Sewn Bookmaking Part 2....

The Leftover Bits.....

Well then, this is all that is left....

If you've read my previous post, I've been

busy making a Sewn Book Project 

for what seems like months....grin....

So please do, if you haven't seen, go have a boo

at the previous post!

I've taken one of those lovely carrying bags from

Michaels Craft Supply and tried to use it in as

many things I can think of to make....

Being the previous project was my first try at this,

I was pretty stinking pleased with myself....grin...

and I have received a few questions about the strap,

as I cheated not using the straps from the bag, 

( they'll get incorporated in some other project I am sure),

but what I used, was a 7Gypsies 'Book Bra'.

Seems they are no longer making these fabulous things

and luckily I had bought a dozen of them when they were

being closed out....wish they'd make them again.

Anyway....

Being one not wanting to waste any of the other side

of the bag used for the previous project, I decided to 

attempt to make one of those Midori type books that 

you see everywhere....

so.....

I gave it a shot....

Being that I have multitudes of art and craft supplies

I found I had everything I needed to attempt it...

I was thrilled that it worked....

but being that I've been working with this 

same pattern through both projects, I decided to

throw in some other colour.....

That worked.....grin...

It's fairly large, as inserts can be up to

a 5 x 7 inch...so I've begun now cutting

and sewing signatures to tuck in for future

creative journaling....(used an old cover from

a used up Moleskin journal, waste not, want not)

there was just one more piece left, a bottom

section of the bag.....what the heck...

a zippered pouch for my rulers....grin...

So as you can see from this post and the

previous post....I've had some fun creative time!

Now to go in search of some more bags.....grin...

Hope you can find some creative time for yourself!!

Make it so! And Enjoy!!

Already September!

How did that happen?

Hey All, Me here, and it's been so busy!

Spent much of  the Summer Season with 

household projects rather put my mojo

on hold. We did manage to get some major

projects competed, both back porch and front

deck rebuilt, plumbing issues taken care of,

and the usual touch up painting and re-staining

of cedar shakes and we're still up to our necks

in window washing and gutter cleaning the 

next month preparing for the change of the Seasons.

So once I found some mojo and me time,

it seemed I couldn't figure out what to do first...

So grabbed this lovely little cup and saucer a dear

friend sent me years ago, and made a quick pincushion.

Well one thing leads to another, dragging out an old sewing

machine ( nicknamed 'the clunker'), as my other machines

are strictly for fabric use...as I had a plan....

I came across a wonderful older workshop on the internet at

Dispatch From LA

Well that just sent me off on a whole new adventure....

First I had to make 

Signatures for my 

Sewn Book Project

and even though the workshop was for 'found' ephemera,

I switched it up to use tons of my scrapbooking supplies

and papers, and incorporating by sewing in some of 

my printed digital graphics, handmade tags, and other

assorted goodies I've made and collected over the years.

It's taken weeks of pulling together all the bits and bobs

of inspiration, and figuring out how to sew it all together.

But it's been one of the most fun projects I've taken

on for years. 

I certainly don't profess to be a seamstress,

as I tend to not do things as perfectly as many

in the sewing field do, but this was right up

my alley, as I could just sew away on the old

clunker without worrying about perfection.

Making the signatures has been so much fun!

Then came the cover....

Veering off from the Workshop....

I've had this really colourful and pretty tote bag

from Michaels hanging around my art room for

the past few years, so I thought I'd try cutting it up

and using it to make the cover.

I still have to hand sew the signatures into it,

but had to put it all together to see if it was going to work.

Please to say, the experiment was a success!

Even the inside worked to boot!

So as I said, still have to hand sew in the signatures,

and may even make another set to tuck in as it seems

another set of pages just might fit...

Being it was a large tote bag, it seems I have the other

side of it for another project....hmm......wheels turning already for the next project.

Isn't that how it always happens!

So that's what I've been up too during this long quiet

spell on Birdnuts Mixed Media this Summer...

and just a quick mention....

It was our Oliver Howard's 16th Birthday

last Sunday!

( Where the heck did the years go!)

We were overjoyed at the pouring of love and affection

and sloppy kisses from all of his 

Internet Aunties on Facebook 

this past weekend! 

Huge Thank You's to Everyone!

In our home....Dogs Rule....

grin...

and Birds too!

So that's what has been going on....

Already getting going on my second sewing book project

so another blog post in the works soon!

Until then...

Get Inspired and Creative!

Enjoy!