Helping you create a home by hand.

Fabric Art Journal Covers

These beautiful Fabric Art Journal Covers began as simple fabric panels that were embellished with hand quilting, embroidery and beads.

The embellishing of the two fabric bird panels began in July of 2012. The original post can be found here with updates on my progress here, here and here.

I had originally intended to turn the completed panels into a tote bag but a comment by a reader on this post saying they would also look good framed or mounted got me thinking in a different direction.

I eventually decided not to frame them in the traditional sense because then they’d have to be packed away and put in storage until we’re able to get settled somewhere permanently again.

But they could be “framed” by turning them into journal/scrapbook covers.    In order not to have to cut the panels down and take the chance of damaging the embellishing I had done, I purchased the largest size of art journals (11X14.)

 

Front of the journal cover made with embellished fabric panels

A couple of close-ups:

Embellished Journal Cover with Green and Orange Birds

Embellished Journal Cover with Blue Bird

I used these pretty fabrics for the back and inside of the journal covers.

Back of the journal covers

Now I can take them with me and use the journals to write poetry in, paste pictures from our travels, all sorts of things.  And they will be a pretty piece of artwork to set out to bring a personal touch to any temporary housing we may be living in.

Hopefully in the next year, our life circumstances will allow us to find a long term home again and then I’ll be able to work on finishing the UFOs that are safely packed away in storage.   But until then, I’m going to try to finish one project before beginning another and keep the flow of energy from stalling in an accumulation of uncompleted projects.

I would be so pleased if you chose to share by clicking on one of the buttons below!

11 Comments

  • Sheryl
    June 16, 2015 1:45 pm

    These are lovely and doesn´t it make one feel good to get an UFO finished? I have friends who never start new projects without finishing the first one. I have a drawer full awaiting attention.

  • Renee
    June 15, 2015 11:37 pm

    These are darling! Journal covers are on my list of things to try making some day. Yours are inspiring me to try it sooner than later. 🙂

  • karen
    April 7, 2013 9:20 am

    These are just beautiful! You have made me think in a new direction for some hand work that I have finished but never made into anything! Thank you!

  • Simsim
    April 7, 2013 7:12 am

    Hi, these are BEAUTIFUL!! Just done a handmade book course where we learnt to bind so I am now inspired to combine that with your idea too!! So, I’m getting the gist of what a UFO is (unfinished something or the other?) but what does it actually stand for?
    Lots of love xx

  • Karen Schulz
    April 6, 2013 5:41 am

    I saw your link on finish it up friday. i love these. They are so gorgeous and look amazing completed.

  • Kerstin
    April 5, 2013 3:38 pm

    Oh, this is lovely! And I’m seriously envious about your finishes, I still have UFOs that date back to 2011…

  • Celtic Thistle Stitches
    April 5, 2013 3:49 pm

    The blocks look fabulous as journal covers, what a great idea! Congrats on finishing your 2012 UFO’s too, I can only look on in admiration 🙂

  • wendy
    April 5, 2013 2:30 pm

    they are just beautiful! I can’t believe you’ve finished all your WIPs from 2012, it’s going to take me at least the rest of the year!

  • Sandra :)
    April 5, 2013 12:16 pm

    I believe it’s illegal to only start new projects after old ones are completed. ILLEGAL, I say!! YMMV, though, LOL. I’m working on UFO’s this year too, but mine are all of the quilt variety, so it’s slow going. 2 done out of 15 – not as fast as I would like, but getting there!

    I love what you did with the panels – thinking outside of the box gave you magnificent results – WOW!

  • Kathie
    April 5, 2013 1:01 pm

    Excellent idea!

  • Vickie Horsfall
    April 5, 2013 9:29 am

    What a clever idea to use these beautiful creations as covers for journals. You have inspired me to complete a few unfinished projects of my own! People can’t enjoy things sitting in a drawer or closet. Thanks for sharing your lovely artwork!
    Enjoy your day! ~Vickie

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