Pages from Sketchbook 12

Bubble Worm -

watercolours, brush pens - I used a stencil with different size circles on it to create the worm

Watercolour background, found images

Watercolour background, found images

Watercolour background, found images

Watercolour background, found images, white pen [faux stitching]

Watercolour and candle wax background, found image

TAST 17 and Sketchbook 13

Take a Stitch Tuesday - the stitch this week is Wheatear Stitch. This stitch is easy enough to do, but I find it hard to keep it neat and even. Another fabric journal page and as well as the wheatear stitch I have - various vintage fabrics, digitally printed fabric [the one with the squares] dyed laces, dyed flower ribbon, ribbon, beads, flower sequins, other embroidery stitches. Click on the image to enlarge.

Below - these are the remaining pages from sketchbook 13

watercolour background, found image of pear

watercolour background, distressed postcard and stamp

watercolour background, found image

watercolour background, found image

watercolour background, found images of bottles

these were adverts for stamps which I have put together to make people

Wild Cats and other Collages

Watercolour backgrounds, found images

I'm looking at YOU

Pages from my sketchbook - Birds

These pages are from sketchbook 13. I was experimenting with watercolour backgrounds and I have collaged quite a few of the found images that I had in my stash.

This one is just paint, no collage.

The elephant above is a rubbing from a little metal box I have.

This one, I'm afraid is rather blurred, camera shake probably.

TAST 16 and Orange Bird

Take a Stitch Tuesday - the stitch this week is French Knots. I like this stitch and I use it a lot in my embroidery. On my fabric journal page I also have running stitch, feather stitch and blanket stitch. The base is a patterned upholstery fabric and on this is transfer printed lace [2 pieces], a small square of digitally printed fabric [my design] and a flower which was machine stitched and adorned with beads and French Knots. If you would like to see more of my embroidery look here

I made this little felt bird last week, both sides are embroidered but differently.

Bear Collages

No one was hurt in the making of this collage.

Watercolour and pen background, found [altered] images,

Like his new gnashers?

Watercolour and wax crayon background, found [altered] images

Watercolour and tippex background, found images

Watercolour, wax crayon, pen background, found [altered] images, pen

Doreen's Gift and Handmade Books

I received a gift of recycled envelopes from Doreen of Creative Meanderings all the way from Australia. The insides of the envelopes from down under seem much more decorative than in the UK, just look at some of these lovely patterns - Thanks Doreen, they are much appreciated. I will be using them for collage and book making - I have plans to make a book similar to one below.

Today I attended a workshop of book making given by Vicki. Thanks Vicki for an enjoyable day.

First we made a flag book which has an accordion spine, the flag pages are stuck to the folds.

Then we made another type of book [I cannot remember what this one is called]. All the pages are put inside one another then they are stitched together. The pages are art work, envelopes, printed work and plain sheets, the cover was made from art work.

The third book we made. For this one, the pages are grouped in three's and stitched together. I used plain papers for this, white and cream. The cover was made from art work - a rolling stamp design.