Monday, February 08, 2021

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

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 MakersFinished or Not Finished FridayOff The Wall FridayCan I Get A Whoop Whoop?Beauty PageantPeacock PartyTGIFF with Slice of Pi Quilts

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

4 comments:

  1. Oh oui, je me souviens de ton premier livre !Les autres sont superbes aussi, j'adore celui pour la gratitude ;) Les charnière sur le dos sont belles, et bien pensées. Bravo !

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    Replies
    1. Merci Frédérique. Ils sont bien plaisants à faire et j'en ai même d'autres dans le prochain post de demain.

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  2. Hello Andrée,
    The book cover for your friend is absolutely gorgeous - so cheerful, perfect for lifting the spirits! It is this weeks featured project chez moi.
    Would linen thread be an idea for stitching your journals together?
    Love, Muv

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Muv. I can't wait to give it to her. I hadn't thought of linen thread but I'm sure that I have some somewhere. I'll give it a try and let you know. Thanks for the feature. I'm now learning about Mars so that I can have something up for Thursday. Take care.

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