furniture mainly. They also published a book and I wish now that I'd bought it as the series was quite short-lived and not repeated.

Do remember having seen a book some time ago on this sort of thing - could be that one. Ever since - I wince when I see pallets just being chucked out - as I'm thinking "hmmm....someone a little bit handier than me could use them for bed bases/futons/etc". Thinks...note to self...wonder if YouTube has anything on this.....off for a look.

ceridwen

rosieben wrote: »

I remember one early evening sort of magazine programme - they made furniture from pallets; very impressive too, they made beds, sofas, and outdoor furniture; dont remember anything else though. Thats the sort of programme that would go down well now, even if only OSers watched it the viewing figures would be sky high

we're taking over the world!

Hey - you TV programmers that want us lot on TV - hint/nudge/wink/hint! Repeats please - or something similar. <<ceridwen and Thriftlady go off and hide again in case of low-flying tv cameras>>

ecoelle

Morning all, having my new gate fitted today, live in a terraced house and the entry gate is on it's last legs so have been saving for 18 months to get a new gate fitted. It is rediculous how excited i am! Then off to do some decluttering at my friends house, it's always more fun with two! have a good day all,

ceridwen

ceridwen wrote: »

Well I make a comment about having a vision of how things could be and then come across this online novel - no idea what its like, but I shall be going in for a read and might as well share it now:

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D80-THEWAY-Prt1-Day1-Morn.html

Right - I've started reading this and done part 1 so far. This is a bit "difficult" to access - as he has put it on in various different bits (and missed the last section out as far as I can see) - but still worth reading. I give below the links to succeeding chapters:



http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D122THEWAY3-12.html

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D123THEWAY4-12.html

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D124THEWAY5-12.html

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D85-THEWAY-Prt6-Day3-After.html

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D126theway7-12.html

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D127THEWAY8-12.html

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D128THE%20WAY9-12.htm

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D129THEWAY10-12.html

http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D131bTHEWAY-11-12.html

Whew! done that! Think I could safely say his way of putting this out on the Web was as "organic" as the book itself. Lol

Impressions so far - one chapter down and rest to go. Permaculture meets LETS bartering. Bit of useful "visioning" so far....back to the reading....

rosieben

Olliebeak wrote: »

....
I remember those programmes - great ideas. I remember the skip-diving and them giving advice that technically it's stealing and that you should still ask permission even if it appears that something has been thrown out.

There was a 'wall-unit' made from shelving and some black plastic drainpipes cut into short lengths - also remember them making a bed.

Was it on Channel4?

I've been racking my brain about this (anybody want a racked brain?!) and the programme I saw was in the 60's :eek: because I was still living with m&d. I think it might have been part of the early evening news mag programme rather than a specific programme. Anyway it featured for a while, just one man who would take a couple of palletts and make some really nice stuff from them, I was so impressed with this, and wanted to try it ever since but its never happened for me.

vivw_2

Hate to say but I'm old enough to have done some of those...bed base made from pallets and varnished, plastic drain pipes as a wine rack and planks of wood and bricks as a book case. Have also had furniture from a skip...got a lovely dressing table once and some good wooden kitchen chairs. Also had a wonderful sofa and a 3 piece suite that I bought second hand and recovered......

moanymoany

Interested in the using pallet thing so I googled and found these.
http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Adding_value_to_old_pallets.html

http://www.touchwoodonskye.org.uk/this_is_about_touchwood.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallet_crafts

http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/our_council/press_office/latest_news/2007/october/recycled_pallets_used_for_play.aspx?theme=textonly

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/06/pallet-house_system.php

http://www.recycledproducts.org.uk/view/sub_sector.cfm?s_id=0&search_text=&skip=40&sort=&sortorder=asc&ss_id=268

Enjoy!