Aha!

I love a good aha moment!

It's almost the end of the year...so time for a new planner for Connie....planner #9 to be exact. I had big plans for a more creative cover this time....but because of my crazy schedule lately I'm settling for pretty fabric.

My big "aha" moment was to use Wonder Under (fusible webbing) rather than glue to adhere the fabric to the cardboard covers...and it worked like a dream!


I had the signatures printed and stitched together before my trip to Colorado so I just needed to cover the boards and put it all together. I think I'm getting better at this stitching.

Stitching of the signatures in process.

I chose a cheery colorful floral batik that I thought Connie would like.

I'm not all that great at glueing fabric on these boards. I often use too much which causes warping...so using the Wonder Under was awesome. I didn't have to weigh it down under a pile of books for a day or two waiting for the glue to dry. 

I ironed the fusible on one side of the batik...then peeled the paper off and fused it to the cover boards. It was a little tricky because I had to iron on the fabric side so had to make sure the boards were positioned correctly underneath. The fabric fused to the boards perfectly and permanently and no warping!!!

I clipped the fabric corners and wrapped and fused the extra fabric around the edges of the boards. I can't believe how much easier this was than using glue!!!  I'll never go back! Merry Christmas Connie!                                                                         

Handmade Planners

A year or so ago I was excited to learn the basics of bookbinding from my friend Muffy. She is an amazing artist and teacher and her talents are vast. Her collection of handmade journals and books is unbelievable...and I could sit for hours going through them again and again.

I have been practicing my new skill making planners for Connie. I particularly like this cover....I used a spectrum of hand dyed fabrics from Cherrywood fabrics.

This is the 5th one I have made...and yes, I am getting better...but there is still room for improvement. My first books contained just 4 months with a section for phone numbers in the back. Now I make them with 6 months because I recently made a separate phone book with all Connie's important and frequently used numbers. I want to keep the planner slim enough to fit in Connie's wheelchair pouch and be easy to handle.

I have experimented with a variety of covers...using both paper and fabric.  Notice a few of the "Sun Moon and Star" calendar squares mixed in with punched squares from photos of Connie's garden on the one in the middle.  I experimented with a magnet closer on the blue fabric cover...but haven't gone back to that.


Connie's current planner only goes through June...so I have been working on the next one and will share my process in the next few days.

It's Time...

...for a new planner. 

Every six months I make a new planner for Connie...and this is the newest. The red fabric is from her old curtains...from the apartment...and at least one or more houses before that.  I added the band of batik fabric...just for interest.

I posted about the process of making a book here.  I'm still learning.

I tweaked the inside format...and still included a little of Connie's art on almost every spread. Maybe in a few more years I will master the art book binding....I won't point out the flaws...because believe me...there are flaws. 

Planner #8

Connie is a month into planner #8. I make a new one for her every six months and you can see the rest of them here.

I used crazy colorful fabric for the cover on this one. You can read about the process of putting one together here. 

making the fabric cover

I smartened up and put some of her standing appointments right into the template. And rather than printing pictures on the pages ahead of time like I have in the past....we added photo stickers that were given to her by her daughter of her family, her rug hooking, and her art.  It will be a fun way for her to enjoy the stickers....there's a different sticker each week from July through October.  Andi ordered them on Snapfish and you can see some samples here. 

Planner Process

Planner number six is done...July through December 2015.  I chose this geometric fabric for the cover with a contrasting fabric for the spine.



Here is a short version of the steps in my process.

Connie and I came up with a format that would work for her that I designed in my "Pages" program. I like to add images of her art all through the book and I print the pages on both sides on heavy cream card stock.

I use the scoring slide on my cutter to make the crease for easy folding.  

photo from Michaels site

Three pages get folded into what's called a signature. Generally you use more...but I use such thick paper that three works well. The signatures get stacked up and stitched together using a coptic and kettle stitch.









I pierce the holes with an awl.

photo from Michaels site

Here are the clearest set of directions that I have found online by Michael Shannon. I don't do all of his steps...I choose not to glue my binding because I have trouble with that...I don't have a proper press. My technique still needs some work and my stitched edge doesn't always look pretty...but it gets the job done. The cover hides a lot of imperfections.

I have to work at getting and keeping the stitches tight....practice practice practice.  I may try waxed cord at some point.  When it's time to stitch I have to refer to the numbered image above...until I get into a groove.  This book has six signatures.

Next I prepare the cover boards....I have been using up old matte board. It tends to bow a little...so I may find another alternative...but it's what I have at the moment...and I'm all about using what I have. The two covers boards are cut a little bigger than the book and the spine is cut to the thickness of the book.

