Make Your Way Around Britain

PETER PAN COLLAR WORKSHOP

2011-08-31T01:59:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone - just to let you know that I am in the process of setting up a new website and blog which will be launched shortly - that's really the reason I haven't been posting much lately. I'll let you know as soon as it's done - it would be great if you'd continue to follow me after I've switched over. The new name will be Mary Jane Makes - and the blog will be an integral part of a website which will include information about what's coming up and what I've been doing.

By the way - if you're free on Sunday 11th September and live in London - come along to my Peter Pan collar workshop at High Tea of Highgate. I'm going to show you how to make a vintage-style Peter Pan collar out of old table linen! There's going to be a fabulous High Tea included in the price too. At £28 it's a good deal.

Contact me on mj@maryjanemillinery.co.uk if you fancy coming along. It would be great to meet you!

The Empty Oxo Box: Chic on a Shoestring - a silk-scarf top

2011-08-23T02:06:00.000-07:00

The Empty Oxo Box: Chic on a Shoestring - a silk-scarf top

Alli's made the silk scarf top from Chic on a Shoestring - looks great!

Mollie Makes features Chic

2011-08-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

The lovely ladies at Mollie Makes magazine have featured Chic on a Shoestring in the September issue. It's a privilege to be included in this fab new mag which showcases crafts, vintage, makers, interiors and lots of inspiring ideas in a beautifully photographed format.

Vintage Festival at The Southbank

2011-08-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

I was in my element over the weekend at the Vintage Fest on The Southbank in London. Forties-style fashionistas rubbed shoulders with day trippers, and festivites filled the air. There was a fab vintage village with stalls selling all manner of fantastic clothes and accessories, and an old-fashioned style fairground. Up on top of the Queen Elizabeth concert hall they'd even planted a pop-up garden where you could sip cocktails.

Everything seemed to sparkle slightly with magic and imagination. Even without paying to go into the actual festival there was tonnes of interesting stuff to do. I especially enjoyed boarding the pink bus - filled with everything charity shops can't sell. Although it was cluttered beyond compare (even for me!) I got some real style tips. I just love these colours and the confusion of vintage shades.

If you did fork out for the paying part of the festival - you were in for lots of treats too: free champagne courtesy of British Airways which put on a great catwalk show of its cabin staff uniforms over the last 70 years, and lots of creative workshops - one run by the Seaside Sisters. I was very proud of my souvenir pennant rustled up with their help in under an hour.

My only regret is that I lacked my dancing diva friends - as the Royal Festival Hall boasted a different band and era on every floor. It really was a great day. Let's hope they put another festival on here again soon SOON SOON!

Shoelace necklaces from Chic

2011-07-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

My fabulous God daughter and her super-cool Mum Helen have been busy collecting shoelaces to make flowers as advised by a rather good book called Chic on a Shoestring by MJ Baxter. Here are Ellie and her friend modeling their stunning accessories. I love the way they've used the multi-coloured shoelaces to make their designs, and they look equally good brightening up a pair of tap-shoes. 10/10 girls!

How cute are these!

2011-07-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

I love these dolls by Jane Foster. So cute and beautifully simple.

Festival fashion

2011-07-03T04:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to my first ever music festival. Given that I'm 40+ this is pretty astonishing, and I felt very much the festival virgin as the plastic wristband was snapped into place. I went with a couple of friends on a day pass to the Hop Farm Festival in Kent - nothing too seriously long-term for this festival commitment - phobe! Morrisey was the headline act, but great performances too from the Noisettes (fab headpiece) and Lou Reed (no headpiece). Have to say one of the best bits of the festival for me was checking out all the fashion. For the men: bare chests and too-tight fur coats that actually worked a look; natty combos of check trousers and floral shirts that astonishingly made complete sense; and top marks to the guy who caught the eye in off-the-shoulder denim dungarees and squashed top hat! For the girls: everything goes; short skirts, long skirts, vintage dresses, skimpy shorts with knee-length socks. I particularly liked a crochet square waist-coat and a great lilac poncho/shawl made of a very loose-weave crochet which incorporated 3d flowers slung over an orange mini dress. Long tanned legs and cowboy boots completed the ensemble. I could have people-watched for hours. Amazing array of hats on show - this is where secret hat-lovers can hang out in safety! A bit like a ski-resort in a way. People wear things here they wouldn't be seen dead in outside the perimeter fence! First prize though must go to the stilt walking candy seller whom I've since discovered is part of a quirky Dutch based group called Kim Brulee and the Flying Pans . An aeriel artist by training, she puts on food-theatre events at festivals all over Europe. Her costume deserves a home-made Chic on a Shoestring rosette!

Salvo Fair Knebworth House

2011-06-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

The other day my mate Alex mentioned that he was going to the Salvo Fair at Knebworth House. As I had a day off, and have never been to one before, I thought I'd tag along. It was a whacking £15 to get in, which I thought rather steep, especially as the prices inside aren't rock bottom. We chose to go on the trade day - although how that differs from regular days I'm not sure (except on a trade day you have to pay alot more to get in - hmm.) Alex came home with an old chair that he's vowing to re-cover and a beautiful lamp from a ship. The company he bought it from, which specialises in nautical ephemera, also sold Doctor Who the bulb that perches on top of the tardis! It's these sorts of discoveries that make a day out like this so enticing. Imagine a similar discovery taking place at Ikea?!

For my part, I bought a plant pot holder for the wall in which to display some jolly geraniums, and then I went slightly off-message! Attracted as usual to anything in the textile department, a fragment of patchwork caught my eye, as did a collection of beautiful hankies. It was the colours really that excited me and I'm sure will provide me with lots of inspiration. I also picked up a giant wooden darning mushroom for £10 - a little more than I wanted to pay - but I still managed to bargain him down from £20 - so who's grumbling? Not me! These mushrooms are fascinating in themselves, but they also make a great little hat block for cocktail hats. I've blocked felt on a similar one very successfully in the past and am looking forward to having another go.

Creative day out in Deptford?

2011-06-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

CREATIVE DAY OUT WITH MARY JANE

Ok - I've had this idea! How about coming on a vintage/creative day out to Deptford one Saturday?

We'd start early with a quick coffee and a trip to the flea market to hunt for rags to turn into riches. We'd then drop in on Deptford's fab retro clothes shop to get the low-down on high-end vintage and check out my favourite local haberdashery. After brunch at the train-carriage cafe, we'd head to the charity shop and I'd give a heads up on customising. Then it's back to mine via Gimcrack where the owners curate an interesting selection of hand-picked second-hand goodies...

Chez moi - an afternoon of crafting lies ahead - with everyone having the chance to make a purse/wallet or mini-bag out of a vintage tie as well as a textile necklace.

We'd finish with tea and cakes.....

What do you reckon? Tourism with a twist? Book now!

My Hebridean working holiday - part 2

2011-06-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

My two weeks on Tanera were marked by unremitting rain. The weather was so bad that the tourist boats (on which the cafe relies) were cancelled on all but two days due to stormy seas or unwelcome downpours. As I was meant to be working in the cafe in exchange for my holiday house - this left me with something of a dilemma. How was I to repay my hosts for my accommodation? I baked the cafe's faourites in anticipation of visitors, but there are only so many batches of brownie or flapjack that a girl can fit in the freezer. Fortunately I'd brought my sewing machine with me thinking that any loneliness would be chased away by my Brother. I was therefore able to exchange baking for sewing and willingly stitched for my supper instead. I made a little curtain for the butler sink in the loo block out of an old duvet cover (check it out if you ever visit!) and lots of cushion covers for the holiday cottages that are scattered around the island.

I started to feel like I was on some sort of sewing retreat and in my spare time I got to work on the two dresses I'd planned to make during my stay. They were both run up using the same pattern. I'd really intended to make one from an original 50's pattern that I'd bought at a fab second-hand bookshop in Stroud - but the fit and style just didn't work, so I quickly abandoned that idea. Here are the completed dresses captured in a rare moment of sunshine!

And here I am wearing one of them back home in London - at one of my regular haunts! I think I look much more at home in this outfit than in the anorak and wellies at the start of this blog entry!

Today's fleamarket find

2011-06-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Oops! There goes the wheel!

My Hebridean working holiday - in bite-sized chunks!

2011-06-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

Bloggers who don't blog are a very annoying breed. Many apologies for having become one of those. Hands up - I've been pretty useless of late. So what happened on my shoestring holiday?

I know I should have updated you sooner.

