This week’s sketchbook cover almost made itself. I had a quarter yard of this glorious Marcia Derse ‘wabi sabi polka dot’ cotton quilting fabric that turned out to be exactly the right size for this one. When something is already the right size, I tend to take it as a sign that it was meant to be.
The light isn’t great here today, so the colours in the photos are a bit greyer than in real life.
This sketchbook is quite big, with pages about 14″ x 11″ (roughly A3-ish). Unable to find what I wanted, I ended up making my own using some large sheets of 250 gsm mixed media paper and some very helpful online bookbinding tutorials. I even added header tape and a bookmark ribbon. The hard casing is just cardboard packaging covered with brown paper, which is why it needed a more decorative cover.
This book is for mixed media paint experiments, which I’d like to do more of when I manage to find the time.
All I did with the fabric was lay it on a calico backing to stabilise it and then outline each of the circular shapes with running stitch in a dark perle 12 cotton thread. I also added some straight stitches in very pale grey to the plain dark shapes along the spine.
It’s just a simple slip case, so it forms its own useful pockets in the front and back inner covers.
I’m not often attracted to something this bright, but I really like everything about this fabric – the varied mark-making behind the shapes, the painterly/collage style, the patterns in each circle and the colour palette. I wish I’d designed it.
I love being surprised by fabric. Looking forward to getting started in this one.
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I love that fabric and have been working on a quilt using a lot of the Marcia Derse fabrics. I am also making more slipcovers for notebooks these days. Such a great way to personalize.
Yes, I really like covers for notebooks and sketchbooks etc. Your quilt is going to be amazing!
This is lovely AND inspiring! 🤩
Thanks so much, I find this fabric really inspiring 🌟
Lovely! That’s my favorite fabric. Will make a bedcover out of it.
how wonderful!
It’s interesting fabric, isn’t it?
I’m considering color a lot right now and what palette to use. I tend towards the somewhat muted palettes but I’m considering brights as well and it’s fun to think about the different feels each sends out.
This is such a great example of that.
I love this fabric, and I’m surprised I love it so much given all the colours and different patterns on it. I think it works because they’re mostly tertiary colours and tertiaries tend to sit very happily together in pretty much any combination. Will be interested to see what you go for 🙂
it is beautiful and it does look like you designed it.
ha, thanks so much Norma – I take that as a huge compliment 🙂Marcia is such a great designer and I love her fabrics.
I shall wish you plenty of time for experimentation, then!
I will find it somehow…