K’s Book

For months I’ve been planning and formulating a fabric memory book highlighting just a bit of K’s time in Chicago.  I’ve titled it Opening.

I wanted to include a tag book with her story so turned to Phil.  In the last several years, his writing has come to bloom and I thought this would be another avenue for him.

I asked him to write a short something as a review of K’s time in Chicago.

About a week later, I asked how the story was coming.  He hadn’t done it yet.

Another week passed and I asked again.  (thankfully he doesn’t get upset at this nagging)

So after lunch that day, he grabbed his spiral notebook and click pen and wrote.  Thirty minutes later he came to read to me.

We laughed.

We cried.

I said it was perfect!

I copied his story on tags I had coffee stained

it works better with instant coffee... must buy some

and stamped his title, “Life So Far”, added her name, the date, and had Phil sign it.  I covered the back side of the tags with fabric paper.

my big sheet of fabric paper

Fabric paper is muslin covered with paper scraps, layered with pattern tissue and then painted with a wash of fluid acrylics.  The tag book is tied together with an assortment of yarn & rick-rack.

back of tag book

As Keturah grew up on a farm

Animals were something she could charm

Her curly hair would bounce all day

And down by the creek she loved to play

—

Her school was decided to be at home

There were hidden talents later to be known

In 2004, when school was done

She decided to work and have some fun

—

But to our surprise

To the city she would arise

She became a student at SAIC

And soon a great artist to be

—

Mom & Dad are so proud

She says it’s like floating on a cloud

You grew up around Ag

Now go get them and make a new bag!

Just lately, I went to the work of assembling a few pictures, some fabric, some photos of her fabrics printed on fabric, and a few bits of embellishment.

later I added words from a book inside the keyhole: she can

The pages of the book are canvas boards covered with fabric.   The ribbon runs through the pages to hold them as one.

The book can be folded up like a book or stood up accordian style for display.  Both sides are decorated.

If you have followed K’s work, most of this will ring a bell with you.

description of all the elements

Here is the 2nd page with the pocket to hold the story on the tag book –

Each side:

K got this in the mail yesterday with her lotion refills I made last week.  🙂  Now I can tell you about what I’ve been doing!

This idea is from Lesley Riley‘s book: Fabric Memory Books.   She is one of my favorites!!

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