sewing & reading

I finally feel as if things are getting back to normal. All traces of the party are long gone, banished to the garage or recycled. House and garden feel tidy and organised again.

I've spent time working on a few little projects that I've had up my sleeve for a while, but didn't have time or resources to get on with.

The first was turning a plain vest top into a longer, lace edged vest top. The lace came from a jumper I had but rarely wore. When I decided to get rid of it, I chopped the lace off the bottom and kept it. I've usually got a vest top on, for layering, or just as a light top underneath a cardi. Sometimes they feel a tad too short.
I pinned the lace in place and just hand stitched in place, making sure I didn't pull the stitches too tightly.
Not the best photo in the world, but you get the idea.
So amazingly simple, I'm definitely going to do it with more of my tops.

Another simple sewing project was with a scarf I bought on Saturday in good old Primark. It was £3 or £4, I forget which, and it was a large, oversized square. I've got a love of scarves all year round. In winter they keep me warm, in summer they are my security blanket. I feel a bit exposed without a coat, but a scarf gives me something to pull around myself without making me feel too hot.

Square scarves never sit right on me. They bunch up and look like I'm wearing a blanket, or if I fold them diagonally, I resemble an old lady keeping her shoulders warm in a shawl.
Not a problem, when a scarf is cheap as chips and has frayed edges, I'm not afraid to take the scissors to it. Nothing difficult here.

I took the scarf (1.), and folded in half (2.). Then I cut down the fold. This gave me two rectangles, I stitched two of the shorter edges together to make one long rectangle (3.). The side that had been cut just needed fraying up a bit to match the rest of it (4.).

Now I have a very l-o-n-g scarf, so much better.

I've also been reading. I bought [Vintage Craft Projects]

I'm a big fan of Pearl's style so was keen to get my paws on it. Amazon were selling it for £11 instead of the £20 it should have been.

What do I think? The absolute truth is there isn't really anything new in it. Given that the entire book is about 'Vintage' crafts, that isn't exactly surprising, so perhaps I'm making an unfair comment.

And as I've already done several craft projects similar to ones that she shows, the ideas are right up my street: making bunting, a jewellery shadow box, framed cork pinboard, and shows her gypsy caravan in her garden that has been wallpapered!
There are several ideas for using fabric and paint, and a particularly lovely idea for making an antique ghost mirror - fully intend to try that when I get the right mirror for it.

I wasn't disappointed, but other than the mirror, I haven't been overly inspired.

That said, it is a really nice book, and I'm glad to have it in my collection.