After months away trying out new techniques and artistic avenues, it’s time to get back to a little writing. 

    This picture is the front cover of a small paper book I made while taking an online course from Rachel Emilie Jackson called Romancing the Paper.  A most charming woman, with such a delicate and romantic touch to her work.  The class was exquisite, and I would passionately recommend any class taught by Rachel.

     This was the perfect class for me, because I could watch the videos over and over again while learning each technique. The class was offered through Crescendoh’s Creative Lab.

      This image is one of my favorite techniques and also from my book. This is a rubber stamp embossing that is stained with coffee and Distress ink. The pocket is gessoed glassine hand sewn with embroidery floss.

This is similar to the book cover.  Though this pressed flower is mounted on coffee stained paper with gesso ”icing”.  If you are at all interested in pressing flowers, but are impatient with pressing flowers in a book, Rachel introduced us to the most wonderful tool, the Microfleur with microwave oven.  This is so simple to use, and gives a much better result , at least for me, than pressing flowers in a book, and the flowers retain their color so well.

   As well as this class, I’ve been taking book binding classes from Erin Sweeney down in Peterborough, NH.  If you are in the area, and have the opportunity to take a class from Erin, I highly recommend it.  So far, I’ve taken an envelope book class, a coptic stitch class, and a sewing box book class. Soon, I will be taking a storage book class.  Pictures will follow.

     I’ve always wanted to learn how to make artist’s books, and finally have the opportunity.  These two classes have opened a whole new world to me,   and I will be travelling down a new path designing some new projects involving paper and fabric techniques.  Sometimes it takes a diversion from what I’m comfortable with to get me moving in a new, more creative way.   It also gives me a nudge to go back to a project I’m avoiding or feel trapped in.

  It’s also Spring, a time of freshness and growth.  It’s time to dust off the cobwebs from winter and try something new.  

  I’m still not happy with the look of this blog, so expect more changes……

“It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger for them.” –George Eliot

     So, as promised, this is the charm square project.  Well, at least the beginning of the project. Last year, I bought some charm squares as fabric samples for my sister-in-law to select for a quilt.  This was for a housewarming gift, and I wanted to be sure to use fabrics she wanted.  She’s a huge fan of William Morris prints, so when this line came out, it was perfect for her. Below are the fabrics she chose, and the beginnings of her quilt.

  Anyway, now I have these charm squares and not sure what to do with them.  I really don’t need another quilt to work on right now.  And, I don’t know about you, but instant gratification on a project keeps me motivated to accomplish more.   So, I remembered a pattern I bought last year at Vermont Quilt Festival, and low and behold it was the perfect plan.

 I’m not sure which handle I’ll use for this until I get to that part of the construction.  But, this is a great little project.  Again, like the mug bucket, the instructions are not the best, so I’m still struggling a little.  I have the fabrics together and quilted.  The instructions call for the bag to be quilted after the lining is in, but I never have success with that type of construction. I like to start with quilted fabric, put the bag together, then add a lining of muslin.  When I quilt last, I always end up with a mess and lots of puckers.   And, if the pattern doesn’t call for quilting, I still like to start with a quilted fabric. It just makes a sturdier bag, and always looks a little more polished to me.  

  This is the quilted fabric. When I get to putting it together this weekend, I’ll post more pictures and let you know how it goes.

  “One starts an action simply because one must do something.”–T.S. Eliot

  And so it is with this bag…

     How cute is this?  It’s called a Mug Bucket. The pattern is from Buckets Gone Wild.  Take a look around their website.  They have the most interesting patterns to dress up utilitarian objects.  Next, I have a 33 ounce coffee can to dress up.  I’ll post pictures when I get to that one too. 

     The inside of the mug bucket is filled with little pockets. Just perfect to hold pens and pencils.

  This little project took about 2 hours start to finish.  How great is that for a quick gift?  The instructions were a little difficult for me to follow, so I had to go to plan B and just followed the pictures.  It all worked out in the end.   All it takes to make this is two 12 inch squares of coordinating fabric, batting, and bias binding.  I did start with some left-over fabric from another project, that had already been quilted.

   This is some sweet pink with white polka dots fabric quilted using the design Trapunto Hearts.   I must admit I’m a sucker for pink.  But what girl wouldn’t love getting surprised with this mug filled with love?  Of course, this can always be adapted to whatever theme you need by changing the fabric. Instead of ties to hold this together, you can always use velcro.  The pattern also shows options for the pockets using clear vinyl or mesh.  There are lots of  possiblities.  Oh, and another nice feature, if you don’t want to wait for snail mail to receive your pattern, it can be downloaded right to your computer.  That makes a last minute gift even easier. 

  Later this week, I’ll post pictures of another quick project using a package of  pre-cut charm squares.  You know, the little packages of 5 inch fabric squares of an entire line from your favorite designer you bought but had no idea what to do with.

  So, until then…

     ” I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”–Helen Keller