Thursday 31 January 2013

Experimenting with leather and lace...


 Dear, oh dear what are we going to do with you....

Thank you for your cockade comments.  There is a future business in that somewhere...perhaps Hungary...

Bronte has put in a request for a leather rucksack (fashioned in the same way as this one here....I winced a little as with my RUBBISH (double emphasis) sewing machine that is a trifle ambitious.  That said it has been going round in my head ever since (along with a few other ideas that are still to come to fruition) and thinking how best it could be done.

I purchased special needles for sewing leather (pricey indeed)

I scanned charity shops looking for a cheap old leather jacket (or similar) to chop up for bag - last week I found a WONDERFUL jacket - the softest of soft leather and only 4.99 (to be honest I don't think that people realised that it was leather as the original label was furled up/faded plus the leather was so soft it appears to be fabric at first - my beady eyes spotted it).

Carried said jacket home - aloft - like 'Lion King' - chanting as I went!

 Bronte LOVED the jacket and now wears it all the time......

Back to the drawing board......

Hunted in cupboards and found some scraps for EXPERIMENTATION.  Following on from the tweed and lace post here I hoped that a leather and lace combination might look quite nice.

I went to insert pricey special needles into the sewing machine - with my not so beady eyes I had picked up 'needles ordinaire' by mistake but paid the price of pricey!!!  Undaunted I remained steadfast in my goal to experiment and see what happened.  I was very careful of the pedal pushing at first as I feared backthrust and blowouts! But lo - I found out that  'needles ordinaire' slice through  leather as a knife through lard!

Who knew!




This was a simple basic thing to make - just stitched the bit of lace to front and back.




Whilst rifling through some buttons I found one half of an old metal buckle so used that instead as a fastener.


I meant to sew this piece in the other direction but never mind.



I made two little snips to put my chosen ric-rac in and there you have it.  Took about 10 -15  minutes - including sorting time!

(Martha: "It shows").

 Remember this was an experiment and will do better .Next time in the leather and lace experiments I hope to reveal a rucksack!

Adding in some old photos of other 'doily' items that I have made -  so this is Bronte 'modelling' an old apron that I added bits to several years ago.


Funnily enough this apron does not look so trim around my own waist...





Doily bunting is simple to make - I think that this was for someone's wedding



Wistfully thinking about the return of Spring and flowers in the garden again


I lurve our old garden seat (Arts and Crafts - but no hearts) seen right at the bottom of this photo - it is the most perfect 'fit' and perfect design in my eyes.

In case of panic remember that I use damaged linens for chopping purposes - I have one or two of those......

Spring is around that corner - I can see it peeping....

49 comments:

  1. The leather bag is gorgeous ... hmm, perhaps I'll go back to our local chazzer and get the dodgy leather jacket I saw in there yesterday! Love the bunting in the sunlight too.
    Jenny - can you let me have your email address as I can never reply direct to your comments - you come up as a 'no-reply blogger'.
    M x

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    1. Lovely to hear from you Vintage Jane and thank you for your email
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  2. Hello Jenny:
    When opening up your posts these days, we do so with caution as we are afraid of what we might find. Leather and lace........what naughtiness could this be, we wondered.....surely not the lavatory seat cover?!!!!!

    Of course, we are completely bemused about all the discussion of sewing machine 'backthrust' and 'blowout' but we do love the garden bench festooned with jolly bunting and the most glorious Clematis. Roll on Spring indeed!!!

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    1. Hello again
      Back to be very cold here again - not a whiff of Spring today. I love Clematis - a very forgiving plant I find!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  3. the doily bunting is stunning.....what a gorgeous idea.....i just bought some sheepskin mitts for tuppence ha'penny with a mind to crafting something out of them....x

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    1. Bunting perhaps - for winter.....
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  4. Oh what gorgeous bunting. Just magical. And that apron. Lo, indeed you were doing granny chic before the term was coined and it became trendy!

    Must confess that aprons don't sit as sweetly around my waist either. No, I think apron modelling is best left to the young of heart and exceedingly trim of bod.

