I recently had a hankering to locally source (scavenge) some materials to use to make a book.
I have a bit of a collection of materials from a couple of fine local businesses. One is Blind Buck Interiors, a drapery and upholstery business, which has provided me with a many wallpaper and fabric sample books. Another is the Battenkill Creamery, a dairy which has a dedicated herd from which they process their own milk right on the farm. The milk can be bought in returnable glass bottles topped with a substantial plastic cap, which is not returnable. I have lots of caps.
I took some milk caps and sewed them on to some upholstery samples.
I started this project mostly because I had been admiring some circles that my daughter had been coloring in. She had made a graphically lovely pages of colored in circles, and I wanted to do some colorful circles too. I had some leftover scraps of watercolor washes lying around, so I punched out some circles and glued them to the caps.
I sewed in just a few signatures, using a simple butterfly stitch that I picked up from one of Keith Smith’s books. I used round shoe laces instead of thread, as the proportions seemed right and they were handy. One thing I like about making books is being able to use anything I feel like using to assemble a book.
This little book stands alone in how it stands alone. It already has a new home, but while it was still here every time I saw it I felt happy. It just looks so silly and lovely.
Love it! Miss you! Can we scavenge together this
summer?
Laurie
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I was thinking about you when I posted these pictures! I thought you’d like it. Yes, after you.ve made the long trek from Arizona,to upstate, let’s go scavenge..
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Hi Paula, would love a closeup of the butterfly stitch and reference for finding instructions in Keith Smith’s books…enjoy the structures and their playful nature!
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HI Phyllis!
The description for the butterfly can be found in Exposed Spine Sewings by Keith Smith, starting on page 220. Take a look at https://bookzoompa.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/origami-pamphlets-sewn-together/ for a better look at a thread sewn butterfly stitched book.
I have been enjoying watching your website http://phyllisjarvinen.com/ for the last couple of years. I LOVE the rainbow selection of longstitch books that’s on your homepage right now.
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I am the lucky recipient of this whimsical MCCB ~ and I’m happily using it to make 2012 garden notes. Thank you, Paula
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I am sure that little book is delighted to be carried around with you, rather than languishing on my bookshelf. We thank you.
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