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.

Have you ever dreamed of quitting your job and setting off on the open road to pursue your creativity? Sew on the Go is an inspiring road trip and a practical guide to crafting wherever you find yourself

About the Author

Mary Jane Baxter worked as a BBC news correspondent and producer until, four years ago, she quit her job and set off on a crafting adventure across Europe in a mobile studio. She is the author of two books, Chic on a Shoestring and The Modern Girl's Guide to Hatmaking, and has presented on fashion and craft for the BBC, most notably bartering her sewing skills for board and lodging in a series of films for Newsnight. She lives in London.

@maryjanemakes

Reviews

'I have only just discovered that the word thrift comes from the verb to thrive and if climate change and the pandemic have taught us anything, it is that in order to thrive, the human race must return to thriftier ways. In Sew on the Go Mary Jane reminds us of the huge spiritual comfort and joy in using our hands to mend, glue, darn, re-invent and re-imagine our surroundings, showing us that we can all make beauty with what we already have to hand. Goodbye to wasteful consumerism! Farewell inbuilt obsolescence! Welcome back creative thrift!' Emma Thompson

Book Information
ISBN 9781783529162
Author Mary Jane Baxter
Format Hardback
Page Count 208
Imprint Unbound Digital
Publisher Unbound