book l'arnin'

There is one problem with learning from some books-----the author assumes you have all of the tools mentioned, some basic skills on the subject and the patience to try to figure out obtuse directions.......

A. If following a pattern, follow the pattern. The book in the book for this lesson is 11" tall---therefore the templates for the stitching do not fit my shortened version.

B. Read the instructions many many and many more times until you understand them. Or understand enough to fake it.

C. Have fun anyways, take notes and make it your own. I should have known this would happen.

I am reasonably happy with the results, the author would probably shudder, but so what? I had a problem with the lining on the inside of the cover--if i let it lay flat, with the spine bends burnished in, when i folded it, it buckled badly. If i folded and pushed the spine divot section in, the edge went over the book board. Poop. I'm letting it dry "folded", will mash the bejeebers out of it to compress, trim the edges and hope the signatures hide the mess. It's a learning thing. Anybody got stretchy paper?????????

All i could get in was 5 signatures, as it was a bit hot and bothery trying to stab through all the layers----punch holes first? Why would i make it easy on myself the first time? My teeth are sore from clenching them and my tongue got bit twice. You can also see that my stitching was not even or spaced evenly---whatever :}

I decided to do the buttonhole thingie picot-y stitch again on these as i love the raised texture. Very random joining.

And beads knotted and buttonholed in (sort of) as well.

Then more fibres knottted in:

The inside is kind of boring compared to the outside, but as it was a learning tool, i'm sure i can liven up its guts at a later date.

Those beads are the last of 100 i had--i paid a penny apiece in the very early 80's! They're glass with a teeny millifiori design on them and i haven't too many more left.

So, though i am a little displeased with the inside lining, spending 6 hours doing this was quite enjoyable! The longest parts were waiting for things to dry, and the hand stitching of the embroidery detail. One could probably cut it down substantially with a pile of prepped covers and a more concise plan for stitching :}

The cover closes smoothly, the fold is nice at the spine and the pages lay where they should. I think i'll add a fastener, not that it needs it to keep it closed, but they do look kewl :}

PS this one was created from the Mary Kaye Seckler book, and based loosely on the "Long Tall Sally" lesson.

Comments

[Linda]

Very lovely. Would make a great little journal and then the inside with be filled with its own form of wonders.

[Annette]

WOW! You are back in the swing of things obviously! Great job! Will you post an entry that shows how you did the basic cover?

[Mary Anne]

Very kewl! However, I don't think I want to know exactly why you bit your tongue...twice, no less. Didn't your mother ever tell you that it wasn't polite to stick your tongue out (especially at what you're creating?). Now you know why she told you that!

[Paula Hewitt]

this looks great. thanks for sharing the process - gnashing of teeth and all

[Heather]

All your hard work and pain has paid off and you have a lovely book. The 'sort of' stitches down the spine are far more interesting than any found in the stitch manual.

[sharonb]

Hi Arlee - just wanted to say the book looks lovely