Little Cheerfulnesses and Ideas to inspire

Today I have been on the lookout for some cheerful images to share with you. I hope you enjoy them - and maybe one or two might be a source of inspiration for your own creativity. Why not have a go!










You may need your sunglasses to look at these! But sewing together  leftover fabrics in this novel way would make a super-sunny frock













Cherry Menlove (her real name) has an amazing blog, with lots of tutorials. Well worth a visit. What a great idea to tie a big bold bow onto a simple cushion









Here is Cherry's romantic 'Daybed Reading Corner' An eiderdown, pillows and string of lights...


The daytime daybed version : )



















I love this simple and inexpensive idea. Wouldn't a bowl of pastel painted shells instantly brighten up a bathroom?





Caravans








I SOOOO want a caravan to do a mini-makeover. Some of these ideas don't look too hard to try.



LadyLydia has her own caravan challenge - 'down under'



More caravan makeovers
















Who minds if nothing matches










It's those little things that make a Home Sweet Home




















If you don't have a caravan... how about making over your apron?



...Or tea towels/hand towels?







These are made by Cath at www.embellishedtowels.com







Aren't these lovely?










Before I finish this post, I would like to ask an unrelated question. I have seen tutorials for making socks out of fleece etc, but I am interested in using fabric for reinforcing the heels of non-woolen socks (inside or outside). This is because the socks only wear thin at the heel area and are perfectly fine everywhere else.Has anyone sewn fabric in this way successfully?




Linking up with...

Careful Ways - Truly Thrifty and Fun

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               Neck-tie Aprons




Careful ways take time to learn. That is why it is so helpful to look to the advice and experience of older wives and home-makers. They may have learned from their own mothers, aunts and grandmothers. Or they may have learned the harder ways, through trial and error and  tough consequences. Many of them are most happy to share their wisdom so that others are saved from making those same mistakes




What is so interesting, is that once you begin to think about the subject, you find all sorts of unexpected ideas pop into your head, and most of the careful ways you learn will be satisfying and enjoyable. (For those who don't believe this - just try it and see for yourself)












Going through your wardrobe



Most women are surprised at what they find when they 'go through their own wardrobe', or closet. Before you embark on this challenge, take some paper and be ready to write down an inventory of what you actually have. When you have gone through your clothes and shoes, you will be able to write down 'What you need'. You could to save up, ask for, or look out for those things.


I did this a while ago. Before I had gone through my wardrobe...

1. I was sure that I needed some summer sandals

2. I was about to buy the fabric for some much needed skirts

3. I felt like I may as well throw out my blouses which were all too big since I had lost weight, a couple of years ago. 


Firstly, I took everything out and laid it on the bed. Then I  quickly vacuumed, and polished the wood. It felt good to be putting things back into a nice clean wardrobe.

Items went back tidily and on the right hangers.

This is what I found...

1. I already HAD two pairs of very nice ladies sandals that I had forgotten about! I also had some ok ones that are quite suitable for wearing around the house.

2. I already HAD quite enough skirts. Some of them were 'hidden' underneath other items on my hangers, and one had fallen to the floor. I was able to make a simple alteration to a skirt I didn't like (and therefore had avoided wearing), and now I like to wear it.

3. I decided to take those 'too big' blouses down to the sewing machine. I keep the machine tucked in beside the sofa. This means it is always ready for use. 

I had a go at putting some quick darts into those blouses. It didn't take much time and I was so pleased with the results that it feels like I have three new blouses!

Or you could use 
pinch and pin to take in a shirt


I would love to hear your experiences of going through your own wardrobe or closets, or those of your children, ladies.

Quick note - If you are thinking of sorting out your husband's things in this way, it is a respectful idea to first ask him whether he would appreciate it.









Here are some more ideas you might like to try



Swap your magazines with friends and family, or keep them in a drawer to bring out and enjoy next year. Put the ones you are reading into a basket or on the coffee table. Don't worry if the crafting, sewing or knitting patterns look dated, they will come back into fashion before you know it!



Never throw out clothing without removing the buttons, trimmings, elastic and carefully store them in your sewing basket. Then cut out the unworn pieces of fabric. You can store these up and use them for all sorts of items, from patching trousers to making aprons and patchwork quilts.


Did you know that in WWII, women made cot blankets by sewing together the squares from opened-out socks? They also made children's  soft toys from unravelled woolen sweaters. They cut worn sheets down the middle and sewed them back together with the worn middles to the outside edges. What other things could you do with a worn sheet?

These pictures are of an apron I have nearly finished made with fabric offcuts. You don't need to use a pattern - they can be so confusing - just play around with the fabric and see what you can do.

