Sunday 2 August 2015

More Lace Book Pages


I'm very proud to announce that Suzy of Suziqusthreadworks has her first online class coming up in September, which I videoed and edited for her. It was a huge project for both of us, with a steep learning curve, and I'm so pleased it's turned out so well. It's being offered by Gail on her Creative Workshops blog. Suzy's fabric lace book/journal that she made to teach this class is to die for! You can see it here.




Suzy has really inspired me so much. I have been admiring her artworks on Pinterest and on her blog for a couple of years now, thinking how I'd love to try that kind of artwork but I didn't know how to start. She was so friendly and welcoming.

I'm now getting the hang of making these pages after spending time watching Suzy and doing a workshop with her. What a talent she is. She is a great teacher and has been really supportive. 

Here's my finished book from Suzy 's workshop. What a lovely pattern of cabbage roses I have on my old sofa. I almost feel like  using it for...ooops, put those scissors away! This was one of the backgrounds I used to photograph my lace book against, as the colours just worked together. Half the fun of making something is photographing it! 

fabric collage

I just had to show you the back cover, as I forgot to put it in my last post.

fabric collage

Now I have another couple of pages ready for another lace book - a middle spread. I'm still using the same theme - antique photos of babies - because my printer has died and life's so busy I haven't had time to research the best printer yet. Luckily I had printed quite a few pictures.

I love the old cabinet cards of babies and children - the monotone in muted browns, and the old lace dresses make me sigh. This photo was taken outdoors on a cloudy day. 

lacebook

The following photo was taken inside on a sunny afternoon. The tones are much more golden, but the top one is more true to colour.



lacebook

Here's a closeup of the cabinet card which I have printed onto cloth using freezer paper ironed on behind the cloth to keep it straight. It worked better than I expected. I was inspired by the blue-grey lace from an old dress, and used trimmings and lace to complement it.

children lacebook

This bunch of roses is from just two weeks ago - in mid-Winter! The bush is tatty, but still produces a few blooms. The petals last longer in the cool weather. I think this rose is called 'Mother's Love'. It is the palest mushroom colour when it unfurls.


roses


Wouldn't you know it, cats always find the warmest cosiest spot to sleep! Gypsy loves to curl up in my top drawer, right next to me as I work on my computer. She purs whenever I pat her - I keep her engine restarting when she stops. I love that sound, it's so peaceful.

cat

Since it took a while to set up my photo background to photograph my lace book pages, I decided to have a play with some pretty things to make some vignettes. The rose book was my $8 bargain at a garage sale last week.


children lacebook roses

I've been collecting doileys for years now. They fascinate me - all that hard work put into something to make life more beautiful. I've chosen to spell doiley this way, but I found an article about the various spellings of this word in a blog called The Dreamstress here.

Well, I'm determined to try to make some time each week for making crafty things, for playing.

 “Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good”


                                    Lucia Capocchione

Hope you find some time to play, too.

21 comments:

  1. Hi Jessie
    Thank you so very much for the shout out and your kind words! Been just so busy lately. Your images are simply gorgeous Jesse - love the different effects of inside light and outside light too. You must be starting to think of your next book already! The double spread is so sweet.
    "Mother's Love" is such a beautiful shade of pink.
    Want to share in my Giveaway on my blog?
    xox Suzy

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  2. Thanks, Suzy! I didn't leave a comment on your giveaway because it might seem biassed if I won. Perhaps a future one....

    I have a few ideas for my next book but now I need a new printer and haven't had a chance to research it yet. I want to print some more images.

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  3. Hi Jesse. I'm so glad that we met through Wen's neutrals party. You are a gal after my own heart with a love of old lace, vintage photos, gardening, and even cats (I have two!). I look forward to spending some time with your blog and catching up. I signed up for Suzy's class early on and can't wait until it begins! X0 Sue

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    1. Oh Sue, your blog is gorgeous too, I just had another peek. I see what you mean, we have similar tastes. You are going to love Suzy's class. She is such an artist! I'm going to spend more time on your blog, too.

