living vicariously

oldladiesdogs
Originally uploaded by Sarah Walton

Today I would really like to blog properly (I have scanned pictures from another craft book and want to share a really special find I made in second-hand shop yesterday) but I am just in from working overtime and am too pooped to even switch my computer on. They really did work me very hard today, but my work pays really well for overtime, so I don't mind too much. I am sort of wishing for a wee day off, though... Yawn!

The other thing (other than blogging properly, I mean) that I would like to do is some embroidery (I have lots of ideas right now!) but my hands, which were mended really nicely, are having a relapse despite strictly no sewing. Boo!

So I will live vicariously through other people's fabulous sewing skills and then use pictures of said skills to create a fake mini blog post. This picture is by Sarah Walton who has loads more beautiful work on her flickr, most definitely worth a visit.

ps Just to make this kind of like a real blog post, here are some facts of life. Have you noticed any missing Gs on my blog lately? If so, I apologise! My computer's G key is not cooperating these days. Tonight I'm typing this on Graham's computer and thought it would be real luxury to have 26 fully functional letters, but his A key seems to be on strike and has to be beaten before it will work. Harumph! Last night I went round to my friend Bernie's house for fondue. We hadn't had fondue for ages and I wanted to blog about it this week, but forgot to take a single photo, so I'm just squeezing it in here as a wee aside. I'll have to have fondue again soon (though we were both experiencing cheese-ball symptoms this morning!) so I can try to think of something interesting to say about it... Hmmm, not likely!

Now I sort of have done a proper blog post (yay!) but Graham wants his computer back, with or without a responsive A key.

show stealer

I know this week's EastEnders was supposed to be all about Barbara Windsor, but for me, June Brown definitely stole the show with about a year's worth of classic Dot moments squeezed into one week. This scene (apologies for the blurry image) from Ryan and Janine's wedding reception, where Dot had swapped her tomato juice for a sherry or too and was tipsily dancing with a menthol cigarette in each hand, was one of my favourites. "Ooh, Billy, I'm in a world of me own." My other favourite moment was when she was telling off a naked Ryan, out on his stag do. And, of course, her heartbroken reaction to Stacey's revelation that Bradley is not baby Lily's father :( June Brown, you are the best! I think I might need to send a spot of fan mail. Tee hee!

what a dreary world we should live in if everything we made or did was useful

What Shall I Do With This?

By Margaret Hutchings

Published by Mills & Boon, 1963

(This edition reprinted 1970)

My sister gave me this book a few months ago after she found it in a Swiss charity shop. It's all about projects you can do with things you can find around the house. I wonder if my parents had a copy of this book, because some of the projects seem very familiar... I will have to ask them.

The chapters of this book are divided into the places you can look for things and the projects you can make with what you might find there. I don't think I need to say much more about this book, so I'll just share the author's super-sweet introduction in amongst a selection of her projects. Enjoy!

"All of us are happier when we are busy but we all like being busy in different ways.

"Do you like sewing or sticking, cutting or colouring, collecting or cooking, knitting or nailing, printing or playing games, designing or drawing, folding, growing things or just 'fiddling'? If so, this book is meant for YOU.

"In it, we go round the house together, finding things we can use and deciding what to do with them.

"Some of the things are for you to do alone, some are for whole families to share in, some you could do at school or at Brownie, Guide or Cub meetings.

"Some will be useful for yourself or for presents, some will help you to learn and some are just for fun.

"It gives us a great thrill to make something just for the joy of doing so, although what we make may not be much use when it's finished.

"What a dreary world we should live in and what very dull people we should be, if EVERYTHING we made or did was useful!

"Before starting work, read right through the instructions given for whatever you have decided to do, making sure that you understand them and that you have everything you need.

"You may feel that you would rather try something else first.

"Because I thought it would be easier for you to follow, I have not had the book set up in type but have drawn a lot of pictures to help you, then written all round them myself, just as though I were talking to you.

"For in the words of Alice, when SHE had nothing to do, '...what is the use of a book without pictures or conversations?' M.H."

p.s. I've started a collection on flickr, where I'll be putting all the vintage craft books I share here. If you want to find them all in one place, look here. I'll be trying to add more (there and here) pretty regularly.

oh dear...

I follow a bit of a wind-down ritual after I've done a midnight finish at work. Well, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at least. I don't think the ritual was such a good idea tonight. I am all of a quiver. But I just couldn't resist watching - waaaaah! Nightmares for me tonight...

family circle, more than just biscuits

The Family Circle Book Of Crafts

Edited by June Weatherall

Designed by Micheal Leaman

Published by Book Club Associates, 1980

(I'm not sure why they thought it would be a good idea to feature the pasta jewellery on the back cover...)

This book of favourite craft projects from Family Circle magazine is so good I accidentally bought it twice! I recently spent a small fortune sending my second copy to my sister in France, but I think she will enjoy it. This book really does have some good projects in it, but my favourite thing about it has got to be the scenarios and photography. The lady above's lifestyle is like an Escher picture to me in its impossibility. I love it.