Well, I've discovered, much to my surprise, that I've become a city girl. I really had no idea that I was one. I'd always thought of myself as very much at home in the back of beyond. But you know what? Nine years in London have spoiled me. After only five days I found myself begging for the latest edition of Vogue to be ferried back to the island! I realised that I've come to love the constant variety, the distraction, the plethora of people, the ever-changing fashions, the pleasure of birdsong in the middle of town, and the comparative warmth of the climate down South!

For two weeks this rather soggy windswept path was my daily commute. I was immediately surprised by how unfit I was. A 20 minute walk left me breathless. I'd always thought my forays into Deptford and back kept me in reasonable shape. How wrong I was! Here, the handful of hardy residents happily slung luggage for a family of four onto their backs and hiked merrily up the hill or shouldered with a shrug a sack of logs for the fire! I immediately realised I was out of my comfort zone!

More to follow...

Sunday Times Style Mag

2011-05-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Fresh back from the Hebrides and what do I see? Sunday Times Style Mag - featuring - me?! Chic on a Shoestring - out on May 26th. Bienvenue!

Shoestring holidays

2011-05-09T01:14:00.000-07:00

I'll not be posting for a while as I'm going beyond the reach of technology to run a post-office/coffee shop on the Island of Tanera off the West Coast of Scotland. My holiday cottage is offered in exchange for mornings making tea and cakes and selling stamps. Really hoping it's fun and relaxing. I'm thinking of it as a bit of a sewing retreat. I've got my trusty Brother packed in the boot, as well as enough fabric for two dresses - one of them a vintage '50s pattern. I'm slightly concerned I'll run out of thread and be unable to finish them as there's hardly likely to be a haberdasher on the island! Also packed are my wellies, lots of food, (no shop on the island either) a large box of wine, a new cookery book called The Skinny French Kitchen - which looks fantastic and is bursting with some great ideas (as well as envy-inducing pics of Paris) - and some La Duree macaroons for friends who are also on the island after doing a foraging course. Well - come on - if you've been eating foraged greens for the weekend - you are in DESPERATE need of a little luxury! I hope these delicate treats haven't melted during the 12 hour drive! I'll tell you all about my adventures on my return. Be good! xx

First book signing

2011-05-09T01:02:00.000-07:00

I did my first book signing in Stroud at the weekend for Chic on a Shoestring. It's not actually launched till May 26th - so this was a preview. Had lots of fun chatting to everyone passing by the Stroud Bookshop where I was poised with my pen at a little table. The signing was taking place as part of the Stroud Textile Festival which attracts some 15,000 people to the town every year. Great atmosphere. Note to self: must invest in something other than an old biro!

Amelie style tips

2011-05-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

It's not often I blog about other peoples' blogs - but this really caught my eye. It's all about how to create your own Amelie style in clothes and interiors. I found it really inspiring, and it reminded me just how much I love the film. Just click here to find out more about the style ideas and the blog. I'd love to know what films have inspired your style!

Five Live Fascinator

2011-04-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here's the fascinator I made for Shelagh Fogarty - sadly it was her last show for Five Live Breakfast. She'll wear the fascinator at the Royal Wedding - and hopefully turn a few heads! To see more then please click here.

2011-04-18T04:53:00.001-07:00

How Katy did!

2011-04-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

Baby Dotty in her Dad's shirt!

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the book I'd found in a Nottingham second-hand shop which showed you how to make new clothes out of old. I challenged my Sister-in-law Katy to take on one of the projects from the book and make my little niece the "tiny tot's play dress" out of "father's old shirt". Well she did it that same week and I'm sure you'll agree that baby Dotty looks really sweet and tres chic too in her Dad's chemise!

Firstly Katy traced the pattern from the book and upsized the pattern-pieces - always a bit of a faff unfortunately - but hey, no pain no gain. She then cut out the pieces and realised she needed a lining, so used an old pillowcase to make that. She also used the button band from the original shirt on the back of the dress so she didn't have to make new buttonholes. This saved a lot of time and effort and worked really well. Katy abandoned the idea of making sleeves (which took up a surprising amount of fabric) and instead made the little dress sleeveless so it could be used as a sundress or pinafore (well, it IS summer after all!).

Katy in action!

Katy sewed the various parts together on her faithful old machine and then turned up the hem. As the fabric's been washed many times before, the dress is lovely and soft. I owe Katy a bottle of champagne for completing her challenge! Well done Katy. What next?

More than I bargained for!

2011-04-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

I bought this massive vase from an African charity shop in Nottingham last week for £5. When I got home, I filled it with spring flowers - and then had to raid the bush in the garden for some greenery to fill out the display. The vase is huge - measuring some 50 cm across! I thought it would fit very nicely into the alcove of the stately home that I will one day buy. In the interim, it takes up half the shelf space of my small London flat. When I purchased the vase I had to nip to the cash point to get the money as I didn't have enough on me. On my return, the guy behind the counter said he'd included an added extra. Tony (I soon discovered his name) had slipped a piece of paper into the bag. On it was his name and number! What a bargain!

How's Katy going to do?

2011-04-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Whilst in Nottingham at the weekend I picked up a great vintage book called NEW CLOTHES FROM OLD - all about war-time rationing and making-do. It's full of useful tips about how to make clothing work extra hard. Some of the ideas are probably far too time-consuming for us today, but there are lots of ingenious suggestions too. I was chatting with my Sister-in-law Katy about the book and she had a flick through it. She's really good at sewing and all sorts of crafts - she recently made a fantastic zebra hand-puppet for my Nephew and Niece at her KNIT NIGHT in Stroud. One project that particularly caught her eye was the 'tiny tot's play dress' which you can make from 'father's old shirt.' Now my brother sports very natty shirts, many of them floral - the perfect fabric for a little girl's dress. Katy rather like the idea of giving this project a go and as my Niece is just a few months old - she's the perfect model. So - Katy has volunteered to try out the challenge and keep us all up to date via my blog on the success (or otherwise!) of her endeavours. I've promised her a bottle of champagne to keep her engaged when the going gets tough. Let's see what Katy's going to do next!

Crystal Palace gem

2011-04-01T02:18:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for something a bit different this weekend and live in London - then why not head out to Crystal palace for Sunday lunch at The White Hart. This is a very pleasing pub with cosy sofas and a good range of draught beers. I felt I could curl up there and read the papers for the afternoon quite happily. They do homemade roasts on a Sunday too. Hurrah! Apart from the good atmosphere, weekend papers, board-games and knitting nights, this pub wins brownie points with me by boasting a vintage shop! Yes...you can browse through a hand-picked selection of cool clothes pint in hand and chat to the delightful owners. They do a great window display - check it out above. That in istself was enough to bring a smile to my face! You can get to Crystal Palace on the new "ginger line".

COLOUR

2011-03-27T04:06:00.000-07:00

Odd Swan pic

2011-03-27T02:33:00.000-07:00

You know those kitsch fake oil paintings you get in elderly peoples' houses? Well much to my surprise I've suddenly acquired a taste for them. Not all of them obviously - but this one in particular. I spotted it yesterday doing the rounds of my local flea market (which incidentally you should all have heard of by now). There was something about the colours that really appealed - and it reminded me of some languorous swans I saw last Spring on the River Wye in Monmouthshire. I find this picture very tranquil - so I've hung it in the kitschen (spelling mistake intended) to bring calm to my cooking. At £1.50 it was a very good bargain indeed.

Doing it Yourself? Priceless

2011-03-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

I don't know what hit me yesterday, but walking through Greenwich Park in the Spring sunshine, I suddenly felt like a change. And what do women do when they fancy a change? They cut their hair of course! When it comes to hair, there's no time like the present, so I walked up to Blackheath village and popped into a few hairdressers to see if I could get a last-minute appointment or cancellation. Being a Saturday of course, everything was pretty booked up, and the only slot I could find was a cut and blow dry for £50. Now call me tight, but that's just too much for a girl on a shoestring, so in spite of being tempted to splash out, I decided to revisit the MJ of my youth and do it myself - thus saving myself £50. Bargain! Now of course, the main rule for cutting your own hair is that you shouldn't do anything too complicated, and you shouldn't do it drunk. Suffice it to say, I stuck to principle number one, but blew principle number two out of the water by setting-to with the scissors at 11pm after a large glass of vino. I thought (in the tradition of the finest craft manuals) that I'd take you through my haircutting technique STEP BY STEP so you can try this money-saving idea at home too.

