My quote collage books are done!

I finished my three sparkly little books 

of collaged quotes yesterday!

As I brushed the last scraps into the wastebasket I was sad to be ending this project, which I started months ago not sure how it would go. But I took the advice in these two quotes and forged ahead, making design decisions as it progressed and trusting that it would be fabulous.

"And suddenly you know: 

It's time to start something new 

and trust the magic of beginnings."

"Overcome fear, behold wonder."

The impetus for the project was an art show I'm going to be in with my sister in February. The theme is "Homegrown Stories," and my sister suggested that we each make an art book to go along with the "stories" part. I'd never made an art book before and spent a few months thinking about possibilities before coming up with the idea to do little collages featuring the inspirational quotes that I began collecting six years ago during a difficult time in my life.

Then the challenge became deciding which of my several hundred quotes to use! I ended up splitting them into three books with a total of 22 quotes. I could have made dozens more because it was so fun hand stitching the little bright bits of fabric. But I had to make myself stop so I can make big art for the show.

I like their little size and how soft and light they are in the hand. One reason I love working with fabric is because of its softness.

I was concerned that my machine wouldn't be able to get through all the layers to sew the book bindings on, but with a big jeans needle my trusty 35-year-old Bernina 1230 did the job effortlessly. It beautifully sewed through 16 layers of fabric plus the heat and bond in between the layers in the thickest book.

 

Have a colorful day