Last week I picked up these beautiful japanese quilting fabric bits from a millinery store. I actually didn't have anything special in mind...
I thought it might work for a pillow -- (what was I thinking? I've never made a pillow before, and I certainly don't need one). Later as I stared at it I thought of making a camera strap cover -- still considering that one (b/c I'm not sure I want to walk around with a pink strap for my black camera, it would be STRANGE).
Then I got a brainwave this afternoon, started digging in my terribly disorganized drawer, and found a notebook I could cover. It was SUPER!!! I was so excited.
First I wrapped the chipboard cover with the pink fabric and stitched all over it to secure the cloth.
Then I layered more fabrics and some tea-dipped trim on top, and stitched again (I am paranoid about the "things" fallling off the notebook).
........made a faux seed-packet using a pretty vintage image from Birds and Botanicals notepad and a little brown paper sack, and then stitched all over it again..... trimmed with a resin applique from Melissa Frances, and a little clock face.
The flowers are made from more tea-trims, and some of the cream fabric, messily bunched up and stitched ---- embellished with little crochet pieces, pearls, and baubles. The leaves are olive green cardstock, scrunched up, distressed and stitched.
there it is -- a simple, romantic fabric art journal. I'm not quite sure if I'll use it or give it away or what... I'm just going to keep it for looking at for a while ;)
I'm working on a few fun pages inside... will be sharing them next week sometime I think.
hope your weekend is going LOVELY!! mine sure is :)
~vio
This is beautiful! You did good! :)
Posted by: vicki dutcher | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 12:02 AM
Absolutely beautiful :) you are a clever lady :)
Posted by: Marlou McAlees | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 12:25 AM
You are SO Good with what u are doing, sweet Viola! and i see Crafty Secrets by your side bar - HUGE HUGE heartiest Congrats!! U are SO perfect for them =) Really happy for you !
Posted by: emeline | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 01:51 AM
lovely
Posted by: f lynn rush | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 02:25 AM
Now I know what to do with all my scraps left over from my quilting days. I thought about making fabric flowers, but to cover a journal is perfect!! You are too brilliant! I just love how you put everything together.
Posted by: Kathy Ethington | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 02:41 AM
WAUW!!I I-Love every bit of your notebook cover ! Those fabrics are gorgeous, just what i'd pick too, but i would sit and stare at them ,you have a tremendous way of combinating fabric and papercraft.I have saved some fabric too ,but stashed away somewhere.
Love Rosa
Posted by: Philippe Rosa | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 03:01 AM
Oh, Vio! This truly is beautiful! The fabrics are gorgeous! Melissa Phillips and a couple of other girls are making quilt blocks this summer using various trims, trinkets and other treasures (check her blog). No rules--just what you love. I'm thinking of giving it a try myself.
Posted by: Patty O'Malley | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 03:20 AM
Oh, how beautiful! Just so lovely!
Posted by: Danielle Flanders | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 03:31 AM
beautiful,love it
Posted by: pamelawalker | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 03:34 AM
what a clever idea! I just might try it! Your notebook, is simply devine!
Posted by: sharon wheet | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 03:45 AM
Those are the kind of fabrics I'm drawn to for quilting - there's a US fabric designer named Robin Pandolph whose fabrics are quite similar. LOVE what you did with these lovely fabrics, Viola! Now you have a beautiful keepsake.
Posted by: Lin | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 08:58 AM
Wonderful covering! Beautiful fabrics and lovely trim. I really like your seed packet. :)
Posted by: Gabby | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 12:04 PM
Your notebook is stunning!! You are so
talented in everything you make. Thanks
for sharing and I will look forward to
seeing your pages!
Posted by: Joanna McDonald | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 06:30 PM
Love this. Thanks for sharing. You've given me some motivation to try fabric.
Posted by: Linda Crowe | Sunday, 19 June 2011 at 11:06 PM
Oh so pretty! I love this idea. Your layering is adorable ;)
Rx
Posted by: Ruth S | Monday, 20 June 2011 at 12:27 AM
Viola! It's so pretty! (((: Thanks for sharing and thanks so much for leaving a comment on my blog (:
Hugs,
Khin
Posted by: Khin Hnin | Monday, 20 June 2011 at 11:48 AM
wow this is amazing!! Hugs Juls
Posted by: Juls | Monday, 20 June 2011 at 04:24 PM
I gotta say, this is pretty much the prettiest thing I've seen! :) Awesome job!
Posted by: Vic | Tuesday, 21 June 2011 at 04:52 PM