Oh my.
This week….. winter arrived…..
So, it’s time to get to work on Christmas presents.
I love green and eco crafts - recycling and re-using things to up-cycle new treasures…
I am making my sister-in-law a hand made book with wooden covers.
The wood has been hanging around our barn for more than 20 years.
It was part of an old stage set from my days as a theater set designer.
I cut out the covers and and sanded the edges and scuffed up some layers of the paint.
I then painted gold around the edges.
I drew a Celtic Interlace then drew a tree over top of that. I connected the tree into the interlace and erased the bits I didn’t want. I painted and etched and drew, until I was satisfied with my version of the Celtic Tree of Life.
I tatted 2 butterflies and a dragonfly, and glued them to the inside cover.
Then I spool knitted 3 cords for the binding.
I folded some recycled/reclaimed pages that had been used on one side and punched 3 holes in them.
I put them all together…..
And all in all…. I am very pleased with it….
Hopefully, my sister-in-law will enjoy her book. She’ll be able to put more pages in when she fills these ones up.
Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
Tags: spool knitting, spool knitter, journal, recycling crafts, eco crafts, recycling, upcycling, green crafts, reclaiming, handmade book, sketch book, spool knitted cords, Christmas presents
November 15, 2008 at 4:24 pm |
Oh Noreen….it is a great present (Chismas ?) for her!!
She must be proud of you.
Hmmmm I feel jelous……..
I am astonished at your effort to for see the true beauty of little things of life.Really I’m glad knowing that some one can really make something this beatiful that someone else can never think of.
Thank you for sharing.
November 16, 2008 at 3:12 am |
Just a comment on your previous post on Arbutus buttons, I love them. I have a sweater that needs buttons-its knitted and they used these little silly hooks that constantly catch on the stitches. I had almost decided to make some plain round wooden buttons from some of the sassafras in my yard, leaving the bark on-but i like the toggle buttons you made better with the little cords, so I will be making some like those only from the sassafras.They will add a little personality to the sweater. Thanks for the ideas.
November 16, 2008 at 3:35 am |
Hi Linda
)
I’m so pleased that you like the arbutus buttons! I have never seen sassafras – I’m so pleased that you’ll be making some toggles from them. I love the idea of home grown buttons. How ‘green’ is that?
November 28, 2008 at 3:30 pm |
[...] Green crafts – A new hand made book from recycled wood & paper Noreen’s been working on Christmas presents. She’s just finished making a journal for her sister in law, using old wood from a stage set, and recycled paper. She’s binding it all with spool knitted cords, and has embellished it with a Celtic Tree of Life. A very green Christmas present indeed! [...]
November 29, 2008 at 6:11 am |
[...] Green crafts – A new hand made book from recycled wood & paper fom Tottie Talks Crafts. [...]
November 29, 2008 at 4:03 pm |
What a gorgeous book. I’m sure she will treasure it.
You were a set designer? That’s neat. Some day please tell us more.
November 29, 2008 at 6:51 pm |
[...] Green crafts – A new hand made book from recycled wood & paper Noreen’s been working on Christmas presents. She’s just finished making a journal for her sister in law, using old wood from a stage set, and recycled paper. She’s binding it all with spool knitted cords, and has embellished it with a Celtic Tree of Life. A very green Christmas present indeed! [...]
November 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm |
[...] Green crafts – A new hand made book from recycled wood & paper Noreen’s been working on Christmas presents. She’s just finished making a journal for her sister in law, using old wood from a stage set, and recycled paper. She’s binding it all with spool knitted cords, and has embellished it with a Celtic Tree of Life. A very green Christmas present indeed! http://tottietalkscrafts.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/green-crafts-hand-made-book-with-spool-knitted-bin... [...]
November 29, 2008 at 9:35 pm |
Thank you so much, Eileen!
) Noreen it’s a long time ago now, so I don’t bother about it much. LOL
And, about being a set designer…. that was an offshoot of being a professional puppeteer….
November 30, 2008 at 5:20 am |
Nice. My sister loves Celtic stuff. She would like that.
November 30, 2008 at 6:40 am |
Thanks so much, Peggy! I really enjoyed combining a tree with a Celtic interlace!
December 1, 2008 at 7:22 pm |
[...] a Recycled Journal, include a set of fabulous (recyclable) stainless [...]
December 2, 2008 at 11:36 am |
[...] Green crafts – A new hand made book from recycled wood & paper Noreen’s been working on Christmas presents. She’s just finished making a journal for her sister in law, using old wood from a stage set, and recycled paper. She’s binding it all with spool knitted cords, and has embellished it with a Celtic Tree of Life. A very green Christmas present indeed! [...]