Traditional hand sewn patchwork – step by step – part 1
A cautionary tale The earliest hexagon quilt found was made in England in the 1770’s. The earliest hexagon quilt in my house was made in the 1970s. It was a family project and I have a distinct memory of trying to sew in a small dark and smoky room. We all sewed a bit of the quilt. My grandmother and …
Reuse old jumpers to make a soft felted wool rug
How to make a soft and warm felted wool rug Did you know that you can buy old wool jumpers for crafting from Oxfam? I didn’t until I read this brilliant tutorial from Shirley, who is a less-stuff, less-waste Patreon. I’ll let her introduce herself! “I’m Shirley. I’m a Christian, a Labour Councillor, and for most of my life have …
Reuse your recycling – Découpage and Papier-mâché
Don’t put out the recycling yet! If you have corrugated cardboard, some paper scraps and glue these little boxes are a brilliant way to turn your scrap and recycling into something useful. They are easy to make and once you know how to make them you can use the same method to make square or rectangular boxes. What is Découpage …
Countdown to Cosy – Frugal Decorations
DIY Decorations Pinecones, old greeting cards and some glue is all you need to make these little Christmas trees. They look lovely as a group and you can even paint them if you are feeling very crafty. I’ve given them as an alternative to cards before buy gluing the bottom of the pinecone onto card and writing my message on …
How easy is it to upcycle a plastic bottle?
If you are an IKEA Family member you might have seen these amazing emails that feature products for £0! That’s right, nothing! IKEA are promoting the Live LAGOM ethos of upcycling and making new things out of old. I’ve been crafting for as long as I remember and the re-purposing ideas really inspired me. I wanted to see how easy …
Yarn Scrap Projects – Never Ending Hyperbolic Mobius Crochet Tutorial
This is part of my research for my MA in Design. I’m exploring the idea of infinity. I’ve made a few of these now, mostly using scrap yarn and they are a brilliant way of using up odd ends. They work better with stripes so you can see the never ending edge. They are quite a mindful thing to play …
How to upcycle old fabric into a gorgeous solid storage cube
One of the best things about being part of a community of any sort, is when people share amazing ideas. Shirley Blair Procter is in the Ikea Live Lagom group and she posted a fantastic upcycle made from old material. Her original boxes were made as packing pods and they have zips around the outside. I was worried that putting …
Stop food waste with a menu planning chalkboard (tutorial)
This summer I spent a lot of time scraping off chip paper, replacing it with smooth paper and creating an office space I want to work in. On my office walls I have 2 long strips of chalkboard in an amazing blue colour. I bought a big tin of special chalkboard paint thinking I’d need to use loads of it …
Using up my hoarded stash of fabric, yarn and craft materials.
I was taught by my war time granny to keep hold of things just in case, which is why I now have fabric that I have held onto for at least 20 years in my cupboards. I also have ends of yarn in various weights and a wide selection of craft materials. I come from a long line of make …
How to make cosy slippers from an old wool jumper
This was originally an extra large lambswool jumper that got into the washing machine by accident. I’m not sad about it, it originally came from a second hand market stall so it has had plenty of use. If you don’t have a shrunk jumper to hand this would work with fleece too. The important thing is that the cuff is …
How to make vegetable drawstring tea towel bags – Guest post by Vicky Myers
Vicky Myers makes beautiful things by reusing materials. She does her bit towards saving the planet with ‘sustainable style’ and says that sewing, DIY and knitting help her maintain her equilibrium. Taking your own veg bags instead of using the stores plastic bags can make a big impact on the amount of plastic you use. Like reusable water bottles, reusable …
Sustainable Choices: Exploring Eco-Friendly Roofing Materials and Suppliers
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links In recent years more companies have been trying to be environmentally conscious about the type of material they are using. homeowners and builders are increasingly seeking eco-friendly solutions for their projects, sourcing roofing supplies from the more reputable firms. Roofing, one of the most critical aspects of a building’s design, is …
Building Tomorrow: The Innovative Construction Materials of the Future
This is a contributed post The world of construction is experiencing a quiet revolution of late, with innovative materials at the helm and steering it in a bold and more sustainable new direction. Today, we’ll be shining a spotlight on a selection of lesser-known materials setting the stage for a more sustainable and imaginative architectural future. Remarkably, the spotlight shines …
Eco-Friendly Living: The Sustainable Benefits of Garden Rooms
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links In a world increasingly attuned to environmental concerns, sustainable living has become more than just a trend—it’s a way of life that aligns with our responsibility to care for the planet. As individuals seek innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and create eco-friendly spaces, the concept of garden rooms has …
Tech Trash: How Your Old Devices Are Harming the Planet
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links In today’s society, technology is everywhere and has become an essential part of our lives. We rely on our electronic devices to communicate, work, and entertain ourselves. However, many of us do not realise that the disposal of these devices is harming the planet. The truth is, tech trash is …
5 environmental benefits of new build properties
Image by Ralph from Pixabay This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links New build homes are increasing in popularity, mainly due to the freedom to design the home as you please and the reduction in maintenance. But were you also aware of how beneficial these homes are for the environment? Finding ways to reduce carbon emissions is …
Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links Are you looking to reduce your carbon footprint this year? Many people have become a lot more eco-conscious in recent times and now want to do their part to protect their planet. There are all kinds of big and small ways that you can do this that could also improve …
Sustainable Living 101: How to Start Today
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links With environmental issues like climate change becoming increasingly more pressing, we all must do our part to live more sustainably. But where do you start? Here’s a comprehensive guide with some simple steps to begin living a greener life today. Fast Homeware Habits We all want our homes to look …
New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Garden
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links. As the new year kicks off good and proper, millions of people across the country are making a fist of their New Year’s Resolutions – whether re-joining the gym for the umpteenth time, cutting down on vices or simply picking up a new hobby. With a third of them projected …
How to create a self-sufficient vegetable garden
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links Self-sufficiency is a dream that many people have, whether it be in financial terms, professional terms or in life in general. The ability to live without constant dependence on other people and at the mercy of wider society is an attractive prospect for some. Self-sufficiency in food and nutrition is …
Key Actions Your Family Business Can Take to Become Environmentally Friendly
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links Environmental concerns have become extremely prescient this year, as the UN reveals international climate policy has not been enough to reduce the rate of global temperature rise. Ahead of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, more eyes than ever are on the actions of government and business alike to reduce greenhouse …
A guide to recycling batteries
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links In the world of reduce, reuse and recycle, throwing something away is almost criminal now. Nearly everything can be recycled or repurposed, but some things have to be disposed of in the right way. Batteries are a commonly confused object when it comes to disposal and recycling – but it’s …
4 Ways to Take Care of Your Fruit Trees
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links Growing your own fruit at home is incredibly rewarding and it will always taste better when it has come from your own tree, but taking care of fruit trees is not easy and you need to know what you are doing if you are to enjoy the literal fruits of …
How to be more eco-conscious this summer
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links January blues often leave us dreaming fondly of summer, desperately waiting for it to arrive. Whilst summer can be fun, with lighter evenings and warmer weather there is plenty to enjoy, however, it can be challenging to know how to keep check of your environmental footprint during this time. Here …
Cantober – Month of mindful changes week 1
Welcome to Cantober! A gorgeous collaboration with the Frugal Family. Check their site for a different version of the weekly prompts. Firstly, we have daily tasks. They are not difficult. They are designed to be as easy as possible. We have a little star chart so you can tick them off when you have done them. If you don’t manage …
What do do when you have no motivation
It happens to all of us. We tick along nicely and then something just pushes us over the edge of productivity, straight into feeling like it’s all too much bother. This post may contain affiliate links, they won’t affect you but it is a way for me to make some money from the site. Here are some strategies that help …
54 Self Care ideas for frugal and busy people
I’ve been feeling kind of Meh lately. A bit run down and lacking motivation or energy to do anything. In the Meh state I tend to forget what helps, so now I’m feeling a bit more up, I’ve written a list. It will become part of a book or course later, I’m writing it now. Possibly as a distraction from …
B is for Boundaries – Working from home
Thank you to George who is a lovely less-stuff Patreon for this idea. I’ve been working at home for so long I’m hopeful that some of my strategies will help other people. Do you work from home? Putting boundaries in place can help you feel more relaxed and in control of the situation. I’ve worked from home for 15 years …
How to plan a staying in schedule
I mostly took last week off because I’ve been hit with total overwhelm and loads of anxiety. My normal weekly routine of work, college, teaching etc. has been blown away and it has thrown me. I need to get back on track and get on with things so I’m working on a schedule for the week. I don’t think this …
4 Minute Morning Routine – 240 seconds to get it together and kick start the day
This is a guest post from Arabella If you are anything like me, you’ve read a 100 self-help books promising that miracles will happen and you’ll lead a perfect life, if only you follow the author’s complicated, time-consuming morning routine. And if you are like me, you’ll have failed at every one of them – giving up on them as …
A good long list of nice things to do.
