Journal Cover Again

Journal Cover, Open
Journal Cover, Open

A few weeks ago I posted about Exuberant Color’s journal cover directions. This was after I saw directions for a journal cover on the Quilts and More website, Allpeoplequilt.com (you may have to register and login). I began the journal cover last Friday and finally finished on Sunday. In the end, it wasn’t difficult; I just didn’t have much time and struggled a bit with the directions.

As I may have mentioned, I liked the idea of this project, because it is useful. I also liked the idea of having an accessory using some of my fabric with me on a daily basis. Finally, it gave my journal a bit more privacy. The journal cover got its first outing with me on Tuesday.

I started madly sewing turquoise scraps together when I was angry and needed to calm down. The repetitive nature of the sewing helps me. Not only do I calm down, but I also make progress, an added bonus.  I am loving turquoise more and more lately and, found, as I rummaged through my scrap basket, that there were a lot of really pretty, if small, pieces.

Journal Cover Piecing, Oct 2009
Journal Cover Piecing, Oct 2009

Sewing scraps together is also an exercise I do when I don’t know what else to do. I sew like-colored scraps together to make new fabric. I have quite a large piece of red and have just started creating a pink piece. Other than tests and using them to make ATCs, I don’t really do much else with my scraps, so making new fabrics can create something useful.

The blue piece quickly turned into a journal cover. The technique is inspired, as you may have read before (March 2007 or July 2008), by Shannon Williams’ Mosaic Quilting technique.

Finished cover, Lining detail
Finished cover, Lining detail

I also used the fabric I wrote about (used as another source of inspiration) as the lining. I thought I would be able to see more of it and enjoy it, but the lining is pretty covered up. I might be a little miffed, but I know it is there and I can look at it whenever I want.

As I was making the fabric for the outside, I had to know how large to make the piece. I found the Quilts & More pattern not to work very well for me. That pattern requires that you buy a specific journal – the black & white composition notebook type, I think – which is a specific size. I did read this when I started the project. What I didn’t read was that they had no instructions for those who wanted to use a journal that had been laying around the house. Wanda at Exuberant Color came to the rescue, giving me an idea of how to measure my own journal so I could use that journal instead of going out and buying a new one.

Measuring, pt.1
Measuring, pt.1

First, I put the measuring tape down on the back of the journal. You can’t see it because it is in between the ironing board and the journal

Measuring, pt.2

Then, I wrapped the measuring tape around the back so that I could see the total width the fabric should be. You do have to close the book to make sure that you have enough. I found that if I put the beginning metal bit of the measuring tape right up against the binding, then there was plenty of fabric, even with the book closed and seam allowances.

I was a little confused by the direction on Exuberant Color about the amount of fabric for a seam allowance on the top. I eventually used about an inch larger than the book and that seemed to work.

I ended up with a total of 26″x 9 1/4″ for this sized Miquelrius journal cover. You can either cut two pieces of fabric this size or piece fabric scraps together in the appropriate size. Then cut another piece (not pieced) the same size. It reduces bulk not to piece both.

Press fusible interfacing to the inside piece. It is easier to press the fusible to the fabric that has not been pieced. I use scraps of fusible. You can also using batting, which I did in this turquoise pieced journal.

Now is the time to add your label. Use your journal to estimate where your label should go.

Next, place the fabrics right sides together and stitch around the whole piece. Leave an opening large enough to turn the piece. Reinforce the stitching near the opening, so the stitches don’t come out when you are turning the fabric.

Clip the corners.

Turn the piece and press. Press the opening so that it will look neat when caught in the final sewing stitches.

Fold over the edges towards the middle using the journal as your pattern. Make sure you close the journal with the cover around it. You will need a bit more than you think to cover the journal in the closed position.

Pin flaps in place. You will only need a few pins

Sew along the cover flaps as close to the top as you possibly can and stitch catch all four layers.

Place your journal cover on your journal and enjoy!

Finished Cover, Oct. 2009
Finished Cover, Oct. 2009

Above is the finished piece. I put a bit of a selvedge on the front cover to add interest. That bit of selvedge had been hanging on my design wall for a long time. I liked the name of the fabric: The Butterfly Queen. I may cover up Jason Yenter’s name with a flower or something, but we will see.

