I had an e-mail the other day from the lovely people at TRAID-a charity working to stop clothes being thrown away. They have stores across London, and run some great events, including clothing repair and upcycling. The e-mail was asking if I would like to join them for their event next week (Thursday 19th) at … Continue reading
I was doing the weekly food shop the other day, when I spotted some much reduced double cream, that was on it’s sell by date. I remembered reading somewhere about using double cream to make butter, so I snapped up a couple of pots and hot-footed it home to consult the inter-web! I posted in … Continue reading
Making your own clothes will ALWAYS be much more ethical than buying something off from the High Street. BUT I think sometimes it is easy to overlook the environmental impact of cotton and other fabrics, and yarn too. Conventionally farmed cotton uses vast amounts of water (about 200 litres to make a t-shirt) and pesticides. And … Continue reading
If you are joining me on the #mmaw2015 challenge, to sew an item of clothing a month, then you may well already have your own sewing machine. But if you don’t (and whether you are doing the challenge or not) then you will probably be on the look-out for one, unless your hand sewing skills … Continue reading
In yesterday’s post all about sustainable New Year’s Resolutions, I promised you some top tips of you are contemplating making Buying Nothing New the resolution for you this year. Here goes: 1) If the thought of a year Buying Nothing New is making you feel a little trepidatious (I assure you you will find it … Continue reading
OK, so with less than 6 days to go, we are now approaching the realms of last minute, and the need for speed crafting, if you are still hoping to give homemade presents! I always struggle a bit with what to give the Small’s teachers at this time of year, and really try to give … Continue reading
We are ludicrously pleased with our pom-pom tree: and in anticipation of the Pom-Pom Christmas tree trend that is going to sweep the globe next year ( 😉 ), here is a little how-to… First and foremost, START MAKING POM-POMS EARLY!!! We were pretty organised (for us) and started making ours at the beginning of … Continue reading
Just in time for this week’s #makedoandmendhour (8-9pm every Thursday on Twitter!) here’s the round up from last week! I asked everyone for their top Make Do and Mend tips for a the festive period-scroll down to see them 🙂 Pics we shared: 1. @VintageHomeShop is well and truly in the Christmas spirit and has … Continue reading
Have you heard all about it? Save the Children have a campaign that is now in it’s 3rd year, to raise much needed funds by encouraging the wearing of Christmas jumpers (some people very wrongly term these ‘Ugly Sweaters’…!) in the run up to Christmas. The campaign has raised over£1.6 MILLION to date, and this … Continue reading
Wow, this week’s #makedoandmendhour was the busiest ever! So busy, that I had to split the pictures into THREE separate collages…! Pics we shared: 1) This great lampshade made from doilies (I heart doilies!) by @bluebirddanielle 2) Awesome happy looking socks in the making from @CraftyBlueberry 3) @DalkeyDan’s furniture restoration tutor made her a touch … Continue reading
Knitting ideas, inspiration and free patterns, plus crochet, weaving, and more
Other than my pants, the rest are charity finds
A money-saving, growing-our-own, making-do-and-mending husband-and-wife blog
Some of the cool and useful food, craft and sustainability skills that your grandparents knew, but probably didn't teach you!
Inspired by Make Something Month
Author, trainer, coach
connecting people, place and planet
by Jack Monroe, bestselling author of 'A Girl Called Jack'
Let's fix our relationship with electronics
Every month (except December) we bring people together* to give the objects we share our world with a second lease of life and to chat and have a cuppa whilst we're at it (*currently online)
Makes, remakes, mends, darns, sews, arts, and crafts.
thrifty, creative & eco-friendly ways to raise children
Pin It, Make It, Blog It, Link It, Share It!
Proof that "We're going to live in a tent in a field" is easier read than done
My Make Do and Mend Year 