Pink Roses

ledger journal...

I made a journal out of an old ledger and here's how I did it...I actually took the ledger apart, and because the front and back covers were exactly the same, I can make 2 journals!  To make the back cover I cut a piece of chipboard and covered it with a sturdy embossed piece of vintage wallpaper.  I covered the inside panel with vintage ledger paper and did some machine stitching.

I used an exacto knife to cut out a window in the front cover and added a piece of vintage wallpaper...

I backed the wallpaper with a piece of cardboard, and then covered that with decorative papers.  To bind the journal I used some twill tape...

I really liked the cover image, and didn't want to hide any portion of it.  I decided to sew the twill tape under the cover, instead of on top of the cover.

I cut 5 sheets of 140 lb. watercolor paper and folded those in half to make my signatures.  I sewed each signature to the twill tape "spine".

The pages have lots of room for adding lots of stuff!

One ledger=2 journals, and 5 pieces of paper=20 pages!  I may sew ribbons to the front and back so that I can tie it together when I am done.  My next project is trying to make a slightly more elegant version of this to be used as the Guest Book in my daughters wedding!  I can't believe she's going to let me do it!

Kansas City...

I just got back from a Girl's Trip to Kansas with some dear friends of mine : Heather, Lori, Karla, Jennifer, Andrea and Carol.  Spending 4 days with these girls was HEAVEN..laughing, shopping, eating, crafting and talking till the wee hours!  Karla is an AMAZING hostess, and can out-craft anyone on the planet.  Her studio is to-die-for, and I loved being there again. 

Karla taught us a project that she will be teaching at an upcoming event, and we all just LOVED it!

We also had a fabulous evening at Carol's farmhouse and enjoyed the outdoor room and fireplace.  Dinner was delicious, and we had enough wine and desserts to make everyone happy!

 

I visited Carol last year when she had just moved in, and now everything is complete ( and published: Romantic Prairie Style).

I have to be honest, Carol's home is even prettier in real life than it is in the photos!  Such a peaceful, serene, GORGEOUS home.  We all wanted to go home and redecorate...Carol style :)

Seriously...EVERY nook and cranny is photo worthy...even the kitchen sink!

We spent one day antique shopping in the city...

 

And one WHOLE day {I mean a solid 12 HOURS} in the studio, making stuff.  That night we were all tired, except Karla.  She is the energizer bunny and can just keep going... 

Thanks girls for a great weekend...can't wait to see you again soon!

covered buttons...

This is my latest obsession.  Covering buttons with vintage textiles.  I saw this on Julie Collings blog a few months ago and have been wanting to make some.  Warning: it is addictive!  It is a perfect way to salvage a bit of embroidery or an old handkerchief, a fabric swatch, or a baby dress.  Yikes!  You could make headbands or napkin rings, use one in the center of a fabric flower...the possibilities are endless.  Now I may never be able to pass up a vintage linen at the flea market...as if I could! 

silver bella: one more class

This project is from a class by Kerry Lynn Yeary, entitled: The Gilded Cage.  My project didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped (or Kerry instructed!), but I am using my cage as a little cloche.  I tried to be different and used silver wire, and wove in beads and buttons.  It's kind of whimsical and twisty, and I like it with this doll head...

Sally Jean always says we should "love and embrace" our artwork...flaws and all...so that's exactly what I'm going to do!

silver bella:more classes

Vintage fabric and paper are two of my favorite things, so it's no surprise that I LOVED the next two classes.  First, Nana's Basket with Charlotte Lyons. 

This was my very first class, and it was so much fun.  I sat at a table with a group of women who all happened to be in the journal swap I showed you, so believe me...there was some awesome paper at our table, and everyone shared! 

We cut out chipboard shapes and covered the front and backs with vintage papers or textiles, and then laced it all together.

I actually cut a vintage postcard (gasp!) but if any project would be worthy, it was this!  On one of the inside panels I used 2 pages from an old 1935 datebook that my friend Jodie LeJeune gave me..my parents birthdays!  They were both born in 1935!

I still need to finish the bottom, and embellish the panels a bit, but I just love how this project came out.  This class was so relaxed, it was like therapy!  I could have stayed at that table cutting and gluing and chatting all weekend!  Charlottes classes are always wonderful...and so is Charlotte :)  My next class was Teacup Fairy with Beth Quinn.

This was another "therapy" class!  Imagine sitting with your friends for 2 and a half hours...surrounded by vintage lace and fabric...talking, crafting, sharing, laughing...heaven!

I added a vintage earring, and a fat pearl...

We all shared bits and pieces, so my fairy has lace and trim from all my friends...

and a chandelier crystal...

Sigh...this was such a great class...I could use some group craft therapy more often!!

silver bella: classes

I had 5 great classes at Silver Bella, this is my project from a class by Lisa Kaus, entitled: Joy Within. 

I'm not quite finished with this...it needs some collage bits and words added, but the base is done.

