Sea Shell Book

A Scallop Seashell book I made using a genuine scallop shell and bound by hand using a coptic stitch and handmade papers.

Great little book for journaling, watercolor or sketching or however you choose to use it! 

   

            

             Makes a lovely unique gift!

Zhen Xian Bao ~ Chinese Thread Books

During a period of paper crafting I stumbled upon Ruth Smith who shares information about “A Little Known Chinese Folk Art : Zhen Xian Bao”  This one I made using a combination of Handmade Batik, Nepalese Lokta and Mulberry papers. 

Zhen Xian Bao is a combination of bound book, origami folds, and a multi layers of compartmented boxes for storing all  kinds of treasures.

  Here is the link to  “A Little Known Chinese Folk Art : Zhen Xian Bao” PDF article. It's the article by Dennis Walker (from the British Origami Society magazine). It includes history and instructions on constructing two of the basic elements including the twist fold box which is the top box I chose for mine.

 Women made these“Chinese Thread Books” to carry their sewing supplies. They would often include threads, snips of fabric, needles, paper patterns and other items all folded and tucked into pockets. Ruth Smith also published a series of 4 booklets called “Folded Secrets”. They’re wonderful, full of the history and many variations and inspirations, as well as complete directions for these 15 (or more) compartment books.  I don’t think she has a website, but she is on Instagram as ‘Folded Secrets”.   

This is another variation I made using handmade papers. I chose the ‘star fold box’ as the top layer. This book has a total of 11 compartments. I made covers for the books using paper slightly larger than the large bottom layer box.

Another interesting journey down
the rabbit hole if you’re curious! The internet and Pinterest are good sources
of information on this technique.

Here is a link to a Flip Though of the book on the right

Colorful Coastal Sunset

 Amazing colors! 

So beautiful and breathtaking!

Wire Wrapped Sea Glass

Tried my hand at wire wrapping sea glass and made some pendants using suede lace cordage

 

Stumbled upon this lovely poem

 

            

          Sweet little gifts!

Ginkgo

The Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest living tree species in the world. It's the sole survivor of an ancient group of trees that date back to before dinosaurs roamed the Earth – creatures that lived between 245 and 66 million years ago. It's so ancient, the species is known as a 'living fossil'.
 

 

 longevity...endurance...happiness...good fortune

Summer Color

Lovely deep rich colors ...

Morning Dew on the Lake

  

Captured these photos this past
October. A dewy morning on the lake. An ethereal beauty and at the same time a quiet eeriness.  

   

           

 

 

Looks like it could be any one of the "Survivor Island" locations. 

Any moment the cast members will wake up and emerge out of the dense forest ...
 

More Boro Sashiko! Foldover Pouches

Made these neat foldover pouches using boro style piecing and patchwork with sashiko stitching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 They are lined with a sewn in suede cording as a wrap. Folded they measure 8 inches wide by 4.5 inches high. Opened they measure 8" W x 7.5"H. 

Loving Boro and Sashiko stitching!

Boro Sashiko Mini Notepad Holders

Just completed sewing these mini Boro Sashiko style notepad holders. They measure 3.5" x 5" and conveniently hold mini composition booklets that measure 3.25" x 4.5".  

 

The inside is lined and stitched as well.

Fabrics I used are from the Yukata Collection by Debbie Maddy for Moda Fabrics.

 Cute! Cute! Cute!

Zippy Pouches!

Obsessed with lined Zip Pouches lately! Here are a few of the ones I've sewn. The one on the left I used a Japanese Sevenberry Boro patchwork print in Indigo. It's lined with Japanese cotton dobby fabric with Morikiku arrows in a faded brick. I did a bit of sashiko stitching on it as well.

The one below was a lovely floral cotton print with a coordinating crackle pattern for the lining.

Macrame

A few macrame projects I enjoyed working on.The feather technique I learned from the 'Macrame School' on YouTube as well as how to construct the owl. The other was just a free form project from a kit that was interesting.