October is a busy month in the art world. Out West, in Regent’s Park, the whirlwind that is Frieze Art Fair took place, gathering 150 of the world’s most exciting and established contemporary art galleries in a mecca for the rich and eye-wateringly trendy. At the same time, we had Zoo Art Fair, the East End’s answer to Frieze, but on a smaller scale – it’s pesky younger cousin you might say, showcasing more than 50 of the best young international and British galleries and upcoming artists. This weekend, those of us with shallower pockets will be heading to Battersea Park, to The Affordable Art Fair, where we might snap up a print or painting or a sculpture for under £3,000, the ceiling price of art exhibited at this event.

Cool Coast Fabric by Simon Hart for Liberty, £19.95

But these days, you don’t have to fork out thousands of pounds to bring the work of top contemporary artists into your home. Recently, I updated a review for Liberty Department Store on thegoodwebguide.co.uk and couldn’t help being seduced by its newly launched range of fabrics, which fuse the work of six established British artists with creations from the much famed Liberty Design Studio. The contributing artists include Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry, Paul Morrison, Mike McInnerney, Michael Angove, Anj Smith, and Simon Hart. I’ve got my eye on the Cool Coast fabric (£19.95) by Simon Hart, based upon the brightly coloured fishing boats and houses of Cornwall’s harbours and villages. It would look fabulous on a bathroom blind.

Ever wondered how to keep ants away from the eating area of your garden? (Draw a chalk line). Or how to remove the lingering smell of onion or fish on your chopping board? (Rub it with a lemon). And did you know that toothpaste is a miracle cleaner on bathroom sinks and jewellery? Keeping house in an economical and environmentally friendly way was second nature to our grandparents, but somewhere along the way we became seduced by shiny, expensive and chemical-ridden cleaning products, cheap mass-produced furniture and clothing, and possessions that were easier to replace than to care for…..

Since we kissed goodbye to the consumer-driven 90s however, the tides have been turning. Young, hip twenty-somethings have formed networks such as Stitch ‘n’ Bitch, I Knit London or Cast Off and meet in groups to spend an evening knitting together. The hugely popular 70s textile brand and home sewing company, Clothkits has re-launched after 17 years of inactivity. People feel poor again. Resources are dwindling. At the end of a long day sitting at a computer we want something tangible. We want to make things ourselves, or know that they have been made with care, and because they have value, look after them.

It’s why, this month, after year on year rises in haberdashery, fabric and craft sales, John Lewis has published a modern reworking of the classic war-time pamphlet, Make Do and Mend, complete with an array of handy domestic tips and tricks provided by its own employees. First published in 1943, when food and clothes were rationed in the Second World War, the new version has been adapted for the 21st century, incorporating advice on the maintenance and use of gadgets and appliances alongside more traditional household hints, tips and money-saving advice for the home. Many of the tips are geared towards prolonging the life of furniture, electrical equipment and clothes. It’s what our grandmothers have been doing for years.

Limited quantities of the Make Do and Mend will be available at all John Lewis stores from 1st September 2009, priced at £3. To support the revival of the make do and mend mindset, John Lewis is also offering a range of Make Do and Mend classes in its stores nationwide. Subjects include dressmaking, bag making, knitting and sewing and details on courses can be found on the John Lewis website.

My parents are in the process of moving house, and the other weekend, I was called home to sort through the detritus of my youth, crammed into various cupboards and corners of the attic. The Big Clearout turned into an amusing and revealing jaunt down memory lane and a surprising motivator too: old diaries, while sometimes embarrassing, have inspired me to take up a journal again; old sketch books and canvases (I wasn’t half bad!) have inspired a couple of life-drawing sessions in London; a box filled with carefully wrapped miniature tea sets has prompted me to start collecting again.

Tea pot from uniqueteacollectibles.com

The miniature tea set collection was started by my grandmother’s sister, Aunt Avice. She was fond of me I think and each birthday (from about the age of eight), she would pass on a new set from her collection. She was a huge fan of antiques markets and fairs and it was from these that she made most of her finds. Today, the internet is another rich source for collectors – The Good Web Guide’s Interiors channel has an entire section dedicated to this pursuit. Most of the sites are set up by dealers or collectors themselves – they’re often fairly basic, but have oodles of charm. I’ve picked out some of the better ones here.

Postcards
Tiles
Chandeliers
Old Tellys
Silver

Of course nothing beats a good prowl round an antiques market or fair and this year I’ll be paying a visit to Battersea Parks, Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair (29th September- 4th October). Thrice yearly over 140 antique dealers from the UK and Europe gather here, bringing with them competitively priced furniture, lighting, mirrors and accessories. Many of the exhibitors deal privately so the fair acts as an opportunity to come into contact with them. Perhaps I’ll even pick up a miniature tea set for my newly revived collection.