Green Glass

Imagine that.

And here it is.  Finished.

Inside is pretty simple.  But fun.

My book tape doesn't want to stick.  So I had to add a little tape.  Luckily for me, I had some!  Imagine that.

(I forgot to include this in my orginal post)

I also apparently cut the pages too short.  Usually I subscribe to the old "this old house" maxim, 'measure twice, cut once' and I've been trying hard to write everything down as I go, so I have no idea how this happened, but I can guess.  I often do things logically as I plan, and then as I begin to work, I make some completely unfounded leap of logic that veers me off in a direction.  When I got back to my notes, I just assume I've done what I've written.

Wrong.

It wasn't the binding I'd intended to do, but it'll do.  

Oh, I think this will be a good year.

I really do.

What do I love about bindings?   I love making the template.  How many folios?  How many signatures? How many stitches? Which kind of stitch?  Choices, choices, choices!  I like making the the binding template and punching the holes (with my Japanese screw punch).  

This binding was complicated, so I tied a slip knot to hold my thread in place so it wouldn't fall out as I bounced between signatures.  

I also held my pages together with paperclips and the sections together between signatures (to stabilize the whole thing) with little bindy clips (that's the technical term, in case you were wondering).

But mostly, mostly I LOVE the stitching.  All those years of embroidery, and quilting, and appliqué FINALLY pay off (not that the quilts don't count - believe me - they count).  I just love stitching, it seems.  Maybe I should be a cobbler.  Hmmm... Well, maybe in the next life.

Because I'm certainly not not a seamstress.  Odd isn't it.  No real interest in making clothes.  Hmmm.  I'm an odd duck I guess.   But the stitches on books.  Never knew I'd enjoy it so much.

But I do, I do.  I really do.

P.S. This journal is from Mary Ann Moss's Ticket to Venice Class which is currently running.  YOU TOO CAN PLAY ALONG!

Here's a hint

Oh glorious day!  Well, actually night.  Last night I couldn't resist and despite my nodding head and blurry eyes, I spent a little time with Patty and her Pitcher. 

I sewed on pockets.

and tabs

and clear pockets and a little bit of randomness, although not too much.

Then my head nodded off and ... the rest had to wait for this morning.  But wait till you see it!!

Here's a hint.

I'm SO excited!!

I need fresh vistas

A friend and I went on a little excursion.  I remembered to tuck my sketchbook in my shopping bag. 

Then I remembered to get it out when I took a little leg break.

I need fresh vistas.  That would help my sketching malaise.

Portrait of Gracie

Someone in my house doesn't usually let her portrait be take.  She has a distain for the camera and all that clincking and flashing.  I mean, really.

But when we came back from our brief trip out of town, she needed to make some things clear.  She gave me her full unblinking attention.   I have her a lot of love nad we made up.

Then it was back to nap time.  Same with me, but I drool so no pictures. 

ANd if you think this is me stalling because I don't have any binding pictures ready to show, why, you'd be right.  

But also, she's so lovely.

Brave Girl!!!

Here in this house we had Christmas.

Semi-little people got hats.

But before all that, on Christmas Eve SOMEBODY was sliding across the floor and got a 3" 'splinter' (a.k.a. chunk of wood) stuck in her foot and had to be taken to the emergency room to have it surgically removed (under anesthesia since two 1/2 inch chunks had been pried out only under great distress).

I'm not showing the foot, but I have pictures.  This is the brave girl.  So so so brave.

That was nine hours of bravery.  Nine long hours.

But TODAY is a new day and today I got this.

AAAHHHHHHGGGGGGAAAAAALLLLLLLLAAAAAAAA

That's me shouting with glee and joy and happiness and ooooooooo.... I can't waitness!

Mary Ann Moss referenced this book in an earlier class  (Right now I'm taking Mary Ann Moss's "Ticket to Venice" class.) Recently I've realized that I want to learn more about binding.  Today I sent the day beginning this book and as usual, the more I learn the more I realize I don't know.

I will say this, it's a really readable book.  I can understand the stitch descriptions very well, which is important. I have skimmed quite a bit, but can tell I'll be going back over sections as they become relevant again and again.   I like that.   I like feeling like I have a wealth of information in a reference.  I'm SO excited about this.

And because I only learn things as I work them out, I've taken one of my little prepped book projects and laid it out on my table.

Patty and her Pitcher are first up and honestly, she's thrilled.  She's been hanging out in my room for a while now waiting her turn.  I'd finally figured out which papers I wanted to use with her.

 Keith Smith makes the point that the binding of each book should serve the purpose of the book - but I have to stop and think about that for a while.  

When was the last time I thought about the purpose of what I was doing?

