My calendar said “Continue Sunflower piece” but my time was used for unexpected things — what most of us call “Life.” When I walked back into the studio I knew I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to produce quality thread work.
Fortunately, I had supplies for a notebook cover nearby and a very serious urge to complete something. I pulled out a few sun prints and got to work. This notebook cover sports a sunprint of a tomato plant and some hand dyed fabric produced in my only class on the subject (Hand dyeing fabric is one thing I’ll leave others to do.).
And here’s the back:
Keep a couple of those catalogs with gorgeous photographs — they can be just what you’re looking for. I used two pages from a needlepoint catalog to cover the inside covers of the notebook. This is a standard 9 3/4″ x 7 1/2″ composition notebook that I got at my local office supply store.
I think this would make a nice notebook to record the 2014 gardening season. What does your garden notebook for this year look like?
Lovely notebook cover and nice thread work too. The variegated threads in a contrasting color add a nice dimension to the sun print.
You are right that small projects are a great diversion when not ready to tackle a larger, more demanding project, buying time to get in the right frame of mind. I do the same thing. I just printed a picture of a bluebird on fabric and was debating between small quilt and sketchbook cover. Now, I think I will consider a notebook cover.
Thanks for the kudos — and the understanding. It’s nice to know that others make similar decisions. In addition to being a small fast-to-finish project, this notebook cover takes the ‘too precious to use’ quality out of the notebook. Just remove the filled notebook and replace with a new one! Ta Da!
Like you, I leave dyeing to “others”….except for a small hill of silk ribbon needing attention..
The tomato sunprint: did you touch it up with walnut ink? I like the emphasis it adds to the spray.
And yes! Life is too short to be tied to strict timetables. Changing to a small project is refreshing in itself and your special project will benefit from the break.
No ink used here. Just thread painting after the printing.
Boo Hoo on gardening this year…Live in a condo – and for years I’ve been able to plant outside, but the new management says no so filled my deck with plants and flowers…THEN, the new renters (we own) smoke, out on their patio, so I’m not sure how…MORE BOO HOO”s but will look at others and keep my fingers crossed….xo
Yikes. Sorry to hear about this. Sounds to me like you’ll be spending more time in public gardens to soak up the green!
Hola Franki—I so enjoy your posts and pics, not to mention the wonderful work you show all of us. I’m so proud of you and your work. XOXO
Thanks Sherry!