embroidered patches

Here's a peek at the embroidered patches I've been working on for my storytelling project for studio right now. I think my favorites are the bear and the beehive... I also like how the leaves of the trees came out.

getting back in

After a long period of no updates, I'm going to try to start back up again. I'll probably change the content of what I put up, especially since I won't be able to do quite as much experimenting since I have plenty I should be doing for class.

Luckily, though, I'm working on an honors project which includes making hand-bound books and completing spreads in them every day, so at least I'm doing something with my hands all the time. I'm also doing some embroidery for one of my current projects for class, which has been kind of therapeutic. I feel really great having not used my computer at all for this project (so far. probably won't, though. total win.)

holy crap

holy crap I leave for the airport to begin my journey to rome in about nine hours.

I probably won't update this blog too much while I'm there, but you can check out my travel blog here:
www.abconnell.blogspot.com

scrap pads

I made these little note/scrap pads as thank you gifts for my coworkers, and I really like them.. might make one for myself.

The finished size of each book is 3.5" x 7.5" and has about 20 sheets in them. I wanted to use some nicer paper, but didn't have very much of any one kind, so I decided to use four or five types of paper in each, hence the "scrap" pad.

I covered some chipboard with a couple different kinds of fabric that I found in my basement (more scraps!), since again, I didn't really have any interesting paper to cover them with. Originally, I wanted to bind them just using a rubber band, and the paper I did have would not have looked very nice with the rubber band.

I decided against the rubber band and just used a bundle of embroidery thread to hold it together, but the principle is the same. The pages are all single sheets, with the notches cut in the side. The thread just makes a loop around the whole bundle, but the notches keep anything from slipping out.

Since I used chipboard for the covers, I hinged the front board on each one to make the pad easier to use. This was done cutting the cover into two pieces, then securing them together using a piece of book cloth, leaving a small gap where the hinge should be.

Overall, I think they turned out well. The only thing I am concerned about is the fabric fraying, but hopefully I glued the edges well enough that it shouldn't happen.

how 'bout some cows?

or a sheep? a goat? man-b'loons?