So - here follows instructions in how to cut your own fringe nudging towards midnight fuelled by Sauvignon Blanc.

1. Firstly separate off the area to be be fringed with a cross-the-head parting.

2. Cut one side (leaving plenty of room for adjustment).

3. Even up the other other side (trying to mirror the one opposite). Realise you really should have wet your hair to do this, so stick your head under the shower.

4. Get a bit more daring and cut closer to the length of fringe you require "feathering" the sides by sliding the scissors down the edges:

5. Dry off hair and even up if necessary.

6. The morning after the night before:

International Women's Day

2011-03-08T10:33:00.000-08:00

Latest beautiful bargain

2011-03-04T05:53:00.000-08:00

I found this gorgeous bridal headpiece down at my local fleamarket the other day. It's made of wax flowers and little fake pearls. Stunning. I bought it along with a lovely shawl, a scarf and a cardigan for £5. Bargain! The friend I was with also bought a pair of fantastic "land girl" style trousers from the clothes pile. We looked inside to see the label. It read National Theatre - WARHORSE. What a find!

Vintage glasses

2011-03-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

OK - I've something exciting to share with you today - or at least, it excites me! We all know how much a new pair of glasses can cost. My most basic frames and prescription lenses from Vision Express came to well over £100 - and I don't even LIKE them! However, you can be chic and unique for a lot less cash if you're willing to dig around a bit. When I was in Vision Express, I asked them if they were able to fit prescription lenses into vintage frames - something I'd heard that they can do. Yes they said - it's not a problem and what's more, you only pay for the lenses, there's no fitting fee or anything like that. Well, that got me thinking. The following week I was down at Greenwich flea market and I had a quick scout round for vintage frames, but although I saw a couple of pairs of old glasses, nothing really caught my eye. However, one of my stall-holder friends explained that her student daughter collected vintage spectacles and that she'd bring along a few pairs for me. Well, how could I resist! I described the sort of thing I was after and turned up a few days later for a trying-on session. I selected a pair of fifties/sixties glasses in their original box plus a pair of fabulous cats eye sunglasses - and paid the grand total of £15. Back at Vision Express they said that they could certainly remove the old lenses and put some prescription lenses in, but that if the frames broke during the process, then there would be no compensation. I tremulously accepted, and ordered the cheapest type of lense going. I paid the grand total of just £27. Two days later, I received a joyful text saying that my glasses were intact and ready for collection. Here is the result! I'm really thrilled with them. I doubt anyone else will have the same frames as me, and I'm already looking out for another pair of gems to add to my collection. Vintage National Health specs anyone?

A selection of 40's hairstyles to see you through the week

2011-02-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

Happy St Valentine's Day for the 14th

2011-02-12T08:26:00.000-08:00

Celebrate St Valentine's Day by making something for the one you love. If you don't have anyone special in mind - then bake these for your friends! I bought a heart-shaped cookie cutter, found a simple recipe on the Internet and then had fun with the icing. A top tip is to recut the heart shape again when the biscuits come out of the oven. Do it straight away before they set hard. That way, if your dough has expanded during the baking process, you'll be able to present perfect hearts. Pack in tissue paper in a cardboard cake box (just ask for one at your local bakery and offer them 50p if they're not happy with giving away a freebie). You could always decorate the box too if you're feeling creative. If you'd like more cute and pocket-friendly Valentine gift ideas - check out my article on Ask Jeeves.

SENDING YOU ALL LOTS OF LOVE! mj x

Inside fashion track

2011-02-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

My friend Carol Morley who did the gorgeous hair and make-up for my book, is also a very talented illustrator. She's just launched her new website - I swear it's one of the CUTEST opening pages I have ever seen! Do have a look by clicking here. And check out her blog too for an insider's view of that glamorous fashion world - and live vicariously!

What can't go out must go up

2011-02-08T04:57:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are tight on space (and if you're on a shoestring budget like me you most certainly will be) here's a great idea. Sandra, my resourceful green-fingered friend (and erstwhile BBC Royal correspondent) has written all about vertical gardening on her excellent blog. Take a look and be inspired.

Wedding dress refashion

2011-02-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

I was really pleased to hear back this week from the Sense charity - I featured it in my recent piece for BBC breakfast news on the £10 wedding dress. Apparently - the day the film went out, the profits in the branch I featured "significantly" increased, meaning a bit more money in the bank for those people who really need help. It's brilliant to think that the piece had a positive effect. Not only that, but I had some lovely e-mails from people telling me about their own shoestring weddings. One story which particularly caught my eye was that of Melissa Fehr. She taught herself to sew using a vintage machine and old sewing manuals, and when it came to getting married, she decided to create her own wedding dress using her Grandma's original gown from 1949. With lots of effort and ingenuity she managed to come up with the beautiful outfit below. Seeing her dress refashioned and worn by her Grandaughter must have meant a great deal to her Granny. What a thoughtful and special thing to do. In the picture here you can see the original dress and the one Melissa made. A real labour of love!

2011 - my friend's style resolutions

2011-02-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my Portuguese friend Catarina Feria-Walsh sent me her style Bible for 2011. She reminded me that when we both lived in France a few years ago, I decided one day that I'd wear only camel and go classic. The experiment didn't last very long, and I was soon back to my bohemian ways. In her new Telegraph column, Hannah Betts advises that one should be able to sum-up one's style in three words, and that once the words are chosen, one should be able to sort one's wardrobe and one's look accordingly. I've been giving alot of thought to my perfect threesome - I'll let you know when I've found the right combination. In the meantime, here are my friend's 10 style resolutions for 2011, taking particular inspiration from her elegant and modish Grandmother. Send me your style resolutions and I'll add them to the blog.

1. Stop wearing black until next Winter or perhaps even forever!

2. Wear fun dresses ….fun not frumpy is my new motto.

3. Stop thinking I should wear my hair in a bob or sensible medium length hair because I am "mature", but go with crazy long hair, just brush it more often and style it (like my Granny would have approved of!)

4. Make-do and mend more, making fashion accessories and customising stuff.

5. Wear make-up almost everyday - at least my pink Estee Lauder lipstick. My Granny wore lipstick every single day, even at 90, even in hospital.

6. Avoid the Mummy trap with frumpy, sports or just practical clothes covered in vomit and food that has been thrown at me.

7. Overdress more than underdress.

8. Wear old stuff that is forgotten in the wardrobe but is still stylish.

9. Say no to buying things I don't need.

10. Wear a piece of jewellery everyday to "air" it and brighten up an outfit.

Entranced of London...

2011-01-25T12:51:00.000-08:00

I am completely enraptured by Christian Dior's S/S 2011 Paris show. Seeing a glimpse of these dreamy dresses in someone's magazine on the tube today (yes, I'm one of those annoying people who piggybacks on other peoples' reading material) I felt as though I'd woken with a start from hibernation. It was something about the clash of hazy colours with red lips and the feel of gossamer lightness strapped in by snakeskin that did for me. I felt a jolt. The sort of sensation I had when I first saw Venice or that slightly faint realisation that you've fallen in love. You can't help but be transported. I relished every detail; the shiny coiffured locks; the dusting of antiqued metals; the faded elegance. For me, it's these sorts of images that make fashion so exciting. I can feel the transformative power in Galliano's vision - his ability to make magic, to conjure up a narrative. I'm in this story, and it's heady with perfume, with power and potential. It's New Look meets the 80's meets Dita Von Teese. I love it!

£10 WEDDING DRESS CHALLENGE

2011-01-22T03:14:00.000-08:00

As you'll have read a few posts back- I was challenged to make a wedding dress for a tenner by BBC Breakfast TV. Well - I did it and had to pop onto the sofa to prove it! Have a look at the results here at BBC on-line and check out the report I did for The Guardian.

One day in London - two top hats

2011-01-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I like living in London. It's fun being surrounded by hats!

The £10 wedding dress

2011-01-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

Coming up this Saturday on BBC Breakfast TV: I've taken up the challenge to create a wedding dress for a tenner. Tune in to see what I managed to achieve! All will be revealed.
PS
If you're organising a shoestring wedding this year - I'd love to hear your story.
Drop me a line!

Biscuits by post

2011-01-10T02:21:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to receive a lovely box of biscuits over Christmas from a very generous friend. They're from Biscuiteers - who produce delicious and delightful treats like the ones featured here. You can order biscuits in all sorts of styles and for loads of different occasions - and prices start from around £8. There's also a book so you can learn how to make these stylish biscuits yourself- a great budget option. I love the idea of an alternative to flowers - and the tins are great for keeping things in afterwards. I think I know what all my friends will be getting this year!

