Journal Junking

There never seems to be enough time in a day to pursue all my crafty habits. Three week intervals calls me to updating on my hand quilting progress alternating with a cross stitch roll call update for the SAL and HQAL groups I participate in. But in addition to those two passions, I have been working on and creating lots of junk journaling journals, envelopes, cards etc.

Add in Dr. appointments, daily activities like making the bed, cooking meals, walking the dog, grocery shopping, talking with family (phone), friends, gardening (not so much with the winter weather) life is full.

I thought I would share some of the latest with the journal making. Most recently I worked on Valentine themed birthday journal for a cousin turning 60. It will be going in the mail today. Technically not really a ‘junk journal’ as this was made with some beautiful printables, sari ribbons and pieces and lace . Below are a few of the pages. This has a two ring binding and the cover was made using a lemon cake mix box. Each page has a border that is machine stitched as is all the added ephemera. It measures 8 X 6″

One of my favorite things to create right now are prayer cards. These sweethearts are made out of file folders. There is writing space on the backs of the cards as well as the small card inserts to write down a prayer or intention (anything you like).

This one below is geared more for Christmas giving with a lace tuck space for the journaling card.

These last three posted have vintage religious metals attached. They are also made out of file folders, vintage music and book pages, sari ribbon and vintage lacey bits.

I’ll finish up this posting with two pages of a mini Valentine themed journal. This measures 4 X 4 1/2″ and is a real tweet heart of a jewel. It’s really chunky and with a big crocodile mouth kept closed with some jute twine.

Time to get this day going, there’s still our mini schnauzer patiently waiting for her morning walk and a post office visit for my cousins birthday surprise.

HQAL: Jane’s Quilt Update

The rain has been consistent and happily has kept me indoors crafting. It’s been another three weeks and time to update you on the hand quilting project I have been working on. I haven’t made as much progress as I would have liked but I am happy as I continue to get closer to a finish.

Just one picture of my progress this time. I completed the dark color cabin logs of this corner, which completes a bottom section all along the bottom or top, either way you look at it. You might notice the bottom and side log are not stitched and that is because I am not stitching all along the borders as there will be a binding that will cover them. I have moved the hoop to the next dark section and once that is done a complete half of the quilt will be finished. Actually I will be about 3/4 completed 🙂

I have been alternating with a baby quilt I am also hand quilting. Just a quick reminder of what it looks like.

Is anyone else feeling the crunch to get some Christmas gifts completed ? I can hardly believe we’re in November. I finished another hand quilted quilt that I haven’t shown as it is a Christmas gift. I have it wrapped and ready for mailing out for December 1st. I don’t want to ruin the surprise so I will show it in another update once it has arrived.

Also occupying my time and these rainy days are a few more junk journal pocket Christmas cards.

This card is so much fun ~ pic 1 has a vintage pin with monogrammed dangle attached onto the bottom ruffle. This has 2 pockets with journaling cards in them. Pic 2 the sweet framed golden song birds is the top tuck spot that holds the church card. There is gold glitter on the frame. Pic 3 is the back and these cards are attached with tiny clips. All of the printables are from RubyandPearlxo who you can find on youtube and she also has an Etsy shop.

This one is a favorite. Madonna themed and simple, the rose pocket holds 2 journaling cards and a vintage postcard. The rose pocket wraps around to the back framing in the rest of the printable. I should add the papers, also from RubyandPearlxo, are glued to a piece of sturdy card stock.

Now I am off to check in with the others and then get in some quality quilting time. Be well and see you all at the next check in.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below. Enjoy visiting the other members of our group! 

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, and Cathie

SAL: Snowman and Reindeer Update

Here is where I was with my Snowman & Reindeer X stitch last time we checked in. I was feeling fairly confident I could finish this for the holiday season. Now? Hmmm, just not sure with everything else I am working on.

I had quite a bit of encouragement to add the extra bird from the original pattern. I had been debating if I should. I took everyones advice and did. There he is on the top branch. I am continuing to fill in the background, I still need to add all the backstitching and there is still the snowman I am hoping to tweak a bit. Here is where I am now

Now and before picture

Below are the links to the others in this SAL and now I am off to check in on their projects.

Wishing you well and lots of laughter

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, 

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, 

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

What have been working on that takes away from my X stitching ~ hand quilting a kings size log cabin quilt top gifted to me, a baby quilt for a nephew, and crafting some Christmas junk journals for gifting.

