May You Be Inspired Days: Sketchbooks from Scratch

Designing your own bag, like I was suggesting yesterday, can only happen if you have something to design on. You see, you have to get your ideas, remember your ideas, translate said ideas into plans, complete measurements and test sewing patterns, and then finally actually create the bag project to get it right. This requires a lot more than just “yep, I need a bag”.  So to begin, you need a sketchbook. I HATE the hard bound journals you find in most mega-retailers. They won’t lay flat. I need something that will lay flat. Completely. That will open up and bare its little naked soul for me to create in. (wow… that gives a visual)

I also have mad loves for pages without lines. These are usually found in high quality heavy-weight paper sketchbooks that are EXPENSIVE. I don’t have that kind of cash to throw down all the time. But I can get the same paper in a box unbound. You know, the linen, acid free, feels so nice that you want to kiss it paper that people often call resume paper. (As in, it’s what you SHOULD use for resumes, hint hint). That stuff isn’t cheap, either, but I can get 100 sheets of it for half of what 70 pages of the other costs me. I like that math. Then I can use my sewing machine to make it fabulous. I like that even better!

I also like my project to have its own book, which gets really pricey if I only use the first 20 pages of that 70 page book. Then I have to figure out how to keep stuff separated. That is another big organizational drama I don’t like. So this method lets me control how much I put in.

So the hubby, the MetalMan, fell in love with this design from Urban Threads. It’s a bird skull, not something you see all the time. I have mad love for vintage brocade, so I decided to pair the two.

Here is an in process photo so you can see how I embroidered the brocade first. Isn’t it lovely? That’s the linen laying folded to the left and the chalk marks for my center on the lovely blue of the brocade.

 

 

 

Here is it all completed! Isn’t it lovely? Sorry the shot is so dark… We’re having a stint of rotten weather here, so my sunlight wasn’t so sunny and my flash was way too flashy. It’s always something, I tell ya! :) And then with it open, so you can see the binding.

Then here is the inside and outside of the cover. The inside is green suede cloth. It feels yummy.

 

You can just barely see my logo peeking in the shot at the top left inside the cover. Isn’t it so cute? I’ll have to show you how I made my fabulous tags later, but they are the AWESOME! :)

So, to sum up:

1. Get Inspired

2. Write it down.

3. Make your own sketchbook if you are picky about where you write it down.

4. Go to Urban Threads for a full tutorial on exactly how to produce an embroidered cover with paper pages. She’s also an artist, so she gives you the full run down of WHY to do it her way, which I love.

5. Don’t wanna make your own? Buy mine or get me to custom one for you in my Etsy store.

And don't forget! I'm gonna give away one of the items from this month's inspirations on June 1st! It could even be a custom sketchbook. Mmmmm… happy inspirational thought log just for you.

All you have to do is:
1. Become a Follower of StressTheSeams
2. Comment on one of the posts this month telling me what you would love to win!
International readers will have to pay their own shipping, but American followers will get it for free!
I'll close entries at 1am eastern standard time on June 1st and use the fabulous random number generator to select one wonderful winner. The prize will be a surprise for the reader, but I might just be looking at what they say....hint, hint! :)
So go become a follower and comment! And there will be other ways to get extra entries as the month goes on, so don't miss a day!

-Laters!

Technorati Tags: fabric,sewing,patterns,fabrics,embroidery,fabric sewing,how to,sewing machine,embroidery sewing machine,textiles