I start with my box of old books, ribbons, lace, buttons and glue. I cover the journal, in this case with plain paper.

I then try a few different ideas:

Everything is glued down:

The back is also decorated: I glue down some labels I had printed with our ‘The Nest’ name:

I covered these, glued on some small paper hearts then painted over the whole lot:

This was covered in fabric, and then decorated like above:

When the front is done, I tidy up the inside cover with a sheet of paper or the first page of the journal (sometimes the first page is suitable to paste down and this makes a lovely, neat finish)

If you can bear to give these away, you can be sure they will be gladly and joyfully received!

I really enjoy making these, and am very happy with how they turned out!

Meanwhile, I was most unhappy with this tea cosy I made a while ago with some “experimental machine stitching”- the wording said “rose garden”

and I had some needle felted roses on the front:

But I didn’t like the wording at all, so I’ve ripped it out and have it on the top of my work basket waiting for inspiration to strike.

Hand embroider the letters? Applique…something? 

Ideas? Anyone?!

My dear friend Tara came over yesterday and we had a lovely lunch and chat.

A little present of a gorgeous magazine for my cup of tea in the afternoon….

And some artworks… (I need to balance my brain after all the Homeopathy case work…) these ones are mixed media, paint and collage, not finished yet, have to and have a think where to go next with these

This is collage, a bit strange I know, more work to do…

“The Forgetting and the Remembering”

This is mixed media also: paint, collage, hand dyed vintage laces and buttons

And a few tags, they are ATC size, double the delight!!!