A Greener Life

Supporting Other Creative Artisans – Sylvan Stories

Handmade Haven, Sylvan Stories, Pyrography, ivy leaves painted with dot work pyrography

I first met Claire at the school gate, when our boys went to the same school. I love the style she uses…dot work…as it’s different to the normal pyrography you see. The above was a gift for my 40th birthday a few years ago as she knows about my love for Harry Potter. Then I’ve bought the House Stark plaque, the reindeer decoration, the flower plate and the absolutely gorgeous ivy bowl.

Handmade Haven, Sylvan Stories Pyrographer, House Stark, dot work pyrography

Handmade Haven, Sylvan Stories Pyrographer, Reindeer Christmas Decoration

Handmade Haven, Sylvan Stories, Pyrography, Ivy leaves, wooden bowl

It seemed only natural that I would ask her if she’d like to collaborate on something for my business, so last year these gorgeous little wooden decorations were finished, and they now appear on the large gift sets. The wood she used for these ones came from fallen branches and some re-purposed table legs. Perfect! Claire is still on maternity leave at the minute but if you’d like to take a look at her other work, you can find her here and here.

Handmade Haven, Sylvan Stories Pyrographer, Gift Set Decorations, Pamper Gift Set

Handmade Haven, Sylvan Stories Pyrographer, Gift Set Decorations, zero waste decorations

Handmade Haven, Sylvan Stories Pyrographer, Gift Set Decorations, Pamper Gift Set, natural gift sets, zero waste decorations

Old jeans equals new bag!

Handmade haven made a messenger bag from old jeans and lined it with marauders map fabric

Over the years my boys have been through a fair few pairs of jeans. The ones that have life left in them are passed down or go to the charity shop but the ones that have holes in knees etc, are cut up to and the use-able bits of fabric are saved. This isn’t all of my rescued/saved stash!

I’ve been wanting to make myself a new bag as the old one I made was looking a bit tatty round the edges. The outside of the new bag is made using some of those jeans, stitched patchwork style then trimmed into a long wide strip. I then make a long narrow strip that turns into the sides of the bag and the handle. I treat myself to the amazing marauders map fabric a while ago as I always intended it would line my new bag. I added a couple of dividers inside and I made sure I’d got one of the jeans pockets on the front so I could use it as a pen pocket.

Handmade haven messenger bag made from repurposed jeans, Harry Potter marauders map fabric

Handmade haven messenger bag, made from repurposed jeans with handy pocket

My old bag was a similar style but it had a press stud fastening on the front. I’ve made this one with a longer front as I never used the press stud.

I love that my bag has been worn by my kids! I also love that I’ve made it myself, so it’s completely unique. I know it’s not perfect (who needs to follow patterns anyway) but it’s full of love.

Handmade haven messenger bag, made with repurposed jeans

Makeup Pad Stain Removal – Natural Cleaner – Soda Crystals

handmade haven, soda crystals, natural degreaser, natural household cleaner,

handmade haven, soda crystals, natural household cleaner

Occasionally someone contacts me as they are having trouble with stubborn stains on the makeup remover pads. Soda crystals are my go to, although if anything does stain mine (usually nail polish 😉 ) I just leave it as I know they are clean…they just have a rainbow on them.

handmade haven, soda crystals, natural cleaner, stain remover, degreaser, natural household cleaner

I just add a teaspoon of soda crystals to a bowl, then add hot water and the pads. I leave for a few hours (or until I remember that I’ve been soaking something), then tip the whole thing in the washer. Add the rest of the load and do your normal wash.

Soda crystals are great for numerous household cleaning including:-

unblocking your sink (pop into plug hole then pour on a kettle full of hot water);
softens water (add to normal wash powder);
prevents limescale (add to normal wash powder);
natural deodorizer (you can add to normal wash powder or run the machine on empty with some soda crystals);
natural degreaser (pre-soak).

They do all this good stuff, plus they are biodegradable! How amazing is that?! You can pick them up in any supermarket or hardware store.

I’d love to know if you have any other cleaning tips using soda crystals.

Natural makeup Remover – Week 4

Handmade Haven, olive oil Makeup remover, vegan makeup remover, diy makeup remover

Handmade Haven, olive oil Makeup remover, organic cotton, washable cleanser pads

Handmade Haven, organic cotton cleanser pads, makeup remover, olive oil Makeup remover, diy Makeup remover

Well here we are at week 4 – olive oil week. I kept pouring into a bowl as my olive oil comes in a 5 litre tin but that worked well. The oil is quite dense so it sat on top of the pads, long enough that it worked just as well as the coconut oil. I wonder whether using thinner pads (flannel or muslin) for the sunflower oil would help. My eyes felt fine, no excessive rubbing.

The pads washed perfectly fine…as did the sunflower oil ones from last week.

Price per bottle of 500 ml, £2.35 from Tesco. Again, I would normally shop in Aldi so this would be cheaper. (My 5 litre came from Suma – £32 per 5 litre – was actually out of date so I’ll be getting more from Aldi 😉 )

Next up is the only cosmetic oil – sweet almond. This is a light oil so I’ll definitely be grabbing some thinner, flannel pads.

Natural Makeup Remover – Week 3

Handmade Haven, Makeup remover, natural makeup remover, organic cotton, reusable cleanser pads

Handmade Haven, natural make up remover, vegan makeup remover, organic cotton, reusable cleanser pads

Well, this week has been the sunflower oil week. After using the coconut oil last week I must admit to being a little apprehensive about this as the coconut oil was so fab.

I’ve just being using the bottle straight out of my oils rack, rather than decanting as it was quite low. The first thing I noticed was how it soaked straight through the pad, just like a conventional makeup remover, meaning I would be using more over the week. It felt messy. On first look it seemed to work as well as the coconut oil, but when I checked there were still tiny bits of mascara round the eye. I think, because it soaks straight into the pad, rather than sitting on the top like the coconut oil, then more of the oil is needed. The extra rubbing made my eye tender at the time, but OK later on. The skin was not as ‘baby soft’ as the previous week.

I haven’t washed the pads yet, as I stupidly put the whites in without the pads, so I’m not sure how it will clean. I shall keep you posted though.

This bottle was £1.10 for 1 litre from Tesco, although I would usually shop in Aldi so it would be cheaper still.

Next up is the olive oil.