Fabric and Lace and Ribbon, OH MY!

Working with fabric, lace and ribbon, let alone using a sewing machine, has never really been on my radar.....but recently, I have become fascinated with fabric and journals.  I've also been incorporating more fibers into my jewelry.

This fascination started with Deryn Mentock's online course, Artisan's Day Journal. Sewing fabric on paper, I found, was really fun.  It didn't have to be perfect!

I now have a sewing machine and have been slowly accumulating fabrics, laces, ribbons, and trims.  I never knew it could be so much fun looking at fabric.....as a kid, my mom dragged me through fabric departments all the time and I was always happy when we moved on to the toy department!!!

An on-line workshop, Fabric and Lace Composition Journal, instructed by Gail Schmidt from Creative Workshops has now sparked further fabric and lace fascination!

Learning to print on fabric with your printer and.....techniques for giving fabrics and lace a vintage look were just a few of the techniques from this workshop. Gail's videos are very clear and informative! It's been great fun creating this journal and I've started a second one.  If you have the chance, check out this workshop. You won't be disappointed. 

Altering clipboards has also become an interest of mine.....and given me an outlet to use not only my acquired fabrics, laces, ribbons, and trims but also paper, stencils, rubber stamps, paints, inks, and bits and pieces of old jewelry that I've been using in my jewelry creations.

Talking about acquiring laces....I purchased a fabulous array of French vintage laces from La Clariére on Etsy.  



Everything was beautifully presented when I opened my package. I'm looking forward to using these and hopefully visit her shop on our next trip to Paris.

Given the opportunities to learn new techniques and acquire new interests has truly been a blessing that I am ever grateful for.

Until then.....continue to pursue new interests!

A Good Thing--Journaling

For the past couple of years I have been fascinated with the aspect of journaling....I'm not sure why as I'm not a great writer or communicator for that matter. 

I've read several excerpts of journals that people have shared in magazines and on-line articles....some very visual using paper, paint, and images.  I like to write but I'm not a writer.  I'm not artistic in the sense of drawing or painting. 

My contemplating over starting a journal came to an end when a friend of mine was featured in a local paper about her travel journal.  Her journal was descriptive in two ways....through her writing and through her drawings.  We talked about journaling and she wanted to start another journal on a specific topic.  I expressed my desire to start but how I'd never done anything about that desire.  It didn't take her long to present me with a beautiful book for me to use to start my journaling. 

This journal has Kitty written all over it.....

.....Very French! 

I've started my journaling....given it a name, a purpose, and decided that pictures, paper, stickers and glue will give me the visual interest I'd like to add!! 

But most importantly, it will offer me an outlet to express myself and give that feel-good emotion inside and out!

Until then......Happy Beading, Journaling, and whatever makes you smile!

Kitty