Monday 3 February 2014

Something Out Of Nothing ... Thrifting .. With Dribs And Drabs ...



Hello there ...
here are a few pic's of today's doings ... and this weekends finds ....

Do you recognise this ... more of the reclaimed 1960's fabric from the other week.


As you know I try and make the most out of everything ... and our choice of lifestyle is quite ... well .. someone described it the other day as 'self sufficient' ... I like to think that we 'march to our own drum' ...
We earn our living by bits and bats ... bit of this .. bit of that .. bits of money coming in from different areas ... all and every penny is welcome .. and all has to be accounted for .. for Mr Tax Man.

So... the fabric above ... although it came from a house clearance .. we had to pay for the clearance .. so the fabric has to earn us something ..
Today when I had a free couple of hours .. Hubby P was out tracking down more stock ...
I sorted through the offcuts of the fabric ... I sell on what is saleable and I save all the little bits. I found this bit big enough for a nice cushion.



It must be my upbringing ... making something out of nothing ... making do...
I remember one Christmas at my Grandmothers ..
My Grandfather was a builder and I suppose there would have been times when work was slack .. money was hard to come by .. but being a child I wouldn't really appreciate that at the time.
But I well remember helping my Gran reach deep into the huge dresser and pull out all her old crystal decanters... china and pretty tins. 
We spent an afternoon baking goodies to fill the tins ... and filled the decanters with homemade wine... then we wrapped them and labelled them  ... Christmas presents for the family.
Looking back now ... she was looking to what she had .. what she could make from what she had ... what little money she had ..had to go on the very basics and non spare for fancy bought presents...

So I do try and find uses for everything .. and if it can turn a penny ..all the better.
I've put the cushion an ebay .. see if it sells .. if not I will sell it on the stall .. someone somewhere will enjoy a bit of vintage-y on their sofa.



This weekends finds ... not a great deal really ... a few pieces for my Kitchenalia table.
I find a lot of people enjoy looking through the old kitchen stuff .. and its cheap enough to treat yourself ... 'just because' ... Grannie had the very same bread knife/whisk or whatever.



Some rather pretty tins ...and a splendid tea caddy ... oh I wish I had the discipline and patience to use loose tea!
I really cannot keep any more tins ... pretty as they are ...
they can bring a smile to someone elses face.

Hubby P found this beauty ... it is just so tiny and cute .... and remarkably clean .. hardly used I would say ...
Imagine cooking your dinner on this ..



Hubby P has to check all the electrics ... make sure its all safe and whatnot before we can move it on.



It would be just like playing house when you were little ... you would need little pans... and everything....!

So what about this week ... well .. more car booting ...although I think the weather is going to be awful.
I still have more fabric to sort ... maybe some more random cushions...
Still collecting and washing the jars ...thankyou for all the comments ... I do love to read all about your doings ... and all the useful tips are just fab ... we have a whole world full of experience out there ... its so great to share.



Sorry I am a bit rubbish at replying to you all ... life just gets in the way a bit ...  but I do treasure you 'my bloggy girls' as Hubby P calls you.
So cast your eyes around a bit .... if you need a few extra pennies .. what can you do ... what can you make to sell ... find to ebay ... skills can you use?
In the past I have taken in ironing, cleaned houses, packed cards, sewn slippers, made and sold cakes, reared chickens for the table, sold plants at the gate ... there is always something ...
just need a bit of Gran's old fashioned 'get up and go'!

xxx