More books with fabric

I seem to be flitting around these days with many short, fun projects. Here are a couple more 😊 

Book with a woven binding

I used to weave, many moons ago, so when I saw this project in the easy section of the Handmade Book Club, I couldn't resist. Anything woven catches my interest.

Hand-made book with woven binding

If you follow my blog, you will have seen a few posts on accordion books since July. I bought the accordion book challenge and made three of them (a fourth one is partially finished). Making books won't become my next passion but it's been amazing to learn and play with fun paper and fabric.

I did sign up for the Handmade Book Club. For a monthly fee, you have access to all of their many years' worth of archives. The videos are very well made and everything is super organised. I'm hoping, at least for the next few months to keep playing and learning to make books.

I wanted funky fabric on my cover. These two fabrics are from a former colleague's mom's stash. Thanks Judy, these are great!

I was so engrossed in making this book that I forgot to take pictures 😮. Here is the back of the book.

Back of the book with the woven binding 

I did have quite a few learning moments making this one but I'm thrilled with how it came out! 

Fabric Meditation Book in progress

This project is from a Handmade Book Club workshop with Emma Freeman. Since I've been doing lots of meditation stitching I had to check it out! The whole book is made of fabric pieces and made in the traditional Japanese aesthetics of wabi-sabi. I'll be reading up on this and will share at a late date.

Couching on the front of my fabric meditation book

I ripped up 5 pieces of hand-dyed fabric from the scraps that my friend Elaine gifted me. The ripping adds such lovely texture.  There really isn't any rules for making these books except to try to make them in a slow, mindful manner. The front page has couched strands of some sari yarn.

Keeping the pages simple is probably my biggest challenge. I'm not sure that I won't go back and add a little something but it won't be my usual more is best. 😊 The second page has some organic slow stitching using some of Mirjam Gielen's embroidery techniques. 

Organic stitching

This next page has a wonderful small piece of embroidery that I cut out. I'm not sure what my plans were for it but since I only got this far, I ripped the embroidered piece out to attach here. I also love pieces from the selvage edge.

Repurposing a small piece of embroidery

I'm also working with layers. This one has a piece of organza topped with a tiny scrap of hand-dyed fabric. I love the marks here - they almost look like their own language. Below it is another tiny piece of fabric that is folded like a bow.

Layering and stitching

I still have one final blank page. Maybe it's actually finished and the last page represents future possibilities! 😊

Thanks so much for accompanying me on my crazy learning journey. Here is what I learned from these wonderful projects.

What I learned

• The pages in the book are called signatures. I learned the hard way that we are supposed to trim the pages before you bind them....yup, makes lots of sense in hindsight 😊
• I had watched the video on making the signatures but I should have watched it a second time. You may wonder why the back fabric isn't the front since it's so "me" but the pages sticking out of the bottom will give you a clue.
• It's fun trying different aesthetics - from in your face colourful to subtle. I'm rather surprised that the calm, minimalist stitching of the fabric book really appeals to me!

September's OMG

I really need to spend some time free motion quilting (FMQ) on Version 2.0 My One Monthly goal will be to complete two more areas of Stéphane's quilt. It's going to get cold soon and he'll need his quilt to keep him warm 😊

Related links

• The Handmade Book Club by Vintage Page Designs
• creative unearthing with emma freeman
• MirjamTextiles - Organic embroidery art pieces, tutorials and courses

Linking parties

I'll be linking up to many fun parties this week. Why not check them out...and remember to visit Muv on Free Motion Mavericks! You can also come back on Thursday for my turn at Free Motion Mavericks! September's OMG, Slow Stitching Sunday, Design Wall Mondays, Oh Scrap!, Patchwork and Quilts, Off The Wall Friday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF, Peacock Party, Beauties Pageant,