 

Polish your shoes regularly to protect the leather and keep them smart.Place shoes in old shoe-boxes and clearly label each box



 





Go through your sewing box or basket like you went through your wardrobe - prepare to find all sorts of lovely goodies that you didn't know you had.



Keep your tissue paper, ribbons and gift wrappings. You may use them again to wrap presents, or to make home-made cards etc.














Another thing you can swap and share with friends or family are your seeds for the garden. Remember to check the expiry dates of the seeds as many will be good for two years, sometimes more. Swapping the actually produce could be useful too. 



The one thing that is so important in all this is 

Organisation


You need to really spend time and focus on looking after what you already have. If you are disorganised, you won't know what you have and you won't use your resources wisely. Like my 'wardrobe' experience, I also found some pretty lace trimmings in my sewing basket, so I don't have to buy more and waste money.


Organising what you have, is not a one-off project. I find it has to be tackled a bit at a time, keeping at it regularly so as not to let things slip



A humble bar of soap 

I know that quite a few of you make your own laundry 'gloop', but did you know the amazing efficiency and versatility of a simple bar of soap - the sort you use to wash your face and hands? It is more efficient than all those expensive chemical concoctions that are marketed with claims of 'essential' and 'unbeatable' Don't believe them!

In the supermarkets you can buy a bar of soap for about 13p each (0.20 USD)

~If my chair covers are grubby or marked, I use a damp/wet sponge or cloth of warm water and a rub of soap. It is clean in moments and smells lovely.

~ I keep my toilet brush in soapy water in its caddy. Soap slivers are great for this.A quick swish around the toilet bowl each morning and it's fresh and clean and I find much less limescale build-up. (Some of you may not like this idea, but I learned this from Flylady and it works superbly for me. My loo brush is fresh and clean - and soapy) 

~ Keep a spray bottle of soapy water in your bathroom to spray over your basin and bath regularly. Rub dry with a cloth. 

~ Washing with plain bar soap seems to be better for my skin than any liquid soaps and body washes I have tried. Look out for something pretty that could be used as a soap dish.

~ A soapy rag cleans walls and skirtings so quickly and gently. Again, you are left with a nice fresh smell, like an instant air freshener

~ Wet soap rubbed on collars and cuffs can bring them up very nicely and can remove stains before washing  

~ Of course, hot soapy water is all you need to use for cleaning kitchen counter-tops. I remember a company being forced to remove their advert which claimed that washing with hot soapy water was not enough to kill germs, and that their chemical laden product was safer.

Each one of the careful ways that you practice, will shave a bit from your outgoings. Even tiny things will add up as they become established habits in your household, and you will have the contentment of knowing that you are looking after, and enjoying the nice things that you have
    

  
Have a happy day, Home-makers - and please let me know your own ideas and 'careful ways' in the comments. Read some of these excellent ideas here.





LEXIE's comments are so helpful. Thank you Lexie

Good post . I grew up with a depression era Mom so we learned many thrifty ways to live. Mom was a widow with 3 kids and a mortgage so we reused, recycle and did without. I keep my spring and summer wardrobe labeled in containers. Every spring I pull them out and its better then shopping. I have it organized, clean neat and ready to wear, shoes, shorts, tees and tanks. I reorganized the winter wardrobe and coats for next winter clean and neat ready to pull out. My shoes are organized in their boxes and I only keep 6 at a time, no one needs more. I store each unneeded season away clearly marked. My thrift extends to every aspect of home making. I am learning to use a solar oven and will soon do all my baking without electricity or gas. I have a raised bed garden for my own veggies. Sewing is not a friend of mine but I remember stories from my Mom of my Grandma sewing blankets for cots for the war effort along with my Mom reusing all clothing, buttons, blankets and curtains by sewing. My Mom sewed old buttons on our clothes and made her own curtains., Thanks for a interesting post that was a blast from the past. My Mom also fixed her own electrical appliances using cords she kept. She could rebuild her own lamps and small appliances never needing to buy new. All good lessons for today.

Also thank you to Susie. She says I have two slightly unusual uses for my husband's worn out heavy cotton socks. I was just cutting up some yesterday to use for water wicks for my big flower pots outside. I used them last year and my petunias and geraniums did great, even in the drought and 100+ degree temps we had here.

They also make good doggie wash cloths. I just cut them open so they are flat. Their rough-ish texture works well. They can either be washed and bleached clean or thrown away if they get too soiled.
 
Many thanks also to Lili, who wrote

My husband's and grown son's button-down, woven cotton work shirts are a good example. When the collar is looking raggy, there is still enough decent fabric in the backs, fronts and sleeves for men's boxer shorts. I patch bed sheets, but when they become very worn, they makes very nice (soft) hankies.

