Birdy notebook

This beautiful notebook I found on hensteethart blog inspired me to try one of my own.

I didn't use fabric for the inside cover, which was a mistake because the paper is a bit to soft and floppy. I love the idea of using random textures for the pages and I added in recycled envelopes, lace and handmade paper.

The paper was made by a friend of mine and I am going to give it back to her in the form of a notebook. I know she will appreciate it! I also used some paper from an old atlas in the cover.

Mine is not half as nice, but thanks Viv for the inspiration!

Leaf printing

My second attempt at printing, this time using leaves. The effects are fantastic but it is rather a messy process. The most difficult thing is getting the ink on the stem and leaving enough space to hold it when you place it on the fabric.

I don't have a very big garden so I've started looking for leaves where ever I go . This leaf is some type of lemon scented herb that I found in a friends' garden. It worked well but unfortunately I don't have more leaves to practise with. I 've planted a slip which is growing well but will be a while before I can pick the leaves.

This is a geranium leaf which also worked quite well. Apparently the softer and more furry the leaf the better. If it's shiny and smooth the dye doesn't penetrate well and you don't get such nice detail.

Printing

As my digital printer isn't working I've been looking at other ways to decorate fabric. My first try was cutting out a leaf, attaching it to an old block and printing. I just placed the leaf randomly and didn't really think to much about the spacing etc

Obviously the secret is the application of the paint to the lino, to much makes blobs and spreads, and to little limits the coverage.

The great thing is that you can print light on dark which I couldn't do with the digital printer. Not much compensation I must admit but at the moment I don't have much option!

Feathers again

I have never seen one of the feathers in my life and within two days have seen two, one on Gennine's Art Blog and the other on tinctory.

Apparently it is a jay feather, how beautiful!

Beetles and Bugs

Thanks to StickManJewelry for including me in her treasury. I love to see how other people interpret the same things in their designs.

Buttons

I saved this pic a while ago and can't remember where I found it, so apologies to who ever it belongs to! I love buttons but must admit my collection is looking a bit sad at the moment. Most items you buy nowdays have those awful plastic buttons... what happened to all the beautiful wooden, tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl buttons?

The finished product

The final product..a cushion cover. It didn't come out exactly as I imagined but that's because I didn't place the design correctly in the first place. I have a tendancy to go ahead without really thinking about the finished product, ignoring things like seams, extra fabric for zips, french seams etc! I like to do a french seam on a cushion cover if I'm selling it without an inner because there is nothing worse than buying a beautiful cover and finding untidy seams on the inside. Also the embroidery is pretty untidy on the wrong side so I added in an extra facing . All this fabric makes the seams quite thick and bulky but I'm not sure what the solution is... maybe an overlocker? Even better, find someone else to make up the cushion!