Hand Stitched "Coach" Book

Hi, Everyone,

What do you do with a "Coach" Gift Bag left over from your Christmas shopping?  Well, make a hand stitched Book of course!

I carefully cut the bag in half, then wrapped each piece around black chipboard for the front and back covers, using extra heavy gel medium as the glue. I made 7 signatures from coffee stained paper that I died in the summer, wrapped each signature with a kraft/white doily patterned paper, then Coptic Stitched the book together.  A 7 Gypsies brown Journal Belt keeps the book closed neatly. The gift bag had beautiful gold grommets.  The back grommets are left as is, but I pierced holes through the front ones with my Big Bite and tied a wide white ribbon to dress it up.

Have a look!

This book took me about 4 hours to make from start to finish.  I absolutely love how it turned out.

Have fun creating!

Breakfast at Tiffany's . . . has begun

Hi, Everyone,

What do you get when you combine Vintage Piano Scrolls, Drywall Compound, and Canvas?
Well, my new Canvas Book entitled Breakfast at Tiffany's.  Stay tuned for all the photos of the pages as they are created.

Have fun creating!

My Love of Poppies

Hi, Everyone,

Recently I was given a black Dylusions Square Journal from my dear friend.  I knew then it was the perfect Journal to showcase my Love of Poppies because of the black background.  Adding hand or machine stitching to my Art Books makes me happy. . . so does adding beautiful cross-stitched or embroidered pieces to the pages.

I wrote My Love of Poppies with a pencil on antique linen then used black embroidery floss to hand stitch the words.  When I saw these Wood Hoops made by Crate Paper I knew I had to have them.  They perfectly highlight the title.

I cut out a square window on the first page to give a little sneak peek of the page to come.

The window was outlined with a blanket stitch using red variegated embroidery floss.

To create a collage on the upper right corner, I used 7 Gypsies Gaffer Tape and machine stitched pieces of scrap Mixed Media Paper.  The felted poppy connects the wooden hoop with the window.

Below is the first cross-stitched poppy mounted with Scor-Tape patiently waiting to be decorated another day.  

This is one of many ongoing Art Books that will evolve over time.

Have fun creating!

ArtFest 9 - Travel the World

Hi, Everyone,

It's been a whirlwind month planning and creating ArtFest 9 - Travel the World.

We will be creating an altered book, transforming an 8 1/2 x 11" Encyclopedia into a new work of art.

In this paper based project you will learn how to make flaps, pockets, flips, tie-ons, mini-books within the book, irregular pages, fold-outs, belly bands, pull-outs, waterfalls, pull-up fold-under interactive pages, cut-away niches, peek-a-boo pages, a bulletin board, and a wrap-around closure.  These photos cannot possibly show the multi-faceted interaction of this book.

Have a look at the Front Cover.

Have Passport, will travel.

We will be creating 30 pages in this book.

There will be room for you to add your own touches for your own unique Travel book.

The Encyclopedia, papers, and embellishments seen in the demo will all be provided.

You will be required to bring a basic tool kit, ink and adhesive.

A detailed list will be provided to all registrants by e-mail.

Please join me at this Weekend Event!

ArtFest 9 - Travel the World

Altered Encyclopedia

Friday, November 13   6-10 p.m.

Saturday, November 14  10-10 p.m.

Sunday, November 15  10-4 p.m.

$165.00

I will be providing snacks all 3 days.

We will break for lunch and dinner to allow you to run out and pick up your own food.

There will also be a "Sharing of Gift Bags" among all participants on Friday night.

There are only 12 spots available in total.

Please phone Treasured Memories at 780-414-1540 to pay and reserve your spot.

The Event is only 12 days away!

I am so excited and can hardly wait to see you all there!

Have fun creating!

Book Binding - 5 Handmade Books

Hi, Everyone,

I absolutely Love to make Books.

It is pure enjoyment to create a handmade book from scratch . . . the covers, the pages, the binding.

Over the past 3 weeks I have created 5 different 3"x6" books, the focal point being the different Hand Stitch Binding.

Here they are!

My books are all proudly displayed lined up in various bookshelves for me to enjoy.

Their spines are beautiful.  These 5 do not have book jewellery . . . yet.

Book 1 below is a "Long Stitch" Bound Book

with Tim Holtz Destinations papers inside and handmade paper creating the soft outside covers.

Book 2 is a "Linking Running Stitch" Bound Book

with Tim Holtz French Industrial papers inside and a handmade paper fold-over cover

with a button/elastic closure.

Book 3 is a "Coptic Stitch" Bound Book

with different Tim Holtz French Industrial papers inside creating the signatures

and handmade paper wrapping the outside covers

with a ribbon closure.

Book 4 is a "Single Sheet Coptic Stitch" Bound Book

with Tim Holtz Lost & Found papers inside and handmade paper wrapping the outside covers.

Book 5 is a "Coptic Stitch" Bound Book with "Sewn End Bands" and decorative "Top Stitching"

with recycled papers inside and simple mat board covers 

with an elastic closure.

I will be offering these 5 different book binding classes at Treasured Memories over the next few months.  Once dates have been chosen, I will let you know.

Turn that paper you love into Books of Art you can enjoy.

 Have fun creating!

My Projects from ArtVenture Canada

Hi, Everyone,

If you like Prima products and ever get the opportunity to go to ArtVenture, I highly recommend it.  I absolutely love the 5 projects I completed in class.  Have a look:

The 1st project was a 12x12" mixed media layout in a Prima frame.

We tinted Gel Medium with their various mica powders and micro beads then scraped them through stencils on one of their new pattern papers.  In all the classes, Prima's designers used cardboard to pop up papers and photos rather than pop-dots.  We were given the new appliqué trims, wooden shapes, and many packages of flowers to decorate with.

The 2nd project used the new Prima Paintable Papers and Wooden Home Decor Boards.

We tinted Modelling Paste with their various mica powders then scraped them through stencils to create a textured background on paper glued to the wooden board with Modelling Paste.  The Tea Cup Printable was painted with a paint brush using their Colour Bloom Sprays.  If you look real close you can see the 3 glass jewels dangling from the tea cup in the centre of the board.  I love the Metal Book Plate underneath the saucer.

The 3rd project was an Altered Telephone.

We aged the metal phone and the Wings (behind the photo) even more using Clear Gesso and many layers of Colour Bloom Sprays.  Again there were endless amounts of flowers, leaves and butterflies to decorate with.  If you look real close, you will see the coiled wire lights wrapped around the photo.  The battery operated light is hidden behind the flowers inside the phone. 

The 4th project was a Girly Grunge Layout.

We used lots of Colour Bloom Sprays, stamps and glitter.  Again we finished off with Gel Medium and micro beads.  Prima has a lot of different colours and sizes of beads to choose from.

. . . and the 5th project was a beautiful Mini Gatefold Album

which I forgot to photograph before taking them all to Treasured Memories to display.

So if you want a peek, you need to head down to the store.   I promise you it's well worth the trip.

In the meantime,

have fun creating!

On my way to Prima ART Venture!

Hi, Everyone,

I attended Prima's ART Venture in California 2 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it on the other side of the table as a student.

After doing this post, I'm off to Prima ART Venture which is being held in Edmonton this summer.  Below are the 5 projects being taught by 3 Prima Instructors.  It's going to be fun getting a chance to create these great projects & seeing what is in our "goodie bags".   I will offer these finished projects to be displayed at Treasured Memories for all of you to look at up close.  Frank's Album, Sharon's Altered Phone, & Adrienne's Grunge Layout are all stunning.  Check them out when you get a chance.

Have fun creating!