Another Textile Book

I really like the finished bird textile book so I thought I would make another one.  I didn't think the first one was particularly mixed media so I wanted to see if I could add more.

And of course I need a theme for the book.  Can you guess what it is!

 Well, of course it's Venice.   What else would it be!!!

I started by laying out bits of fabric, paper, painted Bondaweb and book page on the calico.

Eventually it ended up like this.

I machine stitched the bottom third of the fabric but forgot to take photo.  I did some handstitching on it at our Traverse weekend.

The next step was to machine again and this is what met me when I went into the craft room aka the dining room.

I was able to put sufficient away to be able to get the machine out.  Who am I kidding?  Nothing got put away, I just moved piles of stuff to make piles of stuff somewhere else!

 I machined around the bits of fabric I had bondawebbed on and then machined the spaces.

Sorry the photos aren't very clear when I'm trying to get the whole book in.  Here's a close up.

Instead of finishing the book with the turned in edges as last time, I left the frayed edges when I added the back.  Then I folded it and pin tucked the fold to make a zigzag book.

Here it is again showing the folds.

I still don't think it's sufficiently mixed media to be called a mixed media book.  I'm going to give some more thought and maybe make another one with beads and bits of metal.  And maybe some stencilling.   What do you think?

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice

Textile groups update

Traverse
As you know I belong to a mixed media and textile art group called Traverse.  We got together last weekend for our first meeting since we finished our Destinations theme.

Yesterday we revealed our new theme:

Revealed

There are two ways to go with a theme - a technique-based route or a concept-based route.  I really want to go with the concept- based route but unfortunately it's much easier to think of techniques that fit with Revealed or its opposite Concealed.   However I have looked at all that comes to mind with the topic as well as looking for synonyms and antonyms.

I tried firstly to make lists of words.

Then I decided to try my usual method of mind mapping (or whatever it's called these days!).  The problem with any of this is that I've probably got enough ideas here for the rest of my life!  I only need a minimum of 3 pieces of work by March 2019.  Plus I have at least another 4 of these mind maps on other themes.

 

The ideas may be hidden now, but no doubt the right ones will reveal themselves.

I know!! You're allowed to groan.

So on to the next group!

Near & Far
I have joined an online group called Near & Far.  This is a Facebook-based group run by Chris Gray.  She hopes that we will have a gallery exhibition at some point.   The theme for this group is Maps & Journeys.  And guess what I'm doing!

That's right! Venice!

We each have to make a minimum of 3 pieces - one wearable, one useful and one decorative.  I am going to make a Venice-inspired dress, a sketchbook with a Venice-inspired cover and a scroll book as the decorative piece that will be some sort of imagined journey along the Grand Canal.   I have bought several books about secret Venice so watch this space!

And lastly

Art Textile Group
I am also signed up to join a new venture that Liske is setting up at Littleheath Barn Studio.

Liske's description: In the art textiles class we will use the seasons as our inspiration and the plan will be to work on a series of 4 collage style pieces using fabrics created on the course, and adding work from home to suit your skills! Input from the group will help the course evolve and we will have the chance to exhibit at Avoncroft at the end of the final term!

So of course I have to share this:

I think I'm going to be a bit busy for the next few months!

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

April in my EveryDay Journal

There was a lot going on in April and as a consequence my Journal is not complete for the month but I thought I would show it you anyway.   I have taken these photos twice and I'm still not happy with them.  😥  However I have just found that Blogger has Emojis.  😀😀

I'm afraid I didn't finish the page for the month.

The theme for April in the EveryDay Journal  & Living Your Word of the Year group was verse mapping.  Here's my very first attempt.

And my second go at it.

I chose two more verses and wrote them in my journal but haven't done anything with them yet.

Then Elaine came to stay.

And then I went off to do a workshop with Debbie Lyddon.

Currently May isn't looking too busy so hopefully I might catch up - with myself as well as with the journal!

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice