Today, I am proud of my latest creation - a purse made out of a book! Now, I must give credit to the SewNews DVD teaching series for the idea and instructions, but I will take credit for getting into my studio and actually making one!
My first trauma was having to cut pages out of a book. I must have 300 books here, surely, I'd find something to use. I dug through bags of old books in the attic. Rummaged through books stacked in the spare room, under my bed, and in my studio. I could not find one book that would work.
Actually, I couldn't bring myself to cut any one of them. Those are MY books! So, I went to a thrift store and bought 2 books for $1.00 each. THOSE books were ok to cut apart!
The finished project is shown a few different ways; above sitting on a table, hanging on the door so you can see the strap (not quite shoulder strap length, but you can tuck it under your armpit), and open to show the magnetic clasp and inside pocket.
I used a clay-like button with ribbons that I laced through the hole, and a bit of wired beads glued to the front for the embellishment. It is pretty cool, if I do say so myself!
I did learn something new today - well many things, but this is the important one: hot glue doesn't burn your skin right away. It waits. It waits until the glue is melting into the sublayers of your skin before it starts to burn. Note to self: don't touch hot glue.
The other "crafty" project I did a few weeks ago was to make fingerless mitts, or hand warmers, out of old sweater sleeves and the cuffs and buttons cut off a silk shirt.
Looks like it IS possible to teach an old dog new tricks! Or maybe, I just now have room in my head to see things in a new way.
One thing I have recently learned, is that creative people don't absolutely LOVE everything they make. That is a difficult concept for me. As soon as the project takes a turn, involves a color I don't like, or begins to look funky, I usually just quit and throw it out.
What I've discovered, is that many creative people don't even really like much of what they create, tending to have just a few favorites or special creations. But they create anyway.
And, when others see their creations, they are amazed and almost every item finds someone who loves it.
So now, I've vowed to keep going. Keep trying new things even if I don't LOVE the progress or final object. Chances are, someone will like it and it will become theirs.
Gotta run. Just got a brand new sewing machine! A Singer One Plus! So many new stitches - so little time!
TTFN!
Jackie
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