Fabric Book/Journal Tutorial

First I need to clarify definitions:
One BLOCK = the 6" CQJP square as I finished it...
One PAGE  = two (2) blocks back-to-back.
One SECTION = two pages sewn together..

I ended the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 with 16 blocks... I wasn't as careful as I should have been and there was considerable size difference between the largest and smallest blocks...  Rather than cut them all down to the size of the smallest block (which was certainly a viable option) I chose to add a border to all the blocks and then trim them to  common size...

I then cut a light piece of felt to the common size of the blocks ... A piece of lightweight cotton batting would have worked just as well.  I wanted this filler between the blocks to give the page some body... no limp pages for me....  At the same time I cut two pieces of heavy interfacing for the covers...  They need to cut about 1/2" larger on the outside edges....not on the side facing the spine of the book.

Then I sewed a strip of 2 1/2" binding around each page (2 blocks back-to-back) by machine...  I made the binding out of material to coordinate with the blocks... I highly recommend making a BIAS binding.... it is much more pliable and forgiving than binding cut on grain. There are numerous sites (and even videos) which show how to do this but I really liked this site... http://cynthiashaffer.typepad.com/blog/2011/05/turning-a-corner-making-a-point-binding-tutorial.html.  She did a much better job of explaining this step than I every could.

And then I neatly turned the binding to the back, pressed it, and sewed it by hand..

When all the pages were bound I sewed two pages together to make a SECTION!

Then I cut the spine a little wider than I thought I would need from the same heavy duty interfacing.  I marked lines about 1/2" apart... I cover one side with coordinating fabric by using double sided interfacing...

 I then sewed down the lines with a bobbin thread that would show easily on the fabric.

Then by hand, I sewed each section to a line....in order of course..

When open you can see that the sections are about 1/2" apart on the spine but because the pages are so thick that is necessary for the book to open properly and lay flat.

At this point (without covers) you can see how it looks...  There are 3 SECTIONS of two PAGES each.   So there are 12 blocks for the inside to the book,

I trimmed the spine to just leave enough seam allowance to add the covers and covered it with a piece of felt...  I then assembled the covers exactly like I did the pages except I added both the felt and the interfacing.

I then sewed the covers to the spine by hand.  This was the hardest part due to the thickness of the layers...  So I used a very long sturdy needle, extra heavy thread and a pair of pliers to make the task go easier..

Then I covered the black felt on the spine with the dog paw ribbon using again double sided interfacing.

Done....  I struggle with writing tutorials as it is easier to do something than write directions on how to do it... I strive it to make the process easily understood.  If there is any point that needs more clarification, please write me and I will update it....

Look...A BOOK!!!!!! and it truly is......

Here it is .... my official 2012 Crazy Quilt Journal about my dog Morris.... Except for a bead or a charm here and there it is done and I am so pleased with it... I wish I could show it in person to each and every one of you...

Except for one tiny thing I wouldn't make any changes on future books....  Remember when I said the cover needed to be larger and I would remember next time..... WELL it only needs to be larger on THREE sides... a pretty critical point but I managed to recover...

It lays nice and flat like I wanted it to. And I had this lovely little rainbow leash to use as a bookmark....

Here is how it looks standing on end... 16 CQJP blocks in all and a year of work.

and finally all the pages open fully and flat..  In the next post I will show  assembling of the pages, sewing to the binding and attaching the covers.

Freda wrote that it would be wonderful for someone in the family to inherit some day....NO WAY!  I'm taking it with me when I go...  I want to be buried in my red shoes with my chatelaine, Gingher scissors, Fritz's ashes and my tambourine...and now my Morris book...

Here are all the pages except the pocket page....

Soutache + Painted Button.... Surprise

I spend hours huddled over a magnifying glass at a work table and then my tiny painted buttons venture out into the world and I seldom get to see what happens to them...  But when I do I am always amazed at the next level of creativity...

Here is a prime example.  Kathy bought this gold finch button to make a necklace for her sister who loves gold finches... Using soutache braid, crystals and tiny pearls she has created a stunning, totally unique pendant. I was ecstatic to get to see it in person when she came to do CQ yesterday.

I fell in love with soutache jewelry about a year ago and wanted to adapt it to crazy quilting.  I even bought a bunch of soutache braid at one point... After seeing this I am all inspired again...

Here is my post about soutache which has a link to a french soutache tutorial sent to me by one of my very best button customers who is French.    http://olderrose.blogspot.com/2011/12/fantastic-soutache-tutorial.html I googled images today for soutache and was amazed at what's out there now...apparently it's hot stuff now.... When I first looked into it about a year ago there was very little information.

