ScrapHappy May 2022

I can’t believe that a whole month has gone by without me posting. I’ve been really busy in the shop, of course, but I still don’t understand how I haven’t managed to post even once.

This month’s ScrapHappy is once again about the shop. To maintain the ethos, we decided that, as well as selling scraps and pre-loved crafting supplies, we would fit the shop out, as far as possible, using pre-loved (sometimes un-loved) items. Mr Snail and I have already written about our scrappy counter, but almost everything is not new. We’ve tried to find items that simply aren’t valued anymore and make use of them them.

One example is the lovely bureau that we bought from a local auction. A wonderful, robust piece of furniture that we managed to get for a song. Brown furniture like this simply isn’t valued, despite the craftsmanship and beauty. Anyway, it’s now a card-making station, filled with pre-loved papercrafting supplies and tools, and ready for use by anyone who wants a handmade card, but doesn’t want to end up with lots of left over bits. Basically this is a way to avoid the creation of scraps at home – the scraps stay in the bureau ready to inspire and be used by someone else.

Elsewhere in the shop, the shelves were given to us by friends, who took them out of their basement, the tables came from Craft, a local an independent, not-for profit business whose sole purpose is to reuse domestic items and find them a new home, chairs and the china cabinet came from a little local auction and the library book cart had been left in the shop when we took it over. There are also several chairs (again left in the shop) that Sue is busily recovering for me from scraps (and her monthly ScrapHappy post). All-in-hall it’s a positive scrap-fest, so here’s a little peek into it:

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 , Bear, Noreen, Preeti, Edith and Jule

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

16 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on May 15, 2022  •  Permalink
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on May 15, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/05/15/scraphappy-may-2022/

ScrapHappy April 2022

I’ve been waiting so long to write this ScrapHappy, but finally I can share with you our completely scrappy window display. It’s been getting a lot of attention…

It includes several creations from other ScrapHappy participants: a box from Cathy, scarves from Jenny, a blanket from Sue. Also in there, there are many things that have featured in my own ScrapHappy posts, plus some new ScrapHappy bunting made from two old pillowcases and some scrap felt. You may also have noticed that the Snail of Happiness knitted snails (made from scrap yarn) have made an appearance.

Elsewhere in the shop there’s a great deal of scrapiness, including some crochet bunting made by my dear friends Sarah and Katie, plus the wreath I was working on in my last ScrapHappy post, and not forgetting Mr Snail’s triumphant and entirely ScrapHappy counter, decorated with another of my scrappy wreaths plus a scrappy garland made especially for that particular purpose.

I’m constantly adding to the stock in the shop and fiddling about with the way it’s organised, so you can see Sue’s blanket making an appearance inside the shop in the photo above, which was taken whilst the sign was still in the window and so there was no room for the display.

Many thanks to all the people who contributed to our ScrapHappy extravaganza… more on the use of scraps and scrap throughout the entire shop in future posts.

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 , Bear, Noreen, Preeti, Edith and Jule

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

18 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on April 15, 2022  •  Permalink
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on April 15, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/04/15/scraphappy-april-2022/

Now we are 10

Apparently today is my 10 year anniversary of starting this blog… how far we have come. From an idea to write about sustainability and sharing some of the projects for my Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design to opening a shop – who would have thought? Along the way, I’ve got to know some truly amazing bloggers and found some firm friends. I’ve mourned the passing of some important people in my life – my dad, my PhD supervisor, my statistics mentor, and dear Pauline, who blogged as The Contented Crafter – and I’ve celebrated successes – being awarded my Diploma, learning to crochet and, most recently, opening the shop.

Thank you for reading my random musings, and for joining me on this journey. So, to celebrate, here are a few pictures from the past 10 years.

I hope I’ll be here for the next 10 years.

29 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on April 12, 2022  •  Permalink
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on April 12, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/04/12/now-we-are-10/

Open for business

It’s been a hectic few weeks, hence the lack of posts, but I just wanted to let you know that we are now open.

