Remember back when I told you about the huge number of roses we’ve got growing out at the house? Well, as much as I bemoaned how boring it would be to simply dry them for pot pourri, I couldn’t come up with any better/quicker ideas, and was sick of seeing them go to waste, so grabbed the last few heads the other month and set about drying them. 

It’s amazing how much the petals shrink! What covered the bottom of our bath for a few days (a cheap but huge air fresher!) amounted to a couple of handfuls in the end, but they smelled so nice (if you like rose) that I packaged them up and will have them for sale when I do my first craft market in December. 

Yes, more on that exciting/ nerve-wracking escapade soon.

Given the number of accidentally ruined woollens I have been victim to in my time, I was sure that when I actually wanted to felt some old wool scarves I had picked up at a local thrift/charity store it would be simple. Oh how wrong!  

We are wanting to create a really cosy and homely feel in our new lounge and looking into lots of autumnal shades, tartans, plaid, woollens etc so need to start working on these to cover cushions and an old footstool and table that were left. 

So, after various temperature changes, rinses, powder and ‘aggravating’ methods, I still haven’t quite perfected the art of felting. I have scoured the internet for a simple tutorial but none have had the desired effect. Tonight we are using a kettle, soap flakes, a bucket and a pestle and mortar! Stay tuned! (or help us with your methods/tips).

I have always been a hoarder when it comes to clothes and have always had far more than is entirely necessary (I long to be Gok’d and have a capsule wardrobe of just 20 interchangeable pieces). I think it stems for my tomboy teens and my various jobs requiring smart clothes so effectively had to have two wardrobes, one skater/grunge/scruffy and one suits/working/smart. I’d like to think that I could now meld these into something that is both creative/different but still able to wear into the office (though may be working from home from next year when I fear I may never be out of sweatpants).

So, I am gearing myself up for the mother of all clearouts when we eventually move into our new home and know that my stash of clothes is something that will have to be seriously downsized. However, I also need to curb my love of retail therapy in order to prevent the number creeping back up (and save my bank account).

Enter Wardrobe Refashion. A website which encourages us to take the following pledge:
 I __________________ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed__________________.

I love the idea. One of my favourite makes and subsequently garments from last summer was a scarf made from an old dress and 2 old t-shirts. So, I’m hoping my desire to reduce storage needs, live more economically and have a fun new wardrobe will lead to a great Wardrobe Refashion, I’d love to hear from others who take part.

It’s now got to the point in our renovation that there’s very little for me to do. There’s no point in cleaning something that’s about to be ripped out and equally little point in scrubbing something that’s about to be boarded over. So, I am able to take advantage of our ‘mature’ (sounds better than absolutely wild and overgrown) garden while the nice weather is with us.

There has been the prettiness of giant poppies, daffodils, bluebells and other lovely plants we can’t identify, along with the horror of the knotweed (don’t ask!!), but our latest change is the roses.

There are so many bushes in both the front and back gardens and we thought most wouldn’t bloom (and those with buds were covered in aphids). How wrong we were! The garden in currently a riot of colour and we have more roses that we could ever need so am looking for ideas on what to do with them.

There is, of course, the traditional pot pouri route but I was thinking something more unusual like these rose petal beads from Little House in the Suburbs.

I have just been given a lovely selection of Dylon dyes (both machine and hand wash) to play with and must admit that it’s times like these I’m glad I have a ruin of a house.

Having ruined many a bathroom with adventures in hair dying ,I’m glad we have an old bathroom and washing machine available for using these. The big question is ‘what to dye?’. I have a few items of clothing that could do with a freshen up but I think the best move will be to use up some of my fabric stash and transform some of it into new colours for soft furnishings.

View the full range of Dylon Dyes online: http://www.dylon.co.uk/

This year, the theme for Recycle Week is ‘let’s waste less…’ encouraging all of us to try something new in an effort to go greener and cut back on the waste we all produce.

From recycling more of everyday items like glass and plastic bottles to reusing carrier bags or composting at home, there are lots of opportunities to promote how we can all reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill.

“Recycle Week is now in its fifth year and this is the first time we’ll be promoting a waste reduction message” said Jane Hall from Recycle Now. “As part of this we’re encouraging people to sign up and pledge to either try something new or do more of what we already do”.

Across the country there will be lots of events taking place to highlight local recycling services and ways that can help us all do our bit.

You can find out what is happening in your area by entering your postcode on the Event finder.

Whatever pledge(s) you choose to do – your efforts really will help to make a difference.

Welcome to a new weekly post on the site. Found Fridays celebrate the thrill of finding something completely unexpected which brightens you day, week or even month. It can be a dusty old plate or even a bargain kitchen sink but Friday is when we celebrate the thrill of the hunt and our thrift store (or ebay) finds. We’re not all about the gloating though so some week we may just let you know about an auction and give you the chance to bag your own wonderful vintage find.

Today’s post combines two great finds. The first was a rather ugly wall mirror which was found in the bin store of the basement of our building and the second was a lovely floral bed sheet for £1 in a local charity shop. Cue cutting into strips and a lot of watered-down PVA glue and we have a lovely shabby chic (emphasis on the shabby I’m afraid) mirror for our bedroom.