Business Cards / Prints

I said I would be providing something as bag stuffers for the craft show I'll be taking part in in November. The first hundred people get a shopping bag with samples and things from the show. I made a simple lino block print and printed a hundred little cards. On the back I printed (just on the computer) a simple "Sketchbook - journals - art books - calligraphy - prints" so that people actually know what it is I do, and a 10% discount. A few are 20% off, so lets hope they need some Christmas gifts.

I don't really have a drying rack, so they just went all over the floor and sofa and whatnot. I was watching Hoarders at the time, so this was sort of a weird making a such a mess! I cleaned it up first thing this morning!

My Plan

On my long list of things to bring to training is writing paper. That was sort of boring, and I want to be able to have at least something small to be creative with, so I cut up a bunch of scrap watercolour paper into postcard-sized pieces and I'll bring that instead. It's amazing what a travel palette and a few waterproof pens can do.

'Scrap' book and some big news

First, I must apologize for not posting anything in about three weeks! Life has been a little crazy and I just didn't get much done as, unfortunately, I had other stuff to take care of instead. Specifically, my enrollment date for the Air Force finally got here and I and will be leaving shortly for training, so there is much to do to prepare. I'm done work now though, so I do have a little time for some side projects.

This book, as well as the ones I'm working on like it, is an effort to use the last bits of leather I have. I don't have quite enough for full books and don't want to make hundreds of miniature ones, so I came up with this design. I quite like the look of it, though I think I'll use gromets to attach the next ones because sewing takes an excruciatingly long time.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but the light leathers are all a little different.

My Weekender Bag - front panel

This is the front of the bag. The pockets are all sewn on (the last bit my hand, unfortunately, because the machine couldn't get in there), but the lining isn't completely in so that I can still sew in the straps and then cover up the stitches. I've only got the first bit on yet, but for now the next step is the top/zipper/sides.

My Weekender Bag - straps and hardware

I want the straps to go all the way around and under the bag, but the leather isn't long enough, so I sort of wove two pieces together, mimicking the bottom panel.

Close-up of the weaving. It took me forever to figure out how to do this for some reason, but some days are just like that.

The clasps.

Steampunk Fabric - now available!

I just got the test swatch for the steampunk fabric I designed, so it's now available on Spoonflower. For some reason, even though I designed it, the large scale still surprised me. But it looks pretty good with my pillows. I will have to think of something to do with it now.

My Weekender Bag - pockets

Here are the front pockets. They're just plain canvas, then I fused the lining on and sewed what I could get to. It's really not terribly neat, but you can't tell from the front, so it'll do. I don't have enough printed fabric to line everything, so this has plain because it won't really be seen.

The back panel is finished except for the adding the straps. The near side is lined with plain fabric and the print is on the opposite side, so you see it when the zipper is open: