Thank you to Random T Tours for my place on the blog tour.
My Thoughts
I was really intrigued to read this because I am not a very crafty person but, I love other people’s creations, I was also very curious to read about the author, an established BBC correspondent setting off in a camper van! This is a really captivating and enjoyable book, I appreciated the way the crafts vary in ability level and materials and equipment needed; there is something here even the likes of me can take on! The step by step instructions are very clear and concise.
But, the book is more than craft ideas, it is a very atmospherically described journey, both metaphorically as Mary Jane leaves her esteemed job at the BBC to travel, and physically as she travels in Bambi the campervan to very beautifully described locations. I felt transported along with her.
The places Mary Jane visits are so vividly described; the scenery, the foods, the languages and the locals. I enjoyed reading about her new experiences like wild swimming in France and staying in campervan sites. I really enjoyed this and it gave me the feeling of a holiday in a book. It made me want to seek out crafters and makers when I am able to travel. The thrifty tips for things to pick up as craft materials were very creative and I know I will be doing this when I go on my travels. There were also amusing tales of people she met along the way, which made me laugh! On a more serious note, the book made me more eco-aware and conscious of not being so quick to thrown things away that can be fixed. I did feel ashamed of my current sewing abilities!
I read this on a kindle and so it would be a very easy book to take along while travelling, to provide inspiration and to serve as a check list for things you might want to pick up and craft with, the images are also visible on an e-reader. Equally the hardback would make a wonderful reference guide and I am sure will be on many wish lists!
This is a very light-hearted, inspiring and enjoyable book, it really gave me a zest to be more creative, travel more and not be afraid to try new things.
The author has a wonderful way with words, as well as crafts; the perfect combination for such a beautiful book.
The Blurb
In 2016, Mary Jane Baxter did what many people dream of: she quit her job at the BBC, rented out her flat and headed for the hills. Her home for the next few months was an upcycled 1986 Bedford Bambi campervan with a top speed of 60mph. She raided skips for vintage wallpaper and scoured second-hand emporiums to source stylish vintage accessories, creating her own travelling craft studio, packed with everything necessary for crafting on the road.
She then set off around Europe searching for inspiration, travelling from Belgium right down to the Cinque Terre in Italy then around France and up to Scotland. Armed with her trusty hand-cranked Singer, she spent a summer sewing on the go, foraging in flea markets, meeting artists and hosting pop-up events to help fund her trip. Like creatives the world over she decided to see where her travels would lead her and returned with a head full of new projects.
Fortunately, there s no need for you to give up your job, wave goodbye to your family and rent out your house in order to re-ignite your own creativity; Mary Jane has done all the hard work for you. Sew on the Go is her guide to carving out more creative space in your life. From decorating your own budget-conscious bolthole to achievable projects including clothes and fashion accessories, beautiful gift ideas and child-friendly makes, this book is the ideal companion for those who dream of devoting more time to their craft.
The Author
Mary Jane Baxter is a writer and craft expert. She worked as a BBC journalist for 12 years before leaving her job as a foreign reporter and producer to train as a couture hat maker. She worked with milliner to the stars Stephen Jones in London, did a stint with Marc Jacobs in Paris, and sold her first collection to the Harvey Nichols flagship store in Knightsbridge.
She runs textile and millinery courses across Europe and writes and reports on fashion, craft and creativity for BBC television with her latest appearance as a judge on BBC’s Paul Martin’s Handmade Britain. Mary Jane also writes columns for Homes & Antiques magazine (Style on a Shoestring), and Sew magazine (Stitching in the City); and writes features for the BBC, Guardian, Mollie Makes and Cloth magazines.
maryjanemillinery.co.uk
Twitter @MaryJaneBaxter
Rutherford Reads 
Thanks so much for the blog tour support x
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