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Handmade books, slow stitching and more bargains from the charity shop

I'm still immersed in trying to uncover my family tree, but in between I've been catching up on 'The Archers' (George - what a nasty piece of work he's turning into) and re-watching the grim but compelling Scandi Noir series 'Wisting' on the BBC iplayer.  I've also been making a couple of art journals, using papers I'd painted and stenciled ages ago but that'd sat around waiting for me to do something with them.  There are certain crafty activities that're immensely pleasing and that definitely includes putting simple books together.  Compiling signatures, using a bone folder to make sharp creases in the paper, choosing fabric or a printed paper for the covers.  If I can get my act together I want to make three as Christmas presents, but with December just around the corner I really need to get a wiggle on.  
I'm also sewing another Jude Hill inspired piece of slow stitching.  A moon in a starry sky.  It's going to be a little wall hanging, & I've lots of tiny metal bells - saved from a broken Christmas decoration - to sew along the base of it, so it'll make a jingling noise if you brush past it.  
I'm still really enjoying 'The Girl in the Blue Dress' by Gaynor Arnold, and managed to add another four books to my never-dwindling-too-much pile of charity shop books waiting To-Be-Read.  I've read a couple of Janice Hallett books before, and they're very cleverly plotted, but don't think I've read anything by the other authors.  
I also spent four quid on this charity shop bargain, and I've been after a small bag with a crossbody strap for ages.  I'd wanted something I could use when I go out for a walk.  To carry the essentials - phone, house keys, tissues, lip balm - rather than trying to stuff them in my pockets and risk them falling out while I was doing a brisk circuit of the nearby RSPB reserve.  One of the charity shops I browsed in had a beautiful vintage Singer sewing machine.  Black with gold coloured letting on a polished wooden base.  I was tempted, and at £40 it was reasonably priced.  It was also certainly more handsome than its modern white plastic counterpart, but it's not like I'd actually use it.  So in the shop it stayed, and let's hope it'll make someone else's day to find it and take it home with them.  




 

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  1. Sharon15 November 2024 at 16:13

    I love your slow stitching piece. It's something I really want to try but have to add it to the crafts I'd like to learn list lol. Well done for tackling the to-be-read pile. I need to read more from my shelves!

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