Birds & Words

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Frayed Fabric

Me:  Fabric?  Really???  I do paper, not fabric!
Tim Holtz:  Don't be silly, you can incorporate fabric into your art.
Me:  Well, yeah, but I really love paper and Distress Inks and Paints and Distress Spray Stain and Ideology, and did I mention I don't really sew?
Tim Holtz:  I think you're overreacting.  Eclectic Elements graphics will be very familiar to you and you'll love the textural dimension they bring.
Me:  My sewing machine hates me.
Tim Holtz:  Just grunge it!!  Even an unkind sewing machine can't stop you from using my Eclectic Elements fabric which has a grungy, distressed vibe.
Me:  Well, they are kind of awesome.  And I really do love texture.
Tim Holtz:  Go for it!  Encourage your hopes not your fears!
Me:  Okay.  I'm doing it.

(The preceding is an imaginary conversation with Tim Holtz, Creative Wizard.)

I have always said "If you think you think you see sewing in my work, look closer.  It's probably ink."    So this one is not a natural for me, but wow!  I love this stuff.  I think you're going to love it, too.
My sweet friend Yvonne Blair has designed a new art journal and she sent me one to try out.  I wanted to use the Frayed Fabric technique to make a cover for my art journal.

I was working with 8x8 swatches of fabric, so I sewed 2 together to make a piece large enough to cover the journal.  I misted it with water, wadded it up to wrinkle it and let it dry. 
Check out Compendium of Curiosities page 66 for the Frayed Fabric technique.  I added embellishments, covered the journal.  

I attached the word band and pen nib by sewing onto the cover with black waxed linen.  I ended up having SO much fun with this project.  Just like I was saying to a friend of mine....

Me:  Okay, you were right.  Eclectic Elements are completely cool and I even enjoyed hauling out my sewing machine!
Tim Holtz:  I told you!  They're great for mixed media.
Me:  They are.  I'm loving using some of the scraps on my art journal pages.  I'm loving this fabric more than ANYTHING!!
Tim Holtz:  More than Distress Ink?
Me:  Never.

Sew, are you ready?  Check out Studio L3 to see the Curiosity Crew projects for the 19th CC3C.   Follow a few simple guidelines and share your art with us!  Our sponsor for the challenge is Inspiration Emporium with a generous gift certificate for our randomly chosen winner.  The Curiosity Crew choice will win a stinkin' awesome prize package from Tim and Mario, shown here:
Now that the holidays are over I'm ready to get creative aren't you?  I feel like I say this every challenge, but every challenge it's true:

I can't wait to see what you're going to do with this one!!



Posted by Cheryl Grigsby at 12:01 AM

39 comments:

  1. Candy CJanuary 3, 2015 at 4:28 AM

    Cheryl...this is such a clever post!! I loved reading your imaginary convo with Tim but while reading it, I could actually hear him saying everything you imagined! You aced this challenge with your shabby but yet grungy cover. This is a fabulous idea and I will probably be borrowing it to cover my art journal as well! :). Love your design for your cover. Love all the SEWING and the grungy fraying!!

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  2. Julie SJanuary 3, 2015 at 8:09 AM

    I dare say you are 'she who sews' now! This is a wonderful project!

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  3. Marjie KemperJanuary 3, 2015 at 8:43 AM

    Your conversation cracked me up but that's probably exactly how it would go in person... good thinking!! Your project is awesome - so unique and a great way to use the fabric. See you soon!

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  4. SusanJanuary 3, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    I, too, absolutely loved your conversation with Tim, Cheryl! I felt the same way about using fabric and now I love it! This project is so clever and an awesome idea! All the details are amazing!

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  5. UnknownJanuary 3, 2015 at 11:07 AM

    You crack me up. Sew creative and inspiring. Way to be brave and break your paper chains!

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  6. Julia AstonJanuary 3, 2015 at 12:34 PM

    a very fun conversation here!! love how you ended up loving the fabric with your sewing machine - and made a terrific cover for your journal! well done - and an inspiration for the rest of us who don't think they want to sew either!!

