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1:10 pm
Improver
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Sun 19-Feb-12
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Mine consists of recycling, upcycling, reusing, remaking and crafting.
Anyone else make a hobby of decorating their home as frugally as possible?
A few things Ive done so far~
We were given a brand new picture in a beautiful gold frame, about 3'x2'. The picture was really ugly but the frame was great. I actually turned over the picture, facing the back, which gave me a plain white canvas. I carefully cut out adorable pictures from my old pound store calendar and neatly pasted them on. I now have a fantastic picture in the living room.
I was given a dress with a broken zipper and it had an 8'' or so flounce all around the skirt part. I took it off and it is now a pretty valance for one of my little windows; white with black butterflies.
This one is merely a good find at a charity shop. My husband has a great eye for bargains. He found me a round tablecloth, vintage, with red cherries and green leaves, for 50p! It's in perfect condition and such a cheerful fabric~
1:50 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I went to one of our charity shops the other day but it smelled so badly that I beat a hasty retreat.
I'll try that again!
2:01 pm
Improver
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Sun 19-Feb-12
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That's a real shame, Toffeeapple. There are at least a dozen charity shops I visit (though 2 are my favorites) and they are all very clean and nice, really. 
6:00 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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Lillia said:
Yes.....I've made two beds, three sofas, outside garden furniture, two tables, two coffee tables and some outside storage shelving all out of off-cuts and wood that the men helping me renovate had finished with.....
I think a lot of people on here go for cheap chic....and get great fun and enjoyment out of doing it....
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
6:04 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 2-Oct-11
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We are renovating an 1832 farmhouse on a budget. We re use stone and wood found in our barns. OH has made lovely oak tables to take the sinks in our two bathrooms out of old age hardened oak found in the garden!
Trying to enjoy life as it is
6:09 pm
Improver
New members
Sun 19-Feb-12
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ep said:
Yes.....I've made two beds, three sofas, outside garden furniture, two tables, two coffee tables and some outside storage shelving all out of off-cuts and wood that the men helping me renovate had finished with.....
I think a lot of people on here go for cheap chic....and get great fun and enjoyment out of doing it....
Cheap in cost but not in character! 
That's great, ep~ would love to see some....
6:12 pm
Improver
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Sun 19-Feb-12
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Aly said:
We are renovating an 1832 farmhouse on a budget. We re use stone and wood found in our barns. OH has made lovely oak tables to take the sinks in our two bathrooms out of old age hardened oak found in the garden!
It must all be so lovely~
7:35 am
Expert
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Sun 19-Sep-10
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lol...toffee you should have held your nose and dived in , their usually the really good charity shops anything that has been Mary Portessed is barely worth a visit these days . British Heart Foundation is the worse most of their stuff is dearer than the original shop price . I love the £1 rails in the others but rearly cant pay much more for stuff
9:13 am
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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No Kaye, it was that horrid 'old person' musty smell, I wouldn't want anything like that. I rarely find anything in my size anyway, they are all too big.
I'll try that again!
9:37 am
Improver
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Sun 19-Feb-12
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Toffeeapple, I know the smell you mean but one good wash and it's gone. I've come across some treasures. I got 4 brand new Laura Ashley pillowcases @ 25p each.
4:36 pm
Councillor
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Our Oxfam is now full of perfectly decent clothes that have been 'upcycled ' by someone with very little knowledge of dressmaking, style or craftsmanship so that they are now fit only for the bin:anyone wearing them would look like a pantomime dame and they are charging a stupid price for these wrecked clothes.Not sure how that is improving their stock!I used to finds some real gems in there, but now all the good stuff is destroyed by inexpert 'upcycling' before it hits the shop.Bonkers.
Kateuk makes things at http://www.etsy.com/shop/finkstuff and sometimes she does this too http://www54paintings.blogspot.com/ and also this http://finkstuff.weebly.com/
4:42 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Perhaps you should volunteer to be their upcycler? When you have nothing better to do of course!
I'll try that again!
10:54 am
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Kate, it may be an opportunity to buy for the material alone - that's my next planned project, collecting some nice material.
While in France, I bought some fat quarters - they're quite spenny - lovely though! So I thought that perhaps I could buy some cheap clothes in charity shops if they are of good material.
11:27 am
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Cheap clothes in charity shops is becoming a bit of an oxymoron I'm afraid Val. Some of them charge more than the original would have cost.
I'll try that again!
8:41 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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I'll have a look, Toni, and let you know what I can find - meanwhile just to add to things, I can't stop sneezing. .......... 
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