Memorygirls Make Do and Mend for 2008 Thread

Keiss_21

Hya,

Just discovered this thread today and I have spent a few hours reading it all through. You are a real inspiration Memorygirl!!! :T:T

I have been off work for over 8 months now due to illness, and am ashamed to report that I have hardly done anything except play electronic games....and come on MSE ofcourse! Admittedly the medication I am still on has left me a bit do-lally and unable to concentrate very well.

I too was very good at "making do and mending" when my sons were small 16 years ago (mainly due to DH having an 8% pay CUT when DS2 was due...aaargh!). I used a lovely shop on the way onto town, set up by some local mum's, which sold second-hand baby & children clothes, as well as other bits'n'pieces. I had an "account" there, where money went in when clothes I had brought in had sold (minus 10% which went to the shop owners). So I would bring in a batch which DS2 had grown out of (very quickly!) and if some of my stuff had sold, I would be able to get something "new" for the boys, with that money. They loved going into that shop! It was a really good scheme and I certainly used it well.

I am reasonably good at sewing, knitting etc as well as doing up furniture, but am ashamed to report that we have bought a new kitchen from Ikea..it is my first "proper kitchen" as I call it, but perhaps we should have bought second-hand, though I do love my new kitchen!! In my defence, I have had make-do-and-mend kitchens for the past 26 years, having to alter other people's kitchens every time. I did think about trying to find second-hand bits and pieces to fit our awkward kitchen, but being ill, I wasn't really up to it. I know it is a lame excuse, but the unit holding the belfast sink (badly marked now, but will re-use it else where) was disintegrating fast and we needed to replace it quickly (DH made it 14 years ago, so it lasted well!). We were only going to get a sink base-unit, but things (and the budget) just grew! DH is putting it all in (slowly) and is fitting a lovely oak worktop (again Ikea), using of-cuts to make shelves
Still, the whole kitchen so far has cost us under £2000 (including paint and floor vinyl - an eBay snip). A lot I suppose, but I am getting the cupboards that I want, which fit in our big wonky (and low) kitchen. We do have 3 chairs (Freecycle) waiting for me to clean, sand and paint cream - yup, me too Memorygirl. I have only to find a table for the kitchen (I am eying up DS1's table - £15 from Sue Ryder charity shop last year), though DH and I are having a disagreement as to whether to have a gate-leg or a solid table-top. Now we are waiting to see what space there will be once everything has been moved to their final place...still a bit of turmoil in the kitchen!

I will investigate the flylady web-site another day, as I have been on this computer too long today. I have been getting up regularly and talking to both DSs, so not too bad, but I am still in my dressing gown...aaargh!

Off to get washed and dressed before DH gets home!

This thread has definitely got me thinking about things...glad you are back Memorygirl, do let us know what you have been up to in the past year.

PS I am married to a "Lang-toon lad!! Only Fifers will understand this!!

pixieface_3

great to see you back memorygirl you have been missed !
pixie x

zarazara

YAHEYYYYYYYYYYYYY MEMOREYGIRL IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I soooooo love this thread

Liz_M

Yay!!! The arrival we've all been waiting for
I hope you get back to your long posts like you used to MemoryGirl, they're really interesting.
I moved into a new flat a few months ago, and it came partly furnished but we couldn't afford new furniture, so I got a few bits and pieces from freecycle, one was a chest of drawers with the paint all peeling off it, so I sanded it and painted it.... never done anything like it before but was inspired by this thread And it turned out really well, a few people who've been to the house even wanted to buy it I'm only 21 and I don't think a lot of people my age are into doing things like that, so thank you memorygirl for inspiring me to do it! Might even have to put a picture of it on here sometime.
Anywayyy good to have you back and I look forward to reading your posts

tara747

I absolutely love this thread memorygirl, you are an inspiration.

January20

I'm another one eagerly waiting for MemoryGirl's next update

In the meantime, I have made her marmalade recipe. Very easy and I now have 4 "Bonne Maman" jam jars full of marmalade cooling on my window sill. The smell that filled my flat as it cooked was fantastic. I'm planning to make it as part of Christmas presents this year

prudenttadpole

A true diamond memorygirl!

LOUBOB

Hi all, just found this great thread after searching for a baked bean recipe! Looking forward to trying that one.....I am too trying to keep up with this thread now, along side training as a flybaby so my decluttering is well on its way....its all good fun......loving this thread very inspirational thanks!

mommyof4

Hi is this thread still going? I noticed memorygirl hasn't been on in a few days, just wondering if it's been moved somewhere else? hope not. It's truly inspiring.

spidystrider

I wish you would keep posting memory girl. I have read the whole thread now and it's been very interesting, would love to hear more.