Christmas Eye Candy

It never fails, before you know it, Christmas is just around the corner with thoughts of sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads, Through out this year I have been working not only on my hand quilting and cross stitch projects but on holiday junk journals for gift giving. I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peak at some of the projects in the works and/or completed.

These first 2 are Charles Dickens themed. The covers are made from recycled cereal boxes and bound with 1″ rings. This one below measures 4.5″x 7″. She has 10 pages filled with tags and ephemeral for journaling on.

This one below is also Dickens themed and is slightly larger measuring 6″ X 8″. Most of the digital prints are from The Graphic’s Fairy and some from The Digital Collage Club. Music pages from old piano sheet music books from the Goodwill. I also use magazine photos I find, like the horse & sleigh above. Ribbons ties are from my fabric stash. Shhhh – and you might have noticed the December 20th, not 25th, this is for a daughter (her birthday).

This next one is an envelope style with journal pocket card placed in front of the envelope. Both was made using a file folder. Angel themed, it measures 8.5 “x 5” I am not entirely done with this one. I am planning on adding some glitter edging to some of the cards. It is filled with all kinds of angel ephemera. All of the gifts have an original vintage Christmas postcard inside.

Simply made using a legal size red envelope this one has a tuck spot for journal cards in the front. This gift is bird themed with most of the ephemera inside and out having some sort of winter, bird, or Santa picture. Red sari ribbon and taffeta lace embellishments. The inside is filled with Christmas eye candy.

All of my journals have been made with a person in mind. This one is for a childhood friend who I share a special bond with. Measuring 5.5″ X 7.25″ this envelope is packed with 12 journaling cards, one for each month of the coming year. I love the red and gold sari remnant. I have not added a closure but I am thinking some white dotted swiss tule for a wintery effect. I will of course add a personal note to each journal before sending them off.

This hold in your hand cutie measures 3.5″ X 4″ and is Angel and Madonna/motherhood themed. Lots of lace and wispy threads are poking out and it is jam packed with goodies. The cover was made out of a jello box and there are 5 signatures with 10 making 20 pages in each signature.

The last photo I’m sharing is of envelope style journal pockets. These were made with cereal box or file folders for covers and I have 8 of them ready to go. I mostly used pages from Little Golden books that were Christmas themed, as well as other collected photos and ephemera. These are mostly for grandkids and their young families. I will tuck in a gift check and a restaurant gift card.

I am making it a bit easier on myself this year with no big gifts to ship with expensive post office fees. I hope you enjoyed this sneak peak.

What crafty holiday projects have you been working on?

Weddings and Babies

It has been a busy week with cooler temps bringing relief from a 3 day heat spell. Here we are in August and I feel like summer has actually arrived. The big news this week was a sister in law is expecting a 2nd grand baby. She had posted some birthday gathering photos on her FB page and the ‘couple’ were photographed and I thought – hmm do I spy a baby bump? Our phone call – “I may be out of line but” “I know what you’re gonna ask, I have been getting quite a few calls” “do I need to start a baby quilt?” “Yes – we were waiting to let everyone know till they found out the sex” …. The picture was so cute. The couple standing with Dad behind Mom and his hands and hers were cupped under neither her tiny baby bump. It was not meant to indicate a baby and was purely accidental. Now we know the sex, its a boy!

So this week I got busy looking through my fabric stash. Most of my fabrics are flowers and feminine prints and patterns, lots of Christmas too. I was able to come up with a few choices, mostly bits and bobs of stuff but enough of 2 to make a simple 9 patch baby quilt. I had just enough of the sweet material with the children to get enough blocks for this. So far I have 4 made. I will need to get to the store to find backing and sashing material.

I wanted to share another journal I made that I am presenting this evening. We had a wedding in our family back in January. My husbands brother was married and this late afternoon much of the family will be gathering for a bbq and surprise party for them. I am all prepped and ready so I thought I would share the journal with you. It is a 2 ring bound book made from a cereal box. The cover is from a Chagall themed calendar. Many of the printable are from thegraphicsfairy.com and wedding photo prints from my collection of wedding photos.

All of the wedding photos are from my wedding photo collection

Taken from the 1903 edition of The Woman’s Magazine

A best wishes vintage postcard for the couple

Using my newspaper.com subscription I found articles on wedding menus from the 1930’s and printed them on coffee dyed paper

Envelope for tag below when opened

There are a few more blank pages specifically for journaling and all of the tags have space for jotting down a memory or two.

Quilting and Journal making ~ so many fun things to do!

