Catching up on posting projects

 Hi, I hope that February finds you well. I thought that I would take the time to write about projects that were completed recently but not posted.

Finishing a Journal Cover 

In the last few months I finished a special journal cover for a dear friend. 

Finished Japanese Journal Cover - Front

Here is a view of the back.

Finished Japanese Journal Cover - Back

You may remember the original fabric that I free motion quilted (FMQ) last March (see Related links below).

The piece was meant for a larger journal but when I came to make it, I did measure three times, only it was the wrong measurement! 😒 A few weeks later I found a smaller journal that it would fit - actually I think that this new journal is even better 😊. So the journal is made and will go to my friend when we are able to see each other again.

FMQ beautiful Japanese fabric

Making More Stitchers' Journals

In November, in the TextileArtist.org's Stitch Club, Ali Ferguson taught us how to make a stitcher's sketchbook or journal with paper, and then to cover and embellish it with fabrics. This has been one of my favourite projects since it's easy to make, practical and so very beautiful.

The first one

This is the first one that I made, with fabric made during a mark-making workshop with Gregory T. Wilkins. I wrote a post on this journal (see Related links).

My first Stitcher's Journal
using painted and stenciled fabric

Pages within my first journal

As you can glimpse from the inside of the journals, I used a wide assortment of paper. There is some garden printed paper, as well as coloured and white printed paper. I also used different sizes of fun scrap-booking paper. 

Gratitude Journal

For the Gratitude Journal, I used two of the cutest fabrics I have. My daughter loved it.

Pages inside of the
Gratitude Journal

Gratitude Journal - front

Open Gratitude Journal

Back of the Gratitude Journal

Quilted Stitcher's Journal

Front of the Quilted Stitcher's Journal

I made this journal from quilted fabric that I used a very long time ago to make a quilted jacket. I thought that this would be a perfect way to use up some of the scraps. I love it!

Open Quilted Stitcher's Journal

I use this journal to keep my Sashiko stitching samples.

Samples: Rice Stitch and
Rice Stitch Variation 2

Samples: Stacked Running Stitches and
Persimmon Flower

Samples: Zigzag Crosses and
Offset Crosses

What I learned

• As I mentioned, this is my favourite project in the TextileArtist.org's Stitch Club. Ali Ferguson showed us many ways of making journals. Her journals were a little more organic than mine, but really there is no limit to what you can do.
• I always have one or two in the process of being made. They are low effort and fun to make. 
• I'm having problems with the thread that I've used to make these. It needs to be strong enough to pull tightly - something that I tend to over do (I'm always breaking my poor silk thread as I stitch hexies together!) It also needs to be thin enough to pull through a needle. I used a quilting thread for my first one and I think that I'll have to go back to it. It's the best thing that I've found so far. 

Related links

• Mid-March Updates (Japanese quilted journal cover), March 15, 2020
• Creating a stitcher's journal with paper and fabric, November 15, 2020
• Ali Ferguson
• Getting Ready for a Quilt Show (Quilted Jacket), April 24, 2012
• Sashiko stitching and visible mending, December 06, 2020

Linking parties

I'll be linking up to some fun linking parties, including Free Motion Mavericks with Muv. Come back on Thursday to link up your FMQ beauties. I'll be my turn to post😊 Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, Patchwork & Quilts, Oh Scrap!, Colour & Inspiration Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Finished or Not Finished Friday, Off The Wall Friday, Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, Beauty Pageant, Peacock Party, TGIFF with Slice of Pi Quilts, 

Wonderful news! Frédérique of Patchwork & Quilts has featured my quilted journal! Merci beaucoup!