Spirited and Soulful Journals - Part Two!

Larger journal using Tim Holtz fabric. Sari ribbon closure and embellished charms/beads and shrinky dink pieces!

This journal has four signatures. I used a five hole stitching pattern for the signatures because of the size.

Inside cover has a notched collaged tuck filled with tags, envelopes and lots of ephemera!

Envelope made from old calendar pages filled with tags.

Lots of coffee dyed papers this is one of my favorites.

All of the centerfolds for the signatures have a V shaped pocket made from my old calligraphy books that have been cut up for collage and just this kind of thing! I’ve added tiny pieces of ephemera to the sewn in threads in the center of the signature.

More centerfold pockets

Back cover has calendar paper envelope filled with more goodies.

Spirited and Soulful Journals

I recently enrolled in a class with the fabulous Martha Lever. Martha is not only an accomplished artist, calligrapher and teacher, but she is the most loving, kind and generous soul. I loved the classes I took. Here’s some of what she so spectacularly taught me…

These hardbound journals are created from “quilted” fabric. Essentially, several pieces of fabric sewn together and cut down to make the covers. Martha used batik fabric and since I had a huge stash of it, I followed suit. I chose a post hitch closure with elastic for the book.

Bookplate cut from same fabric scraps

Three hole, four signatures

Martha led a tutorial of coffee dyeing papers. Incredible. I’d never had such fun results!

Inside cover pocket with tags

Believe it or not, another coffee dye paper…I never clean my stencils! Can you tell??

Lots of fun coffee dyed sheets!

There are four signatures in this journal. All signature “center folds” house a small paper bag cut from various vintage ephemera. Filled with tags and other items.

Move ephemera and paper goodies.

Back cover pocket with cluster and flap

Such a wonderful workshop during this most difficult time in our world. It sure was a breath of fresh air to devote my time and energy to such a great project and forget about all else!! Thank you Martha!

Remains Of The Day Book

A Mary Ann Moss online class taken several years ago…the idea is to incorporate papers and ephemera from our current bulging stash to serve as both a memory keepsake as well as a functional component in a journal to use as a scrapbook, daily diary writing, practice pages, or what ever it is that you’d like it to be.

Experimenting and Play

With left over inks from a project I was working on, I applied them to a large sheet of cheap watercolor paper.

After the ink was dry, the papers were torn down to create these small pamphlet style books.

Adding lettering with a graphite pencil

I especially appreciate the areas of white space and need to remind myself of this as I often tend to forget the value of doing so.

I always connect to my work in a special way when I am not at all concerned with the outcome and blissfully enjoying the process of creating!

Inspiration Journals

I've been making several of these books the past few months.  Some refer to these as Travelers Notebooks, some call them Fauxdori Journals (loosely based on the Midori Journals).  I was taken wholeheartedly by Donna Downey's "Inspiration Journals" and had to create my own.  These are not difficult to make and house two, three or sometimes four signatures.  I've used different papers for the signatures on all the books I've created so that I can compare

I can hardly wait to start filling the signatures.  I have lots of ideas!  These books are made of fabric covers, different patterns for the outside and inside covers.  I used a fusible web material sandwiched in between.  I also sewed around the perimeter of the book.  Added an elastic and button closure.  Signatures sewn to the covers with ribbon and fabric.  

I also used eyelets to secure the closures and signatures.  These are great structures.  I enjoy the frayed edges, threads, and organic feel of the books.  Give it a try and let me know if you have any questions.  I'm here to assist!

Pocket Journals

Creating these little gems is great fun.  Although I typically create in a larger format, these small books hold a unique charm of their own.  Filled with completely random and multi size sheets of papers that will make up your signatures, you can begin to use your ever growing stash of bits and pieces of papers that you never wanted to toss!  Ledger paper, dictionary papers, text book papers, music paper, maps & atlas paper, deli sheets, watercolor paper, painted and paste paper sheets, photocopies of your favorite images/quotes...and the list goes on.  

The tactile and textural quality of these canvas books is the real beauty of them.  In addition, the ribbon sewn signatures, stick and elastic closure, and decorated covers make it a one-of-a-kind treasure.  I'm swooning over these.

More Books

I enjoy recycling old, vintage books.  I can sometimes find these at the Goodwill or local Thrift shops.  I was a huge fan of Nancy Drew novels growing up so I was excited to snatch this one for under two bucks.  Using an xacto knife, I carefully cut out the text block near the spine on both the front and back of the book.  Using a previously sewn text block, I attach it with end papers on both the front and back.  For this one, I added four signatures of 140 lb. watercolor paper, sewing each signature individually into the spine.  

