Journaling

 

I've posted a number of my paper projects in the past while. Today though, I am posting my first original paper project. The graphics are not mine, but I know just enough in my program to be able to adapt them for my needs. I designed this from start to finish, the paper clip embellishments feature an ostrich face on the front, their feet on the back and five signatures to represent the four seasons and a moving forward section at the end. There are many pockets throughout and contain blank notes for perhaps quotes they like etc. A labour of love for sure.

So this is the journal I made for the family at the Ostrich farm who have been through more than anyone should ever have to. There are so many details going back to last December, and leading up to that horrible day of Nov.6th and culmanating the morning of Nov. 7th. I suggest you go to Justice for the Ostriches and you will find out exactly what happens when you defy the corrupt government agencies. This family, even after all that was done to them, they have remained strong and making a plan to bring farmers together and work to dissolve the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) for all they have done to farmers across Canada.

There have been many false claims made about the farm, those making the claims of course have not spoken to the family, have only researched enough to make their false claims seem true, and we know how that goes. All I can encourage you to do, is dig in and do your own research. Do not be mislead by those who wish harm on those they don't even know, those they are attacking, who have done nothing to them. As we know, there are those who are paid to do their worst, it's pathetic.

So here is tbe journal. I'm going to post the front, back and sides. The inside pictures are too many to count, but I will feature a few pages to show you the sweetest little ostriches I found on Etsy, to use for this. I wanted this to be a happy place for them to document however they choose to. With all they have to do just now on a legal front, this will give them a non legal place to write what they need to, to help them heal from this experience. Enjoy.....

 

 Three Paper Projects

Besides the Antique Fashion Mini Book from my last post, I also made three other projects that Alexandra designed. Yes I'm obsessed with her kits. I'm sure all of you have designers of your favourite craft that you follow faithfully. It's a thing that comes naturally. 

So here we go. There aren't so many details or pictures as the last post because they are smaller and quicker projects, but still just so much fun. The first one is called Majestic Owls Folio. I mentioned to Alexandra how much I like Owls and she designed this. It's perfect and has so many owls in it. No shortage of owls... ;o)

As before, you will find all the links below to find these project kits. With all three of these projects, there are many more pictures for reference on Etsy.

This is the Rainbow Paradise Folio. So bright and beautiful. I used every single extra embellishment in this folio and the previous one.

And lastly we have Pop Up Floral Envelopes. This one was fun and after making the first one, it becomes like an assembly line. So pretty... You will have a box for them, and I've included pictures inside and out of that.

Also included, were some extra embellishments that can be used for other projects if you like. Of course I used them in the envelopes, and because of that, it did make the box a bit full, which made me have to tie it closed with some organza ribbon.... 😏

Please note below are all the links you need to get to these kits and instructions. Now, I have more to do, but this next little span of time I will be crocheting this and that.... I still have more of Alexandra's kits to make... It never ends, isn't that great. Who can resist sharing inspiration.  Enjoy

Majestic Owls Kit on Etsy   Rainbow Paradise on Etsy   Pop Up Floral Envelopes on Etsy

don't forget to check Alexandra's Ko-Fi page for freebies. 

Last but not least her YouTube channel.  You will find a separate tutorial for the Rainbow Paradise folio. The Majestic Owls follows the same directions as the Rainbow Paradise Folio the only difference are the papers.  

There is a separate video for the Pop Up Floral Envelopes. This video starts with a short description of  journals that Alexandra sells on her Etsy shop, then she continues with the tutorial.

Vintage Sewing Mini Book 

This is the next in what I hope isn't the last of Alexandra's beautiful books. She has such an eye for creating these books, designing the pages and knowing how to piece it all together with the finished project being a wow moment. 

This has been another joy filled project. All the individual pages within the books, always align so well and every time I am in awe of how she is so detailed and everything just fits as it should. She breaks down the book into several video's to watch how to put all the parts together. 

At the bottom I will give you the links to follow if you want to make your own version. And here is mine.  Alexandra chose the perfect cover page for the book.

Whenever I make this books, I always like to challenge myself to find a new and interesting way to decorate the spine. For this book, in keeping with the vintage feel and sewing theme, I covered the spine with an upholstery fabric in an olive green colour with off white tiny floral print. I then added lace, and heart shaped buttons down the center, a vintage looking pearl button at the top over lace , and a piece of lace above that. 

The vision had in my mind was that of a vintage jacket with a blouse ruffle showing and a lace collar which would go around the neck.  

The book itself is so full of tags, cards, all manner of embellishments, that make it become and more filled out. I love it because at the end of it all, I can sit and go through it slowly and enjoy all the pieces.  Here is the side view, and in the center you will see a closure. It's a pretty magnetic clasp that is actually made for jewelry projects, but with a bit of chain makes a great closure. It's a bit hard to see, but it's a black textured background with little rhinestones.

A few individual pages. The first is an inside front cover pocket. There is a lace print at the top of the pocket, I used a piece of lace over that. In this picture you get a better look at one side of the closure.  