Journal Cover, Back Flap detail
Journal Cover, Back Flap detail

This picture shows the journal open and how much changes from my original measurement of 25″ (see photo above) and this photo (directly above) once the journal cover was completely sewed.

I didn’t have to buy anything to make this journal cover, which was nice. It is a  project you can complete with materials around the house. It is one of those projects that works when inspirations strikes late at night and everything is closed. 😉

I want to make another one and possibly a few more as gifts. One thing I want to try is fusible interfacing like one of the thicker Pellon products rather than batting. I find the batting to be too squishy, especially when I fold the journal backwards to write on both pages.

Gift Bags Return

Gift Bag #2, Holiday 2009
Gift Bag #2, Holiday 2009

This is one of the fabrics I received from the new Etsy store in April, which I didn’t order. Some of it isn’t really my style, but every style makes a good gift bag, so here is gift bag #2 for Holiday 2009.

To make gift bags:

I press a double hem on one side of a fat quarter and finish it with a decorative stitch. This is a good way to get to know the resources required to use your decorative stitches.

Once done, I fold the piece in half, right sides together, aligning the hem at the top. I put a piece of ribbon, folded in half, inside the piece. The fold of the ribbon will be sticking of the side a little bit and is placed about a quarter of the way down the side.

I sew down the side, starting with the hem. I reinforce the start, the the ribbon and the end by backstitching over it a few times. Then I turn the bag right side out.

I love using gift bags for gifts. Besides the fact that I intensely dislike wrapping gifts with paper, the fabric feels so much nicer in my hands. I also get to see the beautiful holiday fabric each year.

Sketching #34

CPP Response #34
CPP Response #34

Summer was a difficult prompt. It is hard to draw (my mode of expression in the CPP, mostly) an expression of summer without people. I do find a few people or parts of people starting to creep into my studies for the CPP responses. Hhmmm. Let me know what you think and I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Check out Kathy’s Bliss Initiative, which is on Creativity this week.

Creative Prompt #35: Purple

SURPRISE!!!!!!

I am posting a special creative prompt to coincide with her “virtue of bliss” for creativity week.

Kathy, my long time friend, is doing a year long project on adding more bliss to her life. You can see her blog, Everyday Bliss, and learn more about the project on her blog.

To inspire you….

Purple has always been a royal color

Kathy thinks of purple as a magical or fairy color

Julie‘s favorite color

Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze

Purple People Eater

Jessie has a pink and purple monster that lives behind her house

Abby Kadabby from Sesame Street

Purple Rain from Prince

Barney the Purple Dinosaur

Grapes

Purple is the color of the font that Kathy uses for her Monday post font color

McDonald’s character, Grimace

Purple is a general term used in English for the range of shades of color occurring between red and blue (Wikipedia)

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Violets (color and flower)

Iris, Orchids and Crocuses

Purple Dragon Tour Company

I have never seen a purple cow I never hope to see one… by Gelett Burgess

MTA Maryland has a purple line

Lavender

Purple Cafe and Wine Bar in Downtown Seattle

Deep Purple

Purple Cow by Seth Godin

When I am an Old Woman, I Will Wear Purple

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Order of the Purple Heart

Mind Sorbet & In Between Projects

I latched on to the idea of Mind Sorbet or Quilt Sorbet) after I heard about it in Judy Martin’s newsletter in February of 2008. I mentioned it in a post around that time. Today, I got a new view of finishing, process, starting and resting as I listened to an old CraftyPod podcast.

I am a bit obsessive about thinking about process. I can get stuck in a mindset, though, as I think I did with mind/quilt sorbet. Fortunately, I can also be easily influenced by a reasonable argument. It is probably a good thing that I leave politics mostly to Julie! 😉

Sister Diane interviewed (CraftyPod episode #66) Kirsty Hall, a UK artist who, in 2007, did one drawing every day and mailed it to herself in a project she called the Diary Project. This interview was done towards the end of 2007 as the project was winding down and Kirsty was anticipating ceasing her daily envelopes drawing practice. As I listened I thought “how can she just give up something that has been a habit?”, but I listened further and found what she said to make sense. Personally, it also defined and named something I didn’t even know I was experiencing.

I started the Quilt Sorbet project soon after finishing (mostly!) the Tarts top. I was excited to do something, uncomplicated, easy and fun in different colors. Then the 9K went back to the shop and I have wandered around not working on that project for a number of weeks.

As Ms. Hall talked about her Diary Project and the ending, she talked about resting after a big project. She made a good point in saying that we makers love to dive in and start something new. She subtly suggested, and included herself in this suggestion, that we should consider refraining from diving into a new, big project right away. Her words and thoughts resonated with me, because diving into any quilt project is a big commitment. No matter how enjoyable a project is, quilts take a lot of time and energy. Other people may be able to make a quilt in a day. That isn’t me; I spend a lot of time thinking and looking and trying. Looking at the time I have spent on Beach Town is a good illustration. I spent at least 10 hours quilting that thing and it is a small quilt! A quilt is a big project.

Listening to this podcast suggested to me that I might need to think about the project that I undertake after finishing a large project, especially a large quilt project. Ms. Hall mentioned resting after a project and I think it is a good idea. Perhaps making tote bags or pencil rolls or journal covers would be better than starting a new project. Perhaps sewing scraps together to make new fabric for fuure projects would work better than starting a quilt. I am wondering if even sewing on sleeves and bindings or facings would be good mindless resting projects?

I have had to expand my idea of finishing since I started doing the UFO reports at the end of each year. I was getting down looking at my massive quantities of UFOs. I had to start thinking about completing steps/sections as accomplishments. Really finished does mean the piece is ready to hang or put on a bed. Quilts, however, are big projects and there are multiple steps in the process. I have found that completing one of the steps, like the top can be a good place to stop in order to work on another piece for awhile. Completing a group of blocks, then sewing a tote bag together can be a kind of finishing. Working on different projects one after another can give me some breathing space to mull over a project subconsciously.

I have to say that there is a definitely a limit to the number of projects that be happening at the same time, especially if one of them takes a lot of design wall space. I may have reached that limit at various points this year.

What I have taken away from this podcast is to rest between projects. I don’t think that means stop making. I think it means making something smaller and easier.

Tarts Cream Drips

Tarts, Small Drip
Tarts, Small Drip

This is the piece of pie and whipped cream, which you have seen four dozen times. I am forced to continue to show it to you until you scream for mercy. Only because you asked for it. 😉

Okay! Okay! I am not so mean. This is actually a slightly larger drip than before. I took your advice and decided to make the drip a little larger. I don’t think it is large enough here. When I stand back, it still looks like a speck. I don’t want people to think I made a big boo-boo on the applique’.

Tarts, Big Drip
Tarts, Big Drip

Here is the big drip. It looks like something! I used the same shape; just made it a bit bigger. I like it and it will probably be sewed down this weekend.

Sewing it down would be very nice, because then I can get it off of my design wall and put something else up.

Oh. The back. I still have to make the back. Sigh.

Creative Prompt #34: Summer

Summer may be over, but this prompt will give you the opportunity to relive it. Summer is one of the four temperate seasons, marked by the warmest time of year with the longest days, and lies between spring and autumn. (from Wikipedia)

Beach Boys

Endless Summer

Summer Session.

Summer school.

Summer stock.

Barbeque, cookouts, picnics.

Summer jobs.

School’s out for summer!

Donna Summer

500 Days of Summer

Summer Solstice

Summertime lime

Indian summer

Summer camp

Summer internship

Summer Olympics

Summer abroad

See the Creative Prompt page if you have questions about this project.

Post the direct URL where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. It will keep all the artwork together.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, now, has a Flickr group, which you can join and where you can post your responses.

There is more information on the recently updated Creative Prompt Page.

Last of the Infinity Blocks

Infinity Blocks, late September 2009
Infinity Blocks, late September 2009

Here are the last blocks from my SIL. I got them from my niece who brought them back from Maryland (family-mail). I have had them around for at least two months and I haven’t had a chance to put them up here on the blog.

I still have enough white squares to make at least one more block. I still have to do that. I seem to be distractible lately.