This is my contribution to WOYWW (What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday), over at JuliaDunnit's Blog. Each Wednesday, Julia invites fellow crafters and bloggers to show a photo or two of their worktables, and explain what they've been doing.
My Very Messy Table!
Actually, this is the top of my lovely big Plan Chest, which I use as a binding table, as it's a good height for that work. It is in rather a mess - I'm sort-of messing around with several projects at once (not really a good plan), which means I have bits & pieces all over the place.
These are the main things on the go just now though.
Top left: bits of paper from a Christmas Decoration Making session. I made three sets of Christmas Star Books last week - they came out really beautifully and sold immediately - note to self, make more! (and maybe a tutorial on my blog, if I can make time).
Bottom Left: Two finished books, that I've just posted for sale in my online shops. The bottom one is the black leather book I was working on when I last posted for WOYWW (22nd October!). Other events meant that the book took a bit longer to complete than I anticipated, so it's just been offered for sale this week.
The second book, on the top, is the first Buttonhole Binding I have ever made. I love that little penguin, in his fancy-dress pudding costume! The spine and covers of the book have slots cut into them, so you can see the sets of pages inside. Each set of pages has a decorative wrap, each one different and all from the same set of papers as the cover, so they all co-ordinate. The stitching is red linen and looks very effective against the green suede spine.
The second book, on the top, is the first Buttonhole Binding I have ever made. I love that little penguin, in his fancy-dress pudding costume! The spine and covers of the book have slots cut into them, so you can see the sets of pages inside. Each set of pages has a decorative wrap, each one different and all from the same set of papers as the cover, so they all co-ordinate. The stitching is red linen and looks very effective against the green suede spine.
* * *
In the Centre of the Table: Two sets of covers and pages, for Christmas Felt Journals. The Felt is cut out and lined with Christmassy fabrics - you can see the linings in the second photo of the desk (the close-up) and the felt outsides in the top photo (also, to the right of the top photo, are some felt pieces and larger pieces of fabric for the linings - they're so nice!)
I will decorate the book covers with embroidery, before binding the sets of pages with Longstitch, in contrasting linen threads. I hope to make some more felt journals in the next couple of weeks - they do seem to sell well at Christmas time.
* * *
My Felt Stash, waiting to be made into Books and things.
I have several large pieces of woolfelt (some are 1/2 metre), plus a small pile there of 6" squares, which are very thick and "felty" feeling - I will use those for decorations, I think. On the top of the larger sheets, there are three pieces of hand-made felt, which I bought from a felt-maker at Folksy.com. I want to make some very special books with those, as they are really gorgeous - especially that red, green and silver piece on the top!
* * *
That's my contribution to the WOYWW Story this week - thanks for reading.
Why not pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and see what else is going on in the crafting world?
I love stitching on felt - what a great idea to embroidery book covers that way. Thanks so much for sharing. Happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #57
ReplyDeleteFelt is my favourite thing to stitch on: I can't wait to see some finished felty projects
ReplyDeleteI hope there will be some Finished projects very soon, Sian! I'm having a rest from embroidery just now, as I was starting to go boggle-eyed and get a stiff kneck. A third cover - smaller than those in the photo - is almost ready for binding and I have made a good start on that red felt too.
DeleteBack to work in a few minutes!
So many books and so much book binding! I've made a few books in my time. They are rather fun. You sure take them to another level--lovely job! Judy #73
ReplyDeleteThank you Princess Judy (hey, I've never been visted by a Princess before - going up in the world!).
DeleteIt's looking very festive.
ReplyDeleteYou really do make beautiful books.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ruth!
DeleteI love seeing lots of projects in the making at once! Your journals look awesome. I've never heard of Folksy - is it just in Europe? I'll have to check it out! Lindart #63
ReplyDeleteHello Linda - thanks for visiting. Yes, Folksy is UK-based, but people from all over the world are very welcome to come and buy from the many sellers - there are some very beautiful and clever pieces of work for sale.
DeleteWOW - fabulous creations. Love those books!! Wonderful. TFS
ReplyDeleteKaron #54
Karon's Krafty Korner
Thank you Karon.
DeleteSeriously cute little books
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday! (sorry I'm late)
Laura
47
Your books are delightful, and when I've finished my WOYWW visits, I'll definitely be back to look at more of your lovely posts. Thanks for sharing, and have a great week. Chris # 7
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Loving your felt books. What a lovely gift those will make.
ReplyDeleteApril #68
Clever you for making those beautiful books! I love the penguin book with that special binding.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week,
Sorry I’m late but I take my time going through them all. (I enjoy reading all the blogs and look at the photos)
Lisca#36
Lisca, thank you for taking Time to read and appreciate! I'm sure no-one else minds if you arrive at a blog a few days after posting - not if it means you're taking your time.
DeleteThanks for the nice comments - I'm rather proud of my little penguin book, it's the first buttonhole binding that I have tried.
busy looking desk! I can appreciate all the work you have going into these books. I look a class last summer and I could never get the signatures to stay where I wanted them and so wished for a bottle of glue! I think the teacher called me a philostine! Thanks for coming and visiting my desk this week. I am so late getting around but it seems something always gets in my way of desk hopping! Have a great rest of the week. Vickie #43
ReplyDeleteThat is a cute penguin - such fun to see what you're working on.
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE the buttonhole binding! So cute and what a great way to show off the innards. Now I have to hunt up a tutorial. Fab. Love it.
ReplyDeleteNumber only verification has returned so I'm jumping on it!
Happy (late but determined to finish) WOYWW!
Mary Anne (2)
I'm kinda jaleous seeing your stack of felt... I 'need' to make me some felt covered book too as I have none left (sold them) and I do love the look and feel of it. I also am in ooh and aah over the red book with the flap (first picture) I'm awfully late responding to your comment on my blog (last Wednesday) but you asked about the watercolour paper I use: I buy a big sketchpad from "Schut" (a Dutch brand I presume...) the paper weighs 180 g / 83 Lbs. and then cut the paper into shapes/seizes I need for my pages. Hope your week went well and this week will be good too. Happy woyww and a hug from Holland, Marit #44
ReplyDeleteHi Marit! Thanks for visiting - and for the reply about the paper.
DeleteThe red book is now finished. I was so pleased with the result - it's very nice!
:-)
That buttonhole binding is lovely - how fascinating to see inside the edge of the signatures. You are making me think about my diary for next year ...
ReplyDeleteOooo... what kind of diary - a journal, or a date-book diary?
DeleteA diary with a buttonhole binding and twelve different signature wraps... perhaps through the seasons... oooo....