Name change

2011-01-10T00:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry to confuse everyone but I've decided the New Year merits a change of blog title as well as of design. Goodbye Make Your Way Around Britain - hello Chic on a Shoestring! Similar content - but more emphasis on style on a budget. If the book's about that - then why not the blog too? Streamline and simplify. I feel it's a good way to start 2011 whether it applies to on-line outlets, life or your wardrobe!

Chic on a Shoestring

2011-01-09T05:04:00.000-08:00

Happy New year everyone....let's hope 2011 is going to be fulfilling, kind and creative. It's a while since I've posted, as I've been trying to recover from the end of last year - it was a bit of a tough one. I'm back though and am starting off with an announcement (clears throat and coughs a little..!)...

My first book is being published in May. I was working on it all last year, and didn't want to say too much about it - but now that you can pre-order it on Amazon, I might as well go public! So here it is - CHIC ON A SHOESTRING (published by Kyle Cathie) is stuffed full of vintage-inspired accessories to sew yourself. I've designed over 40 projects to help you get glam on a budget - and they've been beautifully photographed by Claire Richardson and illustrated by Sam Wilson, whose work I first fell in love with a few years ago. You'll hear more about the book as the year progresses - but suffice it to say, I think it's turned out pretty well! Do tell all your friends to order a copy! It'll be £14.99 well spent!

Panto season

2010-12-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas to everyone

Have a wonderful holiday!

Love from

Mary Jane xx

Liberty plaudits

2010-11-30T08:47:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to get a great write-up on the Liberty blog after my hat-making workshop there on Saturday. It's always a real boost to feel that people have enjoyed themselves and learnt something new. And with the Christmassy atmosphere in the store, it was a great start to the festive season. Read all about it on the Liberty website. Just click here.

Men of substance

2010-11-21T08:18:00.000-08:00

Now you may have noticed that I don't often mention men on my blog - apart from the rather suave looking chaps in the Toast catalogue of course. It's not because I'm immune to a well turned out man, it's simply that I honestly don't see much to inspire. However this weekend, I spotted a chap who cheered my spirits. How's about this for some natty dressing? It's country chic meets urban street. I love this drama student's frayed tweed jacket teamed with a striped formal waistcoat. Then there's the kerchief, the casually knotted scarf, the sew-on patches, and the combination of battered leather straps and worn canvas bag slung across his chest. The bike is a good accessory too (not that he thought of his bike as an accessory of course - that's just me being a shallow fashion-type). I so loved his look, I just had to stop him and ask if I could take his picture. The jacket isn't home-made, but there's no reason why you blokes couldn't adapt something you already own. Get out the scissors, do some fraying and find yourself some sew-on patches. Go on...you know you want to really!

Deptford comes up trumps again

2010-11-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

There's a new haberdashery kid on the Deptford block. An excellent stall which will be at Deptford market every Saturday. A great selection of trims, beads, lace, and other exciting finds, plus lots of essentials. Not cheap cheap cheap, but not bad either. Some good finds to be had.

My new winter shoes

2010-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

For the first time in years I recently decided to splash out and buy some decent winter footwear. It's the sort of thing my Mother was always telling me to do. It's only taken 43 years for me to realise that she was talking sense! I've become sick and tired of walking around in fabric shoes from Primark that look cute and wear well-enough in the summer, but for winter they're no good at all. No ankle support, wet, and if it snows...well, they'll be useless. So here are my two choices both purchased from Author, a relatively new shoe shop on Charing Cross Road in London set amongst all the splendid second-hand bookshops. It makes for some fine winter evening shopping.

First up are these excellent leather boots. They're a bit like a dark brown Doctor Martin and the tops are lined with shearling, so they're really cosy. You can turn the shearling bit up or down. Even better, they're flat - so I can actually walk! I know that sounds like an obvious thing to be able to do in shoes, but believe me, it's not always something I take into consideration.

My next recommendation is these fabulous traditional ghillie shoes made by Loake in Northamptonshire. The company has been going since 1880, and I can't tell you how happy it made me to purchase this pair of traditionally made (traditionally male) good quality shoes made in the UK. At £95 they cost more than I would usually spend, but compared to lots of designer shoes they're a bargain. I love the design, and they'll look good with trousers too. The only trouble is that the leather is quite stiff so I'll need to wear them in a bit before they're truly comfortable. Can't wait to team with a pair of fair-isle socks! Winter holds no fear for me now!

The dress that's much in need of love

2010-11-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

So this is the dress I found at Greenwich market the other day for £60. It doesn't fit me - but I just had to buy it because it's so beautiful and was looking utterly neglected stuffed in a plastic bag under the stall. It's an original Frank Usher from the '50's/60's I imagine. But it's in a bit of a bad way. At some point two pieces of boning have been removed from the bodice - thus its lopsided appearance, and it's had red wine chucked over it too by some CAD (I am taking liberties here of course - the owner herself might have done it, or indeed, perhaps a friend borrowed the dress and ruined it, thereby destroying a friendship which had lasted since girlhood). The question is...what can I do to bring it back to its former fabulousness? I can replace the boning I'm sure, but can a dress like this be dry-cleaned? Will the red wine come out? Help please!

Hat inspiration

2010-10-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

A friend just told me about this brilliant hat blog full of inspiration for milliners and fashion enthusiasts alike.
There haven't been any recent entries - but what's there is great.

Have a look and be transported!

Brown Owl

2010-10-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Melissa was recently raking through a trunk-load of childhood belongings that she hasn't been able to house since she moved abroad many years ago. She was delighted to find her old Girl Guide uniform complete with its many badges (she was a Queen's Guide and so rather keen at proving her skills!) still lying intact at the bottom of all her stuff. It's about 20 years old now and filled her with such delight that she e-mailed me straight away, knowing how much I love the old badges too for their vintage charm and customising credentials. I'm waiting for a photo of the uniform to add to the Blog. Melissa now has three daughters of her own and the memories kick-started by the discovery will no doubt inspire many stories for them. It just shows that hoarding can be a VERY GOOD thing! Staying on the subject of Girl Guide badges, I was interested to see that Top Shop has just realised their contemporary style potential too.....I know...they are WAY behind me...tut tut Top Shop! On a recent trip to the Oxford Street branch, I spotted a pair of khaki green shorts and a retro-style jacket which has been embellished with reproduction Brownie badges. Both the items look great - but with the jacket coming in at £125 it's OH SO MUCH CHEAPER to do it yourself with the real thing - and it's great fun tracking the badges down on E-bay. My current favourite is the one with a ball of wool and a pair of knitting needles on it. Can anyone remember what it was awarded for?

Exhibition must see

2010-10-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

Claire Richardson is doing the photography for my book - which will be out next year. She's brilliant - with a lovely eye for off-beat colour and emotive places. I think her exhibition will be well-worth seeing. Apparently the charity shops in St Leonards are fantastic too - and you can get a breath of fresh air on the sea-front!

Clothes-peg dress

2010-10-03T03:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the clothes-peg dress I mentioned in my Tweet a while back. It's in the window of Harvey Nic's in London - and I think it's just beautiful.

Tea, clothes and vintage 'do's in York

2010-10-03T03:19:00.000-07:00

I've just read in The Guardian about The House of Avalon in York. Vintage clothes, tea shop and retro hair-do's too. I'll definitely be heading there next time I'm up North.

Colour

2010-10-02T02:02:00.000-07:00

Isle of Man

2010-09-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to the Women's Institute for hosting me last week in the Isle of Man. I was thrilled to hear that my talk and workshop were well-received. For my part, I really enjoyed seeing the island, meeting everyone and learning all about the local crafts. I've become a fan of Manx patchwork, an ultra speedy way of making a blanket with a "needs must" attitude. Watch this space for a few step-by-step instructions! Honestly, you might even be able to get one made by Christmas.

At last...!

2010-09-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Toast man is born. May he find his way to me!

40 hats in 3 hours

2010-09-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

So whilst normal people were having a fun night out with friends a week last Friday, or indeed relaxing at home with a glass of wine, I was carting two suitcases of hat-making stuff across Paris after already having done a very early shift at the BBC in London. But it was all for a very good cause! I was booked to make hats the following day at the wedding of Jean Francois Piege, who's chef at Paris's hottest new restaurant Thoumieu. Until recently he was chef at The Crillon Hotel's Les Ambassadeurs, where he earned himself two michelin stars. He's the Gordon Ramsey of France apparently, so the wedding was rather an incredible event. It was held at a chateau 40km or so outside the city, and there were lots of famous Gallic types milling around - although being English, I was blissfully unaware of who was who. I had to make 40 hats in around 3 hours for some of the female guests - who were then able to party the night away in a little bespoke creation by moi! I was really looking forward to having a taste of the food - but sadly I was assigned to the servant's quarters - boo hoo!!! It was a real experience - and I absolutely LOVED the couples' car - especially the hat-boxes which were used instead of mundane tin cans. Tres chic - non?!

My friends' Scottish caravan plan

2010-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

The friends who have caused my caravan envy have started a detailed blog so you can keep up to date with their make-do-and-mend journey. Follow their progress as they make a cosy and stylish bolt-hole out of the rather ramshackle shell.....bagsy stay there before you do!!

Caravan

2010-08-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

I have to admit to being the teensiest bit jealous when my friend up in Scotland told me she'd recently acquired a rather ramshackle yet gorgeous little caravan for £100. She and her husband are planning to put it on their farm and convert it into a cosy retreat with wood-burning stove and warm blankets, which will be most necessary when the North wind blows! I would love to find a caravan myself - and have long had my eye on acquiring a vintage Citroen H van - but sadly they're way beyond my budget at the moment. I did once see the most fabulous H van in London's Spittlefields market. It's owned by Emily Chalmers whose shop Caravan is a real treat. She's got such a great eye, and funnily enough has a little caravan on her front page at the moment!

AUTUMN

2010-08-30T04:18:00.000-07:00

Well I have just signed on again after a bit of a summer break. I finished writing my book and headed to Edinburgh for a few days R+R at the Festival. What a great atmosphere. A real buzz in the air. I enjoyed a couple of interesting book talks - in particular one by Norman Drummond about his new book The Power of Three. He offered many thought-provoking questions about purpose and service. It's some time since someone made me stop in my tracks like that. We're surrounded by so much noise it's difficult to hear. We can get so disconnected from things that matter and from what our true purpose is.

My small purpose last night was to make dinner for a couple of friends. I felt very inspired after seeing an excellent BBC1 programme earlier this week about how much food we waste in the UK. Perfectly good food chucked in the bins by us, the supermarkets and the farmers, either because it's passed its corporate-imposed sell-by date, or because it's deemed not perfect enough for our tastes. The programme featured top chefs rummaging in bins and rescuing doomed food for tasty creative purposes. It made me think about how I should appreciate the food I eat more and stop wasting it. My first impulse was to hold a little dinner party consisting of food we'd grown ourselves, but since my friend's allotment had succumbed to drought, I wasn't able to do that. So instead I made my own bread and used market-bought tomatoes to make bruschetta for the starter. That was followed by mushroom risotto, with the mushrooms from the local farmers' market and a salad made from lettuces I'd grown in the pots on my balcony. The thing I'm most proud of though was my homemade plum ice-cream using plums from my neighbour's garden. I don't have an ice-cream maker so I did it the old-fashioned way beating the mixture two or three times during the freezing process. Boy were the results good! Having being scared off making my own ice-cream for years due to lack of gizmos, it was actually suprisingly easy. I have to admit rather shamefacedly however to being rescued by Tesco. I bought the first batch of cream from the farmers' market - organic rich gorgeousness, that was so solid, it completely separated on whisking. My virgin ice-cream attempt hanging in the balance, I ran up the road to Tesco for a pot of standard double cream so that I could continue. It worked a treat. That'll teach me to be holier-than-thou I thought! I'd love to attach a picture of my ice-cream, but we ate it all. So instead I'm attaching a picture of some beautiful rose-hips that my friend gave me when she arrived for dinner. I think they look lovely in this little empty yeast can.

FABULOUS FABRICATIONS

2010-08-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

I had a brilliant time last week running my first Fabulous Fabrications workshop at the Kensington and Chelsea College in London. It was a great creative group, one came all the way from Milan! They all really "got it" and made some lovely things. I tried to inspire them with my ideas and designs for decorative collars, floral brooches, T-shirt hats, and my new Brogue shoe makeover. They are all stunning accessories, which I've designed to be super-straightforward to make, but really pack a punch with the results. I'm pleased to say they thoroughly enjoyed the workshop too - and I'm hoping it will be the springboard to other similar sessions. I just need a permanent venue! Any suggestions? Moreover it was a great chance for me to try out some of the projects from my new book CHIC ON A SHOESTRING which will be published in Spring by Kyle Cathie. I've kept it quiet till now - but yes - if all goes to plan, you'll be able to join in too. I'll keep you updated!

Yum Yum

2010-07-26T04:26:00.000-07:00

My friend Iris who lives in Antwerp started a blog a few months ago about her and her sister's passion for, and adventures in, food. She recently went for the weekend to a fantastic place in Paris - a glass box of an aerie in which you can learn to cook the most amazing food. I so enjoyed reading about the two sisters' trip that I wanted you to read it too. You can find her blog on this link YUMMYBLOGSISTERS and I think I can guarantee that you'll soon become followers. Iris's photos are drool-making too. Have a peek now for tips on Paris eateries and delicious French treats.

Glittering defeat!

2010-07-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

OK - I admit defeat! I have been trying to make glitter shoes - but nothing I try will work properly. They look good - but the glitter won't last. I tried Copydex on the red shoe and then coated it with polyurethene varnish. The varnish did the job and coated the glitter well, but the Copydex peels off especially around the edges. The silver shoes I decided to ditch the Copydex and tried good old PVA glue - but it cracks and chips off, even before the varnish goes on top. I give up! Any ideas anyone? I need flexible durable glue - I think the varnish is good - but the glue useless. Agggh!

Apron Dresses

2010-07-13T05:36:00.000-07:00

I did a hat party this weekend for a group of hens at the beautiful High Tea of Highgate in London. It's such an elegant teashop, and such fun to put on an event there. The teashop is run by Miss Worthington, who has impeccable taste in both cakes and clothes. Imagine my surprise when I turned up to do the workshop wearing almost exactly the same dress as she! We had both managed to get our hands on these fabulous 1950's cotton aprons which make perfect dresses. They seemed to be exactly the same design - floral fabric edged in bias binding with one single pocket. Mine was given to me by my lovely brother who spotted me trying it on at an apron exhibition in Edinburgh last year (yes indeed, an apron exhibition!) during the Festival. He bought it without me knowing and posted it to London for my Birthday. What a treasure. Miss Worthington acquired hers after finding it looking ever so lonely in the corner of a rather pricey antiques establishment. She managed to barter it down - et voila! Don't they make darling dresses?

The best of British

2010-06-28T02:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was reminded of just how beautiful Britain can be when everything comes together at the right time. Obviously, the wonderful weather is a major component - it transforms even the most reticent amongst us and helps us to behave as though we were living in the South of France. I took part in the Open Gardens weekend in Wymeswold in Leicestershire at the invitation of a friend. It was a little slice of the English idyll. Thatched cottages, gardens bursting with beautiful blooms, children running around in mini-Boden, cream-teas, homemade james, blackbirds singing their hearts out, and that most traditional of traditions - Morris dancers. The sun shone, and meals were enjoyed outside along with a glass of wine as the day turned into balmy evening. I didn't want to be anywhere else, and I'm sure that those car-loads of Brits who head to the Mediterranean every summer would have been hard-pressed to match the simple pleasures of the stay-cation when the sun is smiling. My plastic-bottle flowers were a step too far for some of the less adventurous, but the presence of the wonderful beekeeper next to my stall, showing off her hive and selling organic fruit and veg insured a steady flow of curious customers.

Summer

2010-06-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

A big thankyou to all the friends who brought in their plastic bottles for me to turn into flowers. I'll be at the Wymeswold Open Gardens in Leicestershire this weekend (26th & 27th June) selling my flowers and talking hats! Do come along and say hello - it would be great to meet you. And if the weather stays fine - it should be a glorious couple of days.

I AM DEFINITELY NOT AN "IT" BAG

2010-06-19T02:14:00.000-07:00

What do you think of my latest bag? A Mary Jane Millinery designed hold-all.