I actually think I like NOT thinking about the purpose of what I'm doing.  But I get his point.  I've heard this same idea from a friend who was taking pottery classes in Japan.  She asked her teacher about making a bowl.  Her teacher responded about asking what she would be using the bowl for - soup and if so what kind of soup?

The structure should support the purpose on all levels.  Hopefully with elegance and beauty.

And then there's what I do.  Impulse and ... 

Merry Merry Happy Happy Joy Joy

Hope you are having a peaceful day.

Imagine, if you will, that after a prolonged flurry of activity, squeals and gasps (I hope) followed by a longer prolonged flurry of activity of play, exploration and instruction reading, I will be squirreld up in my art space with some of this

and maybe a little of this

And one of these.

Use your imagination. 

I'm out of town

I am out of town but I like to do posts in advance.  I visit other people's blogs regularly and am always hopeful of a new posting on the people's who I enjoy regularly.  So I try, although there's not much photo worthy here.  

I've been knitting knitting knitting.  But I'd rather be doing another kind of stitching - BINDING!

so...

in my off minutes I am slowly amassing a wee pile of prepped future journals.

This time I decided not to rip my paper.  I am using a rotary cutter, mostly because it's much quicker but also because it's a motion I'm supposed to be doing for my shoulder.  My physical therapist gave me some exercises and I swear I almost squealed when she demo-ed one of them.  I'm not sure I really absorbed anything after that since my mind went off to piles of paper and fabric.

I have sheets of paper I'm wanting to try.   I also have scrapbook paper that I bought on sale.  Too often I hold on to things waiting for the perfect time.  I'm trying to break that habit and use what I'm drawn to.  

I have several stitches I want to try.  One is from Mary Ann Mosses new currently running on-line class Ticket to Venice.  She's in Venice RIGHT NOW and posting to a special class blog.  It's kind of a travel journal from start to finish so we can see the whole process of how she puts her journal together.  It's kind of fantastic.

I also want to practice a coptic stitch.

I don't know if I'll actually do a coptic stitch on this, but I'm playing with the idea.  Since it will be a while before I get to it, I have time  to play in my head.

I also want to make another longstitch book, and I have the fabric paper already to go for that.  I have been wanting to use these for a while and just hadn't found the right context.  But this will do.

That stitch is described in Diana Trout's "Longstitch, 2-ways" class you can take, oh, anytime.  It's on her blog and ready to go.  Cloth paper is not necessary, but since I had it ....

For now, I am just collecting one after another little book waiting for stitching.

Soon, very soon, I'll get out my japanese hole punch.  Then we'll see what happens!

Journals, ha!

Journals.  What ya goin' do?

I've filled these in the last two years.  Less than two years.  About two years.  

(Sorry, my pedantic self just will not be quiet!)

Which made me feel good, looking at the all.  Plump and delicious.  

And then I went into the hall and saw these.  

I made them. All.  Except that one little spiral bound on the left side end.  That's supposedly where I keep track of everything.

(Insert laugh track)

I made these too.  Even as I write this, I have more in the works.  

What am I going to do?

what ever develops

I'm sharing this bit by bit, but after a while of not working with my paints,  a bunch of pages came out all at once. 

Some days I walk into my art room and think, "GOOD GOD!  WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"

Really.  I think that.  Supplies, projects begun.  

All there sitting and staring at me.

And another time I limp in, sit down, and just sooth myself with - whatever is at hand.

 

 

And in my mind, a little paint blob becomes a - I don't know who.

 

 

 

 

 

And spoiled supplies suddenly bring texture and life into my eyeballs.

 

Little scraps become lollipop flowers (or trees, or solar catchers, or joy resonators).

I am okay with what ever develops.

Little piles of good intentions

My friend gave me some luscious treats. 

I have little piles of things tempting me.  

Projects started and then put aside.  Little piles of good intentions.

This holiday season, all I want is a feast of uninterrupted days.  Any chance of that?

Tingling again

I feel a bookbinding coming on.  It's true.  I can feel it in my fingers - tingling again.

I don't need to do this now.  I need to do other things.  Important things.  Things involving holiday cheer and cookies and Christmas cards and stuff like that.

AARRGGHH!  I'm going off the rails again!

But first, I MUST deal with this sweater!

Maybe.

Just played.

This is what a jouranl is for.

'

I was in a funk.  A really bad funk.  And then, after looking at all the journals I'd made this year, I got my paints nad pens and played.

Just played.  Inside my head.

I have a list.

I have a list.

You can't tell, but that's a large index card.  I finally made a list of all the knitting projects I had going.  Some got stalled for good reason.  Like... This is the shawl I started, then ripped out when I got the count off in my lace, then knit again, while visiting family TWO years ago, then lost the second skein of dye lot yarn on the way home.  So it sat.  I think my projects talk to each other at night.  mumble mumble complain complain   I ignore them.  After all, it's their own fault, stupid dye lot yarn.  mumble mumble complain complain  Last week, I took my project to my meeting of knitting buddies and had a revelation so... it may get completed.

