Handmade Book

A lot of hand made went into this book; from the waxed covers and hand stitching....

 ..... to the tea dyed, baked and torn pages.

It's my first book so I experimented with just a few pages (I need to tea dye more!) and the book folds flat.  I would really like it to be jam packed with pages - a bumper volume!

I love the look and the feel of the pages.

Here's a close up of the front cover.  It has a slight smell of beeswax.  I am happy with the outcome but it took a lot of trial and error to get thus far!

Bees and Clover and Drawing Every Day

I have been sketching in the book (pictured above) for the last few weeks. This month the materials to use are marker pens and black micron pens.  I have looked at some of my 'efforts' with an overly critical eye.  I can't help it as it is ingrained in my nature. 

I thought I would share one of my quick sketches.  I had to draw bees hovering over clover.  I made quick loose, sketchy marks and am pleased with the overall result.  Sometimes I don't need to be painstakingly tied to detail and perfectionism.  Sometimes I can covey what I need to with just a few pen marks. 

 

In the Pink

I don't feel in the pink at the moment.  In fact I am in a really foul black mood.  Tiredness, anxiety and mild depression and having been told to 'speed up' my work at my monthly appraisal, has brought out a side to me that I haven't experienced since being a teenager.  Thank God that I have my blog in which to express my feelings otherwise I don't know where I would turn.  Taking myself off for some retail therapy today I bought a small pot of scented roses.  I hope that the delicate hue and pleasing scent will help to soothe my soul. 

 

 

The sight of sticky, fondant covered doughnuts delighted my senses.  I don't even like filled doughnuts and really shouldn't be eating such things with my problem teeth and gums but I bought them anyway.  Once again, I was drawn in by the pink colour.

Something for the bedside table - The Ashes of London.  Hopefully reading this before I slumber will take away my dreaming of work.  London burning is preferable to dreaming of buttering and filling 240 rolls and baguettes each night.

Birthday Book

Today is my Birthday and in way of a celebration I have bought myself this lovely book shown above.  I did see it at the Country Living Spring Fair but waited to purchase it from an on line book store 'Wordery' and found it to be cheaper than Amazon even with the added postage.

I can't wait to have a go at making some of these little felt animals and am looking forward to making the clothes especially.  I can see my Liberty fabrics being put to good use here!  I am waiting delivery of some wool felt and then I will be able to make a start.

My blog anniversary was on the 1st March.  I have been blogging for eight years now.  Time flies when you're having fun!