A few years ago I went through everything in my closet and I gave away everything that I didn't truly love on myself, or love the fabric (for a future project). I have a tiny closet and can fit everything in. My wardrobe is very simple. I change things up or add color with accessories, like scarves. I only replace loved items when they are too worn to wear, and even then, I can usually squeeze a bit of life from these worn items, for around the house

Careful Ways Freebie for you

Dear Home-makers,


Using a delightful image from Free Pretty Things For You, I have put together a checklist to help you resist impulse-buying. 



If you would like to use it, please save and print it out. Then put it on your fridge, or carry it in your purse/wallet when you go shopping. You could even put a copy on a card beside your computer.




Happy savings, Ladies.

The Mending

Today's home-makers are having to learn the old-time resourcefulness and careful ways, that were second nature to their grandmothers. 


Careful ways with clothes

Clothes were often home-made, and everything was made to last. Can you imagine what one of these ladies would say if they saw us casually tossing clothing or old towels in the bin. They would most certainly need to sit down with a cup of reviving tea before giving us a stern lecture about our wasteful ways! Then they might well demand to see the state of our mending basket...














Hmm... You might answer her demand with 'What's a mending basket?' or perhaps you would say 'I hate mending, so I  hide it in the back of my deepest darkest closet!'










Who knows what these are?
They may come in very useful.






Wool socks need darning to make them last

Hems fall down on trousers and have to be taken up again

Shirts and blouses lose buttons which need replacing

Cardigans can wear at the elbows and require nicely sewn matching patches  

Skirts need letting out or taking in

Cushion cover zips get stuck and we must put in a new one 


















It is time to make friends with the mending basket. They can be pretty and nice to look at. I like wicker or sea grass, something natural rather than plastic. It has to be small enough to have beside your comfy chair, yet big enough to hold the items that need mending. Or you could start with a shopping basket like the one in the picture below.
















Have a nice tin or small workbox with your basic mending supplies like needles, black and white sewing cotton, wool for darning socks, small scissors, thimble, shirt buttons, patches, elastic, and... one of those funny things in the picture above that I said you might need : )


In the evenings or afternoons, you can pick up a little mending, and stitch away. It is so relaxing and satisfying to know that you are looking after your things. The family will know where the basket is, and its purpose, and there will be a sense of peace and order about the home which you have created. It is better to take your time and not kill yourself trying to empty the basket in one day. Mending will always need to be done.

Here are some useful links you might enjoy

 
Weak spots on socks - Swiss Darning

Holes in socks - darning

Patching elbows using a sewing machine
 
Beginner - How to sew on a button


Putting in a Zip. (Actually you can sew it by hand or by machine)




I hope these are of use to you. I am planning more blogs about resourcefulness and will tell you about the many useful things you can make with that worn towel that I mentioned at the beginning of this post


Happy mending, ladies









PS What's in YOUR mending basket?

A Little Cheerfulness for your Day

Frederick Sands Brunner (1886-1954)




Sit back with your cup of tea and enjoy!

(My favourite is Woman Holding Baby. I'm not sure about the Home Performance one - I can almost hear the caterwauling! which is your favourite?)

Autumn Patterns

title unknown

Planting the Windowbox

Pushing Her Wheelbarrow

The Knitting Lesson

Summer Afternoon

Serenade Time - Home Performance

Woman with Horse and Dogs

Woman Holding Baby

Happy Tea Break, ladies

Simple Routines for Grocery Shopping

Before you go shopping today...






Here are some simple but effective ideas to help you spend less. 


1. STOCK-TAKE

Look in your cupboards, fridge and freezer. See what you have, and what needs using up. Use up older ingredients first. You will often be surprised at what you do have already. Look at your spices and herbs too, and think about a simple way you can use them in your meals this week. For instance, I found a few lasagne sheets and some yeast which I had forgotten about. I made a simple lasagne using beef, tomatoes and vegetables. I didn't make a cheese sauce, but sprinkled grated cheese on the top. Because the oven was on, I popped in some quick fruited scones, so as to be more economic with the electricity. Today, I plan to make a pizza, so using the yeast. It can be quite fun creatively using up what you have.


2. CHECK STAPLES

Running out of Butter, milk, bread, potatoes, tea, etc, means running to the shop/store again. This may mean taking out the car again, and you could end up buying more than you wanted.


3. SHOPPING LIST

Make a proper shopping list and stick to it. It will ensure that you do not impulse buy things you do not need. place a list on the side of the fridge where you note down things that are running low. Refer to this when making your shopping list.