Then I make some sort of a cover...and like I said earlier I chose this geometric fabric and used a contrasting polka dot to wrap around the spine.  It took a little fiddling to get the pattern to fall just right....didn't think of that when I picked the fabric.  

Now it's time to glue the cover boards to the fabric.  I use bookbinding glue from the Paper Source and cover one side of the boards completely...being careful not to use too much.

Then I put it under heavy weights for several days.  My basket of magazines works well on top of a nice flat board and a heavy book. Once that has dried I fold in and glue the edges and add a ribbon book mark along the spine.

Now it's time to glue the bound book to the cover and put it under my magazines again for a few more days. Finally I handwrite in all the dates.

Fall Horizon

In case you missed some posts....I am currently working on several pieces for a little art show in April. I am using the theme "unexpected horizons" to tie my pieces together and fabric is just one medium I will be using.  The show will be in my chiropractor, Dr. Adam's office gallery in Lexington and she invites any local artist to display their work for a month. Know anyone? Check out her website for more about her practice. Dr. Adams is also a stone sculptor...check her amazing work out here.

I made this little quilt from batiks and beautiful hand dyed fabric from Cherry Wood Fabrics. This one is inspired by fall horizons and fields on the farm.

As usual I'm still still mulling over the framing...but will probably go with this.  I thought I measured so carefully...but it ended up just a hair smaller than I would have liked....I wanted just a hint of the stripe showing. Staining the outer frame will help tie it all together.

I just realized as I see it on the screen that the little yellow square of the batik looks like a candle next to the navy one above it.

I'm also still deciding on the floss accents....I had some french knots but wasn't sure I like them so took them out.  I kind of sweat the details....so once again...I will set it aside.  It's far enough along to know it will work out in the end.

I found these chunky frames at Michaels...they were 40% off and another 20% my whole purchase....so they were literally less than $5 each. A chunky canvas that fits into the wooden frame that I edged with striped fabric using matt medium.                                                                           

The cover of this planner I made for Connie was also done with hand dyed fabric from Cherrywood. Their colors are so rich! These fabrics came in a set called "Tropicana." I have enough for lots of projects! I'm seeing some horizons in these colors!

Rainbow Birthday Book

Connie's birthday was today...and I made this tiny little rainbow accordion book...with a mix of her artwork...and some of my little photo collages. It's only about 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.

The little poms on each page...are needle felted and cover is collaged with tissue paper.

The back folds are covered with washi tape. Every color scheme has a copy one of her little pieces of art and a little collage.

I actually started this several years ago...but stopped in the middle because I thought it was a little too goofy. But I came across it a few weeks ago and decided to finish it for Connie's birthday. After all....a lot of my artwork is a little goofy...so why stop now.

There's a little snippet of her old curtains on the red page and a little piece of Paul's grandmother's tatting on the purple page.


Happy Birthday Connie!

 

 

The little bird images are cut from this sweet little planner/calendar I used several years ago by Geninne...an amazing artist from Santa Fe.  I have talked about her before....I just love her art...especially her birds.  I have spent hours and hours on her blog... check it out here.

How Long....

...does it take to stitch the signatures together on a planner for Connie?...

...from Lexington to the New Hampshire border. I had the signatures ready to go and took it along last Friday when Paul and I went to Maine to look at a few houses. Time in the car is good for visiting...but it's also good for a little hand project. It's not often I'm sitting still for 2 hours.

But I will admit that I also enjoy a good nap in the car once in a while too.....💤

I chose this funky indigo batik fabric for the cover...which I finished today. I'm way ahead of the game on this one because it's not needed until until June. I'm giving it to Connie tomorrow...on her actual birthday.   Happy Birthday Connie!

Sunshine and Rainbows

The last of of Adam's 2021 intentions post:  "In 2021 we're looking ahead, we're reflecting as we go, we're checking in, we're being present, we're changing."  https://www.instagram.com/adamjk/

At the bottom of this 4th page was this image of a planner Adam sells....and I just love the title. "It's not all sunshine & rainbows (but a good amount of it actually is)"  

Isn't that the truth!

A few days ago I stopped in to see my stained glass quilt all framed at Amy and Lisle's.  They had sent me photos...but it was really nice to see it in person and take a few of my own photos. Sorry for the repeat.....but I'm sharing my sunshine and rainbows.....again.

If you are new to the blog....you can read about my process here:

http://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/12/delivered.html