AJC10 Cover of journal finished

It's taken a few days of sewing, but I've finished the fabric cover of my journal. It was an organic piece as I had no pattern or instructions on how to make a fabric covered journal front - I just let the design evolve. I had found a sari-covered journal book in a local stationery store, but didn't like the paper they were using inside - wasn't sure if the paper was acid-free and it wasn't an useful size for scrapbook layouts, so I cannibalised it, using the sari material and the silver ribbon that was wrapped around the journal set for part of the cover and removing the silver cord bookmark to make a fastening for the new journal. I used some quilting batting (stuffing) to bulk out the cover to give it a cushiony feel and stitched the muslin backing around some 6x6 book board to give it shape and rigidity. I then attached the embellishings with stitch or Xyron's create-a-sticker adhesive. The "O" of "FREEDOM" is purposely upside down to show freedom from being prefect. I wanted my cover to look like a cushion - my soft place to land.

To finish the back of the front cover, I attached ribbon to the edges of the front cover, pinned them to some space-dyed velvet from my stash and sowed the ribbon to the velvet. I signed the cover using a woven label I had from a knitting kit that I didn't use. I used to not sign things I had made, but this is signed, to again reflect freedom to own art as my creation.

Credits: Front Cover
Sari fabric (purple silk with silver embroidered leaves, and silver and purple woven ribbon), cannabalised from a sari-covered journal book - WH Smiths
Space-dyed calico and lace - Kates Kloths*
Twill ribbons "Under Construction" and "Journey Adventure Travel" - Paperartsy*
Silver ribbon and silver cord bookmark with heart-shaped charm - from cannabalised sari journal book as above
Book Board 6x6 - 7 gypsies
Hole punch and eyelet setter - Crop-a-dile
Adhesive - Xyron create-a-sticker
Remaining items - muslin, batting, embellishments, threads etc from my stashes*

*Purchased at least 12 months ago - may no longer be available


Credits: Back of Front Cover
All items from my craft stash* designer/supplier details no longer known

AJC10 Week 1 - Buzzing with ideas

Last night I couldn't get to sleep initially, ideas were whizzing round my head. I had to get up and write them down, before my brain would shut off. I started on an idea for a cover for my journal which will be a physical one, rather than a digital or virtual one. I took to pieces a journal book I had bought (similar to the one above) as I loved the sari material it was covered in. The material is too small to cover both the front and the back covers I wanted to use, but I had ideas - I had to soak the material to remove the adhesive and some of the paper from the cover - "freedom" to alter books and to use what I want how I want. This morning, the silk sari - a beautiful purple with silver thread embroidery and ribbon - was dry and it is now ironed and stabulised on some muslin. I've had a look in my stashes of materials and experimental fabric packs that I had bought over the years to use, but never got round to using or thought that were too beautiful to use - "freedom" that I am good enough to use them and not destroy their beauty by doing so. I've got some ribbons and twill to add to the sari silk and see where that takes me - "freedom" to be fluid.

I'll be photographing or scanning things as works-in-progress or as finished pieces, and will be blogging much more than what will go in the journal, as I feel I need write things down, otherwise I will burst.

Once a book, now a cover...

Chosen one-word: Freedom

Theme: Letting Go

xx