Blanket love

2010-06-19T02:10:00.000-07:00

This is turning into one of those blogs where the annoying blogger (me) keeps bragging about her bargains! Sorry guys....but there is ANOTHER brilliant debt-friendly purchase I have to share with you. £3.50 for a double-bed sized crochet blanket. Found by chance in the normally pretty unremarkable charity shop in Greenwich. I was in there with a friend the other day bemoaning the increase in prices and decrease in quality, when I saw this crocheted mass squeezed onto a hanger. Further investigation revealed it was a handmade blanket...for the previously mentioned price. Now if I had the sort of camera that would do it justice, and the time to style it properly I would show you said blanket beautifully laid out on the bed, with the neighbour's cat cutely curled up on top. But I haven't got either the camera or the time, nor is the cat willing to pose, so here is just a pretty picture of the blanket close-up. Apologies for bargain bragging - but I have to share my excitement with someone! OK - I'm off to the market now. I will try not to find anything worth bragging about (she lies!).

It's the little things

2010-06-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

You don't have to be rolling in it to give yourself a fashion fix you know. I've had my first weekend at home for ages, and so of course I was able to give free rein to my foraging instinct and get back down to my favourite local market. I wasn't disappointed. I found a load of sparkly fabric off cuts for £2, a funky 50's hat for £1 - and then this dress for £3! The fabric is a really heavy type of cotton mix, so I think it must be fairly vintage, and it's almost a perfect fit - it just needs a bit of an adjustment round the waist. I was so excited when I saw it! I took it to the launderette straight away and wore it out last night with a red belt around the middle. This dress just kept putting a smile on my face, and I found myself wondering about its history. It has something of a feel-good factor about it!

Berlin sewing cafe

2010-05-31T15:08:00.000-07:00

I wrote recently about a new sewing cafe in Paris, for stitchers across the Channel. Well there's one in Berlin too. A decidedly different vibe I think - more hippie-chic than chi-chi. Sadly it was shut on the Monday I was there, but next time I'm in the German capital I'm definitely going to pop in. And I couldn't resist photographing the Master or Mistress in the window!

Just another ordinary day

2010-05-31T14:49:00.000-07:00

1. In honour of the New Sex and the City film - here's me in New York last year.

2. I don't care what the critics say - it's escapist joy! Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. So there.

3. Clean sheets on the bed - bliss.

4. A glass of wine and M&S Belgian chocolate. Sometimes it's the small things.

5. You know when you're little and you think "one day I'll have my own house and I'll be able to do EXACTLY as I please." That day is mine. It happened. It's good!

6. Ladies - make sure you experience the joy of your own space...you can stay in bed AS LONG AS YOU LIKE! It's true! It really happens!

7. Breakfast.

8. A Bank Holiday day off. You wake. It's quiet. It feels like a Sunday. It's bliss.

9. Neighbour's cat curled up contentedly on bed.

10. The longest bath.

My two fleamarket coffee tables

2010-05-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

I thought you might like to see the two teeny tiny coffee tables I bought in the Berlin fleamarket. So compact and bijoux they fitted into my rucksack - they are adorable...and only 10 euros the pair! What is SO weird is that the evening before I spotted them at the market, I walked past an incredibly trendy opening party at a cafe full of gorgeous people. There inside, were two nearly identical tables with glasses of bubbly perched on top. Immediately I thought, WOW...where on earth are those cuties from? And the very next day...I found my own. VISUALISATION or what!

Berlin

2010-05-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Berlin has already featured on my blog once before as I was there last year doing a hat workshop. It really is a city that I love more and more each time I go back. You feel that people have worked incredibly hard to make Berlin what it is today, and everyone is always very laid back and friendly. I had a fine time in the fleamarket, managing to buy two retro coffee tables for 10 euros the pair. They were so petite I was able to fit them into my rucksack by unscrewing the legs! These Berlin photos are by my friend Iris who's just started her own foodie blog. It's in Dutch, so perhaps a bit tricky to read for the likes of me, but the fabulous photos of gratifyingly gorgeous grub are worth a look in their own right. You can also see more detailed shots of our trip. Included are a number of pictures of shoes (also featured above). Well that's because the new Sex and the City film is out tonight, so it's in honour of the four fashionistas (well, that's my story anyway!) But also, and here's the amazing thing, the floor of the shoe boutique was covered in sequins! Yes, sequins embedded in lino! Oh oh oh!! I asked the shop assistants where they had found such fabulous flooring, but sadly they had no idea. Could we make our own? Next time I need a kitchen floor laying, I'm having sequin lino, and that's a promise!

Back to white

2010-05-24T04:55:00.001-07:00

Those of you accustomed to reading my blog (thankyou) will wonder why the colour keeps changing. Well, it's all part of my experimental attempt to refresh and revive my blog, which I believe is in need of a facelift. However, having lived with the pale blue background for a few weeks now, I feel rather like someone who's been experimenting with paint swatches in their living room. I've decided that the blue doesn't really work. Yes, I love colour (as you'll see from the rather rainbow-like palette of my entries) but settling on the style of your blog is a bit like designing your home: you can really only introduce colour in your accessories and furniture if the background is fairly neutral so that it doesn't all become one big dizzy mess! So, for now, until I go and learn how to do this properly, I am going back to white. Anyone know of a short, cheap, blog designing course you can do in London? Surely, this could be SO MUCH BETTER!

I'm Gaga for hats!

2010-05-24T04:40:00.000-07:00

This isn't usually a blog that deals with celebrity, but I was reading my freebie newspaper on the way to work the other day, trawling through the mostly dreary news, when I saw something that made my milliner's heart jump for joy and do a little dance! Apparently, Philip Treacy is taking Lady Gaga on as an intern! Yes - the "chapeaued-up chantoosay" (nice description!) is going to learn to make her own titfers. The mind boggles as to what she might come up with. She's already sashayed on the stage in statement making headgear like a telephone, a flying saucer, and antlers. This is going to be fun fun fun - and will do wonders for the comeback of the hat. I doubt however that Lady Gaga will be thrilled at the wages and conditions that most milliners have to deal with- not much cash and half an hour lunch break. Hmm...do you think she'll cope?

By popular demand

2010-05-04T15:29:00.001-07:00

I saw a bag similar to this one a few months ago being carried by a woman at Kings Cross Station in London. It really stood out, and I jotted down the Duttons For Buttons logo. When I looked it up on the internet, I discovered that Duttons is a much loved and enduring button shop in the North of England (the parent company was established in Leeds in 1906). One of the girls who works there had this great idea - to print a picture of buttons onto a re-usable hessian bag so that customers could then sew their own favourite buttons onto the bag. I just had to have one! What an imaginative way to display your button stash! I stitched on some buttons found at my favourite market, and had fun hunting down a few special ones from other places too. I've had SO many lovely comments from people about this bag. If you get one, you will find you make new friends wherever you go! The new IT bag! Just click here to to order your own.

....Just another ordinary day....

2010-05-02T03:28:00.001-07:00

1.mwah!

2. my button bag catches attention wherever i go - especially caught the lovely bright eyes of a little girl in a wheelchair on the tube. i willed her to look at it to give her some sparkle and hope

3. me and news are in the process of a long and difficult divorce

4. scrambled egg and smoked salmon is just the best

5. lemon or lime? i don't mind if it's lime or lemon

6. i am love with a flat in Montrose that I wish I could buy

7. why is all my love unrequited?

8. i now know alot about may day around the world

9. my neighbour's borrowed cat has not been round for days

10. i love sitting in my bed looking out of my window at the trees dripping with rain

11. i wish i could just make things all day long

12. i have a new hair rat which is just going to be so fab(see forthcoming styles) if you don't know what a hair rat is....then watch this space!

13. hands up if you'd like to come to a boutique crafting weekend in my imaginery flat in Montrose!

14. should one really eat a whole bag of M&S salt and pepper cashew nuts all in one go for tea?

15. washed down with three glasses of wine?

A make your way hat

2010-04-28T01:44:00.000-07:00

I found these great vintage guide and scout badges on e-bay recently and plan to use them in all sorts of ways. I think they'd make a great trim for a hat. The cloche hat on the left is one I made from scratch and then trimmed with various badges dyed in tea to give them that vintage look. Very "grand tour" don't you think?

Sew and save

2010-04-28T01:43:00.001-07:00

Some great tips in this reproduction of Joanna Chase's book from the days of rationing. When I have time, I'm going to try out some of the patterns.

