Notebook experiments

Here's a "cane chair mesh" notebook and a "What The Heck" notebook. The word "What" is on the spine of the book on the right. The Cane Chair mesh has a rather unsuccessful stencil font which says "Inspiration always arrives unannounced." The insert is also not the right size.  the What The Heck notebook is made out of a fibrous tarp which is rather too fibrous in my opinion.  I had hoped that these would have turned out, but it seems they require more iterations.

(As I write this I think I'm going to use the cane chair mesh on a decorative box to store my music books. That way I can put the shelf back on the floor. I had been keeping it on top of the piano while our puppy matures into a non-chewer.)

At the end of it all, when I have completed all the background work, will hopefully be some nice products. It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to produce something worthwhile.  Only the best items will make it onto my online shops.

Cutwork Notebooks

These cutwork notebook covers work like jackets for the coil notebook inside. When the notebook is filled up, it can be swapped out for another notebook.

The other feature of these notebooks is that you can change the color of the insert by flipping it around to the white side. Two looks for one!

I was able to use some of the same mesh files that I have designed for the soap bags. It is nice when files can be reused, all that hard work can go towards another purpose.

They are sewn on an industrial walking foot machine, and I make sure that the top thread is on the outside for the nicest effect. I'm looking forward to the reaction these will get when I show them at this weekend's craft show.

The flyer didn't have the address, it is 1919 79 Ave SE Calgary, in Ogden. At this show I will have a ton of soap bags, wallets and notebooks that aren't currently listed on either of my online shops.

Inspiration for cut-work patterns

I went to the library today and sketched some patterns which might work for the cut work patterns I use on my soap totes. (Soap totes are like a hanging soap dish). These were from a book called "1000 Patterns," by Drusilla Cole. I drew them using Sketchbook Pro on the iPad.

Working on new mesh patterns

Designing mesh cut patterns for my soap totes. This one is inspired by Andres Amador's beach art. I think I will make a see-through window with the same mesh pattern in the front of the soap tote. Then the user can see the soap inside. Good for those "art" soaps.

I've been feeling blue lately and not much into making and creating; but my Making Art Your Business teacher said that you should do something every day towards your art goals. So I can design mesh.

Three Soap Tote Designs

A soap tote is a bag made out of recycled vinyl, that has an inner mesh drying sleeve that hangs down when drying, then folds up for storage and travel. The loop can be hung on anything that is handy, even a tree branch when camping. I have been working on designing the mesh, then harmonizing the design to go along with the mesh. That is why the fish scale mesh has a gold fish ornament. The bucking Bronco one is rodeo themed because the Calgary Stampede is coming and visitors to our city might like this sort of souvenir. If you notice I have incorporated the bucking bronco into the mesh.