ORIAU AGOR ~ OPENING HOURS

Dydd Llun―Monday
Dydd Mawrth―Tuesday
Dydd Mercher10.30 – 3.30Wednesday
Dydd Iau10.00 – 3.30Thursday
Dydd Gwener10.00 – 3.30Friday
Dydd Sadwrn10.00 – 3.30Saturday
Dydd Sul―Sunday

Do come and say hello if you are visiting Lampeter, we are at 10 College Street, SA48 7DY.

14 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on March 29, 2022  •  Permalink
Posted in ethical living, shop
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on March 29, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/03/29/open-for-business-2/

ScrapHappy March 2022

I’ve been so busy this month that there hasn’t been much time to write, but some of the busy time has been spent making scrappy things. I’ve been crocheting more flowers for wreaths and garlands to decorate the shop, but none of these have actually been transformed into a finished object yet. All the yarn is scraps left over from other projects and where stuffing is required, I’ve used tiny yarn ends.

Away from the shop, poor Sammy has been feeling the cold a bit overnight, so I have managed to find time to knit a woolly coat for him out of yarn left over from a jumper I knitted for myself quite a few years ago. Becuase I changed my mind about the pattern for my jumper, I ended up with rather a lot of left-over yarn – enough to make a very snuggly coat for a chilly hound!

Next month there should be lots of finished stuff to share!

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynn, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 , Bear, Noreen, Preeti, Edith and Jule

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

18 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on March 15, 2022  •  Permalink
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on March 15, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/03/15/scraphappy-march-2022/

Fun with paper

I don’t do a whole lot of paper crafting, but have been really inspired by the ScrapHappy cards that Alys makes (check out her blog here). It is rather nice, therefore, that the pre-loved craft supplies I have acquired for the shop include dies and embossing folders as well as a “Big Shot” machine in which to use these (all things I’ve seen Alys mention). Being a complete novice in this respect, I drafted in my friend Annette to have a play and show me the ropes, and we were joined by Judith (owner of the sadly missed Red Apple Yarn).

I rummaged through boxes, whilst Annette set up the Big Shot and refreshed her memory of how to use it with a quick online tutorial. A few interesting dies were extracted and we had a little play.

We loved those elephants – that’s a die that I’m definitely going to keep to use in classes. We had a go with some embossing too, but I couldn’t quickly put my hand on all the folders, so that’s a game for another day.

Now I’ve seen some of what is possible, I have lots of ideas for themed card-making workshops. Hopefully we can encourage people to bring “scraps” along to make their cards unique and to encourage the whole ethos of beauty from waste.

8 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on February 18, 2022  •  Permalink
Posted in craft, shop
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on February 18, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/02/18/fun-with-paper/

ScrapHappy February 2022 plus one

It’s really all been about scrap this month, so here is a third ScrapHappy make to share with you… finally the rag rug is finished, with the back possibly more interesting than the front:

Every bit of fabric except the hessian backing was scrap – bits left over from projects or worn out clothes (two whole dresses in there, amongst other things), so I think this may be my most scrappy project ever – it certainly is weight-wise. It’s really thick and heavy, and will be lovely and warm under the feet. The edges are curling under a bit, so I might have to add something to hold them flat (thick felt perhaps – ideas welcome), but at least the hard work is done now

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynn, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 , Bear, Noreen, Preeti, Edith and Jule

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

10 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on February 16, 2022  •  Permalink
Posted in craft, Scrap Happy
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on February 16, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/02/16/scraphappy-february-2022-plus-one/

ScrapHappy February 2022

With the opening of the shop getting closer, I have been concentrating my creativity on making examples of what it’s possible to do with scraps. As I’ve mentioned previously, our first window display is going to be “ScrapHappy”. One of my aims is to demonstrate how beautiful the things we make from scraps can be – even if our starting point is less than inspiring.

