Monday 16 January 2012

My latest project - Challenge for Fibers and Fabrics - Finished

Well I can't believe that for the last four days all I have done is stitch on this project.  I'm extremely lucky I have a hubby very aware of my craft and as he had a 'nothing to do weekend' allowed me to just stitch, stitch and stitch, and so he cooked breakfast and dinner over the weekend, boy oh boy am I lucky.

So here is what is now finished, my finished project is actually a fabric book to hold my ATC's that I have from the Embroiderers Guild of UK seasons swap from 2009. It's a full set, so I wanted something special to put them in.
So to get to the end of this project, leaves were the last element to be added. These were done with water soluble fabric and wired buttonhole leaves.  There stems were plunged to the other side and secured. There were three of them made, two large and one small.  This is the piece with all the embroidery finished.

 Wrapping it around the cover was quite a challenge, as I had to bend the wire so that would wrap the like a book cover.
This is the inside, laced, I then added the inner lining.
I then went to the pages that I had removed and started pulling apart the signatures.
I knew what I was going to use my book for, and so the pages had to be able to hold the cards, I had thought of pockets to hold them, but thought, no, they may slip out, with them attached with thread, I could turn them to see who had made the wonderful little piece of artwork.

 So with that in mind I covered the signatures with Aida cloth of various colours and counts, then attached them to the binding that would hold them to the cover.

And so here is the finished piece, with empty pages showing.

And the inside showing off the lovely ATC's that are a wonderful keepsake from my time in the UK (in this photo their only pinned in, but most have now been stitched in).
And a tie to hold it closed when not on display.
Thank you for following my journey for this project challenge, I appreciate all the comments that have been left and Denise promoting it on her site.

Arlene

26 comments:

Juli said...

This is a brilliant idea! It would also work well for inchies.

Arlene White said...

Most definately Juli, it is really cook seeing in real life, I am extremely happy with the result, even hubby is pleased with it.
Arlene

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful, never seen anything like this before it's fantastic!

Nicola said...

You have created something that it VERY special. Congratulations.

You have a nice husband too.

Marjolein said...

This is what you call "a book of art".

Emily in NC said...

I am so impressed words can't describe. I can barely put a pillow together.

Wilma said...

the tree and the leaves look wonderful Arlene, my compliments!

Connie said...

Fabulous! Love the leaves. (-;

Diane said...

Arlene, I can appreciate the amount of work that went into all that amazing stumpwork. Your tree is really wonderful. I know you are a master of the beetle, but the gecko is so clever. Well done!

Nancy in IL said...

This is amazing work, Arlene! You must be so very proud! Thanks for sharing! I'm very impressed!

Nancy, evening mod on TSS

gocrazywithme said...

What a great way to repurpose a book. Especially a tax book! This is such a treasure; well done!

Laurie said...

I love this Arlene, what a fantastic and pretty way to keep your atc's. Beautiful!!!

JeanneZ said...

Beautiful creative work Arlene. Wish my brain would work like your once in a while.
JeanneZ

Annette said...

Better late than never, it's fantastic Arlene, can't wait to see it in the 'flesh'...
hugs

Singtatter said...

Your stumpwork is so lovely! This is a treasure!

shirley said...

Truly beautiful. Your are a creative genius, whose stitching is absolute perfection.

Sis-O said...

Wow!

Glenda said...

This is BEAUTIFUL, Arlene!! What a wonderful way to showcase the ATCs, and the cover is just gorgeous and so creative.

Wendy said...

You work is wonderful Arlene. It's the gecko that got me in . ... The whole thing looks fantastic.

Marianne in nj said...

Amazing work!!!!!

Suztats said...

Wow! Fantastic project, Arlene! I love everything about it!

FredaB said...

Congratulations on a wonderful work of art. The shisha mirrors in the gecko really make it great.

You are an artiste.

Hugs

fredaB

Carol B said...

That is awesome! What a creative way to transform the book into something so beautiful!

Wendy said...

This is just stunning! What an awesome idea you have brought to life! I love every element that is shown here. Great job Arlene!

Lana said...

Very nicely done, Arlene!bi

kerrykatiecakes2 said...

What a fantastic piece of art you have created here Arlene! Your stitching always blows me away!