Books and bags

Some nice dark photos for you today (did I mention it was snowing yesterday?). I get so cold in this house, but have a lovely radiant heater in my studio which keeps me toasty (on one side). So yesterday I spent the day up there, playing.

I made some books. These are made with manilla folder covers with folded paper stitched together. Then I strengthened the covers by sewing on fabric and all kinds of ephemera and bits of fabric and paper. A bit of bias binding on the spine and VOILA!

Some note books/sketch books.

No glue, only sewing. And the backs have been decorated too.
They actually have a nice feel to them due to the heaviness of the covers.
And I finished off some projects- two bags I started ages ago. This one, which is really useful actually. Nice and heavy canvas, fully lined and there's an outside pocket on the other side.

And this one. I've been wanting to make a rice bag bag for ages. I love that they come with a zip already in them.

It's fully lined, and I used the zip to make a small internal pocket. Actually this bag is full reversible which wasn't anything I planned. And the strap? One of the many martial arts belts of the kids that I have saved.

It's so nice sometimes to just play with the sewing machine and see what happens...