The photos below are a hardbound book using different fabrics for the spine and the covers.  This book has several signatures sewn together to create a text block that was attached to the covers with endpapers.  

T-Shirt painting

I happened to see a woman with a t-shirt on the other day that happened to have this quote on it..."Find Your Tribe; Love Them Hard".  There was also a feather on it.  I tried to get to her and ask where she was able to find this, but I was busy with a customer at the time and I couldn't get to her.  When I got home, I looked on the internet and couldn't find that shirt anywhere. There were others with this quote on it, but none that seemed to appeal to me.  

My mom always said, "Necessity is the mother of invention" so I decided to make my own!  I love it!  I used Sharpie Stained Fabric marker in black for the lettering.  I also used some feather stencils for the images.  The pigment was Liquitex Heavy Body Muted Grey.

This was a first for me, painting on clothing.  I was reluctant to risk ruining any of my tops, so I went into Goodwill and snatched this great tunic t-shirt for under $4.  There was a senior discount that day!!  Yikes.  My first for that, too.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Pocket Journal

The first of many to come!  This is approximately 5.5 x 5.0.  Small.  I'm not accustomed to working so tiny, but this is fun.  The covers are painted and stenciled canvas, hand painted sticks were used for the spine and side closure with elastic.  Sari ribbons for embellishment.  The credit goes to Rae Massigiman who created this great online class.  I'm a fan.  My next pieces will have the same flavor, but a bit larger in size.  Perhaps serve as a small "watercolor journal" with watercolor paper, arches text wove and other mixed media papers to create on.

Handmade Bali Lanterns

My friend Chuck came by last week and we took the time to assemble our hand painted Bali Lantern.  This is a technique that we learned from the very talented Lisa Engelbrecht.  It's hard to believe she's no longer with us, but believe me, she was with the both of us in spirit last week.  Her DVD entitled Hand Lettering on Fabric; A Bali Lantern Workshop.  It's a great video.  Her enthusiasm and charm is such a warm and welcoming invitation to this project.

We started by painting our muslin fabric.  The size of the lantern is up to your own imagination, but I created mine 8.5 X 11 size, the same as the video instruction.  Because I messed up on one of my panels, my lantern is three sided.  I'll make more of these and post up. The next one will definitely be four sided!

My panel pieces don't have any embellishments.  Lisa's lanterns are full of gorgeous detailing and embellishing with ephemera, doo-dads and hand stitching.  Using gel pens, gold powder, metallic foils and more.  She even cuts windows out of her muslin panels for light to shine through.  I'll play with those things on my next go around!

Making the tassels is great fun and so easy.  Give me a holler if you have any questions on this project.  It's definitely worth the time and effort!

Recycling Papers

In my studio, underneath all my inky projects are large sheets of kraft paper to cover my work surface and allow for some cushion.  Over time, these sheets become quite filled with all kinds of marks, smears, overflow and more.  I like to save these sheets and reuse in my art projects, this being one of them...

This under-paper has become the cover for a trifold pamphlet booklet I'm fond of making.  This one, with a twist...

With an elastic closure and inside sewn signature.

I enjoy recycling papers, always a new and different look when it's cut, sewn or otherwise.  

pamphlet books

I love these little booklets and notebooks for several reasons.  Everyone needs a small notebook to tuck into their purse or bag, keep in the console in the car, by the bed stand or anywhere we need to jot a quick note, reminder or message.

The really great thing about them is that they were all created with scrap papers from previous projects.  Wondering what to do with all those gelli plate prints?  This is a great way to upcycle them.

pamphlet booklet; suminagashi covers

My favorite reason why I love this structure is because the booklets are actually two signatures sewn as one.  Clipping the two signatures together, an awl will create the three holes in both signatures at the same time.  No needle necessary.  Thread the holes using wax linen, tie in the center and it's done! 

These little gems make are also great for gift giving or using instead of a greeting card. I'll share the detailed instructions soon.

bookbinding play

My dear friend Drora came to visit me not long ago for our four day annual art retreat here at my home.  Drora was fortunate enough to study with master bookbinder Tim Ely at FOBA in Oregon a few years ago.  We made these little gems. 

It is a nifty structure, unlike any other book I've bound.  The process is addicting!  There are more steps in the process than I'm used to, so creating multiples was good practice and experience.