small offcuts of different coloured woods sewn onto a piece of leather -
backed with card. Holes for stitching were made with hole punch. thread
is an ecru coloured cotton perle 5
And now - today, I had one of those quick fix days when you just have to make something quick to fix you up.
So, I made a fanfold fabric book.
I started with some heavyweight interfacing which I cut to 13 x 10 cm. I am using four pieces. I like to use an even number because then you can fold it up with everything inside.
I laid them out on some prefused fabric, spaced about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart to allow for folding, and ironed them down.
Then I laid another piece of prefused fabric over the top, and ironed it down, so I had the interfacing sandwiched between the two layers. I ironed again on both sides to check they were well fused.
And then I had a little fanfold book that stands up on it's own.
I trimmed the edges up to the interfacing.
I played around with some arrangements of a few dimensional flowers I had lying around. I like the one on the right.
Then I chose some buttons to cover up the centres. The next little bit involved a lot of glueing and stitching. I stitched all the flowers and leaves and buttons down, then reinforced with a bit of fabric glue.I found a scrap of binding that matched both the front and back and attached it initially with double sided tape cut to 1/4 inch, then sewed it down.
Here it is almost finished - a bit of quick gratification!
The last thing I did was to make some cord by stitching the binding together, cut off a piece to make a loop and attach it to the outside , thren thread the cord through the loop and tie it up. I did not want to attach the cord tp the covers as I usually do, because then it would hang off when the display was open.
Pretty good for an afternoon's work!
I think if I were to do another of these which involved a lot of stitching, I would leave the fused fabric off the outside (and perhaps even the interfacing) until the items were stitched on.be easier to stitch that way, but it would depend on the items
There is a quote that says neccessity is the mother of invention, but I think maybe neccessity had a sister, called creativity.
Yesterday, I finally photographed a little book I finshed a while ago.
From the outside, I suppose it just looks like any old book. I used a coptic binding (or here)(with beads!) and recycled the cardstock from my paper and cardboard collection (otherwise known as my recycling baskets)
However, it's the inside that I really like (Beyond the fact that it sits so flat when open!)
It is made from bill envelopes, the kind with the cellophane window. I got this idea from Laura Kemshall in a design matters episode (It costs money to subscribe, but is certainly worth it)
My book is actually a little different to Laura's, but if you know me, you know I can never follow instructions without altering them. Same with rules - lol.
I cut my envelopes so that each one opens at the top and the window is a vertical strip in the front of each pocket. I wanted the pockets to be secure and only open at the top. I glued the spine part (what was originally the open top of each envelope) into a pair of paper slips or tip-ins which were then bound (I got this method from the new Cloth Paper Scissors Pages magazine. This is so full of great stuff!
Finally, I couldn't finish without showing my wonky beading on the spine. I do like making books like this - they are soo cute!
Thursday is for Things to do. Small projects which tend to serve as little breaks from work and keep the muse fresh.
If you know me, you know I am into just about everything.
Toiday's project is a tiny memory book.
to begin with, here are a couple of little books I made recently.
As you can see, I do tend to use green a lot.
Both of the books are constructed using instructions from the new Cloth Paper Scissors Pages magazine. This is so full of great stuff! The one on the left (in the first picture, top in the second) uses a coptic binding to bind together acetate pages, into which I have placed pressed leaves. There is an extra, white card attached with a ribbon to put under the page you are looking at since all the pages are transparent.
The other book (right in the first book and bottom in the second) is a paino hinge binding, which I find fascinating since all its needs is scissors and some bamboo skewers. It is also flexible, because you can easily add more pages, so great for journals.
Of course, I can't show you these techniques, because they are published, but I put together a tiny memory book using acetate pages which is very cute.
I used acetate sheets which come in A4/Letter size at office supplies. For this book, I cut the sheets into eight pieces, which I then folded into little leaflets.
One of the things that is neccesary in this book, is to secure the top and bottom of the leaflet so your memories don't fall out!
My first idea was to use double sided tape, but it shows a lot (top) even though it is supposed to be clear. On the bottom, and this is what I did in my dried leaf book, I used clear tacky craft glue and pressed the pages until it was dry. It worked quite well.
Here is what I used for this book.
