SIO Tips no. 34

Brushed steel appliances are difficult to keep looking show-room perfect and special cleaners can be pricey. Try using WD40 instead; simply wipe down the appliance with a damp cloth and spray on a thin layer of WD40, wipe off using kitchen roll leaving a clean, dry surface that is easier to wipe up next time your saucepan boils over.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Divorced on day one - we recommend it!

Hi Janie here again with another guest blog - thanks SIO for letting me revisit you.   

So many folks dream of their own business and in this economic climate many will take the plunge, sometimes as there is no alternative.

Clearly no one wants to have any negatives when starting, but starting a business can be like falling in love with all reason going out the window, blocking others advice out and the all the other daftness we allow at the start of a love affair.

One of the best things you can do for you and your business is get divorced on day one.  You might think that finally I have lost it and started talking nonsense, but I assure you all marbles are firmly in place!

What I suggest every business person should do is stand back from their business and always, always look at the business as another being, a separate thing and never consider the business and yourself as one.  Does not matter if you are the sole person, over 70% of businesses are in that boat. As long as you are emotionally involved you will struggle to make good solid business decisions.  

If you treat your business as your baby or your pet, how can you bring yourself to make hard decisions like cutting back on something or even walking away from something that is not working before it is too late, you cannot.  Divorce from day one and it becomes habit.  When you work for someone else you do not feel you are married to the business, your own business should be exactly the same.

This is not saying do not have passion, you will need bucket loads of that and also perseverance.  Giving your business the best chance is only fair, so don't fall in love, just get professional and tough. Few get rich through self-employment but you can obtain freedom, pleasure and a reasonable living if you get it right.

SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

© Danomyte - Fotolia.com

SIO Tips no 33

If you put your knitting down mid row the wool should always be on the right hand side of the work when you set off again.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Getting creative in the Garden

Rock Roses are very common in the Western Cape, where I'm living now. 

Little baby ones are easily found from larger plants and make lovely little plants for the window sill to brighten up a room with a little green. You will find them in your local Garden Centre in the UK.

We've been busy replanting the baby plants into little pots and we got a bit creative with different containers and adding stones for decoration....

These are planted in used tuna cans with little holes punched in the bottom. We have a special can opener that doesn't leave a jagged sharp edge so you can't get cut and takes the lid off cleanly.

....and these ones are planted in a shell we found on the beach down the road. They will need to be replanted when they get too big but it goes to show that you can save on little things when you're nuturing your garden. 

These alternatives to seed trays look pretty and interesting while you're waiting for them to grow.

Enjoy the build up to Spring in the UK!

With sunshine,

Ruthie in South Africa

SIO Tips no 32

When measuring honey, coat the measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray or vegetable oil before adding the honey. The honey will slide right out.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Today's actions might impact on tomorrow!

Hi Janie here again with another guest blog - thanks SIO for letting me revisit you.  

Selling is tough enough and at the moment very hard.  Too much competition, price slashing, free postage and more to compete with.

Being a sheep and simply assuming what others do works, is dangerous.  This year many shoppers held back from visiting the High Street, waiting for the pre Xmas mega sales to arrive before buying.  The confused shopper then found a High Street of mixed messages, 70% to full price - which was it, when would sales appear as they did the year before.

The actions of pre Xmas 2011 meant shoppers saw a pattern and expected 2012 to be the same, but it was not with some stores resisting mega sales or early sales.

So if you have a regular following think hard and long about changing habbits or knee jurk reactions, as what you do now may be with you for longer than you hope.

SEEK IT OUT Changing the world a stitch at a time

© Ivonne Wierink - Fotolia.com  

SIO Tips no. 31

Make a photocopy of your pattern so you can write on it to mark off complete rows in knitting or crochet.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.