My pad - just because home is so important

2010-04-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

A simple corsage for some summer style

2010-04-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Ok - I know that as soon as I mention the weather it will turn miserable and start raining, but I'm going to have to take the risk because - WOW - isn't the weather amazing?! This is an easy-to-make ribbon corsage that you should be able to knock up in 30 minutes or so. It will add a kick of delectable kookie style to your summer wardrobe. Think of it as the slice, to your vodka and ice. Take some beautiful short lengths of ribbon, sew them together then stitch an emblem or button to the middle. When you're done, stick on a brooch back and pin your corsage onto a jacket or T-shirt for an instant hit of colour. Have fun!

Paris trends

2010-04-19T13:46:00.001-07:00

I've been reading about this fantastic new place in Paris called Sweat Shop which has just opened near the canal St Martin. It's based around the concept of a cyber cafe, essentially, you can rent out space by the hour at one of ten Singer sewing machines which are available for whatever creative project you're currently involved with. You can come and go as you please, but best of all there's a communal table where you can sit and enjoy tea and organic cake! It sounds like a great place for meeting other like-minded people, and there are all sort of workshops too so you can learn new stuff. I'm really looking forward to making a stop there next time I'm in Paris. As the owners say "Sweat Shop is the place where your dreams and projects come alive. And it's here for those wanting to learn, create, transform, practice or recycle in a stress free and well equipped environment."

Easter Collage at Charleston in Sussex

2010-04-06T03:55:00.001-07:00

Looking for an Easter Day Activity?

2010-04-03T03:16:00.000-07:00

Do come to Charleston near Sussex and take part in the Patch Walk Easter Trail on Easter Sunday. Make yourself a wonderful collage to celebrate the start of Spring. Hope to see you there! Click here for details

Patchwork

2010-03-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

I went to see the V&A's British Quilts exhibition the other day...and all I can say is "GO AND SEE IT!" It's a real tribute to the women and men who so laboriously and lovingly patched together the fabric of their lives to create some seriously beautiful and intricate work. It's incredible to see what they managed to do, often with very little space, probably very little light, and sometimes in secret or on the high seas. I was amazed at their attention to detail and ingenuity when it came to finding things to make their patchworks. I love the fact that each fabric tells a story - many of them were of course cut up old clothes or household linens. There were girls in a Japanese prison camp who cut pieces from their dresses to make a quilt for their Guide leader, or the man who used army flannels to construct a quilt consisting of thousands of hexagons no bigger than a 1p coin. I had no idea either how women from the Welsh Valleys quilted in the 40's to supplement the incomes of their miner husbands, and how some of their work ended up in Claridges hotel. The modern work was interesting too, but for me it's the really ancient quilts that impress the most. Wonderful animals, people and scenes all sewn painstakingly onto their backgrounds. The only quilt I've ever made was something I rustled up over a couple of nights as a teenager. Using the sewing machine, I patched together loads of squares and joined them all together with strips of an old sheet. I then backed the whole lot with another sheet. I still have it now - and I love the fact that I can identify most of the fabrics as this or that dress, or those curtains. My rough and ready attempt is nothing compared to the beautiful hand work on the quilts in this exhibition. But seeing them makes me appreciate even more, the dedication needed to create a real heirloom.

Rag Rug Workshop

2010-03-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've just had a great day making rag-rugs (see my attempt at a rag-rug bag above!) with Jenni Stuart-Anderson in Worcestershire. If you've never tried it before, I suggest you give it a go, as not only is it quite easy to get started, it's a fun and decorative way to use up old clothes, scraps of fabric and remnants that you've got no other use for. I went to Jenni's one-day course at The Hatch, which is run by Ben and Nada. They are the most lovely couple - so welcoming, with delicious veggie food on offer too. The Hatch is an incredible place. Set in idyllic countryside, it boasts a super-cool recording studio, as well as space for all sorts of different creative workshops. I went for the B+B option. You choose to stay in the house, an artisan-built log cabin, yurt or tent. There's a calm but energetic atmosphere, and little homely touches are everywhere. I was offered a glass of wine on my arrival and there was a pretty vase of Spring flowers in my room. We joined the family for supper - a delicious homerty pie followed by chocolate and pear brownies. Next day we tucked into a really tasty soup and salad lunch. We even had the most delicious damp lemon cake for tea to break our hard work rag-rug making! It wasn't JUST about the food of course, although it really was superb! I think they should do cookery courses next. Jenni was a great tutor, introducing us to her craft through simple techniques which don't take too long to master. It will be some while before I reach her level though. She's a real artist, and twenty years in the business makes her a very hard act to follow!

Spring flowers

2010-03-11T14:18:00.001-08:00

I've seen flowers like this in the window of Anthropologie in London and New York - in fact I've featured the flowers elsewhere on my blog. They're made out of plastic drinks bottles, and are a great way of recycling them. Anyway, I thought I'd have a go at making the flowers myself. It's easy. To make a flower, use the drinking end of the bottle, and cut off the rest about half way down. Slice the bottle into strips, shape each strip to make petals, and then bend them outwards. Use spray paint (experiment with different types to see what works) to colour the flowers. I sprinkled glitter on the smaller one and it seemed to stick really well. Then cut a length of stiff wire (an old coat-hanger would work well) a few inches long, and wrap it around the drinking end. Use the length of wire to stick into the soil or a vase. I'm going to see how these fare outside after a few bouts of rain! I'll report back. They'd be a great way to decorate a garden or a window box.

Patch Walk Easter Trail

2010-03-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

Imagine wandering around a beautiful garden resonant with the spirit of creativity. Now imagine you've been given the means to make a fabulous textile collage of all the things you see and experience. That's the plan for Easter Sunday at Charleston in Sussex. Charleston was the country home of the Bloomsbury group, and is a unique example of the decorative style of Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell who lived there during the 1920's. Viriginia Woolf, E.M Forster, Lytton Strachey and Roger Fry were all frequent visitors to the house. I'll be leading what's been christened the "Patch Walk" which is aimed at encouraging young visitors in particular to really open their eyes and experience the colours, textures and spaces that make Charleston unique. There'll be a number of "patch stops" along the way for people to pick up different bits and pieces like scraps of fabric, leather and buttons. They'll work all the things they collect into collages which they can put together in the barn. Do come and join us if you can. It's not JUST for children of course. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon on Easter Day. Let's hope the sun shines! Find out more on the Charleston website just click here.

A wanderer through the woods

2010-03-04T08:56:00.001-08:00

I have to admit, this isn't one of my photos I'm afraid, as I neglected to take a camera on my recent walk along part of Offa's Dyke. I actually didn't want to bring my camera. I just wanted to look, observe, and record without resorting to photos. But of course an image does convey things to other people perhaps more easily than words sometimes. Thus this photo of Tintern Abbey on the banks of the Wye. It was lovely just to be outside in the fresh air, especially as these days I spend so much of my time in London. But I think all that could be about to change. Yes, I feel the need to move on. I'm not sure where I'll go, but I hope a leap into the dark might be met with a firm landing somewhere. Or maybe I'll get a camper van and continue my travels. I would just like to be unburdened for a while of stuff. Walking with a rucksack on your back, you realise just how little you really need to get by. Travel light and maybe you leave room for other things to grow.

Time for reflection....

2010-02-25T01:43:00.001-08:00

Sewing on the go

2010-02-16T00:54:00.000-08:00

Jean-Paul Flintoff is a man with a mission. He's been taking his treadle sewing machine out onto the streets of Britain as part of his quest to get people thinking more about their clothes and where they come from. I was reading his interesting book Through The Eye of A Needle whilst on holiday earlier this year in Morocco. I really recommend it - it's an excellent account of one man's journey to forge links between politics, religion and haberdashery. I was half way through Jean-Paul's journey, so it seemed apt that I should stumble upon this guy in the picture. He'd set up amongst the rag-traders at the souk in Marrakesh and was stitching away in the corner. I lacked the language skills to ask him exactly what he was doing...but I loved his laid-back look!

Talking of barbers....

2010-02-15T10:10:00.001-08:00

Did you know...that barbers also used to be surgeons in Medieval times? The twirling candy-stick of a sign was no less than an indication of blood-letting services. According to Wikipedia(ok I know I'm a journalist and this isn't really a true source - but bear with me it IS fascinating!) - The red and white stripes symbolise the bandages used during the procedure: red for the blood-stained and white for the clean bandages. Originally, these bandages were hung on the pole to dry after washing. As the bandages blew in the wind, they would twist together to form the spiral pattern similar to the stripes in the modern day barber pole. The barber pole became emblematic of the barber/surgeon's profession. Later the cloths were replaced by a painted wooden pole of red and white stripes. Could this be true - any second sources out there?