 

Some projects just lost my interest. 

 I'm going to muster the strength to push through my boredom and finish them.  I'm committing myself to that.  Soon.  Soon...er or later.  Really.

Some projects had the people attached to them grow several inches and now need to be attached to other littler people.

Some just got put aside when I couldn't knit and haven't been taken up yet.  Maybe they were hidden behind those mumblers.

So now I've made my list.  And I've devised a plan.  A  loose plan, but a plan nonetheless.  I like the word nonetheless.  I think I get bonus points for every time I use it.  And more bonus points if I don't use green in whatever I do after this list.

Because there will be an after this list.

Who doesn't like a little washi?

I have a gloppy white acrylic ink an ancient black india ink.  I don't like using them when I use my other inks to draw or spread.  But they have their own usefulness.

Above is left over paint smeared at various times and bad inks.  Plus a little washi.  Who doesn't like a little washi now and again?

Just look at that lumpy ink.  Cool, no?

I MUST use up all paint on a brush.  Or on a palate.

I couldn't cover up the patterned  paper I stuck in here. I just like it so.

open

 

 yup

Ask

Sometime playing with paint makes everything better.

yup 

I really think so.

This is NOT my daughter

This is a little bit my daughter.  Not exactly (ha!, like I could do exactly) but a little bit.  Once I restated the nose, she got better.  I started with the hair.  I don't know why, but I always like drawing hair.  I draw in pen.  When I try to draw in pencil, I fidget fidget fidget.  Like a second grader in a long assembly.  That's me, the wiggly kid.  But when I draw with pen I must be bold.  I'm more like the fifth grade girl who, when the principal says, "Who can sit up nice and straight?" I get all ramrod achingly rigid.  SEE???  I can, I can!  That's me and drawing.  All fifth grade girl.  I wonder when I'll get to middle school?

This is NOT my daughter.  This is some bad tempered high schooler who temporarily took up space next to me on my sofa.  I don't know WHERE she came from, but luckily she scooted away right after this.  

My daughter didn't make a full appearance that day.  But I'm still plugging along.

 

Journals Galorer

I suppose if I was a different kind of person I'd go into my closet and try on all my shoes. 

I'm not that kind of person.

I'm the kind that opens up this.

(from a class w/ Mary Ann Moss - Full Tilt Boogie)

To find this.    Those tricky hidden bindings.

And the plain and simple pamphlet.

All the options.

(Still MAM Stitched & Stenciled)

All the panache.

fun

flashy

(MAM again,  Remains of the Day)

subtle

(MAM - Full Tilt Boogie)

but sneaky

striking

eccentric

lovely

Okay, I'm better now.  Thank you for indulging me.

Journals Galore

I am in what I can only describe as A VERY BAD MOOD!!

And to combat that, since I have heard that you can not be both grateful and unhappy at the same time, I'm going to be spend the day thinking of all I have to be grateful for.  I won't list everything here, but to celebrate something I do feel very thankful for, I'm adding a special edition "journals I have made this year" post.

Here goes.

(from a class w/ Mary Ann Moss - Full Tilt Boogie)

I may have to split this into two posts.  It seems I have a few.

(from a class w/ Dawn DeVries Sokol - Urban Notebook)

Yes, that is duct tape above and below.  As good as book cloth.  Maybe better.  Maybe not.  I like book cloth tape.  And duct tape.  I love it all, truth be told.

And stitches.  I love stitches.  In embroidery, in quilting, in knitting.  All.  I. Love. It. ALL.

(Mary Ann Moss - FTB (Full Tilt Boogie))

Maybe not on me.  Don't know, don't want to.

(from a class w/ Mary Ann Moss Stitched & Stenciled)

Different shapes and sizes.   Different purposes.  Different joys.

Okay, I'm feeling a little bit better.  

(from a class w/ Diana Trout - Longstich, 2 ways)

I may need so spread some paint around on a page.  I'll try that next. 

More on this later.

Swashbuckling

Who fences anymore?  Unless you are a swashbuckling movie character.

But there I was at a fencing match (bout?) trying to figure out the rules and keep my eyes on the blade point and really, who can tell?

At least it makes a change from soccer fields.

I should have sketched more, but I was working on one of those hats.  And squinting.  And trying not to let the electronic buzzer sensors going off all over the place drive me insane.

That and the happy gleeful pride when my swashbuckling daughter won her bout (match?).

Reveling all the way

I've been knitting hats.  One hat, two hats, three hats.  And I have one more on the way.  Maybe two.