Another of my stitchers, Sherrie, likes to add  exquisite tiny monograms in the corner of her work to personalize it... Here is one on her current piece.  It is  absolutely joyful little "S". When I said tiny, I meant only hardly more than an inch.  What a lovely touch to add to your needlework...

I cut what seems like miles of bias binding and am starting to assemble my Morris book.  I will take pictures as I go along for a tutorial...

Have I mentioned I love photo editing.....

While I'm working on the November block for CQJP, I'm also looking forward to the Dec. block  on which I want  an image of Morris and me..  I have dozens of pictures of  DH and Morris but none I would want to use of Morris and myself.. Since DH has a propensity to cut off heads when he uses a camera I enlisted the help of a friend who came to dinner yesterday...

He took about a dozen pictures and in almost all of them Morris was moving his head.  I only found two of me that I wanted to think about using.. I loved this one of Morris so I moved him into one of the pictures I liked of myself.

I also moved Morris into the other picture of myself which I liked...the one on the left but the photographer had cut off the top of my head in this shot.  So I took the top of my head from another shot and added it on the right and cleaned up the background a bit...

Since Morris is handsome in both pictures, the final decision  will come down to me with "teeth showing or no teeth showing".  I prefer the one on the left but DH likes the one on the right. I've plenty of time to think about it as Nov. block is going slowly.

I hate to admit that DH might be right but at the moment the comments (+ emails)  are me (0) and DH (16)

Judgment error works out for the best!

Well I finished the September CQJP right on time..." Morris the Mover"  When I did the central image I made it a little too large and then adding the ribbon trim and blue trim really made it too large... I suddenly realized there was very little room left for the motifs from his stash....and even less room for seam treatments. So I had to embroider the motifs quite small to get enough on the block...  As it turns out I really like them small.  They are just about the same size as the elements in the main image... I hadn't planned it that way but all's well that ends well. So you must find a hammer, leash, slipper, pull toy, bowl,. plush square and his treat ball...

In all fairness to Morris I must confess to taking some artistic license with this block's main image.  In actuality his daily stash was more like this.  But I took several of his stash pictures and combined them using photoshop...

Need input on non-political support issue!!!

Morris's agility course is progressing nicely.  We're painting the A-Ramp "Passion Grape" today... but there is still the support issue..  Over the years I have tried umpteen bras only to find them unbearable as well as unwearable.  I finally settled on a sports bra that was the least offensive but it has been discontinued and the ones I have left have been washed a zillion times...  and if I do need one I have to raid Morris's bed as he loves to nap with my bras...

If you have a way of coping with your endowment that is comfortable.... PLEASE email me brand and  style number.  As of now I'm ordering this one from the  Sunday paper supplement.  The ad is  wrinkled because I threw it away but smoothed it out and decided I'll try anything at this point in time.  Of course we all know if it is an ad it must be true....it's in print after all..  But it does say "no hooks, no underwire, no shoulder pain, no rolling, no chafing, no back fat, no saggy bust and no straps to adjust."  And on a positive note it says "super lift, super support. super comfort, seamless cups and gorgeous style."  Now would they lie?????  Waiting to hear from somebody in case they would....

And remember the two plum tarts from last Thursday...gone and two more in the oven as I'm typing... For those who emailed for the recipe the filling is:
1 c. sugar
1c. sour cream
1 beaten egg
3 T. flour
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix well and put in tart shell... You can artfully arrange plums (apples or pears) or just dice them and put on top of filling.... I top with a little stuesel mix and a few sliced almonds.  Bake 40 min. at 400.  I also like to add 1/4 tsp. Chinese 5 spice along with the cinnamon...  I should mention that this recipe is from a marvelous little cookbook I purchased years and year ago entitled.... "Recipes from the heirs and relatives Nikolaus Schwartz and Anna Steyer."

Life altering day!!!!

 Yesterday we decided to go to a fall festival in one of the parks as DH wanted to see the homing pigeons on display....but the exciting thing for me was the demonstration of agility training for dogs...  This is just the thing for extra fun for Morris and me....

I came home and immediately ordered a tunnel from Amazon and today on the way home from mother I'm stopping at the lumber store and getting plywood to build the ramp.. (It's hard to believe I am actually buying lumber)  Most of the other stuff I can build with things on hand...

 By spring I expect the big area by the barn to look something like this.... What great exercise for both of us... Since this activity requires me to run also, an absolute necessary piece of equipment will be a heavy-duty support bra to avoid serious bodily injury from a bouncing boob.


And of course Morris is a natural champion!!!