I received a few freelance projects this week, so have been pretty busy with web and graphic design work. However, I did carve out an afternoon to work on a few different crafty projects I’ve been meaning to finish for the past…oh, few months! While listening to Radio Lab podcasts, I decided to some mini sketchbooks using leather for the covers. I’ve actually learned a bit of proper bookbinding in the past, but I figured I’d go for something simple first. I followed along a video tutorial on Youtube and ended up with these beauties after a few hours.
After stabbing myself multiple times, I’ll realized the lack of good tools certainly makes the process a lot harder. First, I don’t have good scissors to cut thick leather, so the edges are pretty roughed up. Second, sewing into leather is pretty difficult even though I used my awl to pre-punch holes. I first tried sewing with some twine, but realized it had a metal wire in it that made the stitching very uneven and bumpy – that’s the regular stitched sketchbook you see in the photo. Then I tried with regular embroidery floss in bright yellow, using the blanket stitch that created a very nice edge. Finally, with the leftover leather I made another smaller notebook and I’ve shown the back cover below, where I stamped my tortagialla logo and signed. Cute, eh? I suppose the only good tool I have is a heavy duty hole puncher – 6 sizes – that worked nicely for the paper and leather. My tool is similar to the Crop-A-Dile but only hole punches for 10 Euros at the hardware store here in Italy.
A happy surprise today was receiving a bunch of snail mail. Our postal service is pretty sketchy here because sometimes things don’t arrive at all or it takes a long time due to small town services – mail is not necessarily delivered daily. I participated in a few art exchanges, so I was very happy to receive lovely mail art from Leah Virsik, Margie Woods Brown and a mystery sender from Australia that is a package sitting in the post office…ooo, I wonder what it is!?
I also received my printed fabric from Spoonflower – my lovely singing boy and girl! My original idea is to cut them out and sew up little plush/pillow dolls. Of course, in my haste I forgot to include space for the backside…erf! I think I’ll have to order more fabric with just the snowflake design or perhaps choose a different fabric? I think it would be sort of spooky if both sides had the face…or not? Oif!
Finally, I am trying to finish off this watercolor piece of a little snow queen. I am just starting to outline the piece, see where I did the crown? I’m hoping to send it in to Art Trader Magazine as they have a snow queen or snow king themed contest now…except it’s due today! Eeek!
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To receive this super cute motivational poster as a printable PDF, 
4 Comments
I love looking at your work in progress.
Those leather covers are looking really nice and i hope you don’t hurt your fingers too much! Receiving packages are always fun and pleasent…one of my favorite things! Your fabric is adorable and i am looking forward to see what you make with it. Oh and look at that lovely painting! Gorgeous! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Hi Jacqueline! Thanks for stopping by, your comments are always so happy and I really appreciate it! Thank you – grazie!
Hi Linda! What fun mail art you got! Thanks for posting. Nice blanket stitch on the leather! I’m inspired.
Thanks Leah! The mail art is beautiful…woohoo! I just loveeee the colors!