More in my Fabric Sketchbook

In my last post I showed you my Fabric Sketchbook as far as I had got on the two day course.

When I got home I worked on it again adding the exercises suggested by Dionne that I hadn't had time to do.

I made a stamp and found the stamps I had made from Dionne's online course Developing Sketchbooks.

I used black acrylic paint to stamping my fabric sketchbook.  I also developed the teardrop shape which I had found in amongst the pages.

And here is my book which could be called finished.  Although there's plenty of scope for more machining and handstitching.

The back (left) and front pages

I really enjoyed doing this workshop and I feel much more confident about using my machine.

Be aware though that if you book for next year's course you won't end up with what I did.  Firstly, each of us on the course ended up with something different, and secondly, Dionne teaches it slightly differently each time she does the workshop.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Fabric Sketchbooks with Dionne Swift

Last month I went to Janome HQ near Stockport to take part in a two day workshop by Dionne Swift called Fabric Sketchbooks.   I was hoping that I would learn how to use my sewing machine and get over my fear of it.  And I did.  Thank you Dionne.

As you know I love well organised workshops.  And was this well organised!  Dionne set up 5 sewing machines, 3 Embellishers and the iron and ironing board as different stations.  As she set up each machine she showed us what the task was at that station.  And then we had to move round every 10 minutes and do each exercise.   You don't really have time to be afraid of your machine when you've only got 10 minutes to do something in.

Dionne had given us a large piece of material to do these exercises on.  I'm not going to tell you what we were asked to do.  You will have to go on the course yourself!   Sign up quickly though because the places fill up fast.

By the end of day one my fabric looked like this

Day 2 brought more exercises both on the large fabric and some other pieces of fabric.

And then we cut it up!  Oh yes!  And you know how I love to cut things up and make books.

After cutting and folding it looked like this

I'll just show you a few of the pages.

Dionne talked about some other things to do which I didn't have time for and so took the sketchbook home to finish.

I'll show you what I did in my next post.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Advent

My friend Mary Brack has set up an Advent art project called Advent Words 2017.

From Mary's blog: Advent Words will be a daily challenge during the Advent season which runs December 3-24 this year. Each day there will be a word prompt along with a passage or two of related Scripture. You can choose to connect this word to whatever form of creativity you like - art journaling, collage, memory keeping, planner art, photography, poetry, painting - the creative practices to choose from are endless! You choose how you would like to participate.

Join us as we think about the reason for the season.  Find all the details on Mary's blog.

I've been thinking about how I want to record this project.  Originally I thought I might combine it with my December Daily. Then I thought I might make a fabric book - still not sure about that.  I have several books I have made which I could use.  Or I could make a brand new one.

Decisions! Decisions!

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice