Basket

Monday 6 July 2015


Last year, I bought a basket in the Toast sale. Do you remember it here?

I liked it a lot despite it not being the most practical of shapes and proceeded to use it for part of the summer lugging it to various cricket matches and on days out. And then one day, I heard a "twang" and I felt something give. That was the first handle. Ten minutes later "twang". You guessed it. The second handle broke :o(

I didn't bin it. That would have been too easy. Instead I fixed it.

This is the 2015 version. 



See those gorgeous new (slightly weathered looking) leather handles? I'm rather delighted with them. I ordered myself some leather straps from Ebay and took them to the cobblers and asked if they would be so kind as to attach them for me. And they did! 





I'm rather pleased with how they turned out. Infact, I think the basket looks better than when it arrived with the straw handles. It got it's first outing this year for the cricket gala I went to yesterday. 



H&M Blouse (No longer available), Zara Jeans (old), Hobbs NW3 Sandals (old), Toast Basket (old)


I love a happy ending don't you?

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Last Note :

  • Have you mended/altered anything lately to give it a new lease of life?
  • I ordered my leather straps from this Ebay seller here.





29 comments

  1. I prefer leather handles, less scratchy. Stylish as always.
    Sue x
    Bestfriendstyle

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    1. I definitely prefer the basket with the leather handles I've put on. The original handles weren't scratchy but I'm not sure if the raffia or whatever material they were made off had dried out too much and were a bit brittle. But at least we had a happy ending on this.

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  2. Brilliant idea Sue....love the leather handles, so much more practical too! I have a basket with short handles, I'd prefer a longer handle so I could throw it over my shoulder so I may just give this genius idea a whirl! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration! xx

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    1. I think I was lucky in that it was quite a simple modification. I don't think it will work with all baskets - it depends on if there is a suitable gap which you can feed the leather strap through. But yes, I prefer something you can put on your shoulder too.

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  3. Love this, Sue. You're so resourceful. I'd chuck it away and never think of doing that. I love it with leather handles. Lynne xx

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    1. Well the rest of the basket was in pretty good order and it looked simple enough. I just didn't want it going to waste - it was too pretty.

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  4. That's ace - toast should have made if with those straps in the first place...far nicer! I've just left in my hush strapless maxi to be made into a midi with straps! Far more practical and wearable as it was always a big too long & liable to be stood on....with Janet Jackson-like consequences!! X

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    1. Well to be honest, if they had made it with leather straps in the first place, the original price of the basket would certainly be more justifiable (it was £70 originally - I got it for £5!). And your tweak on your dress sounds like a brilliant idea - I have that problem with maxi dresses too especially when going up stairs. You somehow always manage to step on the hem and then it's "hello boys!".

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  5. Genius idea Sue - you are so creative! x

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    1. Thanks Natalie. Resourceful even or just too tight to splash out on a new one!

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  6. It looks like it was always meant to have leather handles. Great substitution/repair.

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    1. Thank you. I have to admit - I can't imagine how it was before now. It's like you say, it looks like how it was always meant to look.

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  7. you clever thing, `I would of just got so upset and thrown it away or used it for toy storage. I rubbish with giving clothes new lease of life, but a dab hand at giving furniture new lease of life with a lick of paint. x BWT I love it with the leather handles and it compliments your shoes and outfit to perfection.

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    1. You're another diy'er too. I love decorating - I was forever with a paintbrush in my hand before I had the boys. But I'm coming round to it again - the house is looking a little tired from all the grubby handprints. And I have to admit, I was very pleased with the leather straps when they arrived - they couldn't have been more perfect. I actually did this last year but only blogged it now. Tardy is the word.

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  8. Love the new look basket. I'd quite like to give my face a new lease of life but that's very expensive and not really what I'm about. Perhaps you could sort it out for me?!!

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    1. I can do baskets but not faces sadly - I am in the same predicament as you!

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  9. You really are the most resourceful person I know! And yes ... the leather handles are much classier! Good job ... as ever, I'm in awe :)

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    1. No - it's just that I can't leave things alone. I like to fiddle until I get things right or else they niggle!

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  10. Love the bag and your blog! Excellent fix though Toast should be ashamed of themselves for selling something that broke so quickly. Thanks for sharing your inspired solution.

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    1. Thank you about the blog - that made me smile. I didn't contact Toast about the basket as it was in their final sale and I knew they probably didn't have any replacements. If they had refunded me, it would have been just £5 (all it cost me) and I would have had no basket. For the small price of the handles and the cobbler to make the change, I still have a perfectly good and better looking basket than before - yay!

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  11. Hi Sue! Think of all that money you're going to save on the Clare V bag you no longer need! I love this thrifty story. In fact, I just gathered together a few things to alter/take up - it's nice to be organised and not just chuck unworn/broken things in the charity bag.

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    1. It doesn't work like that Ellie! I have this basket but I still want the Clare V bag. I've done a scout round for it and have spotted it still available on a couple of sites. You never know .. I might bag it yet. Boom boom ;o)

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    2. Haha! You know you will own it by the end of the summer. It's such a BUMMER we have to pay so much import tax on US goods... I love Madewell and it's so reasonable in the States, but too expensive here once you've added on the tax. Humph.

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  12. Love this! and I love a bargain!

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    1. I have to admit, it was an utter bargain when I got it. So I kind of excused the fact that the handles went on me.

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  13. Just perfect - I love the leather straps! I love eBay and Etsy for all sorts of little things you need but aren't quite sure where to find them! x

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    1. I default to Ebay first to find bits and pieces and anything which is a little more arty and quirky, I go to Etsy. And then I get sidetracked and buy all manner of things which I never knew I wanted or needed.

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  14. You are super clever Sue, love the bag love that you have brought it back to life! xx

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    1. I thought it deserved a second chance and didn't it come out well? t think your little silver fringed basket has stood you in good stead since you got it - I can definitely tell that you like that one!

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Susie So So