Tuesday, September 12, 2017

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
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!




















6 comments:

Kim Collister Studio said...

Denise,
I love love that you used a tote bag!! I have several books made from them and I love collecting them as they have a world of uses! Your book is just awesome!! I am happy to be in the ranks of "Happy Sewers", anything else is way too stressful for me! Way to SOAR chickie and I look forward to seeing more of your tote bag journey. You have inspired me to dig some of mine out. Kisses and Hugs to precious Oliver..I hope he's not to full of cake!
xx

suzyb said...

Really do love that wee book. I adore the tag too Denise. Oliver Howard doesn't look a day over 15. He is amazing. Sixteen is a good age for any dog.

Denise Phillips said...

Thanks Kim! I've had that bag hanging on a hook in the art room for years, but never used it as I have a myriad of reusables, and it was just so pretty, one thing led to another, and the idea hit, what if I cut it up. It sewed like butter, which was a pleasant surprise. Now I have to keep an eye out for more of them :) And no cake for the boy, dogs can't have chocolate, but canned wild salmon is his treat :) Thanks for the encouragement! xx

Denise Phillips said...

Thanks SuzyB! Had fun making this project, and it's still being worked on currently, lots to add on the inside, another post in the not so distant future :) And yes, 16 is a brilliant age to make it too, we're thrilled, as anything past about 10 is a crap shoot in my book :) Thanks again!

Kate Yetter said...

Your journal is so lovely! I just started incorporating sewing into my journals and I am loving the extra texture it adds. I love your use of ephemera and unusual images. So pretty!
Kate

Denise Phillips said...

Thanks so much Kate! Isn't it fun to work on! I'm enjoying the process of incorporating the sewing machine as well, and I'm particularly lucky to have the 'old clunker' to ruin ....grin....