This is one.  Actually the third.  Just to be pedantic.  Because I am.

(above) It looks like the spine of a recent journal I bound!  My life is interconnected!!!

(I am spinning out of control -- AARRGGHHHH!  Grab hold of the yarn and JUMP!)

I have too much yarn.  Like I have too many pens.  And too much fabric.  Really! (with a note of exasperated disgust)  humph  How does that happen?

And then I put my face in the yarn (or fabric, but not the pens) and I am happy happy happy.  Really!  I am.  I am giddy with delight.  I LOVE fabric.  It's a texture thing.  And smell.  Can you see why I love spray paint too?  A feast for the eyes AND the fingers AND (for some) the nose.  If I could, I'd eat it.  Just a nibble now and then.  Well, the truth is, if I could eat it, I'd DEVOUR it.  My room would be laid bare one late night.  I'd start on one end and chomp my way, one bite at a time, to the other.  Reveling all the way.

That's me.  I revel.

What are these people thinking?

I've been derailed!

I was chugging along, journaling, sketching, doing a bit color here and there and then

WHAM

I was derailed by a bit of yarn and the holidays.

This is a half hearted attempt at keeping up in my Catch and Release journal.  I should be speeding through these pages, but I'm NOT.

I'm knitting.  Which I hope to have in pictures tomorrow.  Hats, I tell you hats GALORE.

Do you see me gesturing and genuflecting?  It's because I'm stifled not being able to play play all the time.  I've been required to attend FUNCTIONS which need clean pressed clothes and clapping and dishes in travel friendly containers.  And it's going to get WORSE!  

Really!   What are these people THINKING????

Reviewing the facts

 It would appear that in days past I forgot to post pictures of this finished journal.  Since I'm focussing on hats and blankets at the moment, I thought I'd fill in some gaps of things I'd done earlier.

I made this for MAM's Remains of the Day class.  It was A LOT of fun.

Satisfying on several levels.  I let myself be a little wild for the cover.

Normally I am a demure. Reserved.  Discreet.

I used up LOTS and LOTS of paper things I'd been holding onto.

Discreet people collect paper stuff. You might not know that.

Demure people like to use washi tape and lots of stitches.  You might not know that either.  Aren't you glad you tuned in?

More nothings

When I'm waiting, I like to make circles.

There must be something soothing in the motion.

I wouldn't need to do this if I could travel with a cat in my pocket.  But that hasn't worked well.

One down!

I'll get back to journals tomorrow, but for now, I'm showing off what I've gotten done.  This was the first quilt I started working on repairing.  At some point, I took of the binding on two sides and recut this quilt.  It had worn away in two strips on either side of the quilt and so I just eliminated the tattered bits.  Then it sat.  Waiting.  Occasionally making grumbling noises at me.  This and the one from yesterday.  Buddies making impatient signals to each other.  Figurative eye rolling.

So this week I finished rebinding this one.  I just reattached the old binding, but then found out I'd lost a section so I replaced it with black.  Just cause.  

I love this old quilt and I GOT SOMETHING OFF MY LIST!!!

Stitches

I REALLY don't need to make any new journals, so I've decided to channel my stiching impulse in another  direction.  I'd given up quilting with my shoulder problems, but recently discovered that I've improved enough to be able to do some stitching. YAY!!  I love to knit too, and have found that on good days, I can knit an hour or so while watching a soccer game or Project Runway.  I just love watching people be active and creative.  While I eat ice cream and make blankets.

So while I continue to journal and paint and play with pens and ink and ALL THAT GOODNESS, I will be reporting on all things Stiched occationally.

For this post, I'm trying (and not quite succeding)  to get a good shot of the quilt  I'll be appliquing on to repair some warn out squares.  I rebound it quite a while ago  and it's been sitting waiting for me to regroup and jump in.  

 I love this kind of work, resurrecting an old piece and giving it a new life.  My semi-little people love it too, because that means there is something to cuddle under while THEY watch Mythbusters and Once Upon a Time.  Unless I forget and leave needles in.  I try not to leave needles in.   Anymore.  

Someone

Some of what I've been doing recently has nothing to do with journals.

GASP!

I've been meddling with some old uncompleted quilts.  The bottom quilt above is one I'm considering working on.  I'm auditioning it.  But once fabric gets moved in my room, someone feels the need to sleep on it.  

The brown fabric under someone was the cloth I decided to recover an ottoman with.  I did that  yesterday for the last day of Create Every Day.   I created myself into a tizzy.

But I also took a moment to try to capture the image of this interloper.

I got impatient and the colors ended up bleeding into each other because I couldn't wait for them to dry and I totally MESSED UP the placement of the appliqué pieces, but hey, I had fun.  So there!