All self-respecting housewives will provide a hammock for the vicar's visit, you know. I think this picture is the reason I bought the book twice. It makes me laugh so much. This is the photo used to illustrate the handmade hammock pattern and no comment is made about the fact that a minister is supping his tea in it.

I seriously love this fish mat. It's like a giant version of paper collage fish I used to make when I worked as a craft lady at after-school clubs. I must have spent months of my life cutting out circles to make fish scales. I get the feeling they made the lady's bikini specially out of the same fabric as the fish. She's certainly very coordinated.

This book has a brilliant section of things to make for children. These double-sided elephant/house cushions are a particular favourite of mine.

Again, orange featuring pretty heavily! Coincidentally, I was reading a book on the way to work last night and it was talking about the colours of childhood kitchens - cinnamon, sunflower and avocado. I liked that little description (and I had nothing else to say).

A lovely little embroidered doll's house. Can you see the lady leaning out of her window to water the plants? That'd be the life.

I want this wendy house for myself. That little girl has her brother well trained to fetch her cups of tea while she gets on with her knitting. Who'd have thought you could get your wendy house wired for electricity?! Or maybe they just boiled water over an open fire in there... I joke, of course. I've had plenty of imaginary tea in my life, don't you know.

I saved this project for last because I know some monkey fans read this blog now and again. Behold the monkey storage hanger! Go on, you know you want to make one.

make it, make it, don't fake it*

I think I mentioned a while back that I was planning to start sharing my craft book collection. I'm just planning to select books pretty randomly from my shelf every so often and post a few pictures here. I hope you enjoy this first installment.

Design And Make Greetings Cards

by Jan and Ted Arundell

Published by JM Dent & Sons, 1975

I would never normally buy a book about making cards (I always think you can work that out for yourself pretty easily) but this book had so many great images in it that I couldn't resist when I found it this weekend.

The two images above are examples of 3D cards.

Collaged trees using paper from magazines...

..and fancy wrapping paper.

Pen and ink drawings.

Seed collage - a classic! May require extra postage nowadays.

The things you can do with stickers.

This image is in the introduction, but I haven't managed to find the part of the book that refers to it yet, so I don't know what it is an example of. Other than greatness, of course.

This book even has a handy list at the back, entitled Some Occasions For Sending Cards. It is pretty extensive and includes:

Congratulations on coming of age/winning the competition

Wishing you well on the voyage

Invitations to parties/picnics/tea/theatre

It doesn't, however, mention sending cards just to say hello, which I think is the best reason of all. I sent three of those yesterday :)

I'll be back with another book soon.

*Have you seen Trash Humpers? I wouldn't exactly (ha ha!) recommend it, but that little phrase has kind of stuck with me.

I did also like the Three Little Devils song.

I ♥ GLASGOW

The David Shrigley exhibition at Kelvingrove is very fun. I also visited the Glasgow Boys' exhibition, which was good in a totally different way. They're both on until later this month, I think.

The lights and organ at Kelvingrove, where the building is as good to see as the exhibits.

This pink horse (also seen at Kelvingrove) is about 200 years old, but I can imagine finding it on etsy today.

I finally got to experience cake (and beautiful '50s decor) from Auntie M's Cake Lounge, when I took my mum and dad there this weekend. Here's my mum peeking out from behind my crazily delicious coconut sponge.

I had lots of other great food (and way too much to drink) with my mum and dad this weekend. This pink lemonade went down very well alongside a delicious goat's cheese salad from Kember & Jones. Yesterday, I had curry for breakfast (Yes, CURRY for BREAKFAST! So yummy!) at The Two Figs, but was too busy scoffing it to take a photo.

Here's a real vintage-style snack - a Wham bar (available in all good Glasgow corner shops!) in front of a beautiful old scooter. I know I look pregnant here, but I'm not. All this food has its downside, I guess... Ha!

The oldest newspaper boards ever, outside a corner shop near my work.

I love the look of this bakers. I also love the taste of its empire biscuits. Graham often buys me one when he's out cycling.

Old signs are everywhere. I love this one...

..which is on this lovely old-fashioned shop.

This has got to be the best name ever for a joinery business and this van always makes me smile.

Another van that's making me smile is this flat-pack miniature ice-cream van.

It's made by Finch & Fouracre and I got it in The Made In The Shade Maisonette. How cute?! I think I might have to buy myself a tenement kit to park it in front of.

Of course, you already know charity shopping is another Glasgow highlight for me.

This record made me laugh, though I did not buy it. Free entertainment!

So you can see I have been very busy (as well as working long hours last week and cleaning like a clean-freak so that my mother wouldn't be too ashamed of me). I was going to break this into four detailed blog posts, but thought the whistle-stop tour might be more fun for you and, er, less typing for me.

Visit (or move to) Glasgow. It's ace!

p.s. I am not being paid by the Glasgow tourist board... if such a thing even exists!