The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Taking Time to Live Well

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Illustration by Christina Carpenter

Make | No-sew Outdoor Bunting

Iona Bower May 29, 2022

Whether you’re planning a midsummer outdoor supper, or a right Royal knees-up in the garden for the Jubilee, some bunting dangling from branches is sure to set the right atmosphere. Here’s how to make bunting – that won’t go soggy in the rain – without a sewing machine.

You’ll need a few off cuts of oil cloth – an old table cloth is ideal. Cut a paper template for the flags. They can be as big as you like but around 30cm tall is a decent size. Draw around the template with a pencil on the back of your oil cloth to make as many triangles as you need and cut out.

Cut some thick twine to the length you want. Lay it on the floor and space out your bunting triangles along its length to check where they should go. Leave a little length at either end.

Use a hot glue gun to squeeze glue along the base edge of your first triangle on the back of the cloth, about an inch from the top, then fold the edge over the twine, sticking it to the back of the oil cloth beneath. Repeat for other triangles. Once dry, hang at a jaunty angle and pour a Pimms.

 

This is just one of the ideas for things to note and notice, plan and do this month, from our Almanac pages. Find more seasonal ideas for June starting from page 26.

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More outdoor projects to make…

Featured
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May 29, 2022
Make | No-sew Outdoor Bunting
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In Making Tags issue 120, outdoor makes, garden makes
Comment
Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Illustration: Kavel Rafferty

Make | Rhubarb leaf stepping stones

Iona Bower April 4, 2020

Turn over a new leaf with this simple project for your garden

You will need:
One rhubarb leaf per stone
Chicken wire, cut to just under the size of each leaf
Plastic sheeting
Sunflower/olive oil spray
Ready-mix concrete Trowel

How to make
1 Put down your plastic sheeting and lay your leaves on top, with veins facing upwards. Spray on a layer of oil.
2 Prepare your concrete mix, and smooth on a layer of concrete, to around 3 cm. Tap carefully to get rid of air bubbles.
3 Lay a piece of chicken wire on top for strength, then cover with another concrete layer of about the same depth. Tap and smooth edges with your trowel.
4 Cover with plastic, and leave to dry out overnight.
5 Spray with water to remove the leaf. Over the next week, spray regularly until the concrete is hard enough to take a person’s weight.

You’ll find more ideas for intriguing things to make, do and just know in our regular Miscellany pages.
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More from our April issue…

Featured
Picnic Pie Catherine Frawley.JPG
Apr 18, 2020
Recipe | a picnic pie for the garden
Apr 18, 2020
Apr 18, 2020
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Apr 15, 2020
Make | a hand-me-down recipe book
Apr 15, 2020
Apr 15, 2020
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Apr 7, 2020
Romantic introverts | the newt
Apr 7, 2020
Apr 7, 2020

More miscellaneous fun…

Featured
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Mar 4, 2025
How to | Improve Your Pancake Toss
Mar 4, 2025
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Jun 21, 2023
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Jun 21, 2023
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Apr 10, 2023
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Apr 10, 2023
Apr 10, 2023



In Miscellany Tags issue 94, April, miscellany, garden makes, project, summer projects
1 Comment
Featured
  Buy ,  download  or  subscribe   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Buy a copy of our latest anthology:  A Year of Celebrations   Buy a copy of  Flourish 2 , our wellbeing bookazine  Listen to  our podcast  - Small Ways to Live Well
Feb 27, 2025
Feb 27, 2025

Buy, download or subscribe

See the sample of our latest issue here

Buy a copy of our latest anthology: A Year of Celebrations

Buy a copy of Flourish 2, our wellbeing bookazine

Listen to our podcast - Small Ways to Live Well

Feb 27, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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