    I was in Brighton yesterday, a lovely sunny mild day , full of life and jollity and happy peeps milling about, and am sure I spotted Spring lurking in the lanes.

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    1. Dear wendz
      Brighton is indeed a lively place - Bronte is hankering to move there when she is older - or old enough.

      Cursing that I never wrote a book years ago wendz - ha ha. I have found some 10 year old photos where I have made bunting from some old embroideries for Bronte's birthday party....always a few steps behind...
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  5. Love the apron and the bunting is gorgeous. Have a few doilies about the place - might just make some!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. Please do Liz - it is cheery for a dull day like today
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  6. This may be totally useless - and to be honest I may have got it all mixed up a bit - but my mum went to night-school to learn to make things in leather, and she always ran the threads across a block of beeswax - I'm just assuming it helped the threads to move better. The best thing she made, was a pair of gloves. I was impressed. Anyway looks like you've got it all under control - looking forward to seeing the rucksack.

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    1. Not useless in the slightest - very helpful. I also seem to remember my mum using toilet paper under the needle when sewing PVC for my sister's swinging Donovan cap and matching Mac!!! Thank you for the tip
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  7. Sew inspiring...I need to get busy. I was just having a poetic day and this fell out my brain. I think it probably belongs to you so I shall leave it here...

    There was a young lady called Jenny,
    Who never wasted a penny,
    She tried very hard,
    To buy just a yard,
    But ended up with too many!

    EE xx

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    1. Dear Eco Ethel
      How exceptionally kind of you! This is too clever by half and made me laugh indeed. It is also very, very odd as I have previously composed a post (but never published it) where I outline a Limerick competition (and I try very hard to find a word that rhymes with 'vintage' successfully). I may have to revive that post!
      Thank you again for your wit and kindness
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  8. Your little clutch piece with leather and sweet lace turned out cute!! And love the apron! Ok and I love the vintage doily bunting too!!! :) So pretty! I can't wait for spring and all the pretty flowers again....we are getting snow today.... Have a lovely Thursday! xo Holly

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    1. Ah yes - Spring flowers, just wonderful and uplifting don't you think. Please make some doily bunting = easy but effective.
      I hope that it is warm in your part of the world today
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  9. I am taken with the doily bunting. Is it attached to bias binding or ribbon?

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    1. Many thanks - I have used both over the years and also made my own bias binding (using that pin stuck in an ironing board method - a bit tricky to get started but works a treat). I tend to use up whatever is closest to my hand!

      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  10. You never cease to amaze me Jenny - the little clutch bag is wonderful, the apron is fab....I have one similar and some doilies, so must have a go at tittivating mine and I truly love doily bunting, it would look lovely in a tea shop :)
    x

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    1. Aw - thank you Barbara. If only I had a tea shop...
      By the way Barbara - it is fine if you don't - but do you have a blog so I could see your titivating!!!!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  11. Jenny Jenny Jenny!I love your leather and lace,but I ADORE the doily bunting,I spotted a piece with butterflies on (I think butterflies are heavenly!)Your spring garden looked gorgeous,that Clematis is stunning and the apron just fab.My poor hubby is starved of conversation as I spend sooo much time blogging!!He's out tonight though so I can blog away guilt free,Hurrah!!'bye for now Pam.

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    1. Dear Pam - I am sure that you can rustle up some bunting in a jiffy. There are indeed butterflies on some of them - in others that I have made there are teeny birds so nice for weddings and special occasions I think
      Take care
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  12. Love your leather bag! And the pinny! And the burning! Jille xx

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    1. many thanks Jille and thank you for calling in
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  13. When I saw the title of this post Jenny, I did wonder if perhaps something slightly kinky was afoot!! However, I love your lace collection and the bag is very pretty.I would have never thought of putting together leather and lace, very inspired!

