Tiny Back Garden on a Sunny Day

Small is Beautiful. Little cheerfulnesses in the garden





 Do you love to sit in the garden and enjoy a refreshing cup of tea in the sunshine?

Cineraria and Sweet William

Our one enormous Oriental Poppy is the star of the show. We are hoping for more than a single flower next year.

Sweet William and Pansies in a hanging basket

The cheerful smiling faces of a crowd of yellow pansies

Strawberries are on the way

White and pink Sweet Williams

Our 'Cottage Garden' bed with Honeysuckle about to flower and Winter Jasmine, which is so pretty in January, climbing up the fence. The small blue flowers at the front are Aubretia 'Kitte'. There are also Antirrhinum (Snapdragons), Lily of the Valley and Peonies hiding in there, patiently waiting their turn to shine.

Large and elegant Clematis flowers.





I attempted to photograph the bees pollenating our raspberry flowers but they were all blurred. The raspberry canes never fail to produce many, many fruits. When a plant likes a garden, it rarely fails. Yet we have other plants that 'should' do well, and yet limp along year after year for some reason.

The Inspiration of 'When Queens Ride By'

Pinterest 1950 Family

Maybe you are familiar with the short story by the author Agnes Turnbull, 'When Queens Ride By'


You can read it here



But even if you have read it before, it is worth revisiting. it never fails to delight, calm, encourage, and inspire creative ideas, just as Jennie Musgrave herself experienced after the lady in gray had driven off along the twinkling highway, and she was left alone in her grubby kitchen.






Here are some new ideas that came to me after reading it again. 

Wake up just a bit earlier than the family so you can be dressed and fresh as a daisy. Have breakfast ready with a smile.

Add a drop of scent to your nicest ladies handkerchief - and tuck into your décolletage
rather than having it in your sleeve where it is noticeable

 There is an interesting article about the history of the handkerchief here

 

Source: oodlesandoodles.typepad.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Dress for the day with care. Roll stockings or tights before putting them on. 

Vintage Nylons (www.the-coveted.com)

Take pride in looking after those special items of clothing, for instance, hand washing delicates. They will be a pleasure to wear and set a cheerful mood for the day

Wear those pretty clothes that you have been saving for 'best' and have languished in the closets for years. Slip on some flattering sandals.





 Sew a scrap of fabric on to a hair grip and arrange your hair in a more feminine way.

Bake some apple pies, apple butters ( I don't know what apple butter is but it sounds delicious) or other recipe from the story. Don't forget to make some for the freezer.

Have a 'best apron' that you only wear for cleaner activities around the home. Even after laundering, some stains or marks don't come out of the well- used pinny. In hindsight, I wish I had saved my nicest apron in this way.



Ladies, I would really like to know if 'When Queens Ride By' has sparked new ideas, new resolve or routines in your life. I do wish that the lady had not refused to help her husband in his office though. It might have been better to talk to him about how she felt rather than 'put her foot down' as it were. However, that is just my personal reservation.

 Michele has kindly directed us to an interesting link. Here you will find a blogger who has written a 'continuation' of the story in the form of a diary. When you visit the page, go to her oldest posts first so as to read them in chronological order

http://whenqueensrideby.blogspot.com/

Bye Bye Google Reader - Please follow on Bloglovin'

Dear Home-makers,

On July 1st, Google reader will be no more...


Bloglovin is a good replacement and it is easy to import all the blogs you are following from Google reader. You can either click HERE and import all your Google Reader blogs together, or simple follow me by clicking on the Bloglovin button at the top right of this page.

I hope you will all follow me, or I will be lonely

Dressmaking - Easy Blouse

I have recently completed another of these pretty blouses. It just needs a button. I think '1 hour' is a little optimistic, but a leisurely day and a half was quite acceptable to me. I find it is good to take your time and enjoy the process, but this is not a difficult pattern to sew.



In the US, you can buy it here and I am sure you could find it cheaper on Ebay or on sale somewhere. I purchased my pattern here in England a couple of years ago.

I added some leftover lace trim to the neck to make it even more 
feminine.

'Molly'

The delicate floral fabric comes from Ebay UK (seller 'Favouritefabrics1'). When you find a classic style pattern you like, it can be used multiple times using different fabrics and colours.

Little Cheerfulnesses and Ideas to inspire

Dear Home-makers. Please note that there may be very few updates to this blog for the next several months, as I put my focus and time into helping my husband










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.