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Sunday, May 26, 2013

"Follow Your Heart" Fabric Book

 I have been having so much fun creating books lately. They can be used for so many different things from a journal to just a piece of lovely art. This is my latest creation. It is made out of fabric, just like the last one, but I did a different kind of spine this time.

 The pages are still filled with lots of lace and trim, cause I just love how it looks and feels on the edge!

 The cover has multiple layers of lace, fabric and metal pieces.

A little stuffed heart with a pretty vintage brooch is the focal piece.

 Here are the finished (or mostly finished) pages so far. I still have a few more to go and will show you those when they are completed. I wanted to use images of lovely vintage ladies for this book.
I just kept layering and arranging until each page felt right.



 I printed my words and the photographs onto muslin as I wanted the whole book to be fabric.

This page is not quite finished yet. I need to add the quote to the tag before it will be complete.

 The flower is composed of several old (not sure if they are vintage or not) fabric flowers that my friend Cindy and I got on one of our trips together. The stamens are all floppy and add great texture.

 I think this is my favorite page. I like the design elements and the quote perfectly expresses my feelings.

I played around with a new technique involving crinkled, stained seam binding and the sewing machine. I love the effect and I know I will be using it a lot!

 Isn't she so pretty??? Her name was Lily Elsie and she was probably the most photographed woman of her time.


 I stuffed the rose on the with batting, (even though it doesn't show up well in the photo) and it added yet another layer of texture to the book. I think when you do mostly monochromatic color schemes, those extra details of texture and pattern are very important or it can look to flat.

 These last two pages aren't completed yet, but I thought I would show them to you anyway. There are 10 pages in the book, so still have a few more to go.



Well, that's it so far. I'm really enjoying the creative process . I've had a lot of requests to put together an online class for the last book I did, so I'm working on that right now. This book is made almost the same way, with a few creative changes. 

I hope you all are having a  wonderful weekend!!


64 comments:

♥ Erican Vaaleita Unelmia ♥ said...

Love it, love it, love it <3
Huggs Erica

Maureen said...

Wow! Oh Karen this is incredibly gorgeous! I love the flow of ribbon / seam binding, like a wonderful river of muted colour.... Those images, laces, trim.... beautiful! What a treasure - each page is a work of art!

Unknown said...

This is a beautiful book, and I'm glad to hear about the online class! :) karen

...& 50 & Feisty & The Rules Don't Apply said...

There are no words... Absolutely stunning!

Ava Gavloski said...

drop dead gorgeous. I want to hold the album in my hand and squeeze it, smell it, stroke it and hug it. Perfecto, i am speechless. I saw your last book and i have been to a few garage sales trying to scoop up all the lovelies my self. going to make one of these for sure. going to start out small and test the journey before going BIG...lolooo
thanks so much for sharing, appreciated.
ava

Di@Cottage-Wishes said...

So Beautiful, I think you need to do a tutorial for us! Just fabulous, I love your fabric books. I have been collecting some laces and fabrics just to do what you are doing! But do need help with printing on fabric.
Thank you for sharing, Di

Marilyn McLeod @ Pink Paper Cottage said...

I love this wonderfully AWESOME book! I am just swooning over it! Where do you get all your gorgeous and vintage lace???? I suppose you find it at antique stores and flea markets. I'll have to look more for it. This book is SUCH A WORK OF ART!

Jo said...

Karen, this is beyond beautiful!

Sue @ Miss Phoebes Perch said...

Let me be the first to tell you how beautiful I think your book is. WOW!!! Sue

This N That said...

They are beautiful..Do you sell them?? I would love to put my blogs that I have had published in to them..

Maureen Hayes said...

Breathtakingly beautiful!

Rhonda said...

So pretty, Karen. These are made with patience and love, I can tell.

Have a wonderful holiday!!

Bente said...

Sooo very beautiful.

Cyn said...

Karen this book is breath taking! I love it!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Karen....your book is gorgeous...I had a thought...that one page with the script...what if you wrote something in your writing. And put on muslin...it could be the background even,,,just a Thot!

Unknown said...

what a beautiful book.
the colors and images are to die for. I made my first one last month for mothers day....just lovely. wonderful job!!!
defuscodesign@blogspot.com

FredaB said...

You have made a beautiful book. I am glad you are considering making a class for making one. I would be interested.

Hugs
FredaB

JD/ Jill said...

Awesome book! Beautifully done!

BucksCountyFolkArt said...

Gorgeous!

How do you print out the words on fabric? The only way I thought was to print the words onto iron-on fabric, but then it seems like it would waste the iron-on sheet.
I've always wondered if there was an easier way?

Ivy and Elephants said...

Karen, your book is gorgeous! So many different layers and embellishments.
A visual feast! I'll have to check out that tutorial.
Hugs,
Patti

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Just lovely, Karen! I love how you even have the text on fabric, too. This is so pretty, I'm pinning it. I don't know if I would have the patience to work on something that looks this intensive, but it might be a great project for me to work on in the Winter months when I'm in the house for days at a time. : )

Regina said...

What a beautiful piece. I love all of the pages and your work is just amazing!!

Createology said...

Your fabric and lace book is divine! Each page with so many layers and textures really adds to the interest level and captures complete attention. Happy Hearts are Creative Hearts...

Unknown said...

Oh Karen this one is a beauty! The first page has one of my favorite quotes. Lovely book and I know how much fun they are to make, I have about four going at once!
You just enjoy it everytime you open it.
Hugs and keep having fun!
Marilou

Kathy said...

