"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!!

Sweet Salvage-Sweet Retreats

 Yesterday was the third Thursday of the month and you know what that means by now... Sweet Salvage!! The show was wonderful as always!

Today, I think I'll just let the photos tell most of the story.

These were some of the highlights for me....

I really should have brought this lamp home. I think it's fabulous!!!

I always love architectural salvage...

and brown transferware....

 and old iron gates...

and fabulous bird cages!!!!

If you are local, I hope you get a chance to go this weekend!!!

Fabric Journal Book Class

A couple of weeks ago I had the extreme pleasure of teaching this fabric book class to 18 wonderful and creative women at a fabulous crafting day here in Phoenix. 3 other  teachers taught fun projects as well and everyone had such a good time.  Unfortunately, I was so caught up in teaching the class that I totally spaced taking photos!! (I hate it when that happens!)

There were several of my buddies, who couldn't make that class, so thankfully I had enough supplies left over to make a few more kits, and we had a little mini class here at my home.

 I had 5 girls total and had the best time. I made lunch and we spent the whole day chatting and playing!

I don't know how Gini managed to hide her face from both photos but she did!!! And there are the rest of my buds...

Sandie, Denise and Cherie and Lynne (down below)

Now you aren't going to believe how short this post is. Know why???? I was too wrapped up in the fun to make more pics!!! Arghhh!!!!!! I really wanted to show you all the wonderful versions of the book that the girls made, but the day flew by, and I never got the chance! (I really have to get better about that!!)

Oh well, this is my book anyway... I hope to show you pics of the latest book I've been working on very soon!!

My Happy Place

For the last few days, I have been in my happy place. Surrounded by the things that I love to play with... Lace, Fabric, Ribbon. The textures, the colors, even the smells put me in a calm joyful space that keeps me playing in the studio until my eyes just can't stay open any longer. 

 I've been playing with books again. It feels so good to get creative in the studio and make something just for the sheer joy of it.

The table is covered with scraps and lovely pieces of lace and fabric for me to scrounge through until I find the perfect addition to the pages.

 We are so lucky to have some wonderful stores here called SAS. They are filled with remnant fabric and yards and yards of lace and trims, all for mere pennies. (Well, it seems like pennies until they add it all up at the register!!!)

I love to go and find new bits to add to my collection. Shopping there puts me in my happy place too.

I bring them home and they go on my wall, beautifying the room with their colors and textures until they find a new home in a piece of art or home decor.

I hope you find some time to go to your happy place too!!!

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Linking up with Becky for Blissful Whites Wednesday. :)

A video to make you smile. :)

A dear friend of mine shared this video with me this morning. It brought tears to my eyes, but they were more happy tears than sad. It is an amazing video and the life experiences that this guy has had must have been incredible so far. The video reminded me that although we as human beings can be extremely different as you travel the world, there are also some basic things that are all the same and we are all fundamentally human with the desire for love and play and joy and a sense of humor too!!

I hope you all enjoy it!!!