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Sunday 26 January 2014

Tweaking with flowers...



During the summer I managed to get to a bootsale  down in Southsea thanks to Maud...
I didn't find much really but what I did find I loved... amongst these was a brand new pair of Bench Jeans, they were seconds but nice wide legged, quite dark and my size... bit long... with a rather strange  6 pockets design (and that was just on the front ) but I thought worth the £2.50...

They looked a bit odd on... the bottom pockets not lying flat... adding a good 2-3" to both hips, so not great but I had a plan... with a tweak here and there...


First I needed to remove the tiny pockets..






                                                               


Choose the vintage fabric, Design then cut out my flowers...











I've also had to turn the lower pockets into a pretend pocket, sewing it together just under the seam but it now lies flat and I'm rather pleased with the outcome...




I added some little french knots into the center of the light blue...





French Knots...







You see one of the other things I found that day was this lovely  Embroidery Book from the early 80's







I'd been on the look out for a good book to learn some fancy stitches...









































I'm a spur of the moment sort of person, I'd need lots of ref books around so I can find out how to do something when I want to do it otherwise... I forget what I wanted to do or will have moved on in my head to other projects...

When I made Jewellery I used to draw each design out,  putting the stone and relevant silver all in a little bag awaiting the moment I fancied actually making it... Sadly I've still got tins of these awaiting the time my body will allow me to continue with that part of my life...
I still see designs whenever I look at things but no longer write them down... I found it all too frustrating!

Anyway I'm really pleased with this book, not sure I'll ever get round to trying them all but I now have a good selection of new stitches...

Back to the jeans, the hems will have to wait for me to find matching thread... been house bound for the last 8 days, spine again, this time trapping nerves too,  tis hard to colour match stuff over the internet!

Hope you've all been flood free this weekend...

Smiles Cass x






19 comments:

  1. Great idea for sorting out the pockets on the jeans - looks very pretty too. The embroidery book looks lovely with clear illustrations of different stitches for you to dip into for inspiration and practical instructions. I love old books. Looking forward to car boot sale weather again -I start to get car boot withdrawal symptoms which the charity shops just can't satisfy! Hope you have a good day. xx

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    1. Thanks... I only made it to one Bootie last year... sadly the charity shops around here seem to send any vintage stuff to specialist shops which are too far away for me... Luckily I'velots of things here to keep me amused. Cx

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  2. Sorry to hear you're also stuck indoors...at least we're not missing any good boot fairs with this weather. I like your subtle jean customizing idea, takes me back to the '70s...keep stitching. xx

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    1. Hope you are on the mend... things remain very challenging here sadly... Cx

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  3. Brilliant revamp on those jeans, hope you're able to get out soon :) xxx

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  4. So glad to have found your blog. Love the flower pocket

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    1. Thank you BB glad to have you on board... Cx

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  5. Great looking detail on your jeans! Hoping you'll be up and about soon, stay warm. x

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  6. Hi Cass. So glad you came by and I found you as a result. I am a frustrated embroiderer with only a Pinterest page to satisfy my love of it. When I had my accident two and a half years ago now, I came out of a two week stint in hospital wearing neck and body braces and with a burning desire to start an embroidery project. Because of the neck brace, I couldn't see to do it and by the time the brace came off, I just didn't have the time and the desire was more muted, so I've never got down to it. Looking at your book, I'm feeling inspired again.....

    Love what you did to the jeans - brilliant. Will add you to my sidebar.....

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    1. Thanks Em, glad to have helped to inspire you... Yes I can't look directly down because of my neck so machine sowing is a tad tricky. I thought a bit of hand sewing when I'm having to lie down might work... Cx

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  7. The jean pockets look realy good....

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  8. What a lovely idea Cass
    About a year or two ago I gave that same embroidery book to a charity shop...I wonder if it found its way to a car boot! I also had another one in the series (bought when first published) and when I went through it I found scraps of embroidery that I had done as a youngster....so now that would be vintage.....
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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    1. How funny to think my book may have once belonged to you too Jenny... Smiles Cx

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  9. What a lovely idea Cass
    About a year or two ago I gave that same embroidery book to a charity shop...I wonder if it found its way to a car boot! I also had another one in the series (bought when first published) and when I went through it I found scraps of embroidery that I had done as a youngster....so now that would be vintage.....
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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  10. What a great find this book is Cass. Whenever I am vintiguing, I hooe to find books like yours, but with crochet patterns, but I never find them.

    Love the way your jeans is turning out! You are a star at customizing!


    Happy sewing!

    Madelief x

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    1. Thanks Madelief... I do hope you find the book of your dreams soon. Cass x

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Thanks for popping by...
It is always lovely to receive a comment from you... smiles Cass x