First Projects of 2011

My friend Penn gave me a 1/2 yd. of this scissor fabric, from Spool of Thread. I love their modern/retro sensibilities. (See what I mean here.) When I was out buying thread the other day, I came across the grey fabric and knew it was the perfect foil for the scissors fabric. I sewed this ROD journal cover as soon as I got home.

I spent the weekend sewing pages for this ROD. It's been a long time coming-my friend Tracy Riffle and I swapped a signature's worth of pages about this time last year. I've held onto them and just now got around to sewing more pages so I can make a complete journal. These are 8 1/2 x 11 sewn sheets folded in half.

The pages I'm sharing are just at the very beginning stage of the process-I have lots more work to do before they will be ready to be bound into the cover.

While I was working on these pages, I learned something: I don't enjoy working big. It's not my thing. I like to work 6 x 6 or smaller. It has to do with the fact that when I work small, the pieces go faster-there's almost no thinking about it-it just happens. When I work on large pieces, it feels like I am always looking for elements to fill up the space. The flow of the working process feels herky-jerky and unnatural to me. It's too much like work-I tend to be more intuitive about creating.

I will finish this journal, it's just going to take me awhile and it's probably going to be one of those things I pick up and put down a few times before it's completed. All of the other journals I've made are sized to fit in the palm of your hand. They're a nice little mitt full and they were fun to make. I think after this, I will stick with what feels right.

The other projects I am working on right now are a small Valentine's exchange with two friends and a handmade book exchange. I've already begun working on them, as Valentine's is just over 4 weeks away and they have to go in the mail to arrive by the 14th.

So, that's where I stand as of 1-11-11.

Before I get back to work, I'd like to share a link with you to My Owl Barn who have generously offered up some beautiful owl images for you to create your very own custom calendar for 2011 for FREE. You get to choose which ones you want, decide the order you prefer and then print them off. They print as 4 months to a page and I suggest printing them on cardstock, so they will hang nicely. I love this calendar and have already printed one for me and one for a friend.

Thanks My Barn Owl!