Healthy Planet "Stuff for free" event

What happens to some stuff that charity shops are just unable to sell, stuff that you just can't put in a landfill, stuff that would use a lot of energy to pulp down, stuff that could be reworked, reused, recycled, reupholstered? It becomes "Stuff for Free" at one of several events across London, organised by the conservation charity, Healthy Planet. The initiative is a series of giant community reuse events, helping redistribute good quality stuff to a new home, where it will be valued. I went to an event this morning held in a big warehouse on an industrial estate in Acton.

Although I arrived only 1 hour after the event had started, there was little left, showing just how popular this initiative is and also a tip for the future to arrive before the event even starts! How ever, the sample of goods still there, including sofas, tables, chairs, pianos, books, clothes, TVs and childrens toys were all crying out for a second home.

It's a great place to source furniture perfect to reupholster, re-paint, and re-decorate!

 All for free!The next event is scheduled for March 2013. Click here for more details.



 

Kinzashi flowers!

Cut a strip of fabric - approx. 5cm wide

Cut the strip into 5 squares. Fold each square in half to form a triangle. Fold in half again.

Fold half the triangle back and then fold the other back to create a small triangle

Trim the corner of each triangle by a couple of millimetres where the 3 points meet. Next put a staying stitch in the corner and thread all 5 triangles like beads onto the thread until they are clustered together. Stitch the flaps of the first and last petals together. Repeat until all five petals are stitched together. Turn the flower over.

Using your finger puff out each petal until it looks like a pretty flower...

....not quite as pretty as cherry blossom, but a delicate pink Kinzashi! Very Kawaii!!

The "Pimlico charity shop triangle"

I've only recently discovered this cluster of well-stocked charity shops in fashionable Pimlico! The outlets are conveniently located close together in a triangle - perfect for a quick rummage!     

Each shop is full of good as new designer labels, high street and vintage pieces at baragain prices! The Trinity Hospice shop on Wilton Road also sells new wool. I opted for a Monsoon linen jacket for £4 which looks brand new! The shop is hosting its next special vintage evening on 31 May 2012.

This FARA Retromania is a gem of a shop round the corner on Upper Tatchbrook Street. Stocking purely vintage fashion from Vivien Westwood to 1920's ball gowns and a basement packed full of home ware and other tempting retro goodies...

...I was good and only bought an old fashioned soap bowl! Retromanias sister shop on Warwick way feels like a stylish boutique, stocking designer labels. I saw a pair of pretty Miu Miu shoes waiting to be snatched up....

....but I decided to pass on designer labels and indulged in this delicate pink, spanish lace detail 1960s bed jacket that I'll wear with my jeans. A snip at £3!

There was a very funky atmosphere in The Crusaid shop on Charlwood Street. They stock a huge selection of books and LPs at the back of the shop and play tunes whilst you browse. Nice bitses are also on sale - I almost bought another glass decanter for my bubble bath, but my hands were full with my chicken kebab (An added bonus - I had to walk through the gorgeous food market on Tachbrook street to reach this shop!) Although a few minutes outside the "triangle", The Cardinal Hume Charity shop on Horseferry street is worth a visit too - some nice glass was on sale the day I was there.

All of these shops are on Warwick way. I only bought a card from Oxfam, but was nearly seduced in the basement downstairs by some lovely fabric and frames and loved their hamper basket upstairs with neatly folded mens ties for £3! Hospices of Hope sold new items also and some second hand furniture - I was very fond of an old captains wooden chair - but just a little too big to carry home with me on this trip! I also spied a brand new pair of Hobbs ballet pumps but not my size unfortunately! Sue Ryder had a lovely selection of well laundered clothes donated by stylish Pimlico folk.

"The Pimlico-charity-triangle" is a top destination for anyone who loves
 rummaging for vinatge and second hand bargains!

"Make & Mend" with OXFAM

I was in my local Oxfam shop in Ealing this morning and noticed their lovely new "Make & Mend" craft kits. I loved these very cute clothing labels...

...and paisley embellishments...

...and clothes patches.

The sari patchwork pieces were particularly lovely too...

...and all the money goes to worthwhile causes

 

Happy St Patricks Day!

Combining two of my past-times:
Cross stitching and rummaging in charity shops....

Typsy vinatge shamrock sherry glasses!
Found in the Ealing PDSA shop, for pets in need of vets

World's Biggest Coffee Morning!

I had great fun this morning supporting the The World's Biggest Coffee Morning, which is Macmillan Cancer Support's largest fundraising event. As part of the Ealing team, we collected money in Starbucks as customers queued up for their morning drinks. In total in the UK, the event raised over £8million. If you'd like to donate or take part in next years coffee morning, please click here for more details http://coffeeregister.macmillan.org.uk/2011/register1.asp