4. KEEP EVERY RECEIPT

As soon as you get home, make a note of what you spent. Write it down in your notebook. At the end of the month, just add the totals together and you know what you have spent during the month.


5. ASK

Before buying anything, take a minute to ask yourself whether you NEED this item, or just WANT it.


6. MEAL PLAN

This doesn't mean plan exotic and complicated meals and new recipes! Just plan those easy, nutritious and simple home-cooked family meals you know and love. Plan to make lunches from leftovers, cook double and freeze half for another day, flexible meals according to which meat or whatever that is on special offer in the supermarket. Check the price per kg or lb to work out the best bargains

7. BAKE

Bake your own bread. If you have a bread-maker you can quickly get it going each morning, or on a timer. If you don't have a  bread-maker, make 4 loaves in the oven at once then freeze sliced for convenience. If wholemeal flour is very expensive, you could use some white flour with it - it is still healthier than factory-made bread. 

Happy shopping, ladies

Family Ways are not the Ways of the World

 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. Micah 4:4





Each purposeful step we take back towards our family and our home-making, we move a step away from the world and its ways. It is as though the scales fall from our eyes. We begin to see how deceitful is the essential nature of this world, and how it never delivers on its promises.
 
There seems to be an awakening of families in our nations, to return to the foundational power and purpose of the family. As we do so, we discover the strength, power, peace and contentment that comes with this shift in focus. It is such a liberating journey. 












The world says...

'Compete with your spouse'

That is what many women are unconsciously thinking and acting on every day. We marry spouses because we love them and want to make them happy and do them good, and work together for the benefit and well-being of our family. But the world isn't interested in these concepts. It tries by subtle and not-so-subtle means to undermine them. The world prefers disjointed, discontented couples who strive for status, importance, knowledge and crave material increase. Those couples will spend more, waste more, and work long hours away from their families. It may be a vital thing to honestly consider whether we are in contention with our spouse!


 "KNOWLEDGE PUFFETH UP; BUT LOVE BUILDETH UP." 1 CORINTHIANS 8:1-13



How often in the past I have wasted time by seeking knowledge. What if I had spent that precious time building up others in my family with words and acts of love? Our Heavenly Father is not the slightest bit impressed that we can rise above others with our accumulation of knowledge.



  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble" James 4:6

The world says...

Speed up or get left behind

The truth is that hard work does not require to be done at breakneck speed. Working too fast is not peaceful, contenting or efficient. It causes accidents, it makes people stressed and sick and burns them out. When we look to our family-building, we find that God gives us a steadier pace and schedule. His pace allows us to enjoy and be fulfilled by our labours, and to have time to pray and talk to him all through the day.




The world says...

Noise is necessary at all times

When you switch off the noise, you will find a place of contentment. The world has done such a good job on this one that it is almost a shock to find that beautiful place of quietness. The home-maker is there to ensure there are times of quietness during the day and practice the lost art of listening to her family. How valuable that is, and it will pay dividends in time to come.













The world says...

Shop until you drop

When we are convinced that shopping is on a par with breathing - can't live without it - we are lied to by the world.

Home-makers must understand the importance of building families and homes, rather than building their wardrobes, especially in these disturbing times.

I remember with embarrassment the family resources and precious time I have wasted over the years on 'shopping'. I am not talking about food shopping here. Shopping is very often simply retail therapy. It takes us away from our 'home and family building'. It takes us into wonderlands of money-grabbing, noisy, greedy, and beguiling establishments. Everything looks so pretty and desirable. A few months later, our pretty 'stuff' is literally 'stuffed' in a cupboard or drawer and forgotten about. 

The best way not to buy things is not to go shopping!

   House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.  Proverbs 19:14





Let us be prudent with the family income and resources. Learning to sew is such a helpful asset in this endeavour. We can spend our 'shopping' time, maintaining the clothes and items we already own. Items can be altered or given a new lease of life with simple embellishments. Or we can polish shoes and make them shine - a pleasure to wear. We could purchase a pattern and make several items from that  pattern so as to use the resource wisely.

Food shopping is another area in which we can learn the satisfying art of prudence. Choose recipes that are simple and healthy, and make flexible menus. Make a weekly fruit cake or buns or Birthday cakes that are a treat for the family. They will be tons better than the 'world's' unlovingly prepared and over-priced offerings.

 








However the world dresses up their tempting fare, it will never come near the joy and contentment of home and family. Taking walks in the countryside together, picnics, working on a family project, taking the time to laugh and to listen, looking after our resources, these are treasures we can have and hold.

Let us turn our focus from the world and back towards building the things that really matter.