inventory delivered

The St. Louis Artists Guild is redesigning and refreshing their Gift Shop.  I delivered these items earilier this week for your shopping pleasure.  When you are in the area, stop by 2 Oak Knoll Park (off of Big Bend) and check out the revisioned Gift Shop.   

www.stloiusartistsguild.org  314-727-6266

144 page blank journal with hand dyed wool cover

144 page blank journal with colorful fabric collage covers

earrings featuring fabric beads

earrings featuring paper beads

earrings featuring handmade paper beads

earrings & bracelet sets featuring paper beads

handmade paper heart blank cards with envelopes

fabulous denim & long stitch journals

Fused fabric sandwiches (up-cycled blue jeans, found fabric "batting" and "lining") created soft covers.  Note -- not all fabrics fuse equally.  Testing fabrics for "fusibility" reduces frustration.  Covers were trimmed to size and an reenforcing strip (interior spine) secured and stitching stations marked.  Note -- on dark fabrics, apply masking tape, mark, punch and remove before stitching.

A screw punch or awl created holes through fabric layers at the stitching stations.  Note -- students found the traditional Japanese screw punch made smaller holes, but the design of Martha's "popped/pooped out" fabric divots.

Q:  How much thread is needed to bind the journal?

A: Wrap around the spine -- once for each signature + one for good measure.

Each signature is stitched into place.

Right over left and under, left over right and under makes a knot neat, tidy and tight.  (Thanks Cheri:-))

COMPLETED JOURNALS:

Whether  left "blue jeans" plain or embellished, these journals are fabulous.  

denim & long stitch preview

Prototype (workshop sample) for DENIM & LONG STITCH.

Blue jeans, no longer wearable, are deconstructed and the rescued denim pieces are stitched into a rectangle larger than the finished journal cover.  If desired, the front cover (right half) can be embellished.  This workshop sample is embellished with hand embroidery.

Marks (purple fabric marker) radiate from the hand to make the shape "pop".  The plaid flannel (low loft batting could be used) will be sandwiched between the denim cover and cotton (commercial fabric from my stash which has been dyed and stenciled) lining (end pages).  Also shown: folded signatures, waxed linen, tapestry needle and Japanese screw punch. 

Stacked, stitched and trimmed to size, the cover should be made after the book block (signatures are folded and stacked) is made.  A denim strip (marked with stitching stations) gives the spine strength.

A single length of waxed linen binds the signatures to the cover using a "long stitch".  The binding thread is exposed and wraps the head and foot of the cover.

The long stitch binding allows the pages to lie flat for ease in writing or drawing.

DENIM & LONG STITCH    January 12, 2013 Saturday 10-4; 

contact leandra@bearcreekpaperworks to reserve your space.

classes through the career center

These classes are offered through the Columbia Area Career Center, but will be held at Bear Creek Paperworks. To register call 573-214-3803.

Collage Cards

February 26, 2013, Tuesday 6-9

Learn the basics of visual composition as well as technical tips as you play with decorative papers, found objects or recycled materials. You'll create a series of cards while experimenting with color, balance and repetition. No design experience is necessary. 

Small Books: A Primer

March 16, 2013; Saturday 10-4; $89 includes all materials

Learn simple stitched bookmaking basics: pamphlet binding, stab binding, multiple signatures as well as closures, soft and hard cover construction. You will construct several small books. No bookmaking experience necessary.  

denim & long stitch, a handmade journal

Denim & Long Stitch

January 12, 2013; Saturday 10-4; $65 includes all materials

A new use for old blue jeans:  repurpose that denim into a cover for a sketchbook or journal.  Fold paper into a folio; stack folios into signatures and stitch signatures with Irish waxed linen to the soft denim cover.  The long stitch (binding) allows pages to lay flat for easy writing or drawing.  At the end of the day, you will have created a unique book to give as a gift or keep for yourself.  And as a bonus, you will know how do repeat the process at home.