The next picture is of a needlebook, where I added a small packet of needles and a needle threader, just because. ;o)  The rest are images.

The picture that follows that is a card pinned to a notebook. (there are 5 notebooks in this kit). Alexandra used embroidery thread to wrap the card, but I have a small stash of slik threads and ribbon, so I used some silk ribbon for my card. There is a place for thread spools (flat ones), on another page, I wrapped those with silk thread.

The last couple of pictures are from the inside back cover. I've opened out the back pocket to show you what all is in there. It's a lot. ;o)  The last picture is how it looks all put together. At the very bottom are the links to find what you need to make this amazing little book. It's worth every minute you spend on it and with Alexandra's video's that are so easy to follow, you will turn out a beautiful mini book of your own.

Etsy link for the kit. You will also find more pictures on the page, of Alexandra's book.

YouTube playlist for the project video's. The first video is an overview and several videos follow.

Alexandra's Ko-Fi page for freebies. She is very generous with those, and often will give you an extra goodie to go with a kit you bought on Etsy.

 Wildflower Oasis CAL 2025

As promised, today I am posting two blankets I crocheted over the last few weeks. They are both the same because I love the pattern so much I had to repeat it. The yarn I used is Colourfusion DK by Premier yarns, that I bought at Mary Maxim, the Canadian site.  The colours I chose are Springtime and Woodlands. This link will take you right to them. I used 7 balls for each, and a 5.5 mm hook. 

The design was created by Juan, of Juan the Yarn Addict.  He's a busy YouTuber, always working hard to showcase what he calls his journey. He's been a crocheter for over 30 years. This blanket design was offered in the spring as a CAL (crochet along). By all acounts it was very well received, so much so, his channel subscriptions have grown exponentially.

If you would like to challenge yourself to make this blanket, the pattern is available on Ravelry. When he posted it, it was done over 6 weeks. So watch for all of those parts, I'm not sure if he combined them into 1 full  pattern. But regardless, the cost is minimal for the amount of learning you will do. When I made the second version, it took me only 2 weeks. I hadn't crocheted much in a number of years, so pleasantly surprized that I actually made 2 blankets and worked with stitches in many cases I hadn't done before. Easy to see, that it's not a difficult project, but so pretty.

Juan also made videos for each week that you can find on his You Tube channel. I was so happy to see that he made them for both left and right handed stitchers. As a left hander I can follow the right hand videos, but so appreciative that there are those, for we left handers. So without further ado, here are my versions. Enjoy.....

 Shruging it Off

Well time certainly does fly doesn't it. I've been busy crocheting for the past several weeks.  The first project is this vintage shrug.

Pattern Here.  To view all Corinna's patterns, Vintage and Non Vintage, click here...

Corinna's YouTube channel has many video's that are vintage and non vintage. Many connect to the patterns on her Etsy page. She also does Mystery patterns that she finds from the early 1800's and you can watch work through some very confusing instuctions, keeping in mind, crochet was brand new during those times in the UK. Some stitches she has discovered don't even give the stitches names.  

If you knit or crochet and use stitch markers, I have a collection of those that I find on Celebrity Sightings Esty site. And no they aren't celebrity faces, much cuter.....;o)

This is my version of the shrug. The yarn is a  bamboo/cotton blend. The yarn came from Amazon.ca. It's very fine, you might want to purchase #10 cotton crochet thread to double it up to make it stronger and much less stretchy.  I didn't do that will this project, but I will for the next project as I originally bought 2 colourways. 

I'll be back with another post to show the other two projects I made. Enjoy.....

 Lapel Pins

Most of these little lady face pins were made quite a while ago. I decided to give those ones a little refresh. I added a charm here and there, a few beads and a touch up of the face  details. The final touch of a shot of Matte spray to seal the face details.

I plan to make more, they are definiately fun to find ways to dress them up. The fabric to create the wraps around the heads, is wool pieces cut from re-purposed and pre-shrunk woolen sweaters. The person I originally got many squares from, found the woolen sweaters in her local thrift store.

A blast from the past...........

I once knit a fisherman cable sweater with lovely soft EXPENSIVE wool. This was a gift, turned out great. Due to circumstances beyond my control, the sweater got washed improperly. Thinking back today, I could have used that sweater for lots of squares, because it shrunk down so beautifully.  

                                Ebony                                                    Ruby

     

                                      Sapphire                                                            Ivy

     

Kat

Two other pins I made were on the cat theme. They were an experiment and I am quite happy with these results. They are made the same way with just making some changes to the facial features. I love to challenge myself, it's the best way to expand your skills. Things don't have to be perfect, and don't give up if it's not. You only fail when you stop trying..

One last lapel pin version is this what I am calling the half body lady. She is quite tiny compared to the faces above. The original design is from Colleen Babcock, called "Precious". In her version the doll is holding a watch face, no straps, but a working watch. She's a shapely little thng ;o), and I plan to make more. I'm calling her Rosie.

My plan is to set up a site to sell these pins, but more about that soon. Enjoy.....