How wonderful is that! I do believe I may be seeing a class in my future. Thanks for sharing. Kathy

ImagiMeri said...

Oh girlfriend, it's gorgeous, stunning. I'm so glad you shared it with us.

Hugs,
Meri

oldgreymare said...

Creating with such joy leads to shared happiness with so many. You can feel the love you put into each of your special books. <3

mon-coin-joli said...

ce livre est vraiment une merveille !
toutes les pages sont magnifiquement décorées, quel beau travail
j'adore !
biz
Nicolette

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Lovely. I have a theory that lovely blogs and creations are created by loveliness that is within....keep creating these beautiful books. There is more loveliness to create. Your book should be published.
Blessings,
Debbie

Art and Sand said...

I have been making books for about 15 years, but I have never made a cloth book. Retirement is less than 2 weeks away and can create to my heart's content. I think I might need to try a cloth book.

The Old Elf said...

Hi Karen...this is Mary (the Old Elf) in the trailer in Bakersfield, CA. I haven't posted a comment in a while but rest assured I have looked at all your posts and enjoy them all. Thank you very much for the post on this so lovely book. It is so fabulous! What a great amount of time and effort you spent on this project. I hope you can answer my question; how did you print the quotes and photos on muslin? It seems to me the material would bunch up in the printer. Do you have a tutorial on this? If not could you post one? Thank you very much for your lovely manner and gracious ways. Thanks

margits bastelstube said...

fabulous - great!
i love it !!!!!
greetngs from austria
margit

Vesna Maric said...

Simply gorgeous. I love it.

Shabby chic Sandy said...

Wow! This is just gorgeous--what amazing attention to detail. This is a treasure!

thyflo said...

Superbe , j'ai épinglé sur Pinterest

Viola said...

Wow, Karen, your book is really fabulous!! You did a great job!! As always! :)
Hugs, Viola

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Karen, this book is so pretty and feminine. What a lovely gift something like this would make.
Judith

Sheila Rumney said...

Love all you details. Gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Wow!! Such a gorgeous book!!
You are so talented in the way you bring everything together so beautifully!!!

Happy Crafting
Tracie
http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com

Jil~Say It With Roses said...

These are so beautiful! True works of art!!
♥ Jil

Kathy said...

Every page is filled with inspiration and your book is just stunning. Thank you for sharing the eye candy!

Denise Kraft said...

This is amazing! I can't wait to attempt to create one of my own. I love everything you do!! Love you mucho! Denise

Kassandra said...

What a beautiful work, Karen! I was absolutely delighted while looking at the pictures, so many exquisite details... I´d love to make something like this but I don´t even know where to start... so I´m looking forward for that class of yours!
Hugs,
K.

Something Special said...

Bravo, I love it, in fact I sure have wanted to do this for a while now. Maybe something similar will come out of my studio this summer. But I have so many projects lined up already lol

sweet violets said...

You have created another amazing treasure!!! I love every single element!!!

suziqu's thread works said...

You really have put so much of yourself into this lace book Karen. I can see the hours there and love the way you have repeated some fabrics, similar laces and images in creating such an appealing look. Beautiful quotes too. A work that you should be truly proud of!
Hugs,
Suzy

Sandy said...

Truly stunning Karen!

~Laurie said...

Beautiful! Can't wait until you have an online class!

Judy said...

Karen! This is such a beautiful book! Thanks so much for sharing! Loved every page!!

Wilma said...

Hi Karen,

What beautiful fabric books you made.
I absolutely love this one. It is a work of art !!

Thank you for sharing.

I am a follower for a long time now but
don't think I ever commented
(I'm so sorry :)
I really love your blog.
It's very inspiring.

Blessings,
Wilma. Shabby Royale.

debi said...

Karen, your book is stunning! Absolutely STUNNING!!!

Silvia said...

WOW that is beautiful! I would love to know how you bind the Book Pages together. Just sewing or do you do something more special?

Becs said...

Karen it us just stunning! How do you plan out your pages? Mine always take on an identity of their own. Can't wait for the tutorial, I am in!!! Becs

Anonymous said...

Absolutely stunning......each page is so beautiful....

Vickie ~ Mademoiselle*Rose said...

So, so beautiful

bolletjelucky.blogspot.com said...

Wow,I love your book,soooo gorgeous!!! greetings Miranda

Marlynne said...

This is it! I've been wondering what to take as my handiwork project while husband Maurice is having surgery and chemo treatments. I will make a fabric book for my sister in which I will include all her pictures I took of her home for several posts on my blog this past year. Yeah! Yours is stunning, a real inspiration, Thanks!

Eugenia Maru http://lulurulitos.blogspot.com said...

Realmente hermoso. Esos encajes son maravillosos, felicitaciones
Maru

http://lulurulitos.blogspot.com
http://atrapadaenmisletras.blogspot.com

CatieAn said...

what an incredible project, Karen. You did such a beautiful job with all the details and different fabrics and lace.

Charlene said...

I LOVE YOUR BOOK!!!! Your images are soooooooo pretty! So feminine & girlie!!!

Kathy said...

Love your gorgeous work and follow your blog. Have you ever thought of publishing tutorials in PDF form for this gorgeous books. I know they would sell. Would love to know how to make one, and would certainly buy a tutorial. Keep up the fantastic work. You are so talented.

Ineke Original said...

Wow! SUPER!!!

Wanda Maria said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Tea in the Library said...

Hi! I want to include this post as an upcoming Pick of the Week I'd like to use one picture - Book-13 and a link back to this post. Please let me know if you object. The post will go public the week of the 22nd and be titled Here Come the Brides.

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