Obsessed With Mini Journals

I am obsessed with mini journal making. They are just so cute, simple and fit in the palm of your hand. This mini is a compact 3 x 5.5″ Milliner themed journal. It is a no sew journal with 3 signatures, each constructed with one standard size sheet of paper, giving me 4 pages in each signature, (8 front and back), also allowing for top and side pockets. The cover was constructed out of a cereal box, then covered with book pages and some bits and bobs. I used silver metallic cord to secure the signatures.

Lots of cream lace and ribbons add to the feminine feel of this mini.

Mrs. Drums two daughters, Hattie and Minnie

Mrs. Drum is a milliner and dressmaker in Toledo, OH. After working for 13 years at one of the top milliner shops in town, she had decided to leave and open her own shop. This was quite a leap of faith and a bold move for her as she was a widow and her income was her families sole support. In the years that followed, she had become very successful and decided it was time and worth her while to make the trip to Chicago and enter the Milliners Convention being held on March 9, 1910.

Mrs. Drums daughter Hattie wearing one of her hats. The small photo up top is of Mrs. Drums mother who has since passed away.

Mrs. Drum knew just how she would set up her displays at the at the convention.

Above is Mrs. Brown, one of the finest lacemakers in the state who worked for Mrs. Drum. She was disappointed that Mrs. Brown was not able to accompany her on this trip. Mrs. Drum assured Mrs. Brown, who she affectionately called Teddy, that she would give her credit for all her beautiful laces adorning the hats. That is a picture of Mrs. Brown peaking out of the side pocket when she was much younger.

Here is Mrs. Drum in all her finest. There was a lovely opening dinner for the convention and she decided to wear her smart bolero jacket and dress with her finest hat. For the closing evening ball, she wore the beautiful pink gown her daughter Hattie had fashioned with the lace trim around the neckline that Mrs. Brown had sewn. Gloves, fan and a bit of lace adorned her hair. She had the most agreeable evening and was delighted when she was given recognition as one of the top Milliners in Ohio, and rightfully so I might add. (she was quite surprised by this)

Birds were very fashionable at the time and often adorned hats. Mrs. Drums daughter Minnie thought it was quite a ridiculous fashion.

Hattie and Minnie in their evening wear for the ball. Mrs. Drum always made sure she had extra buttons for mending

This journal has lots of tuck spots and mini journal cards. The printable are from TheGraphicsFairy – The Milliner Collection along with some of their other beautiful printables and lots of collected ephemera I have on hand. There is plenty of journal space on the backs of the pocket tags to jot down a date, a memory, a thought, a wish or a prayer.

They served the most expensive Champaign which was quite a treat for Mrs. Drum and her daughters.

Minnie and Hattie loved seeing the latest hat fashions and all the beautiful dresses the woman wore. Even the dogs wore their finest.

Lace by Mrs. Brown (affectionately Teddy)

On the right is a close up of Minnie arriving at the closing ball.

The most surprising and exciting part of the whole convention had been the arrival of the wife of Mr. Maurice Lajeunsses, editor of a fashionable dress design magazine in Paris, France. Her arrival at the convention had been kept a secret as her mission was to find a top milliner to design hats for one of the finest shops in Paris.

I am sure you have guessed it and it came as no surprise that while ‘Chantecler Hats’ took precedence in the newspaper article, Mrs. Drum received that honor!

Mini Summer Junk Journals

I have been spending some of my time crafting mini summer junk journals. I love the mini’s! They are so much fun to fashion. Measuring a tiny 3 1/2″ X 4″ is a sunshine yellow journal.

This mini was constructed using a cup of soup box for the cover. Then I layered the top with a thin sheet of quilt batting and then covered the front and back with yellow fabric using fabric – tac clue to secure it. The cover graphic is from ‘The Graphic Fairy’. I used a picture frame from the Tim Holtz collection. The color is a true gold although it photographed with a red hue.

There are 5 signatures and each is filled with 16 pages

This little book is packed with sweet summer themed ephemera

The second mini is slightly larger at 4″ X 5″. This one is a gift for a girlfriends birthday. I used a pasta box for the cover, batting and a darling summer fabric. I added a red ribbon tie and red button with lace to finish it off.

This one has 6 signatures and has 18 pages in each. I used 6 different seed packets for the cover of each signature.

I’ll share one more. I call this one the Mini Mini. It measures 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ with the pages extending out to 3 1/2″. I used a spaghetti box to build the cover. All of it’s pages are scraps of paper, paper bags, cloth, paper doilies, book pages, and lace bits.

It’s finally summer and I’ve been having lots of summer time fun!