This idea came from Christine in the less-stuff Facebook group. I post prompts most days with ideas for little things to do and on Tick it off Tuesday Christine posted a list of nice things to do. That was such a brilliant idea I asked if we could use it to write a blog post. All the ideas in this …
The Frugal Family Takeover Part 4 – Practical Self Care
Often people assume that after spending so very long teaching and supporting others with their personal development I have a perfect life – this is hilarious to me and those who know me well. My life is as messy and full of procrastination as every one else’s, but that’s the beauty of information – I can pass on what I …
Free emotional support posters with tear off strips
Last month the lovely Anna in our Facebook group posted a link to an emotional support poster that had tear off strips. Each strip had words of comfort and support on it. I printed one out and taped it to the nearest lamp post. View this post on Instagram Lovely Anna posted this in the less-stuff Facebook group. …
Why failing is impossible
Next week I have to give a presentation at college. The subject is ‘Failure in Design’. Since we have been told not to discount any of our ideas as rubbish just yet, I’m assuming that the point of the exercise is to get us to embrace failure as a design resource. This has got me thinking about failure in all …
How to get rid of toxic friends: Guest Post from www.howtomakefriends.co.uk
Hey I’m Gemma, blogger at www.howtomakefriends.co.uk. I’m on a mission to cure loneliness amongst women and to empower you to build self-worth, spark up your social life and ultimately help you to make rewarding and real friends. A huge part of making new friends is detoxing old friends which is why Lisa has kindly let me put together this guest …
Eco-friendly New Year’s Resolution Ideas
This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links. As time has gone by, we’ve become more aware than ever of our impact on the environment. From plastic pollution to air pollution – we’re all aware that we could be doing more. That’s why many of us are opting for eco-friendly New Year’s Resolutions this year. Whilst that’s a …
Grow some salad and reuse plastic
Today’s free worksheet is from Sustainable Summer. Written with The Frugal Family it has 42 eco-friendly, planet saving worksheets. Available as a printable PDF or in glorious colour paperback. If you don’t have a packet of seeds try something from the store cupboard. Mustard seeds sprout well and coriander seeds grow into delicious leafy additions to salads or toppings for …
Super simple oat milk recipe
The most zero waste recipe I know, especially if you can find oats in paper bags – I know Lidl sell them! This is part of the Sustainable Summer book I wrote with www.thefrugalfamily.co.uk.
How much plastic are you using?
Not all plastic is rubbish! Without plastic I wouldn’t be able to get this blog post onto the internet. Cars would be so heavy the fuel costs and impact would be immense. When used properly, plastic is a wonderful material. It is light, waterproof, cheap to produce and as long as the sun doesn’t get to it, it is very …
A Rubbish Boat Trip – Plastic Fishing with Bristol Waste
Litter isn’t just on land Every week Bristol Harbour Authority fill a skip with rubbish. They do a lot of litter picking as part of their role to keep our waterways safe. Marine Service Officer James told us that very little litter comes down the river, most of it comes from land. He said: “If we have a busy hot …
The #inflatableamnesty can go global! This is how to save paddling pools from landfill!
A new life for all those old inflatables A while ago I wrote about how happy my little tote bag made me. It was originally a bouncy castle, and the enterprising Wyatt & Jack saved it from landfill and turned it into a very handy bag. I like to think it is infused with the happiness of all the kids …
Not all plastic is rubbish!
There is a lot in the news now about reducing plastic. Terrifying pictures of beaches strewn with litter and animals killed by plastic are all over my Twitter feed. People all over the world, including me, take up challenges like #PlasticFreeJuly and #ZeroWasteWeek. But not all plastic is rubbish. I’ve left most of the Zero Waste and Plastic Free groups …
What happens to plastic after you throw it away?
This is a guest post by Nathalia Fisher and Luke Douglas-Home from www.clearpublicspace.org who run the worldwide campaign `#StirCrazy’. #StirCrazy says – there is no situation in which a plastic stirrer is necessary. Most people think that our responsibility finishes when you put a used plastic material in the bin. But what actually happens to plastic after you throw it away? What …
Halfway through #PlasticFreeJuly 2018, the going is tough but there are silver linings
If I had money and time in abundance, then being plastic free would be a doddle. I’d spend lovely days sourcing ethically produced Kilner jars and pottering around zero waste shops. In reality, although Bristol has a few places that sell in bulk, they are all a car or bus journey away. I make do with Lidl, who sadly have …
Plastic Free July 2018 – Day 1 – Plastic Audit #pfjuk
I’m totally unprepared! I’ve been so busy writing the Sustainable Summer book and the free Plastic Free July course with Claire from The Frugal Family that I’ve done no planning for myself! I haven’t tried to reduce the plastic we use before the month, I’ve just kept everything as normal. This could turn out to be a good thing …
Find the Perfect Plastic Free July Challenge in this Roundup
If you want to reduce the amount of plastic you use, July is the month for it. Plastic Free July started 6 years ago in Perth and has spread across the globe. Many groups and individuals have challenges and courses for Plastic Free July and this post is a roundup of them. Sign up for all of them, sign up …
Become plastic free the easy way with this free course
Last July I wrote about my attempts to be plastic free. It was part of a global challenge called #plasticfreejuly. I’ll be honest with you, it wasn’t easy. Although I tried to avoid plastic it landed straight into my house wrapped around letters! It was everywhere and it was not that easy avoiding it. Let us make it easy for …