When we moved into the shop we found three plastic packets, each containing a polycotton pillow case. Two were cream coloured and one was an uninspiring brown. In all cases, the fabric did not feel very nice and so I had no desire to use them as pillow cases, and the brown one had a frill around it, which did absolutely nothing to make is any less unattractive. I spent quite some time, therefore, deconstructing all three and this yielded quite a lot of fabric. I had a plan for the cream material (that’s coming in a later post), but it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that inspiration struck about the brown. You may remember that some time ago I made a wreath from scraps, which was mounted on a polystyrene ring that I had been given. Having just acquired a lovely book by Kate Eastwood about crocheting garlands and wreaths, I was in the mood for another wreath. However, I was determined to make the base from something better than polystyrene. I hate weaving willow, so that was out and so I turned to that brown pillowcase. I made three long sausages, which I stuffed with tiny scraps of yarn and fabric that I had put aside for just such a purpose. I experimented with plaiting these and found that they made a very acceptable, but floppy ring. So, I started again and intertwined the plait around a metal hoop that I had salvaged from a lampshade that my mum was throwing out. The result was absolutely perfect.

Then, I fished around for some suitable yarn scraps and set about making a toadstool wreath because I had suitable colours. In the book, the author suggests attaching the crocheted leaves, acorns and toadstools onto a willow wreath base using a hot glue gun, but because my base was stuffed fabric, I was able to stitch them on.

Apart from the thread, this creation is 100% scrap, and I am very happy with the result. It’s not quite the season for it right now, but I don’t think that matters.

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynn, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 , Bear, Noreen, Preeti, Edith and Jule

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

25 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on February 15, 2022  •  Permalink
Posted in Scrap Happy
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on February 15, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/02/15/scraphappy-february-2022/

ScrapHappy February 2022 minus one

Scrappy Valentines day to all my blogging friends out there…

Crochet hearts made from oddments of cotton yarn

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and tomorrow’s) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynn, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Bekki, Sue L, Sunny, Kjerstin, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2 , Bear, Noreen, Preeti, Edith and Jule

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

16 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on February 14, 2022  •  Permalink
Posted in craft, Scrap Happy
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on February 14, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/02/14/scraphappy-february-2022-minus-one/

One becomes two

You never know what you might find in a property that you buy… our shop being a case in point. As well as loads of old suitcases in the loft (each one containing at least one smaller suitcase), some very dated pillowcases, a pair of “jeggings” (Mr Snail is still shuddering at the word), six dining chairs, a microwave oven, a desk, an engraved knife and some picture frames with broken glass, there was a big, free-standing broom cupboard with orange doors. Originally this was attached to the wall with a bracket, but it was freed from its shackles during the work day our friends helped with and has been looming over the upstairs room ever since.

On Tuesday this week, Sue (Going Batty in Wales) arrived with her friend Lindy to help out. Over coffee I mentioned how much I dislike this cupboard and asked for suggestions about how to dispose of it. Lindy, however, had much more vision than me and came up with the idea of splitting it into two… which she duly did. Of course, the horrid orange doors are still there, but those can be covered over (paint, decoupage, fabric) and actually, I may now have the beginnings of storage for the sewing machines… at least if we add stronger shelf supports. We could put a work surface between the two, using them as pedestals, so that we have a counter separating the two areas upstairs, which would be useful. I have to confess, that they are currently still unappealing to me, but I can see potential now and all this does fit with the make do and mend ethos of the shop.

Sue very generously offered to do some work at home for me, so she went off with one of the old dining chairs to have a go at making some sort of cover to hide the rather dirty and worn seat pads. Again, we are trying to minimise buying new and hoping that, by demonstrating what is possible, we will inspire others to have a go at improving what they already have. It would, of course, be much quicker just to go out and purchase all the things we need for the shop from Ikea, but this is so much more satisfying and environmentally friendly.

14 Comments
by The Snail of Happiness on February 12, 2022  •  Permalink
Posted in ethical living, reducing consumption, The Shop
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Posted by The Snail of Happiness on February 12, 2022

https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2022/02/12/one-becomes-two/

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