Make Do, Mend & Minimise in 2025 (and 2024)

Katiehound

^^^ This is possibly a silly question, but do you have any pieces of fabric that are similar to the coat lining? it is very easy to cut your own bias strips (and you can make them wider than the bought stuff too) and then sew on rather than iron. But you can also buy that iron-on hemming 'stuff'

Cherryfudge

That's a very useful thought @Katiehound, thanks. It's a plain black satiny stuff - I don't know how better to describe it apart from that it's not very robust! However, there might be something somewhere as I have lots of oddments of fabric. I will investigate!

YorksLass

Minimised:

1) Another lampshade, this time a fabric one that's really grubby and, for the length of time I've had it, doesn't owe me anything.  It's been replaced by a retro style metal pendant, much easier to clean, and paid for by bagging up/ banking loose change.

2) Two defunct laptops.  It's so long since I've used them I couldn't remember my logon details so I've removed and destroyed the hard drives.  The mains leads are in the CS bag.

3) I've had a clean out of the kitchen cupboard stores and have put everything back in date order.  There were a few things that had gone past their BB dates but they'll be fine to use and they're on a list to remind me to use them asap.

4) Two books returned to The Little Free Library and soft plastics deposited in the SM recycling bin.

5) A few yarn oddments in the CS bag.

Make Do:

1) As per the above, I'm working my way through the tins/packets use-up list.  Today's item is a tin of fruit salad to go with a jelly to make individual desserts for a few days.

2) Have repurposed an empty/washed trigger spray bottle, now filled with a dilute bleach spray for worktops.

Mend:

Another knitted jumper finished, this time in a lavender colour in a simple seed stitch.  Yarn stash reduced by 450g.

I_Love_comps

Just read through your diary @Cherryfudge.  I will continue to follow your Journey. 😀

Cherryfudge

That's very kind of you @I_Love_comps! Sorry in advance for some rather too long posts.  

@YorksLass, those are impressive lists. You've prompted me to make an out of date jelly into a dessert and perhaps use up some frozen fruit.

@Katiehound, I haven't yet found a suitable weight of fabric (busy few days) but the coat is hanging in a doorway (getting in the way till I get the iron out and see how I go with the bias binding I already have). It would kill 2 birds with one stone if I could use up an oddment of fabric and fix the coat lining.

2Scratters

Evening Peeps,

Been a lovely sunny day here. Did the water buckets for the bathroom for the day. I try to minimise the bill as much as possible but we have been a bit slack this winter. No doubt it will catch up with us when the meter gets read soon and I won't be chuffed about it. Ah well.

 I have minimised a larger box down to a trainer box as less items are in it now so that will give some focus on using up (more minimising). That has created some space on top of the tall upright freezer. There is a bit more space created in the wardrobe and the replacement box will be easier to reach down as there is a bit of weight in it (soap bars primarily) which will definitely see us to the end of next year   
Managed to get some items listed onto Tbay, we'll see how that goes and hopefully get some listed tomorrow.

Took some butter milk from the freezer and am looking to make some scones tomorrow. Also got some cooked chicken from the freezer to make GD a high protein meal for her tomorrow when so goes on on her motorbike (make do & minimise) 
My tea has also been a make do as it is left overs from Thursday night.
Managed another make do to melt some old candles and make into firelighters. (inspired by Nancy Birtwhistle) I'll be making the fire when I finish this note. 

Have a good weekend

2 Scratters xx

Green_hopeful

Ok perhaps not the best photo but I am very proud of sorting my filler tub. It was overflowing and I couldn’t get anything in there let alone find anything. I took everything out and sorted it. We tidied one section of the garage of doom. We have a double double garage filled to above head height. We have a large family and everyone sends stuff home when they run out of space. Number six child has decided to send lots of furniture back on Monday so we needed to make space. It totally needed it. We got rid of two wheelie bins of recycling/rubbish, a car load for the tip, a few things for our local upcycler, and some items for our local homeless charity. 

We also chucked some food from the chest freezer that has been there way too long. We put it in the food caddy to make electricity. I looked at it and thought it had been in the freezer for at least five years. I was never going to cook it. 

YorksLass

@Cherryfudge - Aw, thanks!

In truth, the the Make Do mindset is almost second nature now and the Minimising is definitely getting easier - I'm probably on Round 4 of decluttering (or is it 5?).  Mind you, it has taken a few years rather than being an overnight fix.      

Another tin dragged from the pantry - this time cherry pie filling that won't get made into a pie but is jolly nice added to yogurt, porridge or ice cream.  I might just have to buy another one when it's next on offer!     

Cherryfudge

YorksLass said:

@Cherryfudge - Aw, thanks!

In truth, the the Make Do mindset is almost second nature now and the Minimising is definitely getting easier - I'm probably on Round 4 of decluttering (or is it 5?).  Mind you, it has taken a few years rather than being an overnight fix.      

Another tin dragged from the pantry - this time cherry pie filling that won't get made into a pie but is jolly nice added to yogurt, porridge or ice cream.  I might just have to buy another one when it's next on offer!     

I read this immediately after replying to this post. I think I may be on the look out for cherry pie filling next time I'm shopping!

It's reassuring that decluttering gets easier. A lesson I need to learn.

mandy47

Painted old bedroom furniture with chalk paint that was left from another project. Replaced the knobs and it looks great. Really pleased.

Actually have an empty drawer in the freezer. On the look out for bargains and reduced items to fill the gap.

One bag taken to charity shop. Old mirror and unwanted shower pole left at curbside soon disappeared.