Notebook

I joined in with a swap where I made some paper following some instructions. I used the paper to make a notebook cover by backing it with felt and sewing around the edges with zigzag stitch. I then used some watercolour pages as the signatures and used a sewn binding with beads. A ribbon attached to the book keeps it closed.

Beaded Purse

This is a beaded purse I made for a swap. I needed to make an item using some beads. I have had this quilted purse pattern for a little while and wanted to give it a go. The quilting and free motion stitching went fine but because it is quilted before stitching the purse together the seams were untidy. I used some more of the lining material to bind each of the inside seams which took quite a long time. It was a time consuming project but I'm pleased with the end result. I hope my swap partner likes it. You can click on the pictures to enlarge them and can see more of the details.

Wire work necklace and charm

Bracelet

I joined a bracelet swap and thought I'd use up some pretty pink beads I had. I made the wire pieces using inspiration from Bead on a Wire by Sharilyn Miller that I've had on my shelf for a while now.

Beaded Charm

I have joined a charm swap and thought I'd try out some of my improved beading skills since reading Beverly Ash Gilbert's book Beaded Colorways. It cleared up some issues I had with the details of the beading process. I was pleased though that the basics of the freeform beading I've been dabbling in were not too far off. I hung the charm up on the wall to try to take a photo of it, it is just over an inch top to bottom.


From one side.

From the other side

Book

I made a small book for a swap. I made the coloured sections by swiping distress inks onto a non stick sheet and then spritzing with water. I dipped the paper in, dried, dipped in again and so on. I stamped a flower picture on the front and some words. The back I left plain because I love the background effect. I then cut some black mountboard to size and punched some holes. I made the signatures from some speckly paper. I then sewed the book together using coptic stitch binding. The photo below shows the spine. I then added some beads to the end of the thread. I hope the recipient likes it.





I found some great Youtube videos demonstrating coptic stitch binding. For a folded cover part1 and part2 and then with a hard cover.

Tiny book

This is for a swap where we were to make a tiny book and a matching container for it. I had a little wooden box that I decorated and made a little sewn book with beads on the spine to go into it.

Fabric paper

I have made a little hanging from some of the fabric paper I made in a previous post. I sewed it onto a felt background then embellished with beads and a couple of charms. The whole thing is stuck on a matboard backing to stiffen it.