I made a couple of concertina notebooks this week, starting them when I went over to Janet's; appropriate as it was she who encouraged me, showed me hers & gave me tips on folding in the middle & folding back on itself etc. You end up with a shape dictated to you by the length the paper started with, which was fine as I was using up some old marked watercolor paper torn in half. I'm sure the formula for measuring & ending up with a square, if that's what you want, is out there somewhere!
I painted the insides with a wash of the base colors I'd used on the papers (I hadn't put them away yet, oh the mess that needs to be cleared up! on my list, of course ;) Then I used thinned a little gesso to make an area to write or draw in, just using my fingers to paint & going round & round, so gentle & theraputic. No fingerprints left anyway!
I've never made these before so I attached the ribbon behind the back 'end' paper just by glueing & pressing down, it seems to work well. There are many inspiring ways out there & Janet has a couple of mouthwatering tomes on bookmaking, but I wanted to start simply.
Can't wait to make more papers or fabric for further books. One day I'll have the courage to make beautiful mixed media pieces in themselves like Kim at Letting in the Light has. She's just opened an Etsy shop, too & that will surely encourage me to open mine, I've been talking about it for long enough!
I also made myself another earing after I lost the one I was wearing when I went to my first Zumba class. I knew as soon as I'd made it I'd find the lost one so now I have a spare. I haven't moved so fast at the class since running after my toddlers 15 years ago. It seems all the rage & the class has come to a village near me so why not? I've never done any Salsa either, but the teacher said if you're moving it doesn't matter. The more you wiggle your hips, strangely, the easier the steps are & when you're zooming right for 4 steps & you don't move back left in time you'll be sorry otherwise it was a great laugh...when I could get a breath! I gave it 110% & feared for my neck & back just after the class but having streched out well, no problems. Next week I'll try 90% & work back up gradually ;) I do look forward to Yoga starting back next week & I'm sure my body will benefit from the combination of these 2 classes.
The next page in 'Straps' was some lovely work by Janet Crowther on pin tucking, using a twin needle. Can't find any of her work but came across this you may aleady know about where you can read some of the articles, very generous!) Can you believe I have a twin needle from the 'old' days? ;) Unfortunately, when I inserted it I could see that it wouldn't be able to go down into the hole in the plate as the needle holding shaft has bent again. I think it's time for a service but not until I can find a machine in the loft that I was given in 1976....
Anyway, I skipped along to making a 'felt motif' These are usually made from black felt & colored with a wonderful mix of metalic thread with zigzag & embroidery thread couching them down. then you cut round the thread, snip out the center of the pattern & stitch down to more felt. You can then stitch inside all the shapes. Motifs can be attached to anything, a wall hanging, handbag, book cover. The best way I think is Maggie suggesting getting a sample or piece out of the 'failed experiments' box & 'just' adding the motifit creatively to the found piece , & adding lots more lovely stitching & that's what can be made into the above. Therefore, nothing has failed! I used a piece of ground which is the base of my cuffs & I grabbed the first 4 aged pieces of felt in the colors of sweets ;) Maggie had clematis flowers inspiring quite abstract motifs but I thought I'd start with the petal shapes, very much in my comfort zone. When I added the first pieces to the felt I thought I'd make a reverse applique effect on 3 petals so you could see a suggestion of the ground as well as the base felt, before stitching into the space. Another enjoyable experiment.
Welcome to my new followers, I think I found you in the grey picture area at the back but no links, do comment then I can visit, thanks!
I painted the insides with a wash of the base colors I'd used on the papers (I hadn't put them away yet, oh the mess that needs to be cleared up! on my list, of course ;) Then I used thinned a little gesso to make an area to write or draw in, just using my fingers to paint & going round & round, so gentle & theraputic. No fingerprints left anyway!
I've never made these before so I attached the ribbon behind the back 'end' paper just by glueing & pressing down, it seems to work well. There are many inspiring ways out there & Janet has a couple of mouthwatering tomes on bookmaking, but I wanted to start simply.