      Nice to meet you, Sue!
      Jesse

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  4. Dear Jesse, please do me a favour and link up this gorgeous lace book of yours to my party! I'd soooo love to feature it next week!! Wow, it's stunning! Well, I'm going to share it anyway, lol. My goodness, I'm in awe. It's so well collaged and so beautifully soft and dreamy. Wishing you a wonderful week, hugs xx Wen

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    1. Oh by the way, the cat in the drawer is totally adorable, haha so funny! Do you know Maru, the Japanese cat? Get's itself in the most tiny places and boxes imaginable, so funny: https://www.youtube.com/user/mugumogu

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    2. Thank you Wen, that's lovely news. I'll link it up to this week's party.You have a lovely week, too!

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    3. Wen, those cat vids are hilarious! My children will love these. My daughter has been dressing our cats up in hats and baby clothes (I told her how i used to do that to my pet cat when i was her age!).

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    4. Thank you Jesse :) And lol, poor cats hahaha

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  5. Your lace book is to die for,Jesse and I love the "Mother's of love" rose. So gorgeous.
    Have a lovely day.
    Hugs,
    Marie

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  6. Thanks for your sweet comment, Marie. I am looking forward to this year's roses. Last year we had a hail storm when they were all in bud, and they never looked as good as usual all season. Enjoy your day :)

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  7. Hello Jesse, it is so nice meeting you, as you have been mentioned in my e-mailing with Suzy, how she so appreciate your friendship, and all the help you did with making this calss come together .
    Your own book looks so stunning, and beautiful, and ohhh your roses !!
    Hugs, Dorthe

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  8. Dorthe, I'm so glad Suzy's class is up and running, and I hope she's having fun too. I'm looking forward to seeing finished books from her participants. Having finished just one lace book so far, I am in awe of all the wonderful artworks Suzy and her lovely friends achieve - including you, of course! :)

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  9. What a beautiful post. I missed the party by an hour...life was so busy all of last week, but #3 not too far away. Just love all the fun lace on those photos. Great images on those cabinet cards. Precious Gypsy !! Enjoy a gerat week

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  10. Thanks for stopping by, Sylvia. The week comes around quickly, doesn't it?

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  11. Hi Jesse,
    I was taking a few minutes to "peruse" in your blog, and found this G O R G E O U S post! I am in awe of it's beauty! (please know I mean that sincerely.) What amazing pages you've created. And the other photo's are breathtaking as well; the roses... just incredible. I admire of your photography skills! I need lessons : / And the Suzy class is something I know I want to do when the time is right. Her work evokes so much beauty. Perhaps I will treat myself for Christmas~ Anyhoo, thanks for sharing these beautiful photo's with us~ Karen O

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    1. Hi Karen,
      I've been away from blogland this week, and missing it! It's such a pleasant escape from work and 'busy-ness'! I'm glad you enjoyed this post. I must get back to doing some more lace book pages. I have no printer at the moment -I never get the time to make the decision which one is best for printing on fabric, but I'm close. Think I'll just jump at one. It's so limiting without one.

      I love photography but I'm self-taught. I'm always experimenting and wondering what I did wrong LOL! But I'm getting good at Photoshop so I can fix my mistakes and have some creative fun :)

      I highly recommend Suzy's class - she is so talented and has an artist's eye for design and colour. I love her work too.

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  12. Your blog and your art work are such an inspiration to any artist to pursue their dreams. I love the quote at the end of your blog about making time for play. Having a creative outlet's so important for self-expression. I must show your photos to my wife, who love to make beautiful things. Your lace books are original and very lovely.

    Arthur Griffin @ Copy Solutions

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    1. Thanks for your kind comments, Arthur. I totally agree with you about artful play:)
      Jesse

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  13. Jesse, love these pages. I had to gasp when I saw your Gypsy! She's exactly like my first cat(Tiger). My Tiger sat on my lap or on my table while I wrote essays for teacher's College.She was my girl, and was always like your Gypsey..purry!!.Can't wait to explore more posts!!
    Judy

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    1. Hi Judy,
      Thanks :) There's nothing better than a warm cat purring on your lap or curled up peacefully nearby while you work! Gypsy is rather naughty though. She hates being kept inside at peak bird-killing times of morning and night. She knocks bottles off my windowsills and scratches my quilts when she wants me to rouse on her and put her outside!
      cheers,
      Jesse

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Thank you so much for your friendly comments. It makes my day to hear from you about my artworks and topics.