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  7. RedanneJanuary 3, 2015 at 1:49 PM

    I loved your imaginary conversation with Tim and I loved what you did with the fabric even more! I would never have guessed that you were not a sewist (is that a word!). The cover looks amazing - and has given me a great idea too.... Anne x

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  8. Auntie EmJanuary 3, 2015 at 3:26 PM

    No one would ever guess that you aren't always sewing stuff together to look at your project! I love the way you outlined the elements to make each stand out. Beautiful work!

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  9. CarolJanuary 3, 2015 at 7:01 PM

    Looks like you are more comfortable with your sewing machine that you profess! A journal cover is a great idea!

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  10. Pambi7January 3, 2015 at 8:28 PM

    I do not know which is more creative, your journal cover or your conversation with Tim! I love both of them.

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  11. Studio RoseJanuary 4, 2015 at 3:05 AM

    Uh-oh...I see all the tell-tale signs. Soon you will have a fabric stash that rivals your paper stash! (Don't say you haven't been warned! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-haaaaa...)

    Seriously, though, this is so beautiful, and I believe it when you say you had a lot of fun! I too was afraid of fabric for the longest time, but once you work with it and don't worry about "perfection" or "straightness" or even "non-crazy-patch-wonky," it's absolutely a ton of fun, and so versatile! This is a gorgeous journal cover, and I'm sure not your last! :)

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  12. Scrapintheattic.comJanuary 4, 2015 at 12:31 PM

    Wow for someone who doesn't work with fabric I love it! Always inspirational to see different approaches to the same theme. Great work x

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  13. JanBianchiJanuary 4, 2015 at 2:12 PM

    This is beautiful Cheryl!!! I love it. Nice job.

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  14. Anita Houston The Artful MavenJanuary 4, 2015 at 4:17 PM

    So gorgeous Cheryl!!! I love the knitted doily...perfect size and shape! Fabulous cover!!!

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  15. Rea'January 4, 2015 at 4:30 PM

    LOL I can so hear the conversation going something like that ... So Tim !! Such an awesome cover ... looks like you and your machine got a love fest going on ... love the variety of stitches ... and the fraying ... OMG so fun ... so amazing how you displayed the various embellishments ... you rocked this !!

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  16. UnknownJanuary 4, 2015 at 7:02 PM

    OMG Cheryl!! What a GREAT idea!! I won TWO of Yvonne's new art journals and I just unwrapped my 6x8 one today!! I looked at its blank, chipboard cover and said to myself ---Hmmm, now what am I going to do about this?! OH--Cheryl...you may have given me my CC3 #19 inspiration!! I love everything that you've done to yours and Tim's EE fabric has done you proud!! Way to go!! XOXO-Shari T.

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  17. Annette GreenJanuary 5, 2015 at 6:09 AM

    I think we ALL need to have imaginary conversations with Tim. This turned out so beautiful, Cheryl. And I love the added pen nib. What a great idea for an art journal cover. Gorgeous!

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  18. Mona PendletonJanuary 6, 2015 at 12:39 AM

    Such a pretty project Cheryl! Love all the fancy stitching and frayed edges! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  19. Jenny MarplesJanuary 7, 2015 at 12:26 AM

    You clearly DO do fabric! LOVE the whole look to this Cheryl. Happy New Year. Jenny x

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  20. MauraJanuary 8, 2015 at 10:39 AM

    Love that imaginary conversation, and you did an awesome job with the fabric...gorgeous piece!

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  21. Ruby CraftJanuary 8, 2015 at 5:17 PM

    WOW! Tim is such an enabler! Just kidding, but he really is great at encouraging creativity and I love your conversation with him and I really love your cover. Looks like to me you are a natural with fabric.

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  22. SueJanuary 9, 2015 at 10:15 AM

    I have imaginary convos with Tim just like you! And every time, he is RIGHT!! I love, love, LOVE your wrinkled, frayed and embellished journal cover. Give me all kinds of ideas for the books in my house!

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  23. KimJanuary 12, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Love your journal cover Cheryl. It is so warm and inviting, like a comfortable sweater. What a beautiful way to highlight Tim's fabric. Your imaginary conversation has probably played in the minds of many of the challenge participants...I know it has in mine :)

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  24. KimJanuary 12, 2015 at 11:07 AM

    LOL! That conversation would be the same for me...'cept I don't even have a sewing machine to drag out...I love how this turned out though...even my fabric-phobia'd brain can appreciate all the cool "paper-ish" details! LOL!

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  25. Cim Allen January 13, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    I love the conversation .. lol I have a sewing machine I just look at .. I'm afraid of it. I sewed some paper but then the bobbin unloaded and it's been sitting since :) I love the journal cover .. it's beautiful !!

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  26. craftylynJanuary 13, 2015 at 10:56 AM

    Sew gorgeous! I think your journal cover is just darling, may have to try this.

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  27. Nicole Wright DesignsJanuary 13, 2015 at 1:49 PM

    BAHAHAAAA... I have the same conversation. But mine ends with "ya, you're right you suck at sewing". Good for you jumping in there and making it work. It looks amazing.

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  28. Rebecca MorrisJanuary 14, 2015 at 2:22 AM

    Absolute rustic beauty!! This journal cover is so beautiful, thank you for the inspiration.

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  29. Lisa HJanuary 14, 2015 at 10:17 PM

    LOL too funny. I think you did great! You should sew on projects more often. =)

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  30. janna'scraftingatticJanuary 15, 2015 at 3:23 PM

    Lovely lovely lovely ! Love the inclusion of pen nib too. Just love it. I am always having conversations with myself - ha ha

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  31. YvonneJanuary 15, 2015 at 5:44 PM

    First...your imaginary conversation is priceless and so funny! LOVE it...I can just hear it in my mind. Second OMGOSH...I LOVE this cover....You could probably hear me squeal when I saw it...I am going to have to make one!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it...this is right up my alley...OK so for the I don't know how many times...this is my new FAVORITE project of yours. ACK...it is absolutely STUNNING!!! STUNNING YES STUNNING said in SHOUTY capitals!!!!!!!!

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  32. UnknownJanuary 15, 2015 at 6:10 PM

    Hee Hee your imaginary conversation was brilliant. I'm not a sewer either, in fact it brings out bad behavior in me which is why I choose not to sew lol. I love that you pushed through it though because this cover is beautiful Cheryl. What a fantastic, inspirational project!!! xx

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  33. Larimore2January 16, 2015 at 2:13 AM

    Ha!! I really don't sew, either...but for not sewing; you did a really NICE job here! This is really neat looking- esp w the pen nib (one of my fave little things to use)!! ;)

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  34. Vic's Creations!January 16, 2015 at 8:35 AM

    Wow! Look at you go with that sewing machine! Great project! I love how fabric makes the project look very warm and soft! Like paper, but even more worn and vintage. Love your inner conversation that kept you going! Perfect for an art journal as its design is all free and happy. It looks so natural and not stiff and planned. This is what an art journal is. A place where blank pages aren't scary, but are ready for whatever is possible! Love your project!

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  35. crafty creationsJanuary 16, 2015 at 10:21 AM

    Amazing project with so much to see = love it

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  36. Mary ElizabethJanuary 16, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    Oh my gosh!! I laughed myself silly with your imagined conversation with Tim. I heard myself saying some of the same things about sewing. You did incredible job with the sewing. I am "sew" impressed. Wow. Gotta say I love the idea of using fabric to cover a journal. And your stitching really just makes it. Great idea with the pen nib. Fantastic project!! -- Mary Elizabeth

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  37. inreenesroom.blogspot.comJanuary 16, 2015 at 5:44 PM

    Darling! Love your wrinkling idea. Adds a lot of softness to your project...

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  38. Hels SheridanJanuary 17, 2015 at 3:47 AM

    I am SO glad it isn't just me that has imaginary convo's with the Duke of Distress... for a "non" sewist you rocked this... I want this!!! Like I mean, watch out, I will be stealing into your studio and having it away on me toes with it!!! It is my birthday soon you know... ahem... *wink* LOVE your art hun x

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  39. Bobbi SmithJanuary 20, 2015 at 10:06 AM

    Your project turned out wonderful, you should sew more often!!! I love your imaginary conversation with Tim, you're so funny! :)

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