A steampunk journal cover

In the Kindred Souls Round Robin, I have picked A steampunk Air Travel as my theme. Koinkidenkilly, I saw a beautiful Prima kit at a weekend conference, prepared for a class by Finnabair. I didn’t take the class or attend the conference, but I sure got my hands on this gorgeous Prima Sunrise Sunset kit.
Not even released yet! I hope they do soon, because Im going into serious withdrawal. Are you reading this, Prima?????
The kit gave some explanations on how to achieve ‘the look’. I can’t claim that I have, but I had so much fun making the covers for my book:

The Prima kit comes with all the metal flowers, and the fabric flowers. It also has the grunge board letters, the metal wheels, and lots of dooh dahs!!!
LOVE!

I didn’t take any pictures of the inside, because I forgot! Here’s the main heroine, MS Magdalena Orgenloff. Dressed for her journeys and adventures around the world. A little montage in Photoshop. Her various parts come from a kit on DeviantScrap from Brimm-steamtown-celebrations. Fun!





Oh, valid point, Kathy, I didn't describe the process. I painted the background with white gesso, because it was cardboard. Then I glued down cardboard pieces, cheesecloth, and with the gel medium I was using, I also make some marks and designs. Then I used spray glimmer mists from 'outsidethemargins.com' since I've had good luck with their sprayers. I also added some titan buff and gold paint, and van dyke brown for edging the sides. Voila!

The Rosa of Cairo

In the Round Robin on Vintage Ancestors, the next book I worked in is Teri’s book. All about this famous tailoring studio, which appears in Paris after the intervention of another RR player! Thanks Sue. 
In my pages, the Sheik of Arabia comes to the studio, meets Auntie Rosa, falls in love with her, and marries her.
Not until he orders her wedding gown to be made by the studio. Hence the introduction of ARABesques, and damasks in Paris, which became all the rage at in the 19th century.
This is how she became the Rosa of Cairo.



The left page shows the scroll that tells the story.


The scroll ‘holder’ has a story. I was browsing on the internet to find some arabic text. And I saw this scroll holder which just triggered my mind. Yesterday, a wonderful neighbor gave  me a bag of goodies. You know, broken jewelry, unloved scarves and earrings. And  this outrageous pen. We both looked at each other, wondering what I could possibly do with it.
Well, not 24 hours later, this wonderful pen has become a jewelled scroll holder! Don’t you just love synchronicity?

And here is Auntie Rosa herself, quite transformed, and quite glamorous on her wedding day…

What women want

I took Collage Camp with KC Willis and adore her methods. New tools to add to my lace books.

I made a journal which I call: What women want. KC uses a theme to guide her in designing her art. She seems to focus on Wild West. Since I’m French, lovely women of yesteryear are more my heritage.

Front cover of book, 8x10 on raw canvas:

Each left page contains a text relevant to the theme.

Details:

 

Details:

Back cover:

I purchased the images from an Etsy digital supplier. They are heat transferred, a new approach for me, I usually just print my images directly on the fabric. The antique and vintage laces are from my collection. It’s such a pleasure to see them out in this book. It was a fantastic class.

Thank you KC.

“Book of Hours” is finished

I have used a single page binding for this book, with a strip of burlap, to continue the theme of the Middle Ages.

The front cover is made of black velour, and the light catches it, it’s not so mottled in reality.

The brooch I made in order to complement the theme.

The book is made up of antique and vintage lace, silk ribbon,

reproduction of antique manuscript, printed on canvas

Hand painting, machine embroidery,

vintage laces, tassels

Hand painting on stencil design, silk ribbons and antique button

Hand embroidery

Hand painted Illuminated page

Original vintage church Gregorian chant

Extract from the Morte d’Arthur

Embroidered lace

Silk ribbon, lace, embroidered cotton, vintage buttons

Extract from Morte d’Arthur

Back cover with silk embellishment and lace

Side view

Top view

It is available for sale on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SocratesArtWorks

To bead or not to bead

I never thought that I’d ever be attracted to beading, but I saw some gorgeous beading in  combination with Crazy Quilting, so I had to try.

And what do you know? I’m really enjoying it! I got myself a strong light with a magnifying glass, so I can see what I’m doing and thread a needle. I guess the process is slow and meticulous, and it settles me down.

Here’s a WIP:

I am taking an online class with Joggles. Learning beading from a PDF is NOT the way to go. But I’m also taking a real life class next month.

The colorful Klimt like beads are from Artist Cellars. Waving, Lisa…

In my travels, I also found this little crochet bag for $1.99, so I had to alter it, of course. Everything is recycled.

And inside, there was this tiny pouch with a 25c coin. For those emergencies when you need to get to the phone? My ex-mother-in-law used to travel with a Euro coin in her shirt pocket, enough to buy herself a Metro ticket  if she ever lost her purse!!!! Funny memories.

Two precious books

These two little books are 8x4. They are based on a Marie Antoinette theme, which allows for lots of lace and ribbons.

Front and back:

Sample pages:

And the next one: front and inside first page:

 

They both already have a new owner.