Hair cut 100

2010-02-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

It is in fact OVER 100 days since I last had my hair cut. I hate to admit it - but it's more than a year. You see I usually have my hair trimmed when I go up to Scotland to visit my brother for Christmas. But this year I stayed in London for Yuletide and therefore I didn't make it to the hairdresser either. The reason that I have my hair done up North rather than down South - well it's obvious of course - it's the cost. I had a cut, highlights and a blow dry up in Scotland last time for around half of what I'd pay in London. However, today I finally cracked. I just had to get rid of those split ends! So in an effort to save money, I went local. I had thought of trying the "little old lady" salon - but it was shut. Shame really - as I rather fancied sitting under one of those old-fashioned driers having had a shampoo and set! Then I tried the Asian barber - but he said he only did men (well I suppose the word 'barber' should have been a dead give-away really - but you know me, always pushing my luck!) He counselled against going to an Afro Carribean place, as he said it probably wouldn't be best for my long straight hair. But he suggested the Chinese hairdresser further along the road and I duly went along. It was £35 for a cut and blow dry. Not bad at all for the capital. Whilst there, I found out a very interesting and rather disconcerting fact. Apparently, Chinese women don't have their hair washed at Chinese New Year - as it washes all the good fortune out. I really hope that it doesn't apply to me seeing as I've just had my hair done on the cusp of the Tiger ....... something ELSE to worry about! Grrrrrr!

Maxime de la Falaise

2010-02-10T11:20:00.001-08:00

Every so often you read something that inspires. I was leafing through my December copy of Elle Decoration when I flipped to the back page and discovered Maxime de la Falaise (1922-2009), who was apparantly a "wartime code breaker, a model, and an expert on medieval English cookery." She was a wonderfully eccentric English woman, with an impeccably bohemian heritage. But what really caught my eye was her inclination to "make do and mend." Apparently, she used to sling a swathe of opulent fabric over her ironing board to create a make-shift buffet table at parties. What a wonderful idea! I want to have a party right now - just so that I can try it out! Could one also place a few wild blooms in the iron?

Collar necklace combo

2010-01-28T01:25:00.000-08:00

Since MAKING my way around Britain for BBC Newsnight, I've become more and more interested in creating things other than hats. Of course hats will always have a special place in my heart, but sometimes you're not in the mood to put something on your head! I've been working on this idea of collar/necklaces for a while, and I made this sample up the other day. The base fabric is an old 60's dress from Deptford market (of course!) and it's trimmed with all sorts of magpie treasures that I've collected over the last few months. I'm doing a simple version as a pack - so people will be able to buy the pack and make up their own collar. This is a more crazy couture version - great fun and not tricky to make - just a bit time-consuming! I'd love to hold a workshop for people to make these. Do you think it might catch on? The great thing about them is you just add them to a T-shirt, jumper or dress - and you've got a completely different outfit. Great for that day to evening transformation!

Philosophy of life down at the launderette

2010-01-21T02:47:00.001-08:00

So - I go to the launderette to do my post-Morocco washing. Some readers will know that I don't have a washing machine, having never got around to getting one installed, and now I feel like it's maybe a good thing that I don't needlessly wash things every day but have to stop and think about it. Anyway, I'm greeted by a guy who starts talking about the New Year and then says " well of course we're only going to live till we're about 60 or 70 - so my philosophy is that we might as well make the best of every day." Now I agree with that in principle, although of course like most people, I fail to really appreciate each single day, especially when there are bills to pay, proposals to write and rats to get rid of. But as a 42 year old woman, his words also gave me a bit of a jolt of the "my God - that only gives me another 18 years" variety. So I told him that hopefully I'd have a bit longer (barring tragedies). We started discussing what makes a good life. He said he felt that it was living simply, without lots of debt, and most of all believing in God. Well..I agree about the debt, I'm figuring out how to deal with mine at the moment. But the God thing is a tricky one for me. I said that I wondered at nature, and marveled at the examples of creativity I saw around me, but that I couldn't necessarily make the step to God. He tried convincing me, and we ended up chatting for about half an hour, other people doing their washing joining in too. It's quite something when you set out to wash your knickers and return having discussed the meaning of life. It's a shame the Launderette is up for sale to the tune of £200,000. No doubt it will be taken over by someone trendy or turned into a swish home. I'm going to have to buy a washing machine and stop talking about God!

Bartering

2010-01-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

I bought a little rug/ bedspread during my hols - lovely - cream, textured and glittering with sequins. I was pleased to knock it down to £50 from £130. I felt a bit bad bartering to be honest. As someone who makes things by hand, I know how time and skill should be rewarded, and I didn't want to get away with a ridiculous price (mind you - I don't think that happens these days!). However, I was really pleased to hear that exchanging skills and goods is alive and well in Marrakesh. A friend was offered a Moroccan pouffe for his jacket, and another guy I met traded his hat in part exchange for a carpet. Next time I must bring some titfers of my own!

Monkeying around in Marrakesh

2010-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

Majorelle Gardens Marrakesh

2010-01-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

First the facts.

The artist Jacques Majorelle came to live in Marrakesh and opened his beautiful gardens to the public in 1947. In 1980 Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé purchased the garden and restored it.

Then the feelings.

Even on a chilly January day, the gardens are stunning. I was reminded of a particular time a few years ago when I was browsing through the paintings at The Tate in St Ives. I'd never really "got" modern art before, but that day - something maybe to do with the light and the sea - I suddenly felt a shift in my comprehension. A hitherto hidden door swung open, and I looked at the pictures with new understanding and excitement. That’s how I felt a few days ago in the Majorelle. I’d never really “got” cacti before either. Previously, when I looked at them, I saw deserts and cowboys and small dusty things sitting in plastic pots on peoples’ windowsills! But the Majorelle presented these plants in a totally fresh way. They were magnificent. Cacti as sculptures and survivors, prickly, devastating and dashing imposters. I loved the colours, the textures, and the contrast with the bright hues and straight lines of the buildings.

Another door swung open. Revelation!

The madness that is Marrakesh

2010-01-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

OK - I have a prediction for you. Later this summer, all things Moroccan are going to be "de-rigeur". I can say this with confidence, as I've just come back from a trip to Marrakesh, where I discovered that S.J.P (as in Sarah Jessica Parker) has been filming a third Sex and the City film. So stock up on stuff from the souks and get yourselves some Moroccan style, because where S.J.P goes, fashion tends to follow. Marrakesh will certainly look stunning as a location. The main square (the Djemaa el-Fna) is probably one of the craziest places I've ever been. Everywhere you look there is something unusual happening. Last week, I'd just stepped off the plane, and headed to the Fna to get a sense of the city. I was immediately grabbed by a woman who thrust what I thought was a syringe towards my arm. I tried to pull away, but before I knew it, she was painting my hand and wrist with henna. Now back in Britain, I might pay a couple of quid for the privilege, but I found myself being ripped off to the tune of £10! Needless to say I learned my first lesson in Marrakesh - say NO and mean NO! Henna hoars aside, the square is amazing. Fire jugglers, donkeys, snake charmers, monkeys, story-tellers, witch-doctors, plumes of smoke from makeshift snack huts, fresh orange juice by the gallon and pedlars plaguing you for cash. Night-time it comes alive. It feels like a cross between an open-air circus, Islamic burlesque, and a little shop of horrors.

2010

2010-01-02T06:22:00.000-08:00

Well, it's arrived - the New Decade. Here in London it was greeted by blue skies which is a positive beginning. But I'm never quite sure what to make of these imposed fresh starts. Last year I had possibly my best NEW YEAR ever - when I joined friends at a cottage in Loch Tay, Scotland. It was stunningly beautiful, and we cooked, talked and sang our way into 2009. On the 1st Jan, with frost on the ground and ice at the waters edge, we ran screaming into the Loch, and washed away the old. It was exhilarating and symbolic. This year, there's been nothing so significant. So today I'm holding a little tea-party for local friends just to galvanize myself into action and lever myself out of the back-end of the year. I've made heart-shaped scones, and pretty cakes, and the savoury note will come from cream-cheese and cucumber sandwiches. To decorate the table I've sprayed some seed-heads from the hedgerow gold, and hung them with little crystals. In the centre, I've wedged my old candelabra, bought some ten years ago for £25 from a junk shop in Lyon. I used to think I'd restore it to work on the mains, but I've actually come to prefer it with real candles. So this year, no symbolism, but a simple celebration of friendship, and the art of making a little magic out of nothing. Here's to a Happy New Year.