We used collage with pastel crayons and charcoal pencils (totally new for me) to create a grid format.

Mine didn't have sharp grid lines-I kind of overlapped, but it was supposed to reflect "me", so I think it does!  I was challenged by this class and learning new techniques, but honestly I wish it had gone on for another hour or two.  I was really liking the pastel crayon thing and I may have to go buy some! 

The next class was with Sally Jean Alexander called : Prize-a-licious...

Even though I practiced my soldering, this was still a hard class for me.  We were working with a shape, and it was layered and thick, and had SEVEN stinking jump rings!!

I used velvet ribbon, text from a hymnal, vintage lace and wallpaper and rhinestones.

The bottom dangling piece is from an old earring.  The back has more vintage wallpaper and a hymnal verse that says "go tell the sweet story".  You could make this a pin or necklace-I chose to make a necklace...for now it is on a ribbon, but it's on my to-do list :)  Challenging classes with great rewards! 

silver bella: journal swap

I barely have the words to describe this.  Michelle Geller hosted a "Souvenir Journal" swap for Silver Bella, and as you can see, it is beyond amazing. 

 

14 participants sent in 4 page spreads and Michelle had the huge task of sewing covers and hand binding all of this paper goodness into a work of art I will treasure FOREVER!!!  Here's a peek at the pages created by the following unbelievably talented women: Kim Caldwell, Mellen Dupre, Michelle Geller, Miss Lynn Lebsack, Mollie McCabe, Karla Nathan, Kathi Pilar, Karla Steele, Cheryl Stoneham, Lisa Thompson, Rachel Velder, Susie Vergenz, Cherie Wilson, and a bonus page by Jill Sibbald.  Enjoy!

 

I wish I could show you EVERY detail...there is so much to see!  Thank you Michelle for this treasure!!!

silver bella:banner swap...

 

I'm back from Silver Bella, with my heart full of love, and my brain full of inspiration.  (That's Jessi's car decked out for the occasion!) Silver Bella was different this year...hard to describe, but different...better...maybe the best yet.  It was so relaxing and comfortable...low key...no drama.  In several of my classes (Charlotte Lyon's: Nana's Basket, and Beth Quinn: Teacup Fairy), I remarked (as did others), that I felt like I was at an old fashioned quilting bee, or women's social.  We were sitting in a circle, working on our projects (cutting and gluing paper, or tying ribbon), and just talking and chatting for hours.  We all shared papers and ribbons and lace and fabric and glitter.  We all shared a part of ourselves.  My projects all contain bits and pieces from other women at my table.  Such a gracious, giving, supportive community.  For example:  In my teacup fairy class, I had a pale pink damask napkin that I tore into strips and was using in my project.  The napkin cost $1.00 at a flea market.  I gave away pieces of the napkin, and now part of it is with Kim Caldwell in California, and Lori Oles in Arkansas, and Karla Nathan in Kansas.  I have bits and pieces of them, here in Atlanta, in my project too.  That makes me so happy.  So...before I show you the class projects, I will show you the swaps.

 

The first was a banner swap I did with my dear friends Karla Nathan (my roommate!), Lori Oles, Carol Spinski, Danielle Muller, and Amy Powers.

This is from Lori:

from Karla:

from Amy:

from Danielle:

from Carol (left) and me (right):

I plan on sewing ribbon to each of the banner pieces and hanging them in my studio.

A lovely reminder of my talented friends!

journal swap…

Here’s a little peek at some details of the pages I am making for a journal swap…vintage wallpaper and tickets…a tab sewn from a piece of eyelet trim…

a lace pocket for a coffee dyed tag…

ledger paper, doily, ribbon…

Copic marker doodles, dyed muffin liners, button…

kraft paper, rick rack…

Still much to do, just wanted to share the progress…

cabinet card journal…

In Kansas last month, Beth had the AWESOME idea to use the folders that cabinet cards or old photos come in, to make a journal.  Why didn’t I think of that?  (I usually throw those away) Luckily, Beth shared her idea {and supplies} so that I could make one too!  Here’s how:  Start with a plain photo folder, and cut 2 pieces of watercolor paper (or any sturdy paper) slightly smaller than the (opened up) folder size.

Fold the 2 pieces of paper in half to make a seam, and open them up and stitch the paper to the folder down the seam. Your folder will now be a “journal” with 8 pages front & back!

I glued a cabinet card to the front, and I will say, this is not a card I would usually purchase because it had been folded…

and someone had written the girl’s names on the front with a blue ink pen…

But I sewed on some crochet trim and glued on a button, and it hid the writing!

I added some vintage papers to the inside front cover to hide my sewing…

and tied a bow out of a gorgeous vintage silk ribbon that Beth gave me {love}…

This project took no time at all, and was really inspiring.  It made me look twice at less that perfect items that I might normally throw away, or pass over at a flea market.  Thanks Beth for your inspiration and generosity!  Hope this inspires you too!