STITCHED Registration is here!

I am so very proud to be a part of STITCHED, a collection of 20 online video workshops by 20 amazing and talented fabric artists. Each workshop provides you with high-value and high-content information to get you sewing, designing and creating.

These workshops are supported by some amazing companies which will be providing some great giveaway items and products for several lucky STITCHED registrants.

You will also get full video workshops including my Accordion Photo Book class. Each of the 20 amazing workshops include wonderful videos, printable pdf files which include patterns and related instructions for each workshop, as well as the support of our awesome instructors in a completely private site.

In my Accordion Photo Book class you will learn to uniquely preserve your memories by combining photos, fabric, hand stitching, and lots of love. In this class you will learn to create a fabric-based tri-fold accordion photo album which can be displayed in several ways. If you've not sewn on photos before you're in for a treat! A working knowledge of your sewing machine, a few basic embroidery stitches, and a willingness to think outside “the scrapbook” are the basic tools needed in creating this one-of-a-kind “uniquely you” photo book. You will learn to select materials that blend together as well as how to create layouts using photos as the focal point. You will become fearless adding texture on your fabric pages to compliment your choices and photos by using your sewing machine, trim, and hand stitching. Don't be afraid of loose threads, crooked stitches, or raw edges....... imperfections are encouraged! Have memorabilia related to your photos? Let's add that. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but they look great in juxtaposition to your fabric and stitches. After embellishing with embroidery, metal, ribbon, and possibly the kitchen sink you will join your three pages together with a quick, easy ribbon closure. When finished, your accordion photo album can stand on its own or be secured as a book you can display with pride. And you can say.......” I did that!”

An example of what you can create in my Accordion Photo Book class:

Registration for STITCHED begins today (December 1, 2011) with workshops beginning January 1, 2012. For $89 you get full access to all 20 wonderfully creative workshops.

Another cover example for my Accordion Photo Book class:

You will learn to add texture and embellish one-of-a-kind photo pages:

Beads and ruffles and pins, oh my!

I am offering a treat for those who choose to sign up between today and December 15^th! By following this link: Click here to register before the 15^th you will receive a 12” square of hand-dyed canvas to use in my Accordion Photo Book class as well as a unique hand wrapped wire charm made by me. (Clicking on the registration link will take you to Alma Stoller's registration page where you will receive all the information you need to join us)

Come join in the creativity and get your stitching juices flowing with us at STITCHED!

More Wire Work

I just love to watch YouTube tutorials and I found realisticart's channel. The artist's name is Ross Barbera and his videos are really good! I've watched a couple of them, but today I was inspired to actually make the earrings from his new video. Rather than making them into earrings, I shortened them and turned them into charms. I also learned a great way to make spirals with a smaller center turn. Try this link and see what he's up to.

Etsy Back Up.....

I finished the Fall Leaves and Burgundy & Teal journals and placed them in my Etsy shop for sale. I hadn't renewed my listings as I was waiting until my fall bazaar sales were finished. I am really pleased with the way they both turned out!

Fall Leaves 1 Journal:

Burgundy & Teal Journal:

Tutorial from Alma

Over on Alma Stoller's blog she has a fantastic short video tutorial called 101 Coiled Paper Pieces. I can't wait to make some! Check it out and give her some love..........

101 Coiled Paper Pieces from Alma Stoller on Vimeo.

WIP

Last Saturday I participated in a sale and wouldn't you know I sold the purple and brown journal before I could take photos of the finished piece. D'oh! The girl loved it, that's all I've got to say. The entire cover was done in my version of quilting. My favorite part of making quilts is the hand quilting so I've done that with perle cotton for texture. This quilted cover is done in shades of burgundy and aqua/teal. Right now it's a work in progress as I haven't put any of my wire work on it, but I like it so far. As Donna Downey would say: "happy place!" Here's the front:

And a close up:

I really, really, really like this next one. I saw a version of the stitched tree and leaves on Pinterest a while ago and have two of these hanging around. I wasn't sure where I was going with the stitching, but I like the effect of stitching completely around the sewn design. This cover probably won't get much more than some earth tone leaf beads at the spine, I don't want to cover up the stitching too much:

a close-up:

Pink!

I'm still playing with my silver and copper wire (loving Thunderbird Supply... fast, fast shipping and great prices! They have a brick and mortar store in Flagstaff........ already planning a trip up when I got to AZ for Dylan's birthday in Feb.) This journal has sterling silver wire embellishments rather than the copper I used on the yellow rose journal. The focal point for the cover is an older photo of a pink starflower. I used some Moda fabric with pink, green, and yellow for the background on white canvas.

I made this freeform accent with the last of my wire (I've since received more wire from Thunderbird)

I created many wrapped beads for practice and used several on the spine along with a mixed media tassel.

I haven't finished this brown and purple journal yet, so I'm only showing a peek. I hand stitched small pieces of fabric onto batting and did my version of the rolled corded edging to attach the lining. I'm envisioning some copper beaded accents on it!

More Sneak Peeks for STITCHED

Among other things I have been making several samples for my STITCHED workshop. I won't show you the actual projects yet, but here ares some close-up peeks:

Two in one day?

The journal is finished! The pages are blank as the focus is on the cover and its image. I used: yellow rose photo from my mother's house, costume jewelry pin, canvas, linen handkerchief, silk fabric, ribbon, beads, safety pins, perle cotton, and some of my new wire work.

The cover:

The copper S link for closure with the ribbon:

Some copper bead work:

On this head pin I put beads and a safety pin:

Wire Work

I was lucky enough to win a spot in Deryn Mentock's The Build Zone class through Create Mixed Media and LOVE it! I have dabbled in jewelry in the past basically stringing beads which I enjoyed, but working with silver and copper wire is fantastic. Deryn is a fabulous teacher and I have learned so much from this class. Hammering and torching, baby! I learned to patina wire with liver of sulfur which gives the wire work character. Fun stuff. I don't plan to use these techniques for jewelry as this point, I want to make charms and findings to incorporate into my journals and books. I love to surf Pinterest and get even more ideas. I'm drawn to the spirals and love making them on headpins. (Who knew you could actually MAKE eyepins and headpins?!!!!) I love to make something that you would normally buy!

Here are some of the items I made to begin with:

A spiral headpin from silver wire that I patinaed (sp?)

I saw a gorgeous mixed media tassel on Pinterest. Here's my version:

A close-up of some of the wire work:

And lastly, I worked on S links today. Since my round nose pliers are different than Deryn's I had to figure out the proper length of wire. I plan to use these as a closure on the journal I am making right now. Look for them later!