A Stack of Journals

I love stacks of stuff. 

And, I love to see a stack of progress. I am busy making more art quilt journals. I am finally getting back on track with my Etsy shop and might be doing some craft fairs this summer. Time to get a move on! 

I like Messy

I made myself a sketchbook cover for my Moleskine.  Time to try some stuff.

Drops of Daler Rowney acrylic artists ink onto denim.

Stitch all around it.

Sew on a messy loop with some scraps. Perfect for my pen.

View of the back. I like how it creeped along the side.

Some day I will run out of this fabric I dyed in a class years ago- until then, it's my fabric to do test runs with.

Insert sketchbook. Ready to travel.

I'll never be a redhead...

Believe me--- I really have tried to dye it three times. It ends up as an icky, rust orange color.

For now, I put these in my all inclusive fabric journal. We'll see if I make enough to give them their own home. 

Also, I have to thank Jill from Recycled Daze----I love when a blogger is having the same problem as me and posts about it--- I was about to freak out on the uploading pictures! Google Chrome worked for me too, Jill! 

A belated Happy New Year!

Goth Girl Gets Quilting

Goth girl has some color!

 

It's like the Manic Panic hair dye I used in highschool!

 

( I don't know why my dad didn't like my blue hair.)

 

 

I think I'll add some embroidery detail in those boxes.

 

XO

 

 

 

More Pages in the Works

More painting and sewing...

 

 

She's my little Goth girl.

 

Art Journal: In Paint & Stitches

Hello!

I have been inspired to do more art journaling since joining the meetup group in Indy. I like to sketch and doodle, but I usually don't love it. That is, until I start doodling and sketching with fabric and mixing things up.

So, I started a new fabric journal. This gal is painted with acrylics and stitched---had to dust off the free motion foot. Gonna need some more practice with that. But, that's the great thing about making things for me--- there can be some loose threads and funky harsh lines in what should be a swirl.

 

 

I'm going to take it to the journal group tomorrow and sew on some words and play with embroidery. We'll see where the book goes.

Making Things....

I adore this fabric...what mail lover wouldn't, right?

So, I made this mini moleskine fabric journal tonight.

I plan on making all kinds of things this 3 day weekend! I can't wait!

not as delicate as it seems...

I have added some beads and a button as a closure.

I have to just look at it for a few days. I'm not sure I like this bright button. I need to find a small natural colored one. I'd like the beads to be the only bold color.

They look really delicate, don't they? I was surprised at how strong they really are. To do the stitching I had to poke holes with an awl first. Every time I add something I think I'm going to break it or dent it in, but even with my clumsy hands it holds up.

In case you missed the first post, the content reads

" We all contain beautiful and delicate art."

Big News! I opened an Etsy Shop!

I am so excited to tell everyone about my new Etsy shop, The Red Tin!

I decided to jump in and give it a try. I have nothing to lose!  I have been busy getting it all set up and making new products for my new business. I will be adding more items all this week. I wanted to have some new items I haven't shared on my blog and maybe you haven't seen from me. I am really excited about the new fabric and felted sketchbook covers I have been sewing. They are like art quilts for a Moleskine journal!

This one is in my shop...

 This could be hung up as an art quilt too!

I am really excited for this new adventure. And, thank you to all the friends out there who have been so encouraging, urging me to open up shop!

Feel free to tell your friends and spread the word. I'd really appreciate it. Wish me luck!

Bundle materials become book page

This year I participated in the Erosion Bundle Project. If you missed the post of what I placed in mine, and the results of months in the elements,  you can see it here.

I started out with this fabric book page for my ongoing art journey with fabric. I used fabrics and felted wool, lace, metal rings, and an old postcard to my Grandma. I loved the way the feather become affixed to it, and brushed on a layer of encaustic wax to seal it in. I added some embroidery for a little more texture.

I still have more to come, just waiting on the inspiration. 

I have really enjoyed seeing what amazing things people are creating with their bundles. Go check them out! You won't be disappointed.

Thanks everyone for stopping by. I always enjoy hearing your comments. It makes my day! xo

Finished Book Page

I finished my fabric book page with the Robert Frost quote. Added some lace and buttons and placed it in the book. Page two complete. More to come.

Poetry Sentiment

I started working on a new page for my fabric book. I was recently inspired by this Robert Frost quote. I hand wrote it onto fabric and dipped it in encaustic wax.  I liked the way the stitches looked on the encaustic.  I am still playing with the quilting and layout but like where it's headed.

" It is absurd to think that the only way to tell if a poem is lasting is to wait and see if it lasts. The right reader of a good poem can tell the moment it strikes him that he has taken an immortal wound- that he will never get over it.  That is to say, permanence in poetry, as in love, is perceived instantly.  It hasn't to await the test of time.  The proof of a poem is not that we have never forgotten it, but we knew at sight we never could forget it."

- Robert Frost

Fabric covers for little notebooks

Making some little gifts for friends. Quilting some covers for the small 2''x4'' notebooks.

Bloom

The inspiration at Take A Word this week is BLOOM. I made this fabric notebook cover with a floral print a friend gave me years ago.

I also played around a little with some quilting designs in the newest Quilting Arts magazine.

Hope you all have a great week and Spring comes soon!

A Wedding Gift

It just so happened that I came across some hilarious (slightly embarrassing) photos of my cousin just in time to make a gift for his new wife-to-be this Saturday. I will not post them here but let's just say it was at the Burning Man festival in Neveda and people wear some crazy stuff.

I made a quilted mini book/ frame. One picture can slide in the side of the frame and others are held in the pocket. I thought this would be pretty to take to the office or meet friends and show off a few wedding photos.

My Mom is taking it to the wedding in CT. this weekend. I hope she likes it and I hope the family has a good time looking at the photos. At my wedding a couple people had made me albums with pictures from childhood, highschool, and college, and we had a great time looking through them. Also, there are always people at the wedding that didn't know you when you were younger and it's fun to see those other sides of folks.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Fabric Book Journey Continues...

I have been working on a new fabric book. A few months ago I made a fabric book for a Longfellow poem (you can see it here) and realized I needed to work out a better way for the binding. Thanks to Anni at Fabric Art I ordered Pam Sussman's book and it has been so helpful! I started out with the most simple (looking) type of book and started construction. For the most part it turned out nicely but I should have made the cover larger to fit in all my intended pages. Serves me right for not actually measuring and following instructions!

I added on some ribbons, lace, bling, and stitches.

Made some pockets for a couple pages.

My friend Deborah had a good idea for using a fabric book to pin in embroidery projects while they await their fate. I threw in a sketchbook too. I thought this book may work nicely for a travel companion of embroidery and art. It'll keep it all together.

I was really happy with this embroidered girl. She might need a jewel for her neck and I haven't decided what type of closure to use. I already have some more covers started and I'm ready to play around with more types of fabric books. I also saw that Lovey at Fabric Photo Memories has a new book on sale. Oooh, add it to the pile!!

Thankfully, I have a 3 day weekend with my sewing machine!