Some covers cut from fabric paper and the acetate leaflets, and some ribbon for a tied binding.
First, I punched holes in the pages and the covers.
Next I used an awl to put sewing holes in the top and bottom of the leaflets.
I used some pearl cotton to sew the page edges. In this book, I am leaving to tops open to allow addition of items as I wish.
I used pearl cotton, you can used stranded embroidery cotton, however it tends to be a bit less durable after a few pulls through paper or acetate.
Then I simply tied the book together loosely with the ribbon.
And your little book is ready to add memories or trinkets to.
As you can see, I have not finished the sewing. This is an in front of TV job for tonight, lol.
For more ideas for dolling your book up with beads, ribbons, floss, etc, look at altered and fabric book sites and books, or just use your imagination!
today's inspiration
A couple of orchids which have just come out. I must remember next time to turn out the light in my studio.
Behind the top orchid, you can see some very old windows. These are antique casement windows with cute little latch windows and they cover the outside wall and look out on all my special potted plants, like these orchids.
Well, this has taken me all day! but the video is finally uploading. In the video I will be making a journal cover using a fibre entrapment technique to create a gorgeous surface.
As this is my first video, I hope you will excuse the fact that I accidentally clicked stop when I was supposed to click go and lost the second half of the binding section. So I have embedded a you tube video about binding below to assist if you need it.
If you want to make your own butterbox journal, you can find the tutorial here on Gwen Diehn's blog, although I heard about it from Melanie Testa.
I can honestly say that this was not my best sewing and next week's tutorial will be a little simpler (sigh) and use a better camera. My web cam is OK for face to face and hands on stuff, but not for sewing and tiny stuff, so I have glossed over the sewing bits.
Zippered Journal
Materials
Journal - all measurements depend on your journal, so make sure you have it handy before you start
A piece of fabric and a piece of tulle at least 2 inches larger on all sides than the opened out journal for the background
As you can just see here, the opened out book has been traced in chalk on the background
A piece of heavy interfacing at least 1 inch larger on all sides than the opened out journal
Double fold bias binding (this was left over from quilting) and a length of zipper by the meter
And of course lots of yummy embellishing thread I have used a selection of black, white and silver is varying textures)
Adding fibres
Back your Background with the interfacing. (because we are going to free motion over the tulle, we need a firm foundation so we don't need to use a hoop.)
Add your fibres, I added a light amount of feathered merino tops first.
Finish by layering and pinning the tulle over the top (pin outside the main area of the background)
The tulle is not strictly neccessary, but it will make the journal more durable. Free Motion
Set up your machine for free motion, with the feed dogs down, a darning foot on and any other tools you use. I use a silicone mat to help with slip during free motion. Just remember to take it off when you put the feed dogs up, or the dogs will not work!
Take your time and just sew swirls and circles all over the tulle until the threads are anchored
Cutting
Next, cut your fabric to an half an inch larger all around than the opened out book
Also cut two pieces half the size of your fabric and fold them in about a third on the long side
these will form the inside of the front and back. Place them with the fold to the centre and raw edge underneath and staystitch
Adding Zipper
After making this a few times, I think it would be easier to put the binding on first, then the zip, however, in the video I did it the other way around.
Using a zipper foot, start stitching the zip at the top right of the spine, and follow around, snipping at the corners to fit. Stitch only half way around, to the bottom right of the spine.
Unzip the zip, leaving the two sides in place and flip the unsewn half to the other side of the cover. Sew in place the same way
Slide the zipper head back into place, and bar tack each end of the zipper. Binding
Open the zipper out again and sew the binding tape to the inside edge of the cover, folding to form a mitre at the corners
fold and overlap the ends before stitching down.
Open out the cover and fold the binding to the front
Secure either by hand or using a straight stitch, folding the corners into mitres as you go
Add a journal, zip it up and off you go!
I have not had time to write detailed notes and put a PDF together for you, but will during the next week. I just hope my friend, whom this was made for likes it. It is her birthday today!
Without further adieu, here is the tutorial
And here is a short video on binding to help you if you need it.
This is from daystyle designs which is an excellent site.
Don't forget to check in tomorrow for how to use up all those scraps of thread and get some new fabric out of it!