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    1. Thank you kindly Anne - not sure if I will make too much more of it but it is good to give things a go and find out!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  14. You are a clever lady with your sewing and making of doily bunting. It's all very feminine and beautiful and makes me want to have my wedding day over again :o) Do lets see Ms. Bronte in her new jacket, I am most curious! I have sewn through oil cloth with ordinary needles on my machine and that seemed to work too xox Penelope

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    1. If I can persuade Bronte to 'dress up' I will! Did the oil cloth slip around when sewing? I quite fancy making panniers for my bike out of that!
      Thank you for kind words Penelope
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  15. The title reminded me of the Stevie Nicks song - Leather and Lace. Love the bag and the doily bunting!
    June

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    1. Ah yes - I have forgotten about that one - many thanks for kind words
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  16. You've done very well there Jenny, it can't have been easy sewing the leather. I adore that "doily" bunting and I might just have to pinch the idea if you don't mind, I'll be off to scour the charity shops this very day!! Lucey xx

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    1. Good for you Lucey and I look forward to seeing your bunting
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  17. LOVE, LOVE and LOVE some more YOUR doily bunting, Jenny! so very pretty and I bet looked wonderful at that wedding! We sell many vintage lace cloths and doilies in the little vintage shop where I spend all my hours and pennies, I may add! I wouldn't have thought of bunting for them! ~ Always lots of pretties on your blog!
    Happy Friday, Jenny!
    Love Maria x

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    1. Thank you Maria - I am sure that you could make some bunting too and festoon your garden with some. I could not work in a shop such as yours - too dangerous if you know what I mean!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  18. oh that bunting is fabulous!!! LOVE IT!

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    1. Thank you kindly claire - very easy to make, just takes a while to select the 'right' sort of doily!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  19. I made some bunting like that for a friend, (secretly wished I'd kept it!), is there no end to your talents....you will be doing something with rubber next! :) x

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    1. I am sure that you will be able to rustle up a bit more of that bunting Ada
      Rubber...now there's an idea
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  20. Having just spent a very enjoyable fifteen minutes catching up on everything that you posted while I lay in bed doing a very good impersonation of Jane languishing at Netherfield with a cold, I have added The Custards to the blogroll in Knitso's footer. So now even were I to be at deaths door I won't miss your posts again, in fact they'd be just the tonic I'd need :)

    PS I have extreme curtain fabric envy re. the (not) P&P linen.

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    1. Aww - thank you and I hope you weren't left thinking 'that's fifteen minutes I am not going to get back...'
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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    2. Of course I wasn't silly! Loved every second :)

      And thank you so much for the fabric offer, unfortunately I can't email you as requested as 'twould seem you're a no-reply blogger m'dear, which is a pity as I'd love to take you up on it.

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  21. SO glad I found your blog! I devote Saturday mornings to 'blog hopping' and today produced some really happy results. It's so much fun to find someone else who is a vintage addict/appreciator. It's Ground Hog Day here in the States - suppose to have an early Spring (YES!) -- Jan

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    1. Thank you for calling in and kind words - I hope that you didn't have to repeat everything on Ground Hog Day!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  22. it's amazing isn't it that all the 80's denim and leather jackets are getting snapped up again! I guess it all really does come around. I love the doily bunting in the garden! Heather x

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    1. Many thanks Heather - I thought of you yesterday as I was sorting through a cupboard and realised that Bronte has the same little red suitcase.

      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  23. Jenny, assuming you have a similar pile of doilies to me...I inherited some ( cough, lots) from a friend when her dad died....was wondering what to do with them......PVA glue to make bowls was top of the list, BUT bunting would be better AND you would get two swags out of one, excellent value. I sympathise with the machine, I have my mother's, circa 1968 singer, especially on heavier fabrics. But sadly doesnt do buttonholes. I have purchased a newer model but it rarely gets used....( to be onset bit afraid of all those swanky stitches).

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    1. What a sauce I have two more doilies in my 'collection' to think that I would have a pile!!! HO ho. I have made those bowls previously (see an old Christmas post I think) and easy to do = put choccies in for Easter perhaps? You are right in that a fancy machine is not usually needed - plain stitching is pretty much all I and my machine is RUBBISH at even that!
      Best wishes
      Jenny
      PS I hope that you well and you are busy sewing

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  24. I love the doily bunting, so clever!

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    1. Thank you Jay that is kind of you
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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