The Recycling Trail

1 Comment

Posted on September 20, 2011

I read Rhonda’s blog at Down to Earth today about recycling and her suggestion that we link together our innovative recycling ideas.

While recycling is good it is even better to refuse and reduce as your first 2 options.

A lot of the things that we have re-used or recycled her at home are no different to what others do so I have tried to add a couple of more unusual ideas.

Here is my shower cap and a piece of elastic that I salvaged from a dress that I refashioned into a skirt.

The elastic edging on the cap had completely given way so I revamped it using the salvaged elastic.

I made this soap dish from the base of a 2 litre milk bottle. The diagonal ridge in the base helps to keep the soap dry.

An old school desk has become an occasional table in the guest bedroom. Decoupaged by Missy when she started high school.

Cardboard boxes for storing things….a shoebox for stationery items in the office.

Another box for newspapers in the kitchen. I use the newspaper to wrap scraps for the compost.

I will keep the camera handy tomorrow and hopefully capture some more recycling/reusing tips for another post.

Walk to Work

1 Comment

Posted on September 17, 2011

Yesterday was Walk to Work Day. Although I did not actually register, I did participate and walked from Albion railway station to my office in Turbot Street. I don’t know the actual distance but it took me 67 minutes of steady walking (some uphill sections) and my pedometer registered 7,600 steps.

I forgot to take my camera so I could share some of the things I discovered along the way.

Highlights:

The new mangroves sprouting through the mud in Breakfast Creek.

Colonial homes in inner city areas

Small gardens hidden behind picket fences

First glimpse of my high-rise destination from the top of Bowen Hills

Walking is a great way to discover things about your city that you will never see from a car. I will try to do it more often – maybe a different route.

Ready, Set,Sew

2 Comments

Posted on September 15, 2011

I have my next sewing project planned which is to make a dress for my niece who is almost 12 months. She won’t wear it for another 6 months or so as she lives in the Northern Hemisphere. Tonight I assembled the things I will use and I hope to do it on the weekend.

Here is the fabric and buttons I will use. The floral print fabric was given to me recently from my friend whose mother who no longer sews. The plain blue came from my mother-in-law’s stash of fabric. The buttons are ones that I found at the op shop. Priced at 5c each I buy buttons if I see ones that I think will be suitable for my sewing – particularly on children’s clothes.

The pattern I am going to use is from an Enid Gilchrist book that my mother gave me. The books are mostly over 50 years old. I have about 6 of her books and although some of the clothes are a little dated there are lots of good basic designs.

I have made dresses several times using this pattern. This first time was for my sister when I was only 10 years old. I have made dresses for my daughters and more recently, my granddaughters, from this pattern.

This is Belle, aged 12 months in a dress from the pattern.

Here is one I made for Miss O. She wore it on her first birthday.

Even a version for Christmas.

Mousetrap

1 Comment

Posted on September 10, 2011

No, I have not been catching rodents. It is my excuse for no post last night. My mother, The Duke and I went to see a production of Agatha Christie’s, “The Moustrap” by the Centenary Theatre Group in Brisbane.

After running for nearly 60 years in London’s West End there is a small window of opportunity for amateur groups to perform this iconic play. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance and it has whetted my appetite to see the London production when we finally make a trip to the UK (hopefully in the next few years).

Today it is cold – a renewed blast of winter – but fine and windy so looks like a great day to get the washing dry and clean the house.

Speaking of houses, the Sustainable House Day is running again this year. Homes with are variety of sustainability features are open to the public tomorrow, Sunday 11th September from 10am – 4pm. Check the link for locations and information. Major cities and many regional areas are participating. We went to some Sunshine Coast ones last year and gleaned lots of ideas for our own home and garden. One day ours may be featured, who knows?

Spare a Thought

12c per Day

2 Comments

Posted on September 6, 2011

I bought a new handbag today. This might seem like an impulse buy – no discussion, searching the internet, comparing prices – I just went and bought it. In fact, I had given it quite a bit of thought and kept putting off buying. However, the old one was starting to look a bit worse for wear so it was time to do something. I did not consider buying online because I like to check the feel of the bag and how it feels to carry it.

Here is the bag.

I had some fairly simple criteria for my new handbag. Firstly, any colour as long as it is black. Not too big but big enough to hold the necessities. Easy to carry. Enough inside pockets and sections to hold the important stuff, like my phone and access card in separate, easy-to-access spots.

The inside

Some of my acquaintances seem to always be buying bags, often for as little as $20 or so. My bag cost $120, which may seem extravagant so I thought I should consider my bag on a cost per wear basis. I use my bag almost every day and it is the only handbag I own apart from an evening purse.

The last bag was bought in Canada when we were there in 2007 and cost $180 so I calculated that I had been using it for 50 months and it worked out to 12c per day. That seems pretty reasonable to me.

I plan to make a note of how much my new one cost and how long it lasts.

Do you consider the cost per wear/use of any items that you buy?

Weekly Challenge – Week 17

Friends and Fun

2 Comments

Posted on September 4, 2011

The Duke and I are still in Victoria, catching up with friends and family. We stayed in Melbourne on Friday night and then an obligatory spot of shopping yesterday morning.

After lunch we travelled by train to Bendigo. I love the trains – it is great to sit back and let someonelse do the ‘driving’. All I had to do was gaze out the window and admire the view.

We had home-made pizzas for dinner. There is nothing extraordinary about that but the pizza oven that they were cooked in is certainly extraordinary. I had never seen one but now I want one – just like this.

It is another glorious spring day so we will be making the most of the weather and heading out and about. This is the 5th consecutive day of sunshine here which is very pleasant.

We will be home tomorrow and I may or may not get to post again before then.

Till next time 🙂