Can't wait to make more papers or fabric for further books. One day I'll have the courage to make beautiful mixed media pieces in themselves like Kim at Letting in the Light has. She's just opened an Etsy shop, too & that will surely encourage me to open mine, I've been talking about it for long enough!
I also made myself another earing after I lost the one I was wearing when I went to my first Zumba class. I knew as soon as I'd made it I'd find the lost one so now I have a spare. I haven't moved so fast at the class since running after my toddlers 15 years ago. It seems all the rage & the class has come to a village near me so why not? I've never done any Salsa either, but the teacher said if you're moving it doesn't matter. The more you wiggle your hips, strangely, the easier the steps are & when you're zooming right for 4 steps & you don't move back left in time you'll be sorry otherwise it was a great laugh...when I could get a breath! I gave it 110% & feared for my neck & back just after the class but having streched out well, no problems. Next week I'll try 90% & work back up gradually ;) I do look forward to Yoga starting back next week & I'm sure my body will benefit from the combination of these 2 classes.
The next page in 'Straps' was some lovely work by Janet Crowther on pin tucking, using a twin needle. Can't find any of her work but came across this you may aleady know about where you can read some of the articles, very generous!) Can you believe I have a twin needle from the 'old' days? ;) Unfortunately, when I inserted it I could see that it wouldn't be able to go down into the hole in the plate as the needle holding shaft has bent again. I think it's time for a service but not until I can find a machine in the loft that I was given in 1976....
Anyway, I skipped along to making a 'felt motif' These are usually made from black felt & colored with a wonderful mix of metalic thread with zigzag & embroidery thread couching them down. then you cut round the thread, snip out the center of the pattern & stitch down to more felt. You can then stitch inside all the shapes. Motifs can be attached to anything, a wall hanging, handbag, book cover. The best way I think is Maggie suggesting getting a sample or piece out of the 'failed experiments' box & 'just' adding the motifit creatively to the found piece , & adding lots more lovely stitching & that's what can be made into the above. Therefore, nothing has failed! I used a piece of ground which is the base of my cuffs & I grabbed the first 4 aged pieces of felt in the colors of sweets ;) Maggie had clematis flowers inspiring quite abstract motifs but I thought I'd start with the petal shapes, very much in my comfort zone. When I added the first pieces to the felt I thought I'd make a reverse applique effect on 3 petals so you could see a suggestion of the ground as well as the base felt, before stitching into the space. Another enjoyable experiment.
Welcome to my new followers, I think I found you in the grey picture area at the back but no links, do comment then I can visit, thanks!
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14 comments:
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Are you aching?
Hi, Emma. Pretty notebooks and your flower is smashing! Great way to start the new year--lots of energy!
best, nadia
YOur books are really wonderful, I love this format, and the way you handled the area to write in with the gesso was very creative Emma, I like, I like. xox Corrine
I love the concertina books - you have started the New Year as I meant to start mine - lots of creativity and plenty of exercise. Well done - fab example!
Your love of life and energy shows in your work Emma!
I was drawn immediately to your striking felt motive. Wish I could conjure up enough energy to create art and do some much needed exercise. The salsa must be fun. You go girl!
Love your notebooks, the pages add something extra. Look forward to seeing your Etsy shop.
All lovely things, gorgeous! you should definitely open an etsy shop...x
I love books and yours are so pretty and colourful. Thanks for the link to Kim and her beautiful books too. Another lovely piece from Straps.
your notebooks are really wonderful - I'm sure you can make mixed media pieces into them - your work is so inspiring!
Lovely work Emma ....x
I always want to get my sewing machine out when I see your blog!! That's called being inspirational...thank you! :o)
My Maggie Grey book came thursday and its a joy. I had been sewing sort of stripes for a long time ,but very simply and only used them for edges round quilts or cushion centers.I couldn't stop yesterday trying out other things. Many thanks for telling us about the book.
The 'Failed' experiments are often the best in the end because you don't mind really letting go on them and playing a bit. Best wishes, Jackie
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